Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SaintsManiac]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

I don't think the lack of communication is acceptable NOW. You've been angry with them for a long time. I am surprised you haven't canceled.

 

[Mal6586]

I arrive in 34 days. I'm somewhat annoyed, but I can tell I am definitely not nearly as outraged as a few regular posters here. I assume there is a reason causing this wait and trust that I will get the information I need before my trip. I know that updates are coming, I just need to wait a little longer. I have missed out on so many big moments and milestones this year because of the virus, I'm just happy to have something to look forward to again. At least following this crazy situation has been a distraction from life. 2020 has pretty much sucked. The boards have been pretty fun lately and a great way to pass the time.

That said, I'm antsy However, I'm not I AM SO OUTRAGED AND I WILL CANCEL THIS TRIP antsy. I'm still very excited to go and experience this very different style of trip.

28 Days here. I feel very similar to you. While yes, the lack of communication is frustrating, I am so ready to be anywhere besides my office and my house with the two friends I'm travelling with, that at this point, they could wait and tell me when we get there. I just know I'm gonna show up and make the most of whatever vacation I can. And besides, of all my Disney vacations, one of my absolute favorite trips was the one where we got moved and kept inside at AoA for 48 hours during Hurricane Irma. Losing park time didn't matter. What mattered was the amazing memories I got to make with my friends during an unexpected situation.

 

[rteetz]

Plenty of places to debate the Universal vs. Disney and this is not one of them.

 

[AmberMV]

My resort stay is in less than 3 weeks, and I'm a little annoyed but at least I now know my resort will be open and I know what dining will be available. I feel for the people arriving in 1 week who still don't know if they will be able to visit other open resorts for dining, how they will get dining reservations within their resort, if they will be able to use the pool freely or have to schedule a time. 1 week out they still don't have this information, and that is very disappointing and I'm frustrated for them.

 

[MrsBooch]

I am here with some operational update news - the Vero Beach FB group I follow has someone who checked in today. She is being awesome and giving us play by play updates on how the logistics of the resort are working as far as restrictions etc.

1. the pool is not limited by blocks of time etc - the hours are pretty open and normal. the chairs are spaced out in groups of 4, 3, 2, and there are signs asking guests not to move them. No masks are required in the pool area - not on the deck, not in the bathroom, not in a box not with a fox. The kids splash area is open.
2. the rentals are available - they have a mini golf area around the resort - it's open.
3. they are doing refillable mugs - but cast members are refilling for you
4. they also gave them some gifts for being some of the first people to check in (cute beach towels)
5. they have a LOT of activities still going on - their activities schedule is pretty packed. Lots of pool activities, pool slide is open (i know people were wondering about it). lots of paid and unpaid community center activities (i.e. bingo (free) trivia (free) tie dye t shirts (not free)

so again, I'm inferring that the operational decisions will be the same across the board for DVC hotels at the least.

 

[Eric Smith]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

Fair point, my next trip is in September and this doesn't affect me directly. However, we have a different trip planned for this summer to Saugatuck and we have no idea what is going to be open up there or what we'll be able to do. It is what it is at this point. This is an incredibly rare event that plans don't exist for. If anyone is going on vacation anywhere this summer, they're going to have to go with the flow.

 

[karen4546]

Ok Disney only cares about health & safety BECAUSE of the PR & $$$.

I understand your frustration. But, Disney is IMO trying to open the safest way possible. I can not imagine every thing they are dealing with right now. Cast members safety, guest safety, dining options, park capacities, resort capacities, etc.

It is not anyone's "fault". And, I believe that no one is going to to completely satisfied when they open. If WDW decided to not reopen until next year then that would be very disappointing.

I hope that things work out for you. Hey at least LA is not on the restricted travel list right now.

 

[Disneylover99]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

I had a June/July trip booked, but just recently cancelled that one.
I don’t see it as lack of communication.
I just see it as too much is unknown at the moment.

I really think anyone who has a trip booked in the next 30 days who is stressed out or frustrated by the lack of information should probably just cancel if possible.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

I don’t have a trip it already has been cancelled but I am effected with the lack of information about pass extensions allowing me to make an informed decision before it’s too late. I have lots of money tied up that isn’t as easy to get back as a resort stay or even regular tickets.

