Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[rteetz]

What about access to GF for Poly guests (walkway would need to be open)?

I’m going to guess they will restrict that. Though they will have select dining and shopping open at GF. Will be interesting to see who they let where.

 

[Mit88]

What about access to GF for Poly guests (walkway would need to be open)?

Depends on if normal guests are allowed there, and are staying on the DVC side. If not, then it wont be open for Poly guests. If they have the main building fenced off for any possible entrance from outside of the bubble guests, then maybe it still opened. I’m going to say that GFR will not house or allow anyone that isnt with the NBA, on either side. I hope I’m wrong. I just dont see them constructing a barrier to keep out regular guests from coming over to the cash side where the NBA players are, and thats what they would have to do.

 

[CastAStone]

If it feels like WDW is breaking "rules", closing resorts, restaurants, crafting private experiences, etc. for the NBA at the inconvenience of regular guests, I would agree. But I wouldn't blame the players. This is all on WDW, IMHO. If we had any doubt WDW was putting the NBA in front of their regular guests, I think the info that came out today pretty much obliterates that doubt and puts that in the fact column.

Maybe I’m wrong but I think that’s backwards. I think Disney set the number of guests per park they could admit while maintaining 6’ social distancing, realized it was way fewer than the number of guests they usually have in their resorts, and that a ton of people with rooms booked would end up without park reservations, and would therefore cancel.

I think they then decided they could fill those newly vacant rooms by consolidating guests (which they would have likely done anyway to save money) and selling the vacant resorts so sports leagues.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Outdoor courts? Talk about heat stroke city.

I’m going to guess they will restrict that. Though they will have select dining and shopping open at GF. Will be interesting to see who they let where.

I was particularly wondering bc of the shared fitness center.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Not saying they won’t use the convention center too but they will be using outdoor courts there.

You obviously have more insight into what's being planned, but I would really be shocked by that. I guess maybe for walk-throughs. I think you'll have some unhappy players to be doing even that in the Florida heat. Playing on outdoor courts can be dangerous though - players have to change how they play. Plus, those courts are also probably not perfectly even, so there's that added risk to ankles and knees. Even without that, players have to play differently to avoid injury and to avoid falling. On an indoor court, a player knows how to fall without really hurting himself - you can hit and slide on an indoor court. You can't do that outdoors, so you have to adjust how you play. It changes playing style, which players are not going to want to do when they're practicing during or just before the playoffs. The top quality indoor balls they use might not work so well on an outdoor court - but there's no way they want to be changing basketballs they use from practice to games. Then, on top of that, it wouldn't be every team having to do this, so you'll have teams flipping out over being at a disadvantage because they're stuck in that situation. Outdoor court basketball is just very different. You wouldn't have tennis players practicing on clay courts in between Wimbledon matches (see - all those people arguing for tennis - I included you). It's not that extreme, but it is very different.

Also, I'm a pretty good example of the injury part: I haven't played indoors in a decade, but I started playing with some guys during lunch at an outdoor court the last couple years. I hurt myself, not majorly, but banged up, a few times - and a big part was the awkwardness of not wanting to fall outside. Then in November - my foot got stepped on, and rather than when I used to play indoors where when you feel yourself falling, you just let yourself fall and slide on your butt or back, I reached out, not wanting to go down as hard. Well, my finger bent horribly under me and snapped my finger as a result. And I'm just a washed-up, out of shape, almost 40-year-old never-was.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Depends on if normal guests are allowed there, and are staying on the DVC side. If not, then it wont be open for Poly guests. If they have the main building fenced off for any possible entrance from outside of the bubble guests, then maybe it still opened. I’m going to say that GFR will not house or allow anyone that isnt with the NBA, on either side. I hope I’m wrong. I just dont see them constructing a barrier to keep out regular guests from coming over to the cash side where the NBA players are, and thats what they would have to do.

Are you suggesting that they will shut down VGF?

 

[Anthony Vito]

But after first round each team can add 17 additional rooms for family and friends so that will be close to a wash on rooms if all are used. So you are looking at after second round probbaly before they give up GF.

That's a good point. I was reading that to mean though that they would have those rooms at Coronado, not still be using GF. I think especially so if it is the top 8 teams that advance - they're going to want their families close by, not clear across property, but maybe that's not feasible. It's too late to run the numbers, but would 8 teams use up all the rooms at Gran Destino? They're saying 35 people per team, but not clear how many they'll double up in rooms (trainers and staff, etc., might not get their own rooms). They might have unused rooms. I mean, maybe they could fit 10 or 12 teams in Gran Destino, but they'd rather just split it up evenly for purposes of using the rest of the facilities (eating, training, leisure, pools, etc.).

