Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mshanson3121]

I have to admit, the loss of Magic Bands irks me. Yet another perk of on-site taken away (with increased costs). 1. I despise having to use my phone while on vacation 2. My kids love Magic Bands.

Those with more affluent budgets will say big deal, but when you already scrimp and save and cost cut everywhere to afford the trip, and your cost keeps going up $75-100 here and there. It all adds up.

 

[andyman8]

I don't think this means that magic bands are being discontinued.

Excuse me,*free* MBs for Resort Guests are discontinued. That was the most popular part of MyMagic+. People weren't crazy about FP+, a lot of the interactive "NextGen" stuff never came to being, MDE was/is very glitchy, but people loved being able to pay for their churro without their wallet.

 

[mmackeymouse]

What I find interesting is this is being touted as a "new" system...not temporary. Sounds like this may be permanently be the way we'll be booking from now on. I'm not sure I like that.

For now, because of the current situation? Sure. In a pinch, sure.

But....forever? Not sure I can get on board.

I don't think this means that magic bands are being discontinued.

I don't think it means that either, but I think what some are speculating on is that this is the first step toward *eventually* phasing them out.

 

[AmberMV]

I thought @Mit88 was being super optimistic yesterday with thinking AP extensions were just the beginning for dealing with us, but seeing how they appear to be releasing reservations for the next year+ shortly, and the implications that has for APs, I wonder if they were onto something.

Maybe put me down as cautiously optimistic that something better is coming.

What do you think is coming? Cause right now it doesn't seem so good lol

 

[fla4fun]

They aren't substituting phones for bands. They're just not giving out free magic bands with reservations anymore.

The way I read it was that they were making everything available on the phone, but would offer purchased MB or a KTTW card as an alternative. This is after January first, when the complimentary bands are no longer available. I know some international guests don’t like to use their phones because it’s expensive, so it should be something that wouldn’t trigger a roaming fee, for lack of a better term. There are several different operating systems for phones too, so it would need to be something that would work with all of them.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

If we currently have park hopper tickets, do we think that we need to get those downgraded/refunded now (before Monday when we make park reservations)??

I don't think so - I think can still use those as your valid tickets for Monday and then deal with how to adjust them later (refund on the price difference or something) .... But who knows

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

Well now that disturbs me as we don't have park tickets yet and didn't plan to buy this soon...maybe I can change resort stay to package "lite"? I'll have to see cost difference.

Is it in 2021? Per the website: "If you have a room-only reservation at a Disney Resort or other select hotel for a stay in 2021, please call the Disney Reservation Center or call your travel professional beginning on June 24 to upgrade to a vacation package with tickets—and then make your theme park reservations."

 

[DGsAtBLT]

What do you think is coming? Cause right now it doesn't seem so good lol

Maybe even just longer extensions? I don’t know.

In reality, probably a magnet.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The way I read it was that they were making everything available on the phone, but would offer purchased MB or a KTTW card as an alternative. This is after January first, when the complimentary bands are no longer available. I know some international guests don’t like to use their phones because it’s expensive, so it should be something that wouldn’t trigger a roaming fee, for lack of a better term. There are several different operating systems for phones too, so it would need to be something that would work with all of them.

I think it is more "if you don't want to pay for your MB then you will be able to use your phone" ... I don't see it as them trying to discourage MBs (at least not yet) just that they don't want to give out complementary ones anymore and adding capability to phones is their way of enabling people to not have to buy one if they don't want to

 

[jennyq87]

I'm super confused by this. Even though we will have a reservation on site - because we do not have tickets or our AP's - we will be put into a pool of everyone else to buy tickets at the same time and then even people who don't have an onsite reservation will be competing for park time with us in the park reservation system?

that is less than ideal if so.

Same boat We have a room only reservation in August but hadn't purchased our tickets yet. We usually buy around 60 days out for FPs but sales were frozen by then. I guess we might just be out of luck. I definitely agree that existing ticket holders should come first. That's fair. But I would like to think that resort stays without tickets would come before the general public with no resort stay.

