Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Eric Smith]

Trying to decide if we should pull the plug on a Labor Day weekend trip. Planned to do mostly out of Park stuff like resort hop visiting some of our favorites. We have rented DVC points (with insurance) so I have to pull the plug by 7/20 if we don't go. Since WDW won't have been open long by then to be able to gauge if our trip is worth it do you think we will even be allowed to resort hop? Currently looks like you can't get into a resort unless you have a dining or room reservation. Understand transportation will be severely limited so that may be a deal breaker too. Sorry if this is a repeat I couldn't find a similar question elsewhere.

I think you'll be able to resort hop from the time the resorts open. I think that restriction is for people who are off property and people are overreacting to it. I've seen some DVC members saying that member services has told them that they can go to other resorts. I also don't see how Disney could reasonably enforce a ban on resort hopping. They would have to scan the magic band of everyone attempting to enter a resort to see if they're staying there or if they have a reservation and that simply isn't feasible.

I would wait until July 20 to make your decision. You should get a pretty good impression of how limited the transportation is and how resort hopping is handled. I wouldn't make that decision until you have to.

 

[CastAStone]

I don't see any discounts being announced at least until the fall. Right now Disney has more demand than capacity so they have no reason to offer discounts of any sort.

It will be interesting to see if that shifts when they officially announce the ride and show closures and reopen the ability to change resort reservations, particularly if they start to increase guest count as time passes. I *could* see some parts of early September having demand soft enough to warrant discounts.

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/disa...inue-to-be-offered-when-disney-world-reopens/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes, just noticed that as well. I wonder if they have worked out a plan with WDW.

Swolphin: *calls Disney*
*crickets*
Swolphin: *calls Disney*
*crickets*
Swolphin: *calls Disney*
*crickets*
Swolphin: *calls Disney*
*crickets*
Then suddenly one magical morning....
Swolphin: *calls Disney*
Disney: sup?
Swolphin: Hi!!! just want make sure we have re-opening logistics worked out for July!
Disney:
*click*

 

[maciemouse]

I am impressed with just how well UO is treating their passholders. Do you think it's because they need to local market more? I'm guessing yes. I've been looking into Universal and while I just won't enjoy it for myself as much, I know others in my family will love it and I can just live vicariously through them. I'm very impressed with the incentives and we may well just make the jump to AP's- seems to be too many good deals offered not to.

I was looking to go to Universal with my crew. We looked at Hard Rock. Rooms are 550-600.00 a nite. Is this hotel worth that?

 

[Eric Smith]

I am impressed with just how well UO is treating their passholders. Do you think it's because they need to local market more? I'm guessing yes. I've been looking into Universal and while I just won't enjoy it for myself as much, I know others in my family will love it and I can just live vicariously through them. I'm very impressed with the incentives and we may well just make the jump to AP's- seems to be too many good deals offered not to.

I think that's exactly why. That's also why Disneyland treats their APs much better than WDW.

 

[cakebaker]

I was looking to go to Universal with my crew. We looked at Hard Rock. Rooms are 550-600.00 a nite. Is this hotel worth that?

Might want to ask someone else. The last time we stayed at a Universal hotel was 5 years ago. I wish I could remember the name because I don't want to stay there again! lol Otherwise, I am a total newbie to Universal.

Edited to add: My daughter tells me it was Portofino and that I'm crazy. It was gorgeous and I just had an attitude because I didn't want to be there. She's probably right. I didn't. I remember trying to talk them into me just staying at WDW while they made a day trip to Universal. Times change.

 

[andyman8]

Yes, just noticed that as well. I wonder if they have worked out a plan with WDW.

The two certainly have a history of working out logistics together. Swan/Dolphin is the only non-Disney resort to rely on Disney for transportation services. I'm sure Disney wouldn't mind having a some extra busses at their disposal right now.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I emailed directly with a TA over the weekend who confirmed Pop and CSR discounts, but I was asking for December. Obviously someone looking to book for July wouldn’t have any luck through them.

