- Apr 30, 2017
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But the vectors at WDW are increasingly looking like less risky ones. Experts are, more and more, downplaying the dangers of the disease transmitting via surfaces like character suits (still a risk, though). Stories coming out today reinforce what we’ve seen, which is that the protests - huge outdoor gatherings - are not causing spikes, which is in line with a lot of recent research showing the virus doesn’t spread nearly as readily outdoors, even in crowds.The thing is, there’s actually ways to enforce measures that mitigate spread in a haunted house. In the end, despite the people around you, and haunted house is a strictly individual experience. That’s fair less doable with parades and firework shows, which are communal.
Haunted house can pulse so that only one or two parties are in the house at a time, and remove surfaces that guests frequently touch. Scareactor positions can be replaced with automated effects and puppets to make sure guest and actor remain socially distant. These are things Universal can do that limit potential spread (things we know they’re doing), and they can proactively enforce with minimal negative impact to the event experience.
Outdoor events like fireworks and parades are a different beast. Disney would have to put social distancing marks, large enough for groups of three to six people, throughout the length of the parade routes and the entirety of Main Street so guests “know” where to stand, then have CMs walking through during the parade/show to enforce. That’s if they want to do it right. The scale of Meet and greets literally require engagement within 6 feet (otherwise, what’s the point), and there is no way to sanitize costumes between guests interactions.
What is very risky and looking riskier every day is indoor spaces with recycled air - like a haunted house. I’m sure we’ve all seen the diagrams of how the illness spread to every corner of a restaurant or workplace via the air conditioner. You can pulse people, even though that will force a lot fewer admissions which will cut into the bottom line that is the rationale for the event in the first place, but the twisty, confined nature of mazes means you will still have lots of folks breathing the same air. I mean, if there’s one thing that I associate with HHN mazes it’s that big blast of air conditioning right as you enter. And on a more minor note, research on the dangers of yelling means the scare actors will have to use external noise makers.
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