 

[rteetz]

You obviously have more insight into what's being planned, but I would really be shocked by that. I guess maybe for walk-throughs. I think you'll have some unhappy players to be doing even that in the Florida heat. Playing on outdoor courts can be dangerous though - players have to change how they play. Plus, those courts are also probably not perfectly even, so there's that added risk to ankles and knees. Even without that, players have to play differently to avoid injury and to avoid falling. On an indoor court, a player knows how to fall without really hurting himself - you can hit and slide on an indoor court. You can't do that outdoors, so you have to adjust how you play. It changes playing style, which players are not going to want to do when they're practicing during or just before the playoffs. The top quality indoor balls they use might not work so well on an outdoor court - but there's no way they want to be changing basketballs they use from practice to games. Then, on top of that, it wouldn't be every team having to do this, so you'll have teams flipping out over being at a disadvantage because they're stuck in that situation. Outdoor court basketball is just very different. You wouldn't have tennis players practicing on clay courts in between Wimbledon matches (see - all those people arguing for tennis - I included you). It's not that extreme, but it is very different.

Also, I'm a pretty good example of the injury part: I haven't played indoors in a decade, but I started playing with some guys during lunch at an outdoor court the last couple years. I hurt myself, not majorly, but banged up, a few times - and a big part was the awkwardness of not wanting to fall outside. Then in November - my foot got stepped on, and rather than when I used to play indoors where when you feel yourself falling, you just let yourself fall and slide on your butt or back, I reached out, not wanting to go down as hard. Well, my finger bent horribly under me and snapped my finger as a result. And I'm just a washed-up, out of shape, almost 40-year-old never-was.

Walk through areas will be in the convention centers. The NBPA requested the use of outdoor space and that’s what was given to them. That I know firsthand. The players don’t have to use it if they don’t want but it’s available.

 

[Mit88]

Are you suggesting that they will shut down VGF?

Not suggesting, just saying its a possibility. While shutting down a DVC resort could cause some issues, I just dont see any way they could have these resorts that have access to where the NBA players will be staying without building some sort of barrier with security. I hate to have little faith in humanity, but I dont think there will be 0 people at VGF trying to sneak over to the Main building to get close to the players.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Walk through areas will be in the convention centers. The NBPA requested the use of outdoor space and that’s what was given to them. That I know firsthand. The players don’t have to use it if they don’t want but it’s available.

Interesting. All the more reason they need a ton of behind the scenes/documentary stuff. Maybe they can just put up constant live feeds we can watch on Disney+. Heck, I'm sure ABC and ESPN have hours of content they need to fill. I'd sign up for ESPN+ if they put "In the Bubble" on there.

 

[Anna_Sh]

This may have already been posted, but the Disney Food Blog has put together a list of the menu cuts for the resort restaurants that are going to be open:
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020...nged-a-lot-of-menus-and-weve-got-the-details/

 

[mmackeymouse]

Not suggesting, just saying its a possibility. While shutting down a DVC resort could cause some issues, I just dont see any way they could have these resorts that have access to where the NBA players will be staying without building some sort of barrier with security. I hate to have little faith in humanity, but I dont think there will be 0 people at VGF trying to sneak over to the Main building to get close to the players.

Theoretically, there is no reason the players would have any need to be in any of the common areas of the main building. So, they could be separated

I will say this. And I am sorry if this makes me sound like a first world problems basic Karen or whatever the kids say these days.

We have a 2BR booked at VGF. There is not a single room on property, apart from a Grand Villa at VGF, that I would consider to be an upgrade or an equivalent. Maybe the Grand Villa at Riviera. MAYBE. I would expect a pretty substantial amount of compensation to be moved from a 2BR VGF reservation. And, I would be pitching a fit.

 

[shoegal9]

I don’t think NBA will have access to the main building at GF. VGF guests have already been told they have access to Gasparilla, Enchanted Rose etc. NBA will probably be in the buildings around the Courtyard pool and convention center. Buses would pick them up there. Security stationed around the walkways.

NBA families can’t come until 8/30 when it’s down to 8 teams. 8 teams plus 17 extra rooms per team can absolutely all fit at CSR. There’s over 2400 rooms there I believe.

I also think YC/BC reopens to guests by Labor Day weekend along with SAB. (And yes, wishful thinking for me and my 9/11 check in)

 

[jenjersnap]

Are you suggesting that they will shut down VGF?

