Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Alicefan]

Seeing more and more reports on Twitter and FB that Springs in the evenings is very crowded (making it hard to physically distance), that a lot of restaurants seem uncomfortably full, and that mask compliance there in the evenings is getting worse.

It makes sense that Springs would be the place everyone goes when most parks close before dark and you can’t hop to a later-closing park. I wonder if Disney sees this as a concern, and if so, I wonder if we’ll see them adjust park hours or do something at resorts or something to entice people away from Springs.

Why would they entice people away from a shopping district? The whole idea is to make money so I don't see that happening. Each person should make the decision for themselves whether or not to go there. We've got to stop relying on someone else to make our decisions for us. Each person is capable of judging whether or not they feel safe enough to go in. For now...we can still chose. These places are not "have to" places after all so no need for Disney to "fix" the problem because there isn't one. They can only do so much, the rest is up to our own discretion. Places are open, life is going on, staying away from others and masks are a must now in order to be there....the rest falls under common sense. If it's too crowded for your or my liking, don't go. We need to remember that, because we are getting all too comfortable leaving our thinking up to someone else, and WAY too used to being told what to do. I'm not trying to be ugly in the least, but each person has a different idea of what it should be like and Disney nor any other company is going to be able to make it the ideal situation for each individual, especially in THIS day and age where everyone has something to gripe about. We have to use our own compass.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

Seems to me that if capped capacity is to remain then the whole concept of APs needs to change or just end entirely.

The lottery system is definitely a different way of doing it but ultimately some people may still own APs and not get to access the parks on any date that suits them.

The lottery system is used quite often in the Japanese parks. It's also how big attractions with limited capacity decide who is allowed to visit.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

The temps will be exactly the same in September as they are now. They don't get tolerable until November. PLUS you get to see all of the decorations.

Sorry, I think maybe my explanation wasn't clear..... We are thinking of going to Uni in Dec this year IF there is a great deal because the weather would be tolerable with masks. We are planning to go to Disney next year in Sept assuming there would no longer be a mask requirement?? and because we were expecting Tron to be open by then. If Tron is not open and masks are still required, that could change our plans. Also would not return until park hopping and fireworks are back in play.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The survey did not expound on the deals. It had a logo of Universal Orlando resorts and one had over 40% off and the other had $1500 off. After choosing which promo pic would be more preferable, it then asked me to explain why I chose that promo. I chose the 40+% off because I said I preferred to get a percentage off the choices I make for a vacation rather than saving $1500 on a package already laid out.

I was doing the survey on my phone so hopefully I didn't miss a part of the survey that would have explained it more?? But the choice was made by "touching" the promo pic and there didn't seem to be a drop down with any more info.

Ok thanks! - might be like a behavioral economics exercise to see what people are more responsive to - a % off or a $ off - more than anything specific

 

[Alicefan]

Sorry, I think maybe my explanation wasn't clear..... We are thinking of going to Uni in Dec this year IF there is a great deal because the weather would be tolerable with masks. We are planning to go to Disney next year in Sept assuming there would no longer be a mask requirement?? and because we were expecting Tron to be open by then. If Tron is not open and masks are still required, that could change our plans. Also would not return until park hopping and fireworks are back in play.

Oh I got ya! I saw September and I thought, "oh lord no! you'll still melt!" lol I went at the end of October once and in April and thought, "nope never again." I can't do heat.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Ok thanks! - might be like a behavioral economics exercise to see what people are more responsive to - a % off or a $ off - more than anything specific

That's what I was thinking too HOWEVER it shows they are considering big discounts to entice more patronage. I LIKE that and as I said, could make us go for a previously unplanned Dec trip

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Oh I got ya! I saw September and I thought, "oh lord no! you'll still melt!" lol I went at the end of October once and in April and thought, "nope never again." I can't do heat.

We actually enjoyed a trip in August more so than a trip in June because our Northern bodies had finally acclimated to summer temps before our trip. In June, we were miserably hot. I will say, our trips in Apr/early May were always great temperature-wise.

