Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[rteetz]

Not that I know of. I did read it, but I wasn't sure whether it was important or not considering how wrong KTP has been the last couple of weeks.

So I am taking it with a grain of salt.

This is accurate.

 

[AmberMV]

In terms of availabilities, SeaWorld Orlando's calendar is completely wide open for all of July. Including their physically distant Firework show nights of July 3/4/5. Not a single day is filled to capacity, and they've also now closed Tuesday and Thursday every week (not sure when that started, and whether it's due to reduced capacity/profits)

 

[Dentam]

We used Disney buses last week to and from Disney Springs. When there were passengers that got off, the driver had to keep the doors open and let it air out for 4 minutes before anyone else was allowed on. He said Disney filled the bus with smoke and timed how long it took to dissipate then added an extra minute. That 4 minutes will add up when there’s a long line waiting.

Prince Charming Dev was saying that in one of his vlogs recently... good to see it confirmed here!

 

[Katrina Y]

This is accurate.

So they are running the smaller boats from Fort Wilderness Cabins? This would be great. I thought everyone was saying they weren’t.

 

[mmackeymouse]

This is accurate.

Although....I'm going to be honest.

When I read it, I actually thought to myself.....oooh, maybe the monorail will be going to Epcot after all.

 

[andyman8]

It’s worth noting regarding the TDR reopening that APs are not included in the initial reopening period at all. Mind you, their AP system/ticket structure is different than WDW’s but still worth mentioning it could always be worse.

 

[AmberMV]

It’s worth noting regarding the TDR reopening that APs are not included in the initial reopening period at all. Mind you, their AP system/ticket structure is different than WDW’s but still worth mentioning it could always be worse.

But did they restart the clock on APs? If the clock didn't restart on July 11 at WDW I would've been happy to wait on going longer. Now I feel more rushed to go because the clock restarts immediately.

 

[Dentam]

A headline on my phone today said that the NBA is paying $1.5 million per day for their "bubble" at WDW. Maybe that's old news here though. Total was estimated to be about $150 million. Well done to Disney for making this deal!

 

[andyman8]

But did they restart the clock on APs? If the clock didn't restart on July 11 at WDW I would've been happy to wait on going longer. Now I feel more rushed to go because the clock restarts immediately.

I don’t believe they did, but I do know that APs were also not offered any sort of refund (TDR’s no refund policy on tickets is notoriously strict). And remember that the clock for APs here doesn’t restart technically until August 11 if you opt for the one-month bonus. Not saying it’s the ideal scenario for WDW but just worth noting imo.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I know we've been talking about how many more buses will be needed for distancing but from posts I've read on this thread and others, it sounds like quite a few people are planning on renting a car and driving to parks to avoid buses. I'm curious if enough people will drive themselves that it will help alleviate crowding on the buses. Thoughts?

Rental car prices have been high during COVID. I need to rent one for 48 hours in Chicago soon and it was almost $300. For four days in Orlando it’s almost $200 which isn’t terrible but with parking fees and gas it adds up. So while people would prefer to rent a car, I’m not sure how economical it is.

 

[AmberMV]

Do we know if Shanghai Disney has restarted the AP clock yet?

Personally I would be more in favor of delayed clock restart on AP, with no access to parks and no refund, until "initial reopening period" was finished, even if that meant a while rather than immediate restart with limited park access.

I don't know how many others feel the same but I feel like I've seen quite a few people here who would happily wait a while to revisit if it meant no penalty against their AP time.

 

[hereforthechurros]

We used Disney buses last week to and from Disney Springs. When there were passengers that got off, the driver had to keep the doors open and let it air out for 4 minutes before anyone else was allowed on. He said Disney filled the bus with smoke and timed how long it took to dissipate then added an extra minute. That 4 minutes will add up when there’s a long line waiting.

This is fascinating if true, but couldn’t they apply that to Minnie Vans if that was the case?

I don’t like using lyft/uber at Disney because I feel like it breaks my little Disney bubble, but I definitely see at least a few rides in my future :/

To each their own but we rely heavily on ride shares to get around WDW property and we always stay on-site. Nothing more magical then cutting out wait times and arriving at HS or AK or a California grill reservation in 7 minutes and being dropped by the entrance. It’s never broken the bubble as far as I’ve noticed. Give it a try!

 

[Clockwork]

I'm so happy to hear you say this! I just placed an order yesterday for their XL ones for my dh because it's been really, really hard to find anything that will fit him. It was a company I had not heard of before and I felt a little nervous ordering from them, but I'm desperate to figure something out for him. I feel much better now!