We use them about 70% of the time, when they offer somewhere we’d like to stay Or the deal is just too good to pass up.

Ive been wondering about how group sales will work going forward, if they have too many cancellations will they still be able to make the same kind of offers... if the conventions & confrences that they piggyback on don’t happen - then what..

 

[Lewisc]

I just don't see them using Yacht clube either. It's literally attached to the Beach Club. You can walk through indoor hallways to get to yacht.

Since when? I dont think there are any guest accessible interior hallways between BC and YC

 

[CastAStone]

I was looking to go to Universal with my crew. We looked at Hard Rock. Rooms are 550-600.00 a nite. Is this hotel worth that?

Would you buy express pass for 3 or more adults anyway? Then yes, because its included with the room there. Otherwise no, IMHO. I enjoyed Aventura last year.

 

[Disneysoule]

I'm seeing a lot of people on Facebook saying they called and CM are directly telling people the NBA will be at Jambo House. just thought I would share that along.......

 

[glamdring269]

I was looking to go to Universal with my crew. We looked at Hard Rock. Rooms are 550-600.00 a nite. Is this hotel worth that?

Not sure which room you're looking at but keep in mind that the Deluxe resorts include Express pass for everyone in the room for every day of the reservation including check out date. They are also walkable to City Walk and both parks. In summary, we will always stay at one of the Deluxe properties when visiting Universal. I actually think the deluxe value/$ favors Universal when compared to Dis.

 

[tlmadden73]

I think your logic is quite flawed. Beaches are low risk activities, not inherently expensive, and don't have a lot of restrictions. So not at all like Disney. And the idea that people choosing to protest have no fear of the virus is ridiculous. It certainly has zero relation to the public willingness to go to Disney World. I think we really should leave the protests out of this conversation

I'm not saying people are rushing down to Orlando next week, I am just saying that as every week goes by, it is pretty obvious more and more people are more comfortable being out and about . .then say they were in March and April. And the more that happens (and those people aren't part of some major outbreak), then they will get more brave to go back to "normal".

Not trying to drag the protests into this politically, but if these protests don't cause major outbreaks or spikes in the big cities (i'm not saying they won't), then we are probably a lot safer from this virus than we thought we were. The country, as a whole will notice that and go about being more "normal" .. including going on theme park vacations.

Time will tell .. maybe people, as a whole, have just given up going to Orlando for vacation for the summer (not wanting to wait to see how the virus trends) and will just stick to "low-risk" vacations like beaches.

 

[shoreward]

MLS is expected to head to Orlando around 06/24/2020. The tournament will last about 35 days, with the final likely to be early August.

 

[AmberMV]

I think that's exactly why. That's also why Disneyland treats their APs much better than WDW.

I thought I just read a post from a 15 year DLR AP yesterday that said WDW treats their APs better than DLR?

 

[chicagoshannon]

Since when? I dont think there are any guest accessible interior hallways between BC and YC

It's a maze but I"m pretty sure we've done it. I could be misrembering but don't think I am.

 

[AmberMV]

I was looking to go to Universal with my crew. We looked at Hard Rock. Rooms are 550-600.00 a nite. Is this hotel worth that?

Loew's Sapphire Falls and Endless Summer resorts were both great resorts last year when we went.

 

[hereforthechurros]

MLS is expected to head to Orlando around 06/24/2020. The tournament will last about 35 days, with the final likely to be early August.

Source? If correct, Swan & Dolphin dates line up and make perfect sense.

 

[Nvrgrowup]

Not sure which room you're looking at but keep in mind that the Deluxe resorts include Express pass for everyone in the room for every day of the reservation including check out date. They are also walkable to City Walk and both parks. In summary, we will always stay at one of the Deluxe properties when visiting Universal. I actually think the deluxe value/$ favors Universal when compared to Dis.

Agree. Our last two visits to Disney we started with a few days at Royal Pacific. DS loves Universal. Me not so much. Disney girl through and through!! But easy access to the parks and the express pass was wonderful especially with our last trip during Christmas this past December.