 

[coolbrook]

Was the reservation at Chef Mickey running on time? I heard some ADR really really running behind on seating. Thanks

We did have to wait a little while to be seated. Our ADR was for 10am. I don't really know how long we waited, maybe 15 minutes. Contemporary lobby is such an interesting place to people watch I really didn't pay much attention to the time.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I am not sure how the randomization would be governed?

I also don't have a sense of how many WDW AP's are Florida residents vs. non-Florida residents (versus is probably not the right way to state this, but maybe should use the word "compares"). Is it even an option for WDW to do away with non-Florida AP's as to limit the access and keep the local market?

Randomization will be done by a computer I’m sure. Maybe Tokyo Disney IT is actually competent.

We’re discussing Tokyo so we should take away absolutely nothing from it with regards to how US parks might operate down the line as Tokyo is 0% owned by Disney. Tokyo is lucky they still have a park seeing as they aren’t backed by mega-company Disney.

Interesting they were smart enough to space out timing of crowds. Lottery winners cannot enter until 2pm.

 

[coolbrook]

How long did it take at Chef Mickey's? I am trying to figure out how early to make a reservation if we hope to travel by bus to HS afterward in time to try for a boarding group.

I don't really remember. Our ADR was at 10am. We waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were at the table probably until 11:45 or so. I would recommend telling your server at the beginning of your meal that you would like the check early since you are trying to get to a park. At almost every table service meal of this trip it took a long time to get the check after we were done eating. I don't know why.

 

[Tjddis]

I mean most national media (and most people outside of Orlando/the Disney fan community in general) do not know what Disney Springs is nor do they really care. For all intents and purposes, it's a shopping mall with Disney's name on it. I wouldn't expect it to get the coverage that MK or any other of the other "Disney World parks" get.

I'm right there with you. I really enjoy DS. It's really the only shopping mall I really actually enjoy, but it's not that enjoyable at the moment. I hope they fix this.

With MK, I firmly believe you'll actually get shorter waits in the last three hours of operation than you will in the first three hours. I'd absolutely sleep in a bit, show up an hour or two (or three lol) after parking opening and build up to your favorite attractions. Plus, you'll avoid the headache of dealing with rope drop crowds and transportation. If you're going later, I think bus is totally fine.

I know you didn't ask, but I really am an advocate for a delayed arrival at all four parks unless Rise is super important to you. As someone who's done it and loves it, I'll try (likely unsuccessfully) to get a BG at 1pm and 4pm (if any are still available), but if I don't get one, I'll be fine. I'd much prefer to have those low-wait evening hours for the other attractions there I love, and I just don't see myself able to do 10 full hours in the parks each day, given how hot it is and the face covering requirement.

Tbh we stopped going to DS years ago. I found it unbearably crowded and difficult to enjoy pre covid. I feel the restaurants are pedestrian and not worth the aggravation. Now admittedly since I have not gone for a while there maybe some places that I don’t know that are good, but I feel it is just a mall and I don’t need to go.
im also old and cranky I know but I loved the old Empress Lilly and miss the days when DS was a relaxing place to get away from the bustle of the crowds. If I’m going to deal with crowds like that I’d rather stay in the parks

 

[Brianstl]

The temps will be exactly the same in September as they are now. They don't get tolerable until November. PLUS you get to see all of the decorations.

In September the average temperature is a couple degrees cooler. The big difference is when it comes to the heat indexes, especially during the last half of the month when average humidity levels really start to drop dramatically. The last half of September is much more comfortable on average at WDW than July or August.

 

[Tjddis]

Why would they entice people away from a shopping district? The whole idea is to make money so I don't see that happening. Each person should make the decision for themselves whether or not to go there. We've got to stop relying on someone else to make our decisions for us. Each person is capable of judging whether or not they feel safe enough to go in. For now...we can still chose. These places are not "have to" places after all so no need for Disney to "fix" the problem because there isn't one. They can only do so much, the rest is up to our own discretion. Places are open, life is going on, staying away from others and masks are a must now in order to be there....the rest falls under common sense. If it's too crowded for your or my liking, don't go. We need to remember that, because we are getting all too comfortable leaving our thinking up to someone else, and WAY too used to being told what to do. I'm not trying to be ugly in the least, but each person has a different idea of what it should be like and Disney nor any other company is going to be able to make it the ideal situation for each individual, especially in THIS day and age where everyone has something to gripe about. We have to use our own compass.

