Orange County Task Force says Disney World should reopen with it’s own guidelines

The Orange County Economic Task Force is willing to give Walt Disney World and Universal Studios the power to open at their own discretion and by their own guidelines, a working group of the task force announced Wednesday morning.

“Theme parks and other venues of that magnitude shall each develop their own specific and unique set of guidelines following the CDC recommendations and using best practices that will protect the life, health, and safety of their employees and guests. They will be permitted to open at their own discretion with their internally determined level of safe capacities throughout the various phases,” according to a proposed guideline read by Unicorp National Development President Chuck Whittall, chairman of Reopening of Business Work Group.

The wording was made after several discussions with Thomas Mazloum, Disney World’s Senior VP of Resorts and Transportation Operations, Whittall said.

The theme parks are an exception because they will be judged by the marketplace and those who go there and decide whether it is safe to visit or not and they will be judged by social media, Whitehall said.

Orange County Jerry Mayor Demmings agreed saying the large theme parks are cities unto themselves. They are large operations that are made up of smaller businesses, such as restaurants, and should be able to make decisions to phase openings as smaller businesses around them also open.

This guideline would also to the Amway Center and other large venues in Orange County.

Dr. Barbara Jenkins of the Orange County Public Schools added that the wording should reflect that the theme parks would not be allowed to reopen first or before the day the mayor sets for the general public. Others agreed saying the theme parks should not be allowed to open before anything else.

Later today Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is to make an announcement concerning the state’s reopening.