I have purposely avoided discussing coronavirus for a couple of reasons. First, I’m NOT a doctor or a healthcare professional of any kind. In my past life, I did work at a couple of hospitals, but it was in IT and I kept away from anything medical as much as possible because I’m a squeamish little chicken.
But I have had several of my Guests contact me about how this situation could impact their upcoming vacations so wanted to post an update. As of this blog post, all Disney and Universal parks within the United States are open and there are no plans for that to change.
I realize this is something that is worrisome to many, but these parks deal with this daily in regards to every germ - not just coronavirus. It is in their best interest that Guests enjoy their parks without fear of getting sick. In addition to the normal cleaning and disinfecting they provide, there are now extra hand-sanitizing and hand-washing stations throughout the parks.
Please know that while I don’t want any of you to get sick, I also want you to get to experience the vacation you were dreaming of. Honestly, it’s not much better at home. My kids’ school was closed yesterday due to the flu and they’ve decided to conduct cyber-school for the next couple of days in the hopes that we’ll all come back from Spring Break healthy!
I’ve included the official statements released from both Disney and Universal below. If you have any questions, please give me a shout. But remember, I don’t even play a doctor on TV.
Disney Parks and Resorts Questions about Coronavirus/COVID-19
A Message about Coronavirus/COVID-19 from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel
As you may know from the news, COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus 2019, has become a more widespread concern. Our thoughts are with those affected and we want to share more information with you about our efforts to help keep our guests, cast members, and communities safe and healthy.
We are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are open and welcoming guests and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health agencies. For example, we have added additional hand sanitizers throughout the park, increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in high guest contact areas, and are providing information about good hygiene practices and illness prevention to our guests and cast members.
Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all of our parks and resorts around the world have high standards of cleanliness and health and safety protocols in place, such as:
Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues
Additionally, a list of First Aid and hand sanitizer locations is available in the Walt Disney World/My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps.
The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like coronavirus/COVID-19, such as staying home when sick, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, following proper respiratory cough etiquette, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. We continue to communicate about these recommendations, as well as other important health information, to our cast.
The CDC provides more detailed coronavirus information on its website and your personal physician is a valuable resource for specific medical questions you may have.
As always, our focus is on the health and well-being of our cast members, guests and the larger community, and we look forward to welcoming you at our parks very soon. If you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort, or about our response to coronavirus, you can learn more on the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line websites, or call 407-WDisney.
Thank you,
Pamela Hymel MD
Chief Medical Officer
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Universal Statement
Tom Schroder, a spokesman for Universal Studios, explained that while they remain open, health is a top priority for Universal team members.
He told the Hollywood Reporter:
“We are in frequent contact with health officials, our own health experts and others in our industry and we are closely monitoring the situation. We are communicating with our team members and reinforcing our best-practice health and hygiene procedures. We are also educating them on basic preventive measures. In addition, we are reviewing and enhancing our already aggressive cleaning protocols. And for the comfort and convenience of our guests, we are increasing the number of hand-sanitizer units in our parks. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and be ready to act as needed.”
