Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Mit88]

I think AP holders are aware of the language. Disney’s problem is that it also states in the advertising/marketing materials that Platinum APs do not have blackout dates or other restrictions that other levels of APs have. Thus, they charge more for Platinum. Just as someone would expect compensation/cost adjustment if they had to move from deluxe club level to value/mod, passholders who may face a reduction of their benefits also should receive compensation. The question remains as to whether or not Disney provides something truly of value for diminishment of value of APs.

If I have a Netflix yearly subscription, in their legal documents it says that there may be issues due to down time. If Netflix were to go down, and unusable for 4 months and then when they come back on they say I’d be given an extra 4 months, but I can only watch 3 movies or 6 episodes of TV per month, but only if I reserve a watching slot 30 days ahead, they cant point at that “There may be issues due to down time” line in their terms of agreements and expect their customers to be OK with that.

Yes, we all know the fine print that states that you’re not guaranteed park access, but we also know that this is current situation isnt why thats put in there. You can’t market a subscription one way, and halfway through change the rules completely and expect everyone to be OK with that. Most of the people that seem to be OK with the barebones extension seem to be Florida residents, people that can pretty much go whenever they want. If they don’t get a reservation one week, they can try again for the following week, and so on. Out of staters that dont have DVC that have to buy the Platinum Pass dont have that luxury of being able to say, well everything booked up this week, I’ll just try again next week

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Some of y'all need to watch Pollyanna...

Oh no, we all have a syndrome!

 

[Searc]

I'm making a bold prediction - everyone who has been going to Disney for years will be back to going to Disney when this dust settles, even though they are upset now.

The first few months after opening were going to be a crap-show and we all knew it. It's just now we are able to watch it happen.

I hope park hopping comes back in some form.
I don't care if dining plan ever comes back.

Still, I'd HATE to be someone with a resort stay in July.

I totally agree on all counts.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Writing a personal e mail, setting out your reasons and making a request for individual consideration is the way forward. And keep asking politely. I have an October trip booked, I have an AP which expires in September which hasn’t been extended yet and if my October trip is cancelled, resort or because I can’t travel from Wales/enter the US etc., I am prepared to plead and grovel for an ‘extra’ extension.

I did that yesterday, and am actually on the phone right now (again) to cover my bases. I don’t want them to tell me once it’s extended it’s too late.

 

[Anna_Sh]

I think park hopping will come back whenever park capacity ceases to become an issue. I don't see any advantage Disney would have by getting rid of it. Park Hoppers are basically free money for them. They don't really cost the company anything.

I agree. And have they actually said there won’t be any park hopping during the entire reservation system? If I get to EPCOT at 11am, I’m probably going to leave at 5pm at the latest. That would free up a spot if they’ll allow people with park hopper tickets to make same day reservations while they’re in another park. All Disney will need to do is ask me on my way out if I’m planning to renter that day (just like they used to when they had to stamp your hand for reentry).

 

[Eric Smith]

If I have a Netflix yearly subscription, in their legal documents it says that there may be issues due to down time. If Netflix were to go down, and unusable for 4 months and then when they come back on they say I’d be given an extra 4 months, but I can only watch 3 movies or 6 episodes of TV per month, but only if I reserve a watching slot 30 days ahead, they cant point at that “There may be issues due to down time” line in their terms of agreements and expect their customers to be OK with that.

Yes, we all know the fine print that states that you’re not guaranteed park access, but we also know that this is current situation isnt why thats put in there. You can’t market a subscription one way, and halfway through change the rules completely and expect everyone to be OK with that. Most of the people that seem to be OK with the barebones extension seem to be Florida residents, people that can pretty much go whenever they want. If they don’t get a reservation one week, they can try again for the following week, and so on. Out of staters that dont have DVC that have to buy the Platinum Pass dont have that luxury of being able to say, well everything booked up this week, I’ll just try again next week

Maybe you should wait until Disney announces how it works before you get too upset. Isn't it possible that an out of state passholder wouldn't be limited to three reserved days if they have a resort stay? I feel like people are taking one small statement and they're trying to figure out the worst possible scenario.

 

[Magical Courtney]

There is no, and I mean NO, information for those of us staying past July 11th. No hotel info, no dining info, no park reservation info. NOTHING.

Isn’t that sad? Like it’s a little over 3 weeks away and we know nothing! I feel like I can’t even make any concrete plans until I have park days reserved.

 

[sara_s]

No ticket of any kind guarantees you access. There are always exceptions. But they most certainly advertised the ability to park hop as a benefit of having an AP.

“Disney Platinum Pass

Visit more than one theme park on the same date”

Exactly this. Regardless of what the fine print says, they advertise the AP with the message of "Visit all 4 theme parks!"

 

[Sandisw]

If I have a Netflix yearly subscription, in their legal documents it says that there may be issues due to down time. If Netflix were to go down, and unusable for 4 months and then when they come back on they say I’d be given an extra 4 months, but I can only watch 3 movies or 6 episodes of TV per month, but only if I reserve a watching slot 30 days ahead, they cant point at that “There may be issues due to down time” line in their terms of agreements and expect their customers to be OK with that.

Yes, we all know the fine print that states that you’re not guaranteed park access, but we also know that this is current situation isnt why thats put in there. You can’t market a subscription one way, and halfway through change the rules completely and expect everyone to be OK with that. Most of the people that seem to be OK with the barebones extension seem to be Florida residents, people that can pretty much go whenever they want. If they don’t get a reservation one week, they can try again for the following week, and so on. Out of staters that dont have DVC that have to buy the Platinum Pass dont have that luxury of being able to say, well everything booked up this week, I’ll just try again next week

I think we are assuming this is it. They may have decided only to do the 4 months because they don’t anticipate there being the issue when things open up...or, they want to see if there is before giving more.

