Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[ryanpatricksmom]

I would be shocked if Disney treats AP tickets for someone with a resort reservation differently, They never have for FP and I don’t think they will with this.

One thing that I have noticed with this last batch of reservations (yes, this will be my third iteration thru the COVID crisis) is that my split stay is being handled as two separate reservations. It's happened with dining reservations...at least the few that are available so far..., it's happened with magic bands, and online check-in. While I'm still holding out hope that APHs with onsite resort stays are able to book park reservations for the entire trip, I'm convinced that the window will only open up to coincide with each individual stay.

 

[mamaoftwincesses]

I wonder if this would be acceptable for 2 year olds too? I find it completely unreasonable to require someone who can't speak to wear something that covers their nose and mouth.

Or napping in the stroller. Super unsafe to have a mask on my 2 year olds while they are sleeping...

 

[Marthasor]

To hear Chapek talk it feels like they know they have the drug, and people have no choice but to come to them to get it. That sort of attitude means they believe they can cut corners with customer service and not lose customers. Sadly we haven’t proven them wrong, but a lot of things have changed with this virus so if I were them I wouldn’t get too cocky.

Agreed. I would think the lackluster opening of SWGE would have opened their eyes a little bit. Didn't Catherine Powell "step down" after that? I don't think poor customer service is a sustainable business model even if you are Disney with Disney "drugs"!

 

[charmed59]

Just got an interesting call from Disney. We were booked at pop June 23-30. They left a voicemail for me a few days ago to call back to confirm or cancel our plans. I called the next day and they moved us to Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom villa and I accepted it. Still not 100% sure we’re going, but we may go and just do a bunch of non-disney things while we’re there. So just a few minutes ago I got another call. He said he knew I talked to someone earlier this week and got the resort settled and that he was calling today to let me know that payment is due 7 days before not 30 days. I said that I had been aware of that but thanks for calling to let me know- although it’s obvious since I’m already within 30 days and didn’t make final payment yet duh. Then he said even though it’s not due today did I want to go ahead and make final payment. I said not at this time because I didn’t have my payment information accessible. I just think that’s odd that they would spend the $ on CM hours making all these calls. Do you think they’re fishing to see if people who kept their bookings are still actually planning to come? I can’t imagine any other reason they’d call me just to tell me the final payment date is 7 days before now- which I had already been told by the girl who switched my resort. It just feels like they’re trying to give me every opportunity to cancel.

Are you sure the call was from Disney? It sounds like the type of call the local police are warning Senior Citizens about. Is it possible someone knows about your plans and was really just fishing for a credit card number?

 

[AmberMV]

hoping someone can answer this for me. We have friends going with us in July. I think they check in July 19, staying at GF. They’re debating cancelling, and I told her that I kept reading about tickets being extended into 2021. She checked and hers still expire 9/30/20. Any clue why hers wouldn’t have extended into 2021?

It looks like your friend bought Florida resident 4 day tickets on their yearly spring special that usually end 6/30 and they've extended it due to the closure of the parks?

 

[cakebaker]

You were looking, but I'm sure you'd be going back to Disney once they reopen right? My point is that people aren't going to stop taking vacations to Disney and start going to Universal. Universal isn't big enough to hold people's interest for a long trip, there just isn't that much to do there.

While I most likely will return to WDW someday, the point is Disney has always fought to get guests on property and keep them there for their entire vacation. Every dime I spend somewhere else is a dime I didn’t spend at WDW.

For decades we have driven straight onto property, parked our car and never saw it again until we were headed home. I didn’t have any interest on going anywhere else. Now, mostly due to Disneys handling of this - nothing to do with cuts and closures- I’m willing to try something else. Maybe I’ll love it and maybe we’ll forever change how we visit. Disney is taking a chance on losing WDW dedicated visitors.

It’s not just vowing to never return that can hurt them.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

One thing that I have noticed with this last batch of reservations (yes, this will be my third iteration thru the COVID crisis) is that my split stay is being handled as two separate reservations. It's happened with dining reservations...at least the few that are available so far..., it's happened with magic bands, and online check-in. While I'm still holding out hope that APHs with onsite resort stays are able to book park reservations for the entire trip, I'm convinced that the window will only open up to coincide with each individual stay.

This is how it usually is with split stays, unfortunately. Usually FP is 1 opening window for entire stay. they set up park reservations like FP.

 

[vinotinto]

One thing that I have noticed with this last batch of reservations (yes, this will be my third iteration thru the COVID crisis) is that my split stay is being handled as two separate reservations. It's happened with dining reservations...at least the few that are available so far..., it's happened with magic bands, and online check-in. While I'm still holding out hope that APHs with onsite resort stays are able to book park reservations for the entire trip, I'm convinced that the window will only open up to coincide with each individual stay.

Split stays are 2 separate reservations for dining, magic bands and online check-in. That’s not a new COVID development.

 

[mcmry5]

DLC update...

