Florida County Task Force on Disney, Universal: 'Open At Their Own Discretion'

A task force in Orange County, Florida has advised Walt Disney and Universal Studios to reopen for business at “their own discretion.”

Chuck Whittall, the co-chairman of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, called on theme parks in the area to design their own guidelines that line up with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He wrote a proposal with Thomas Mazloum, the senior vice president of Walt Disney World Resorts and Transportation Operations.

“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,” the proposal read. “They will be permitted to open at their own discretion with their internally determined level of safe capacities throughout the various phases,” it continued.

Whittall said the amusement parks deserved to decide when they could reopen because of their economic contribution to the community.

“Ultimately they’re going to be judged by the marketplace,” Whittall said. “If the guests feel safe, they’re gonna show up. If they don’t, they’re not."

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings said he likes Whittall's idea, comparing the large theme parks in the area to cities that can phase in reopening their own restaurants and stores once the county's businesses are allowed to open their doors.

Demings said he likes Whittall's idea comparing the large theme parks in the area to cities that can reopen their own restaurants and stores once the county's businesses are allowed to open their doors.

“Why wouldn’t they be allowed to open?” Demings said. “I think when you talk about them you’re not talking about those large entities as if they’re one large conglomerate, and they certainly have the ability to be able to phase in opening.”

Demings added: “And I know that they will follow those guidelines because of their corporate responsibility and their potential liability and exposure,” he added.

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