Colorado is in another lockdown and Disney is increasing theme park attendance 40% going from 25% capacity to 35% capacity. What is Disney doing that other entities can copy? Are Cities and States looking at what the theme parks in Florida are doing with this live human experiment?
Disney implemented a 3 prong approach to health and safety on property.
1) A vigorously enforced mask policy.
2) Hand sanitizing and washing stations everywhere.
3) 6 foot distancing firmly encouraged.
Announcements are made every few minutes that a mask must be worn. Masks must cover your mouth and nose at all times, except when actively eating or drinking and in a stationary position. The enforcement of this is continuously enforced. I saw cast members inform guest when a mask was removed to please put the mask back on or you will have to leave the property, I did not see but have heard they will stop a ride if they see a guest remove their mask.
For cast members (park employees) in the restaurants, they are wearing a face shield and a mask at all times.
Disney maintains and I see no reporting that says otherwise, that there have been no super spreader events among either guests or cast members. This is the same at Universal Studios though I did not visit there this trip.
With the 35% cap on attendance the longest wait we had was on Flight of Passage at noon on Saturday close to 70 minutes, Thursday about the same time the wait was 40 minutes. Most ride lines were less than 15 minutes and most of the queues were set up outside with social distance markers every 6 feet. There is no eating or drinking on line and that was also fairly well enforced. With folks distanced a quick stop and sip did not make me uncomfortable, the whole family having lunch on line was stopped with a polite “you can stand here outside the queue and finish eating and rejoin in the same spot in the line where you exited”.
I never felt uncomfortable online or on the rides, leaving the ride and ride area the social distancing was not as good but never very uncomfortable. On the rides families were seated together in their own ride vehicle, other groups were well spread out with no more than 2 groups of 2 in the same vehicle with at least 1 row of seats separating us. Many rides had much more open seating than that.
The Safari ride at Animal Kingdome, Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios Soarin at EPOC, and other rides used plastic barriers and separation to keep us apart. I felt very safe with the protocols that Disney has put in place in the parks. Disney Springs is a bit more worrisome compared to Colorado with more people than I’m used to being around and the restaurants being more crowded indoors than I’m used to. We were able to eat and drink outside everywhere we tried in Disney Springs and I’m more comfortable with that.
