Right now, it looks like mid-July will represent a return to normal for the Walt Disney Company as it will see reopenings of theme parks at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and the first phases of reopenings at Disneyland Paris. However, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, there has been growing concern about whether or not it is truly safe for the theme parks to reopen, not only for guests visiting but for Cast Members as well.
Disneyland and Walt Disney World Cast Members create petitions asking Disney to delay reopening
Last week, Disneyland Cast Members created a petition asking government officials in California to delay the reopening of Disneyland Resort theme parks on July 17th, citing rising cases in the state as a serious safety concern for Cast Members. As of this writing, this petition has garnered nearly 50,000 signatures, but no official statement or reaction has come from Disneyland Resort in response.
Walt Disney World Cast Members are in a similar situation, and are urging park executives and state and local officials to delay reopening as well, as COVID-19 cases are accelerating in the state, reaching over 100,000 total cases just a few days ago, and adding between 3000 - 4000 new cases a day. This petition hasn't gotten as much traction as its Disneyland counterpart, and only around 7,000 signatures as of right now. And as you might expect, Disney has not made any official comments about this petition either, forging ahead with their reopening procedures this week, reopening hotels to DVC Members.
Cast Member safety
Though Disney has not said anything in regards to these petitions, the company has said that it is doing everything possible to facilitate a safe return to work for its Cast Members, including temperature checks, required masks, and new regulations when it comes to break times and common backstage areas. However, social media reports from several Cast Members working currently at Disney Springs have painted a disturbing picture of guests not only avoiding the new safety guidelines and restrictions, but assaulting Cast Members for trying to enforce them, which are making many uneasy about their return to work.
Comments
OMG Amanda, YES! Disney should absolutely DELAY opening give the large spike in COVID-19 contagion in Central Florida and California. How less-than-magical is the experience going to be? UGH! I so want Disney to be "normal" and open for everything again - but we just can't.
Disney Cruise Lines, in just the last few days, pushed voyages on the Dream & Fantasy no earlier than September 15th, 2020 (it had been July 27th, 2020).