I don’t at all disagree with your basic premise but then why are they limiting Park capacity?
With the parks all closing early people are funneling to what is open. So maybe they do need to take a look at capacity at DS and manage it similarly to how they are managing Park capacity? Because it seems to me people are using FS as an extension of the park experience now more than ever

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Why would they entice people away from a shopping district? The whole idea is to make money so I don't see that happening. Each person should make the decision for themselves whether or not to go there. We've got to stop relying on someone else to make our decisions for us. Each person is capable of judging whether or not they feel safe enough to go in. For now...we can still chose. These places are not "have to" places after all so no need for Disney to "fix" the problem because there isn't one. They can only do so much, the rest is up to our own discretion. Places are open, life is going on, staying away from others and masks are a must now in order to be there....the rest falls under common sense. If it's too crowded for your or my liking, don't go. We need to remember that, because we are getting all too comfortable leaving our thinking up to someone else, and WAY too used to being told what to do. I'm not trying to be ugly in the least, but each person has a different idea of what it should be like and Disney nor any other company is going to be able to make it the ideal situation for each individual, especially in THIS day and age where everyone has something to gripe about. We have to use our own compass.

It shouldn’t just be a free for all, though.

Clearly, mask and distancing enforcement is an issue at Springs. They can enforce that as a health issue, just like they would if someone was urinating on the sidewalk. And even if someone goes and plans to follow the rules, it’s obvious others won’t. And that’s why enforcement is needed.

If people can’t adhere to mask and distancing rules at Springs, they shouldn’t be there. And if there are too many people there to achieve proper distancing, Disney needs to do something about that.

There is inherent risk in participating in any kind of mass gathering at Disney right now, but from numerous reports, there certainly seems to be an enforcement issue at Springs.

Unfortunately because Springs is a free hangout, there will be issues there. People are willing to take the risk to get tossed because they don’t have anything to lose. Different than getting tossed after paying lots of $$$$ to get into the parks.

 

[Carol Jackson]

While I’m on Magical Express to Pop I have been notified my room at Coronado Springs is ready.

 

[WonderlandisReality]

View attachment 511901
While I’m on Magical Express to Pop I have been notified my room at Coronado Springs is ready.

Cool. You’ve just joined the NBA. Hope you like basketball.

 

[Tjddis]

The tourism industry in FL is already in massive trouble, shut down or not.

It’s a real catch 22 isn’t it? I can’t believe that this many months in we still can’t come to consensus on the best way to get through this. It’s such a binary choice that is presented; open or closed. Economy or health. Imo it was somewhere in the middle. Some states rushed to reopen (almost nobody had achieved the recommended numbers when they opened the states). Again imo a slower reopen would have meant short term pain for a little while longer opposed to this thing rising up in those states. Btw I have no idea if that is right. Just my opinion. Frustrating that our public health officials/leaders could not get together and advise us better. Would limiting people traveling to areas of outbreaks Help slow it? That’s what I believe. That’s what the people of Hawaii think, right? Nobody more dependent on tourism than they are. At this point both sides of the binary argument are dug in. So not looking for further debate. No minds are going to change right now...

 

[JaxDad]

Cool. You’ve just joined the NBA. Hope you like basketball.

With a league minimum salary of around $900K, I'll take it.

 

[Helvetica]

I woke up too late to make it to rope drop. The boarding groups were gone by the time I got there at 10:15. Ah well, I’ll try again at 1pm.

Entry into the park was an absolute breeze, but DHS does seem to be a bit hotter than Epcot.

 

[Eric Smith]

Yes it is. That’s why a shut down would kill it. We just need to tread water until there’s a vaccine.

I wouldn't call what is going on right now "treading water"