I sure hope we're first in line for ADRs, then! (Anyone with a resort stay, that is). I can have fun without the parks. But I can't have much fun with parks AND food, haha.

 

[sara_s]

Maybe it's me but this sounds insane to deal with. People don't even know if they have somewhere to stay or where they are staying yet but they want them to make park timing reservations? When they expected me to think about where I wanted to eat on a particular day 6 months ahead of time, I thought, surely Disney can't make this any more complicated. Then Disney was like, "Hold my beer."

It sounds like a free-for-all....a nightmare for planners like moi.

Perhaps you choose a six hour window. So everyone gets similar time in the park but coming/going is staggered. Like perhaps your MB stops working for rides when your window is up? Who knows.

Six hour windows are the new FOP fastpasses....will be gone in a flash.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

I am still not clear as to if Disney Resort Hotel guests without tickets have any priority at all. It seems no?

I know I am reading the info and when are Resort only guests able to buy tickets???

 

[DougLovesYou]

Early Sept trip and will be ready to rock n roll on Monday, but so badly wish we all had some idea as to what time this opens up or where it will even be located in MDE. Is it a separate page we go to? Add plans? A floating Ursula head laughing maniacally at you that you have to try to click? Will definitely be stalking this board like a starving vulture Monday morning!!

 

[Ninjagrrl]

It said something about having "options" for people with hoppers but the page it redirected to doesn't mention anything about them (yet) ...

I'm curious too. I have convention Tix that have water park fun and more perks... Since Monday golf is closed and no opening date for water parks, am I getting a refund?
Glad I read and bought those tickets the second after they announced they were suspending ticket sales. Got in right under the window.

 

[one_cat]

So on Monday I have to select my park reservations for our May 2021 trip and no park hopping? And I thought 6 months for ADRs was insane.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

What I find interesting is this is being touted as a "new" system...not temporary. Sounds like this may be permanently be the way we'll be booking from now on. I'm not sure I like that.

For now, because of the current situation? Sure. In a pinch, sure.

But....forever? Not sure I can get on board.





I don't think it means that either, but I think what some are speculating on is that this is the first step toward *eventually* phasing them out.

I think we did have a pretty good idea this was not going to be temporary and possibly even an accelerated shift to what they wanted to do anyways (Genie?).

I am optimistic that when capacity is no longer an issue, park reservations are no big deal.

 

[Pens Fan]

There will probably be more than you think there would. I don't think demand to go to a theme park is as high as everyone thinks it is.

I hope you're right. But here's the thing. These are four recent college grads dealing with an abysmal job market and limited funds. We are happily helping them out by giving them the room free of charge using our DVC points. But I can't in good conscience advise the three that don't have tickets to buy them on the off chance they might actually get into a park for more that 2 or 3 days for the week they plan on being there and probably several hours after opening if they can get in at all.

I get it. Everyone has a sad story. I've tried to stay out of this thread and let things just happen, but this has kind of thrown me for a loop.

For those of you with tickets, I actually am happy for you. I hope you get the slots you want have a magical vacation.

 

[AmberMV]

Maybe even just longer extensions? I don’t know.

In reality, probably a magnet.

I read the first part and went

I read the second part and went

I hope the first part is right but it probably will be the second part. What a roller coaster of peak hopes and dreams and then a crash and burn just in that one post of yours

 

[mattpeto]

Shipping out complimentary Magicbands is simply a nightmare right now.

This is one headache Disney can eliminate in 6.5 months and I'm sure the logistic team is popping Champaign bottles as we speak. The Magicbands is loved by Disney vacationers and won't go away unless there is something better.

R-E-L-A-X

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I read the first part and went

I read the second part and went

I hope the first part is right but it probably will be the second part. What a roller coaster of peak hopes and dreams and then a crash and burn just in that one post of yours

And they won’t even send the magnets outside of the US. Not cool