U.S. Disneyland workers say proposed July reopening may be too early

[rooster59]

U.S. Disneyland workers say proposed July reopening may be too early

By Lisa Richwine

 

A general view on the entrance to Disney California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, California, U.S., March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Unions representing 17,000 workers at Walt Disney Co's <DIS.N> Disneyland Resort in California have told the state's governor they are not convinced the theme park will be safe enough to reopen by the company's July target date.

 

In a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, the unions said they had been in discussions with Disney since mid-March when Disneyland was closed to help curb the coronavirus pandemic. The resort in Anaheim, in southern California, houses the Disneyland theme park and the California Adventure Park, both of which the company aims to reopen July 17.

 

"Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced it is safe to reopen the parks," the letter from the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions said.

 

A Disney spokeperson said Friday the company had put the safety of workers and guests "at the forefront of our planning."

 

"We look forward to continued dialogue with our unions on the extensive health and safety protocols, following guidance from public health experts," the spokesperson said.

 

The California Department of Public Health said theme parks would be able to welcome guests when the state reaches Stage 3 of its phased reopening plan. It is currently in Stage 2.

 

The agency said it would release guidelines on how to minimize coronavirus spread at theme parks, but said there was no timetable yet for when the guidance would be issued.Disney plans to reopen Florida's Walt Disney World on July 11 with extensive measures ranging from requiring masks and temperature checks to suspending activities such as parades that create crowds.

 

The Disneyland unions said the company had accommodated some concerns. But there were "numerous questions Disney has not answered, including any serious discussion of 'testing' - which has been the cornerstone of plans for other areas of the entertainment industry reopening," the unions said.

 

"Therefore, at this point we do not know if the resort can be operated safely," the letter said.

 

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-20

 

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[spidermike007]

You think it might not be wise to let a huge amusement park, that by it's very nature requires people to wait in one or two hour lines, hunched together, re-open right now, as cases in both Florida and California are nowhere near flattening or dropping? Fairly hard to social distance when you have thousands congregated into relatively small areas.

 

If any company deserves NOT to re-open, it is a Disney theme park. 

[Isaan sailor]

Just send the bill to China.  It’s their Wuhan virus affecting the world.

[from the home of CC]

ya think? wow, just boggles the mind that it's under discussion..

[connda]

They simply need a BLM or Antifa protest to take over the park and run day to day affairs.  It's an agreed upon fact by many experts that BLM and Antifa protesters are essentially free from the risk of contracting SARS-Cov2 providing sweeping immunity for all those in the region.  Just keep the anti-lockdown crazies out of the park.  Those people are literally crawling with Covid viruses!  They'll kill us all! 

[connda]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

You think it might not be wise to let a huge amusement park, that by it's very nature requires people to wait in one or two hour lines, hunched together, re-open right now, as cases in both Florida and California are nowhere near flattening or dropping? Fairly hard to social distance when you have thousands congregated into relatively small areas.

 

If any company deserves NOT to re-open, it is a Disney theme park. 

You're right.  Commercial airlines should also close back down.  Really - passengers now allowed to stand in long lines and then packed tightly into air-craft fusillades for hours on end. 
Yes!  Keep the parks closed and close the airlines back down too until it's safe!  Safety First.  We can never be too careful.  Covid will kill us all if we let down our guard. 

[Elkski]

I bet this is really an economic drain on the areas around the Disney parks.  over priced  craziness.  2 hour waits are no joke.  

President says  we test to mut make my numbers look bad. 

Edited June 21, 2020 by Elkski

[spidermike007]

16 hours ago, Elkski said:

I bet this is really an economic drain on the areas around the Disney parks.  over priced  craziness.  2 hour waits are no joke.  

President says  we test to mut make my numbers look bad. 

Last time I went to Disney waits on line were over an hour. I vowed to never go again. With tickets at over $100, massive crowds, and long lines, you are not going to find me in one of those parks, for less than a $50,000 sponsorship for the day. 

[CraigInBangkok]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Last time I went to Disney waits on line were over an hour. I vowed to never go again. With tickets at over $100, massive crowds, and long lines, you are not going to find me in one of those parks, for less than a $50,000 sponsorship for the day. 

thats a shame Mike, I was going to sponsor you for $49,000 ????

[johnray]

On 6/21/2020 at 3:55 PM, Isaan sailor said:

Just send the bill to China.  It’s their Wuhan virus affecting the world.

Good boy.  Eat it up and repeat it.  The media is your best friend.

[spidermike007]

17 hours ago, CraigInBangkok said:

thats a shame Mike, I was going to sponsor you for $49,000 ????

I will take it. Shall I send by bank info? Any restrictions on my visit?