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Credit: Disney (Left and Right)Would you get rapid COVID-19 tested if it meant you could enter Disneyland Resort?
The answer to this question is different for every person. It’s a question that stirs up more questions that may need to be answered before someone can make an informed decision that is best for them. Recently, we published an article based on a report that rapid COVID testing might be the solution to opening Disneyland and Disney California Adventure sooner rather than later. Disney has not said that they will be requiring rapid COVID-19 testing, but it does have us thinking about it.
If there is a possibility that a rapid COVID-19 test would be needed in order to enter Disneyland Resort, here are some questions we would have about it:
- Will the rapid COVID-19 test be done on-site at Disneyland Resort?
- If it’s not, do you need to have the test done in Orange County so it’s after any traveling has been done?
- If it doesn’t have to be in Southern California, do you have access to a local rapid COVID-19 testing site?
- Does the test need to be done within a certain amount of hours prior to your visit?
- Who picks up the cost of the rapid COVID-19 test: Disneyland or Guests?
- Does your health insurance cover you to get tested if you’re asymptomatic, or how much would it cost to pay out of pocket?
- Would there be enough tests to keep up with the demand?
- How would this affect the itinerary of your visit?
- What happens with your park tickets or hotel stay if you’re from out of town and you test positive?
Rapid COVID-19 Testing
A rapid COVID-19 test could get you a result in just 15 minutes, and it’s something that is seen happening more frequently in our “new normal” for travel. Many countries, hotels, resorts, and airlines have implemented a requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result in order to enter onto their property. Some require a very specific type of test to be done like not a pool test, or regular versus rapid.
The rapid COVID-19 test is not 100% accurate, but it’s a more thorough safety measure than the simple temperature check that Guests and Cast Members are currently going through at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort, as well as at Walt Disney World Resort.
A Solution For Disneyland Resort
It has been proposed that the rapid COVID-19 test could be a solution for Disneyland Resort, as well as other California theme parks, health officials, and California Governor Gavin Newsom to be on the same page about guidelines to reopen the remaining parts of Disneyland Resort.
For those who are anxious to get back into Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, this could offer a new layer of safety reassurance across the board for all Guests and Cast Members. Disney takes the safety of both Guests and Cast Members very seriously with health and safety measures all over the already reopened Downtown Disney like and sanitizing stations along with working on pandemic testing site for Disneyland Cast Members, as well as, offering free tests for them.
On November 19, Disneyland Resort will be reopening Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure as an extension of Downtown Disney. There will only be shops and restaurants open, but this does recall some of the Cast Members who have been furloughed for a long period of time. If a rapid COVID-19 could make Guests and Cast Members feel comfortable, as well as, support bringing laid off Cast Members back to work, it could be a win-win for all parties. After all, Disney Cast Members are the people behind making all the Disney Parks magic happen so creating a safe workplace for them is always a good idea.
Will Rapid COVID-19 Tests Be Effective?
But then again, the rapid COVID-19 test is not 100% accurate so it isn’t a perfect solution, but it could be one that moves everyone forward through this long time closure of Disneyland in which the reopening timeline is evaluated to be potentially early next year up to next summer.
The issue of cost and availability raises some other issues that could make this process less than ideal when it comes to effectiveness. Testing requires a lot of manpower and supplies which is why the cost is so high, so will it be worth it for both Disney and the Guests? If it does reopen Disneyland at 25% capacity but increases over time, will there be enough tests to keep up with the steady flow of Guests?
Hypothetically, what happens to a Guest and their immediate families or party if one or more of them test positive? This could still work if Disneyland reassured them that they would get a chance to rebook their visit at a later date, but where would they quarantine or self-isolate? In order for a protocol like this is be efficient and effective, many of these scenarios and circumstances would need to be worked through for Guests to have the willingness to take the extra step to return to Disneyland.
No matter where you stand on the pandemic and the experiences you have had throughout this year, there could be solutions to get everyone on the same page and back to the magic of Disney. So if this were an option, would you do it to be able to be inside The Happiest Place on Earth again?