Disney World May Be in Danger as New Virus Spreads

Walt Disney World may be in trouble. The iconic theme Park has only closed a few times since opening its gates in October 1971. Mostly due to Florida’s weather, with hurricane season running from June to November. The longest and most notorious closure was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the Parks closed down in March 2020. The Parks did not reopen until July 2020, “the longest period of closure seen at the Orlando Resort since it opened.”

Since the reopening in July 2020, the Parks have continued operation as so with some minor closures due to weather like Hurricane Storm Idalia. Hoping closures as big as the COVID-19 pandemic are behind all of us, there is another potential threat in the state of Florida that could become a big problem for The Most Magical Place On Earth.

It is not new news that mosquitos can carry illnesses that can pose threats to humans. But what is new is a mosquito-borne illness that has shown up in the state of Florida, infecting some in South Florida, specifically in Miami-Dade and Broward County. “Dengue is spread by the bite of an Infected mosquito and is not normally present in Florida,” ABC News writes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Dengue viruses are spread through bites from infected Aedes species mosquitoes.”

What to Know About Dengue and Disney World

If bitten by an infected mosquito, it’s important to know the symptoms as well as precautions you can take. “About one in four people develop symptoms lasting two to seven days, but symptoms are usually mild and include fever; rash; nausea; vomiting; muscle, joint and bone pain,” ABC News writes. Some of these symptoms can make you believe you are feeling symptoms of something else, like the flu, so it’s important to note.

If you are visiting Walt Disney World, some precautions can help you feel more secure during your visit as Florida Health and the CDC continue to monitor the mosquito-borne illness. Florida Health suggests for residents and/or visitors to,

• Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
• Cover your skin with clothing and use mosquito repellent.
• Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out.

Additionally, “While the U.S. CDC has not issued a travel advisory for these mosquito-carry diseases, various alerts have been issued by Escambia, Jefferson, Nassau, Orange, Polk, St. Johns, Walton, Broward, Manatee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota counties,” Inside the Magic writes.

Dengue Precautions at Disney World

Although the virus may be increasing, there has not been any word on whether Disney World will close down due to the spread. Disney is aware that Florida is a breeding ground for mosquitos and has worked hard to avoid these issues at all times, not just during times of a virus spreading. Mosquitos lay eggs in stagnant water and swampland. “Therefore, the building of drainage ditches throughout the park grounds would be created to remove any water before it could pool into areas and become stagnant,” Inside the Magic details.

It is helpful to know Disney is already doing their part to keep pests away in the Parks. The hypothetical idea that Disney World would close due to dengue is all that it is right now, a possible thought. Hopefully, the spread can become more manageable, and the threat will no longer exist to Disney World but, furthermore, to the state of Florida.

If there are any updates, Disney Tips will be sure to report changes that could effect Walt Disney World.