@AllEarsNet: NEWS! Disney Cruise Line Offering Discounted Sailings Starting Later This Summer! https://buff.ly/2UDQW7i

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271876841859682307

It's stuff like this that makes me want to live closer to Florida. I would LOVE to get onto a discounted 3-day cruise!

 

[wareagle57]

Maybe it's just me but I really don't think the parks will be so full that resort guests won't be able to get in if they reserve days when the reservation system opens. Universal's crowds are, well... not even crowds. While I think Disney will bring in more visitors, I just don't foresee a sold out situation to those with existing reservations. I could be wrong.

This is my thought to. But Disney says they expect to sell out whatever capacity they open with. Maybe they are just preparing us for the worst and scaring us away intentionally. I know Disney fandom is very different than USF/IOA, but I just can’t see with more than double the capacity that they’ll be that much more crowded than Universal. I hope so anyway. If you can’t get a reservation each day, I really hope APs are extended by the number of days you don’t go to the parks once open.

 

[hertamaniac]

It's stuff like this that makes me want to live closer to Florida. I would LOVE to get onto a discounted 3-day cruise!

Those are pretty good prices and the double dip at Castaway Cay is very enticing. But the non-refundable portion is not inline with what we've done previously.

We pushed out our cruise until next year due to concerns about the experience, etc.

 

[vinotinto]

Those are pretty good prices and the double dip at Castaway Cay is very enticing. But the non-refundable portion is not inline with what we've done previously.

We pushed out our cruise until next year due to concerns about the experience, etc.

And are cruises really going to be taking place in two months? The CDC has not yet given the OK to cruises.

 

[TakesFaithTrust&PixieDust]

Those are pretty good prices and the double dip at Castaway Cay is very enticing. But the non-refundable portion is not inline with what we've done previously.

We pushed out our cruise until next year due to concerns about the experience, etc.

We had a double dip booked for this fall but changed it. I’m not sure how I’d feel cruising at the moment either. Not sure how you’d social distance on the ship unless it’s running at a much reduced capacity

 

[hertamaniac]

And are cruises really going to be taking place in two months? The CDC has not yet given the OK to cruises.

Yes, I think July 28th is the cutoff date. So while some cruise lines are targeting ~August 1st as sail dates out of Port Canaveral, the CDC still has to give an update.

Actually, there is a cruise line that has already started cruising last week (In Europe - a river cruise with about 180 guests).

ETA: https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/german-river-cruise-coronavirus

 

[Minnie368]

Are you sure the call was from Disney? It sounds like the type of call the local police are warning Senior Citizens about. Is it possible someone knows about your plans and was really just fishing for a credit card number?

I’m sure it was Disney. He knew my arrival/departure dates and referenced my call Thursday when my resort changed. He also knew how much I had paid and my balance owed. Caller ID showed Lake Buena Vista. Although to be sure, after I read your post I dialed back the number and it answered Walt Disney World Resort (407- 939-7740‬)

 

[AmberMV]

And are cruises really going to be taking place in two months? The CDC has not yet given the OK to cruises.

There was a CDC/Cruise meeting this week I thought? I forgot to follow up on it, does anyone know what came of it?

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

We had a double dip booked for this fall but changed it. I’m not sure how I’d feel cruising at the moment either. Not sure how you’d social distance on the ship unless it’s running at a much reduced capacity

We were on the same cruise but cancelled several weeks ago due to coronavirus concerns. I was really looking forward to 2 stops at castaway cay. I just don’t think we are ready to cruise again even though Disney ships will probably be among the safest places to vacation!

 

[planecrazy63]

There was a CDC/Cruise meeting this week I thought? I forgot to follow up on it, does anyone know what came of it?

I've been watching and nothing new released after. Hoping it's the start of the process for return. Cruise lines actually have a lot of the monitoring and anti-virus procedures in place (if you didn't know they already have to report other illnesses to them.)

Hoping soon we hear news.

 

[JM23457]

its kind of unfair to compare Disney customer service (regardless of COVID) to Four Seasons customer service.

I disagree. When a 4-night stay in a standard room at the Four Seasons is in the same price range as a 4-night stay in a standard room at the Polynesian, it is perfectly fair to compare them.

That was my point, anyway. Disney's lapses this summer are causing many guests to look beyond Disney, and see favorable alternatives elsewhere that they might never have considered otherwise.

 

[Marthasor]

And are cruises really going to be taking place in two months? The CDC has not yet given the OK to cruises.

Highly unlikely, IMHO.

Yes, I think July 28th is the cutoff date. So while some cruise lines are targeting ~August 1st as sail dates out of Port Canaveral, the CDC still has to give an update.

Actually, there is a cruise line that has already started cruising last week (In Europe - a river cruise with about 180 guests).

ETA: https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/german-river-cruise-coronavirus

Large-passenger ocean cruise in and out of a US port and river cruise with less than 200 guests within Schengen borders at all times is apples and oranges.