That’s the same reason I ordered from them they had xl available.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I don’t want to sidetrack the board bit do read you correctly in that Hawaii residents don’t want tourists to come back? Or just during the pandemic. Hawaii has not much sustaining its economy. Military and tourism. It’s very expensive to live there and without tourism the economy would be devestated no? Hawaii is the only place in the world I like more than WDW to visit btw...

My best friend lives on Oahu and the general consensus is aggressively no tourists at the moment. Not until we are under control. They all take care of each other there and feel they will survive without the income, very different than the mainland.

 

[hereforthechurros]

WDW parks officially open in 10 days!

Barring any delays which would be totally not unexpected!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

This is what I am worried about.

Because if anyone knows anything about anything, I imagine she does.

And, even if she doesn't know anything specific....the fact that she doesn't know anything positive....that's also concerning.

No. Carlye has been incredibly careful about covid since March. Always masked, very rarely goes to public places. She has posted about the mixed feelings she has had about going to WDW, and she feels she has to because she has a duty to go as her job. She has given off the impression that there is no way she would go to Disney parks right now if it wasn’t her livelihood. She doesn’t go ... really anywhere and is very outspoken about social distancing and responsibility.

She is surely referencing the covid situation in FL and WDW’s planned reopening. WDW is planning to open while FL’s covid numbers are worse than ever. It’s not good.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

This is fascinating if true, but couldn’t they apply that to Minnie Vans if that was the case?

One of the big selling points of MinnieVans is the 2 car seats for families with small children. It sets them apart from other ride share services. The child car seats are all cloth. They cannot sanitize them between guests. Not even worth running it if they can’t use the child seats as that is a major MinnieVan selling point. Leather child car seats are rare and run about $700 each. Each MinnieVan has 2 car seats.

MinnieVan won’t be back for a while, IMO.

 

[hereforthechurros]

One of the big selling points of MinnieVans is the 2 car seats for families with small children. It sets them apart from other ride share services. The child car seats are all cloth. They cannot sanitize them between guests. Not even worth running it if they can’t use the child seats as that is a major MinnieVan selling point. Leather child car seats are rare and run about $700+ each.

I understand the point about cleaning anything cloth vs. plastic chairs like in the buses, but don’t agree it’s not worth running them without car seats. We’ve taken Minnie vans countless times and only once needed a car seat. They could easily run some, with no car seat options, and people without kids or kids old enough to not need car seats would still use them.

But my take is a fruitless one. Clearly wdw has run the numbers and knows better.

 

[Badlands2020]

I understand the point about cleaning anything cloth vs. plastic chairs like in the buses, but don’t agree it’s not worth running them without car seats. We’ve taken Minnie vans countless times and only once needed a car seat. They could easily run some, with no car seat options, and people without kids or kids old enough to not need car seats would still use them.

Buts my take is a fruitless one. Clearly wdw has run the numbers and knows better.

Disney is too worried about liability and bad press. They don't care if you hire an uber driven by a random person because that doesn't get attached to their name. If a minnie van infects a bunch of families the media will be all over the news and easier to trace back to them and the van or driver. Disney knows they could request and enforce better standards of cleanliness, but its all about risk and their image. The random uber and lyft drivers most do nothing between riders, its also annoying cause alot don't want the windows down either in hot summer and lose their air conditioning. I would honestly would highly recommend a rental car easy to fully wipe down once when you get it. Ubers are pretty risky right now. Living in a city i have been forced to ride some and i honestly would not recommend it right now if not absolutely necessary. Most have nothing between them and passenger section since its their cars and they do it part time. I have spoken to alot of the drivers most told me they do nothing different and just expect to get it at some point. They don't make that much anyway they are not spending money alot on cleaning supplies and anti bacterial wipes or spray, sorry to speak reality. I would rent a car right now, takes five minutes to wipe down the entire car and you can just do it once at the beginning.

 

[Clockwork]

This is fascinating if true, but couldn’t they apply that to Minnie Vans if that was the case?

To each their own but we rely heavily on ride shares to get around WDW property and we always stay on-site. Nothing more magical then cutting out wait times and arriving at HS or AK or a California grill reservation in 7 minutes and being dropped by the entrance. It’s never broken the bubble as far as I’ve noticed. Give it a try!

I agree, nothing like looking at the bus stop wait and getting a Uber , then getting dropped off before most of the people in a line even get on the bus. Same at the end of the night order a Uber and get back to the room, no standing in line, no standing on the bus and no unwanted interactions. I really find it hard to see how that’s not magical.