Credit: Inside the MagicWith concerning diseases on the rise in Florida, is Disney World ready to protect its guests and cast members?
Walt Disney World Resort is known for going above and beyond to create magical experiences for every guest when visiting the Orlando-based resort. However, faith, trust, and pixie dust may fall short when it comes to protecting the health and safety of millions of families traveling from all corners of the United States — and the entire world — as well as thousands of cast members.
Related: Disney Continues Controversial COVID-19 Protocol
Disney World has had to deal with highly contagious diseases, with the COVID-19 world pandemic being the prime example, and other concerning diseases spreading in Florida and across the United States. With leprosy cases increasing at an unsettling rate in the Sunshine State and across the nation, it’s time to ask, is Disney ready to protect visitors and employees once again?
The answer is yes. Disney World is always ready to protect guests, cast members, and the Florida community against diseases and public health threats through constantly updated measures and procedures.
How does Disney World protect its guests and cast members?
The Walt Disney Company is committed to excellence, environmental responsibility, and health and safety. And Walt Disney World Resort is no exception to these commitments.
The official Disney World website states that as part of its commitment to ensure the health and safety of all its guests, cast members, and the larger community, the Orlando Disney Resort has high standards for sanitation and employs robust cleaning procedures throughout the theme parks, Disney Resort Hotels, Disney Springs, and other areas owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company.
Per the website, these procedures include:
- Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
- Defined cycles for frequent enhanced cleaning of targeted areas
- 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
Disney World also offers first-aid centers throughout the resort to assist guests with minor health issues and offer preventive health services to cast members, such as vaccinations and online wellness clinics and pharmacies. “Additionally,” the website continues, “our onsite health teams and leaders routinely communicate with our Cast Members about illness prevention.”
“We actively monitor public health situations, making critical and timely decisions based on guidance from local, national, and international health agencies,” states Disney on its website.
COVID-19 and pandemic closure
The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge for Walt Disney World and the entire world, and, in 2020, forced the Most Magical Place on Earth to shut its gates temporarily.
While Disney World reopened a few months after its closure, some experiences were modified to ensure the safety of all guests and cast members, including facemask policies, plexiglass screens on rides, shopping, and dining locations, social distancing, reduced capacity at all theme parks, enhanced cleaning measures, and the divisive introduction of theme park reservations.
Related: New Disney Statement Notifies All Guests Pandemic Rule May Return
As the world moves on from that dark chapter, many of these measures have been removed from Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney Springs, and several experiences have returned to Disney World, with the latest blowing Disney fans away.
Modified experiences returning to the parks
Since Walt Disney World Resort reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences like character interactions and character dining have been phased back into the parks and Disney Resort Hotels. Additionally, the divisive theme park reservation guidelines were removed entirely for guests visiting with date-based tickets earlier this year.
Related: Disney “Isn’t What It Used To Be,” Guests Voice Their Disappointment
However, one of the most anticipated experiences was nowhere to be found in the parks. That is, until next month, when guest to cast member pin trading officially returns to Walt Disney World Resort!
Starting April 7, guests will finally be able to trade pins directly with Disney World cast members at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs, with the employees possibly having some exclusive pins fans will definitely want to add to their collection.
Concerning diseases striking Florida
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been the only concerning disease that has taken the Sunshine State by storm, as increasing cases of other illnesses have triggered the alarms in Florida.
Measles
In February, Broward County reported a cluster of measles cases. The sudden outbreak stirred debate because, while Joseph Ladapo, the Florida State Surgeon General, acknowledged the presence of the highly contagious disease in Florida, he advised parents to ignore what public health considers to be best practice for containment of a measles outbreak.
In a letter, Ladapo wrote:
“There is a cluster of measles cases that has been identified at Manatee Bay Elementary…Measles can be transmitted four days prior to the start of symptoms…Because of the high likelihood of infection, it is normally recommended that children stay home until the end of the infectious period…However, due to the high immunity rate in the community…DOH [Department of Health] is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance…Broward County School District is prepared to provide continuous learning to all children at Manatee Bay Elementary School whose parents/guardians choose to keep them at home.”
Measles is highly contagious and can be easily and rapidly spread to others through coughing, sneezing, or touching an infected surface. According to the CDC, the virus “is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.”
Flu
Back in January, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated Florida as having “high” flu activity compared to other U.S. states, with Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Bradford County, Charlotte County, and Volusia County reporting outbreaks of the seasonal virus.
While Orlando is located outside the most affected counties, large waves of travelers from around the world were expected to travel to Florida for the holiday season. As reported by Inside the Magic, crowd levels surged in the parks, causing popular attractions’ wait times to balloon into multiple hours. Across these days, the divisive Genie+–which hit record-high prices–also sold out on many occasions.
Syphilis
Perhaps the most scandalous outbreak this year has been the reported increase of syphilis cases in Orange County, where Disney World is nestled. Inside the Magic reported on this outbreak in February, with Orange County alarmingly leading the state charts in reported cases.
Orlando Health’s hospital and clinics reported “a steady pace of syphilis patients.” Dr. Jarod Fox, chairman of the hospital’s infectious disease department, said he still saw at least two to three syphilis patients a week in February. As a result, Fox thinks the CDC is on track to have even higher case totals in 2023 and 2024.
Differently from measles and the flu, syphilis is not contagious via airways and can only be obtained through unprotected sexual activity.
Leprosy
The most recent reports have pointed at cases of leprosy increasing at an alarming rate in Florida, with Titusville, roughly 45 minutes away from the Orlando area, being the most affected area in 2023.
The number of cases seen in Florida has led experts to fear that the disease is becoming endemic in the state. This means it has established a consistent presence within a particular population or geographic area, regularly found at a relatively stable level.
Fortunately, none of the above-mentioned diseases has impacted Disney World during their respective outbreaks. However, guests visiting the Orlando-based Disney Resort are always advised to take precautions at their own discretion.
Disney World’s large crowds, a recipe for disaster
Walt Disney World Resort officials and cast members are constantly trained to prevent the spread of diseases, and the resort takes continuous measures to ensure the health and safety of all guests and employees. However, the large crowds that swarm the Orlando-based Disney Resort every day could always pose a risk when it comes to diseases as simple as the flu and as dangerous as COVID.
Related: Guest Shares Grim Warning Following Disney World Trip
As reported extensively by Inside the Magic, Disney World continues to see immense multitudes flooding all four theme parks, causing wait times at most attractions to skyrocket and the divisive Disney Genie+ service to sell out completely.
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) has also been affected by larger-than-usual crowds traveling to and from the airport, causing long waits, delays, missed flights, and unbearable experiences for travelers having to spend over 24 hours at the airport.
While Disney World officials have not announced any active disease threats at the resort, guests are urged to take precautionary measures at their own discretion to protect themselves and others when visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Do you take any additional precautions when visiting Disney World? Share them with Inside the Magic in the comments below!