I don’t know that I feel the communication is great, rather I’m less a Disney apologist and more a pandemic realist. Our Disney trip was cancelled and we did not attempt to reschedule or salvage the trip elsewhere, because I believed that there was going to be major impacts from this for a long time. So not really thinking it’s all acceptable from Disney but I think a lot of this was expected trying to take a trip during a pandemic (primarily all the unknown regarding things like the quarantines from certain places, operations of places you’re trying to visit, or just the virus itself) and is neither great nor terrible from companies Disney and otherwise. It just is.

I have said it before, but I think the best thing these places can do right now is allow people to pull out without major consequence, and in a world of vouchers and credits with strings attached, with some exception (DVC mainly, some AP holders are also in a pickle) Disney has not made this a financial decision for most of their guests. If there is money tied up in these trips forcing peoples hands it’s generally third parties causing this, like airlines or rental companies.

 

[yulilin3]

Not super huge news but there will be helicopters fly over the property this week to get stock footage

 

[MrsSmith07]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

This. I'm 33 days out, and have been very patient and understanding. I'm under no illusion about how this Disney trip will be, and I'm fine with it. But, at the same time, as we get closer and closer to my check in, I don't think it's unreasonable to be annoyed that Disney can't even tell me if I have a room, let alone where it will be.

 

[Eric Smith]

Not super huge news but there will be helicopters fly over the property this week to get stock footage

Is this stock footage for Disney or is this for some other entity?

 

[BrianR]

They bought 75% of Bamtech from Major League Baseball, which powers Disney+. MLB and the NHL still own the rest.

And the reason why MLS went to ESPN+ was their previous streaming service was on Bamtech. A lot of the Disney+ people are in house hires or Bamtech rollover employees which also says a lot to their relative success.

 

[AmberMV]

I understand your frustration. But, Disney is IMO trying to open the safest way possible. I can not imagine every thing they are dealing with right now. Cast members safety, guest safety, dining options, park capacities, resort capacities, etc.

It is not anyone's "fault". And, I believe that no one is going to to completely satisfied when they open. If WDW decided to not reopen until next year then that would be very disappointing.

I hope that things work out for you. Hey at least LA is not on the restricted travel list right now.

It really does seem like Disney is struggling big time with the logistics of opening. At this point it would probably be better that they don't open until next year, and give all APs an option to extend their AP to 12/31/21 or receive a refund. I would be happy with that outcome, rather than what I can only assume is Disney scrambling to reopen now with so many logistical operations issues.

 

[rteetz]

Not super huge news but there will be helicopters fly over the property this week to get stock footage

Disney was filming inside the Magic Kingdom last week as well.

 

[Bjn10]

Disney was filming inside the Magic Kingdom last week as well.

Wonder if there Going to do one of those reopening commercials like they did for Shanghai

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not super huge news but there will be helicopters fly over the property this week to get stock footage

I wonder if the Castle repainting will be done by then, um, then ..... would make sense then why Ichabod and 17 of his relatives have been their working hard to make progress

 

[SaintsManiac]

It really does seem like Disney is struggling big time with the logistics of opening. At this point it would probably be better that they don't open until next year, and give all APs an option to extend their AP to 12/31/21 or receive a refund. I would be happy with that outcome, rather than what I can only assume is Disney scrambling to reopen now with so many logistical operations issues.

I really think they should have just stayed closed until these restrictions were not necessary, but I know they have to stop the bleeding.

The next outrage will be when the holiday parties are affected.

 

[Eric Smith]

It really does seem like Disney is struggling big time with the logistics of opening. At this point it would probably be better that they don't open until next year, and give all APs an option to extend their AP to 12/31/21 or receive a refund. I would be happy with that outcome, rather than what I can only assume is Disney scrambling to reopen now with so many logistical operations issues.

That would be a much worse solution. You're saying that they should delay reopening by about 6 months because they're not publicizing their plan a month before the parks open. There would be a ton of people with trips booked in the summer and fall who would be furious with that outcome.

 

[yulilin3]

I wonder if the Castle repainting will be done by then, um, then ..... would make sense then why Ichabod and 17 of his relatives have been their working hard to make progress

that's what I'm thinking, they wouldn't be doing flyover for stock footage if the castle wasn't done
This flyover will take place over the next 4 days and cover the entire property