Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[gwynne]

Just saw this...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1275949998362918912

 

[Devil13]

My kids date based tickets have turned out to be more flexible than my AP.

Regular tickets: Trip was cancelled? Okay, come by mid December. Actually, we have extended that until September 2021! Oh and if you don’t use it, no worries apply it’s value to a future ticket.

The AP: Here’s an extension for not much longer than we were closed that may or may not be very helpful to you. If you want an undetermined amount of money back tell us in early July that you definitely for sure can’t make it before March 2021 (my new expiry).

100% agree. Of all the changes, the treatment of out of state APs is the worst to me. Since I did make park reservations for August, just in case, does that impact my refund amount even if I cancel?

Take away my Club Level, my Destino Tower, my extra magic hours, my fireworks, my park hopping (!!!!!!), my parades, and even my ability to actually show up at the gates without a reservation. Fine, but at least give me something at the level of someone who bought a one day ticket.

Not saying that they won’t further the extension, but at this point I doubt it.

 

[Mit88]

WDW announced the reservation system last Friday to start on Monday. Florida was the newest HotSpot the middle of last week. I’m sure Disney wasn’t ignorant to the news of Florida’s COVID situation when they revealed their reservation information. They did seemingly push it back a day as tweets from Scott Gustin suggested that they were going to announce the system on Thursday, and then DeSantis announced the state-wide mask mandate on Thursday and Disney revealed a smaller bit of news on Thursday.

If Disney felt like their opening was in any sort of jeopardy, even knowing the virus situation in Florida, they wouldnt have announced the reservation system, and then have it up and running on monday.

Taking that all back now would cause them a ton of issues

 

[Disney Bobby]

So, it appears Boardwalk Inn isn't opening until Oct 1. So what happens to be August reservation there?

 

[HorizonOne]

So, it appears Boardwalk Inn isn't opening until Oct 1. So what happens to be August reservation there?

You will be moved to one of the other open resorts.

 

[kverdon]

It would be odd for Disney to delay their opening unless Universal et all pauses their operation as well.

 

[JacknSally]

So, it appears Boardwalk Inn isn't opening until Oct 1. So what happens to be August reservation there?

You need to call and modify your reservation. Language on Disney's site suggests that if you don't, they will auto-cancel your reservation 7 days out from your check-in date. You may get an email to confirm that you still intend to go on your trip. When you call, they will try to move you into comparable accommodations, likely at no additional cost to you.

 

[Disney Bobby]

You will be moved to one of the other open resorts.

Thanks. Do you know when that is going to happen?

 

[Azziefan]

Yep, no emails about the park reservation start date nor one to confirm two upcoming trips. I did get meal cancellation emails.

I see people saying they received emails for many resorts, but don't think I saw anyone mention FW. That is where I'm staying in August.

Should we call tomorrow if we didn’t get an email about confirming or cancelling?

 

[Mit88]

It would be odd for Disney to delay their opening unless Universal et all pauses their operation as well.

Universal has always been able to cruise undetected in the shadow of Disney. This doesn’t seem any different. They’re probably laughing at Disney getting all the flack while they just get to continue business as usual

 

[HorizonOne]

Thanks. Do you know when that is going to happen?

You need to call and modify your reservation. Language on Disney's site suggests that if you don't, they will auto-cancel your reservation 7 days out from your check-in date. You may get an email to confirm that you still intend to go on your trip. When you call, they will try to move you into comparable accommodations, likely at no additional cost to you.

JacknSally has the detail.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Yes, but they have the added difficulty of now addressing the question of "why is it okay for one to reopen while the other is delaying its reopening?," especially given the attention FL has received over the last few days. Had they not misfired with DL, this problem would not have existed. I certainly hope they can figure out an answer.

The press release felt carefully worded to say it was because of California guidelines coming later than expected, and then needing time to meet those guidelines. Had they said ‘Due to the rise in cases...’ or cited safety concerns or public pressure for the delay that would be very different.

 

[LSUmiss]

All very valid points. If this opening were to be delayed, it would be solely Disney's decision. I was not surprised by DL's delay, but I was surprised by how many (non-Disney) people were tying that to WDW and asking the question I mentioned above. The hope is that this fades with the next news cycle, but that's also dependent on if the situation down here gets under control (and based on my anecdotal experiences today, I'm not encouraged). Again, I really want WDW to open 7/11 and I think it will, but anything can be undone if need be.

I would think if it gets delayed, then other theme parks will be pressured to close too. If that all happened, all those ppl who filled out the petition might want to start planning what other state they might like to live in b/c surely that would collapse FL’s economy.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Universal has always been able to cruise undetected in the shadow of Disney. This doesn’t seem any different. They’re probably laughing at Disney getting all the flack while they just get to continue business as usual

There’s certainly an upside to living in the shadow and often being the afterthought.

 

[cakebaker]

Universal has always been able to cruise undetected in the shadow of Disney. This doesn’t seem any different. They’re probably laughing at Disney getting all the flack while they just get to continue business as usual

Universal definitely won this battle, by chance if nothing else. Had Disney opened with Universal, when the numbers looked much, much better, Disney wouldn’t be looking at opening at a time when the numbers are worse than when they closed.

As far as DLR, I have no doubt they’re using the state issuing guidelines as their reason because what else could they say? To admit they were caving to employee demands or even that the stats are just too bad to open sounds much worse. Better to blame it on the state it would seem to me.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

It would be odd for Disney to delay their opening unless Universal et all pauses their operation as well.

Just like there’s no way Disney would let Universal have the whole month of June while they sat closed?

 

[Disney Bobby]

Now they will have to fight the virus battle and the PR battle.

 

[AmberMV]

WDW announced the reservation system last Friday to start on Monday. Florida was the newest HotSpot the middle of last week. I’m sure Disney wasn’t ignorant to the news of Florida’s COVID situation when they revealed their reservation information. They did seemingly push it back a day as tweets from Scott Gustin suggested that they were going to announce the system on Thursday, and then DeSantis announced the state-wide mask mandate on Thursday and Disney revealed a smaller bit of news on Thursday.

If Disney felt like their opening was in any sort of jeopardy, even knowing the virus situation in Florida, they wouldnt have announced the reservation system, and then have it up and running on monday.

Taking that all back now would cause them a ton of issues

FYI that is not true. There is no state wide mask mandate in FL

 

[Aeralie]

Was this in an email and do you have a copy of the notice??

It emphasizes California’s lack of reopening guidelines and otherwise just reaffirms known WDW dates and known WDW safety measures.

 

[glocker]

WDW announced the reservation system last Friday to start on Monday. Florida was the newest HotSpot the middle of last week. I’m sure Disney wasn’t ignorant to the news of Florida’s COVID situation when they revealed their reservation information. They did seemingly push it back a day as tweets from Scott Gustin suggested that they were going to announce the system on Thursday, and then DeSantis announced the state-wide mask mandate on Thursday and Disney revealed a smaller bit of news on Thursday.

If Disney felt like their opening was in any sort of jeopardy, even knowing the virus situation in Florida, they wouldnt have announced the reservation system, and then have it up and running on monday.

Taking that all back now would cause them a ton of issues

Having guests contract a deadly virus and then spreading it to other places will cause them more issues. We're 2.5 weeks away and Florida keeps breaking their own daily records. If you thought the poor boy who was killed by an alligator was bad for Disney, pictures of people on ventilators because Disney opened during the height of the outbreak would be catastrophic for the brand.