Until people actually have an issue, I think we need to wait. Yes, when things roll out and there are a lot of limits and Disney takes a hard line then, people should complain.

Too early, IMO.

 

[Skippyboo]

When I saw the list of mobile check in restaurants, I was like cool - Biergarten. This would be perfect time to go to Biergarten since they won’t be able to stick you with a bunch of strangers anymore. However, then I thought if there is no park hopping, no way I am I going to waste a park reservation for Epcot.

 

[Eric Smith]

I agree. And have they actually said there won’t be any park hopping during the entire reservation system? If I get to EPCOT at 11am, I’m probably going to leave at 5pm at the latest. That would free up a spot if they’ll allow people with park hopper tickets to make same day reservations while they’re in another park. All Disney will need to do is ask me on my way out if I’m planning to renter that day (just like they used to when they had to stamp your hand for reentry).

There hasn't been an official announcement other than there will be a reservation system in place when the parks open. They haven't stated how long they expect the reservation system will last (they probably can't because that will depend on the COVID situation and crowd levels). I'm not even sure that there was any official announcement about park hopping being cancelled.

 

[Spridell]

I forgot who asked about anyone going on Monday
The DisUnplugged and SiDisney team will be at Bay Lake tower. My goal (SiDisney) is to grab a video and post as fast as possible. Not sure if Pete is live streaming (he said he would) so stay tuned

I will be at OKW on monday for 3 days. I will post updates in the DVC forum for all.

Tuesday lunch at Sanaa at Kidani, will post updates about AKV that day also.

 

[shoegal9]

I'll be at beaches on the 2nd also!
Set up second phone with dvc member services. So, 2 hours 25 min with dining, and 50 minutes with dvc member services later....
If you are staying on points that are not yours (i.e., family, friends, rentals), they can make the reservation, but only the person whose name is on the points can modify them (according to my account). Plus the reservation just shows "guest", no names...
So I have to wait another 2+ hours on the phone if I need to cancel them before I go?? Will they even let me cancel them??

I may try to go re-make reservations on the dining side...

I would just directly call the restaurant if you are going to be late or want to cancel. I do it all the time and they are always accommodating. Stuff happens on vacations, especially with transportation, kids, etc.

 

[focusondisney]

it will change when the park reservation system is open. No sense making an ADR for a restaurant in a park if you don’t know if you will get in.

No, I mean busy with increased hold times & maybe website crashes. Most people will be ready at the 60 day mark to make their ADRs. So everyone will be on at the same time trying to get them.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Maybe you should wait until Disney announces how it works before you get too upset. Isn't it possible that an out of state passholder wouldn't be limited to three reserved days if they have a resort stay? I feel like people are taking one small statement and they're trying to figure out the worst possible scenario.

See I would be happy to wait if I knew waiting didn’t cause me to miss out on the partial refund. I have been waiting for more information to come, but with the pass extensions and some saying refunds will have to be requested before that that I am now pushing the issue further.

Not coming with pitchforks here, just protecting my own interests.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I'm making a bold prediction - everyone who has been going to Disney for years will be back to going to Disney when this dust settles, even though they are upset now.

The first few months after opening were going to be a crap-show and we all knew it. It's just now we are able to watch it happen.

I hope park hopping comes back in some form.
I don't care if dining plan ever comes back.

Still, I'd HATE to be someone with a resort stay in July.

All of this!

Bold prediction =

The minute the 50th anniversary Celebration is in play! Sooner if there are add ins or upsells to be bought & booked...

 

[Searc]

Isn’t that sad? Like it’s a little over 3 weeks away and we know nothing! I feel like I can’t even make any concrete plans until I have park days reserved.

This is probably going to sound snotty and I really don't mean it that way, at all, but what is there to plan besides dining? There are currently no fastpasses, most special events have been canceled, no parades or fireworks and some places will be closed. Other than knowing where you'll be staying, there isn't anything TO plan right now.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm making a bold prediction - everyone who has been going to Disney for years will be back to going to Disney when this dust settles, even though they are upset now.

I think you're attitude is exactly the attitude Disney has, and that's the problem.

I've been on this board a very, very long time. Not once have I even hinted I might not go back. I've always thought it was foolish to make a grand announcement that you are quitting Disney and I still do. If I end up not going back, there won't be a post like that from me. I'll just quit going and stop reading here.

But it's not just those who swear off Disney that can hurt them. Those who are opting to try other things in the Orlando area can be damaging as well. Disney has always been our exclusive vacation. Once on property we don't leave and we don't go anywhere else after that but home. I am now fully willing to try what else there is out there. What I definitely know, is Disney won't be the only place I visit. I still have the same amount of vacation money I allot, so instead of Disney getting it all, they'll have to share. They may or may not have lost me entirely, but they have definitely lost my loyalty to them exclusively.

They used to fight to keep guests like me, maybe they don't care anymore. But then, neither do I.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Parks hold music hits differently when you’re calling to basically cancel a pass.

 

[koszmok]

I agree. And have they actually said there won’t be any park hopping during the entire reservation system? If I get to EPCOT at 11am, I’m probably going to leave at 5pm at the latest. That would free up a spot if they’ll allow people with park hopper tickets to make same day reservations while they’re in another park. All Disney will need to do is ask me on my way out if I’m planning to renter that day (just like they used to when they had to stamp your hand for reentry).

I agree. I`m not so sure about asking on the way out and updating the system... but If everything goes well and parks can go at 75% capacity later on the year I don`t think every park every day would be reserved up to capacity anyway. So once you are in one of the park and other park still ha availability in the afternoon why wouldn`t they allow same day reservation ? In case your ticket allows it. Lot of people assume the parks are won`t be that crowded by September...