They are not going to shut down GFV. And, I highly doubt they are going to backtrack on the recently announced store and restaurant openings in the main GF building. Surely they already knew the NBA would be there when that info was posted.

 

[Mit88]

Theoretically, there is no reason the players would have any need to be in any of the common areas of the main building. So, they could be separated

I will say this. And I am sorry if this makes me sound like a first world problems basic Karen or whatever the kids say these days.

We have a 2BR booked at VGF. There is not a single room on property, apart from a Grand Villa at VGF, that I would consider to be an upgrade or an equivalent. Maybe the Grand Villa at Riviera. MAYBE. I would expect a pretty substantial amount of compensation to be moved from a 2BR VGF reservation. And, I would be pitching a fit.

But it leaves the possibility of potential close contact. And there would certainly be people that try to sneak a peek or get near them. People idolize celebrities. Maybe you or your family dont, but look at the parks when theres a celebrity in them, guests follow them around everywhere. I dont know what the players wouldnt be in the common area, they’re not going to be locked in their rooms while they’re there.

As I said, I have no clear information on any of this. I dont even know if they could technically close off a DVC portion of a hotel if everything else is open. I’m just saying, there seems to be a lot of decisions that seem obvious that have negatively affected normal guests plans. I would just prepare for the possibility, but not panic because these are just the words of a nobody on this site, I’m just speaking out of my rear end. I just think out of the protection of the NBA, they’re trying to eradicate any possibility of guest/NBA contact, and closing down connecting hotels seems like an obvious thing that they may do

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Theoretically, there is no reason the players would have any need to be in any of the common areas of the main building. So, they could be separated

I will say this. And I am sorry if this makes me sound like a first world problems basic Karen or whatever the kids say these days.

We have a 2BR booked at VGF. There is not a single room on property, apart from a Grand Villa at VGF, that I would consider to be an upgrade or an equivalent. Maybe the Grand Villa at Riviera. MAYBE. I would expect a pretty substantial amount of compensation to be moved from a 2BR VGF reservation. And, I would be pitching a fit.

I don’t think you’re wrong, it’s going to be hard to move guests from GF (and YC for that matter) since a lot of people choosing those resorts are doing so because that’s exactly where they want to be. And a lot of the time they’re willing to pay $$$ for that. That said, it could very well be a scenario where you can go where they’ll move you or you don’t come at all. They’d probably refund the cost difference, but still, it’s a lot to ask for someone to pay for a deluxe resort they didn’t choose. In this current time, I don’t know that they’d incentivize people to come by heavily compensating though.

I don’t think they’re going to shut down VGF though, with the complications that come with closing down DVCs, my guess is your biggest concerns probably would be the impact on the stay not if the stay actually happens, IMO of course.

 

[rteetz]

 

[DGsAtBLT]

View attachment 501627

Did they finally find people who want to visit the NBA Experience??

 

[mmackeymouse]

But it leaves the possibility of potential close contact. And there would certainly be people that try to sneak a peek or get near them. People idolize celebrities. Maybe you or your family dont, but look at the parks when theres a celebrity in them, guests follow them around everywhere. I dont know what the players wouldnt be in the common area, they’re not going to be locked in their rooms while they’re there.

As I said, I have no clear information on any of this. I dont even know if they could technically close off a DVC portion of a hotel if everything else is open. I’m just saying, there seems to be a lot of decisions that seem obvious that have negatively affected normal guests plans. I would just prepare for the possibility, but not panic because these are just the words of a nobody on this site, I’m just speaking out of my rear end. I just think out of the protection of the NBA, they’re trying to eradicate any possibility of guest/NBA contact, and closing down connecting hotels seems like an obvious thing that they may do

Well, clearly not. If they wanted to eradicate possibility of contact, they would have. They chose not to. If guest contact was something they were worried about, they for sure wouldn't have chosen the Grand, and the Yacht Club isn't far behind.

The NBA decided that they wanted to stick with the resort level afforded them by their CBA, instead of staying in a contained resort. Which is fine. Except, now, I kind of think they shouldn't get to worry about guest contact. They had their chance for pretty much zero guest contact.

Did they finally find people who want to visit the NBA Experience??

The interesting thing to me is that they haven't really announced any plans for ESPN Club, which seems like pretty much the most obvious space to have a purpose for.

 

[Brianstl]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1273045894288609281

Well, we can see Robin Lopez likes Yacht Club.

He wants SAB