Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[skeeter31]

Soaring in CA is the same exact ride now.

Incorrect. While the park is currently closed, technically right now it is operating as Soarin over California. Was before the shutdown and according to the DL website, still is now, leading me to believe it will still be when the park reopens. It’s a limited time event, but it’s not Around the World right now.

 

[Eric Smith]

Yes, but Epcot is normally a part of the base ticket.

I'm confused, but i think people are suggesting to remove it as part of a base ticket and make it an add-on? Like a water-park?

I personally would hate that. We easily spend two days in Epcot. But I may be misunderstanding what people are proposing.

Oh, I read it like just adding an option to purchase in to hop to Epcot. I assumed going to Epcot for a full day would still also be an option.

I think we would pay that just to be at World Showcase at the end of the day.

 

[JacknSally]

If you are going to go to a system that you want to charge people for, you can't be giving them away to people staying in your 30,000 rooms. You aren't going to have enough left over to charge people for it to make it worthwhile and still have a situation where the person doesn't have to wait a considerable amount of time.

You don't get rid of FP+ in the situation you are describing. You just tier base it on resort and modify an expanded program of what you already offered to club level guests when it comes to buying additional ones. If FP+ is really done, what is coming is going to be totally different.

I agree that if they're really doing away with FP+ altogether then it will look nothing like they've been doing, and I think if their endgame is to do away with it altogether, it won't look like this at all.

My response in your quote was a few replies into a rabbit hole but was ultimately my expounding on someone else's hypothetical that Disney might throw onsite guests a couple of free FPs in addition to having people pay for more, while offsite guests would only have the ability to buy FPs. I could see Disney doing something like that, yes, if their goal is to generate revenue from FPs. If their goal is to do away with FPs as we've come to know them and implement an entirely new method, then no, this likely wouldn't be a possibility.

 

[Farro]

Agreed. Epcot should stay as a “park” but I could see it become the first park that would allow afternoon or evening hopping as an add on price.

Especially when Rat and Guardians open, it will definitely be a full day park.

But I agree for now they can at least add only Epcot as a hopper option - but then I would want them to switch the hours to open later, close later.

 

[Eric Smith]

Incorrect. While the park is currently closed, technically right now it is operating as Soarin over California. Was before the shutdown and according to the DL website, still is now, leading me to believe it will still be when the park reopens. It’s a limited time event, but it’s not Around the World right now.

True, but that's always for a limited time. It's Soarin Over the World the vast majority of the time.

 

[Mit88]

Incorrect. While the park is currently closed, technically right now it is operating as Soarin over California. Was before the shutdown and according to the DL website, still is now, leading me to believe it will still be when the park reopens. It’s a limited time event, but it’s not Around the World right now.

Yup, it was Soarin over California last Summer when I went, I believe it was reverted back to World in September or October and then I believe in January or February it went back to Over California

Its a fairly easy transition. The ride mechanisms and film reel are already programmed. I think the people making their once in a lifetime trip to WDW would be fine if they had “limited time events” at EPCOT where we see it revert back to California for a month or two out of the year.

 

[skeeter31]

Yup, it was Soarin over California last Summer when I went, I believe it was reverted back to World in September or October and then I believe in January or February it went back to Over California

I love Over California so much and it just fits so much better in the DL park. They should leave it as that full time. I’ve lucked out that the past 5 times I’ve gone to DL it’s been Over California at the time as well. I wish Epcot would alternate the films between the theaters

 

[rteetz]

Given the conversation about FP+ this line about MyMagic+ is interesting.

It’s been discussed in other places and sites but if Disney had waited maybe 2 years or so I bet the MyMagic+ stuff never happens or is very different. Everything would be based on the phone. Magicbands likely wouldn’t exist. You’d get something probably closer to MaxPass for WDW.

 

[Mit88]

I love Over California so much and it just fits so much better in the DL park. They should leave it as that full time. I’ve lucked out that the past 5 times I’ve gone to DL it’s been Over California at the time as well. I wish Epcot would alternate the films between the theaters

The park is literally called CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE. Why would you ever take a ride and film named after the park you’re in and replace it with something else. Not to mention Over the World is a CGI disaster

 

[Moliphino]

I think the excessive planning for FP needs to go. 60 days is a little ridiculous. Make it when you check into your resort, you can then make FP (or whatever they rename it) for your entire trip. If dining is changing from 180 days to 60 days permanently, if/when a FP type system returns, I think the level of advanced planning for that will change as well. I think more BG style reservations should be made accessible for select E-Ticket attractions. I dont see the need for Rat to have one, but Guardians and Tron would probably benefit from having one.

I like booking FP ahead of a trip. I'd be fine with shortening it from 60 days, but having everything set before I even leave my house is great.

 

[Brianstl]

If FP+ is gone forever, this is what I could see Disney doing when business starts getting back to normal crowd wise...…...

Disney offering more days of EMH at the parks for onsite resort guests to justify what they charge for rooms. Then using Genie as an attraction planner when you arrive in the park based on what is going on in the park at any specific time that day. It will make suggestions based on the preferences you enter for your party and on what it learns about you while you our at the park. Then Genie will offer you the ability to purchase the right to jump to the front of the line of one attraction you choose for an extra fee. That fee will be based on the current wait time for that attraction. So if you want to jump to the front of a two hour wait for FOP, that will be $50 per member of your party. If they aren't getting any takers at $50 the system can be programmed to drop the price to $40. If you want jump to the front of the line of another attraction or that one again, you pay another fee. Maybe, they offer some kind of discount for onsite that varies based on what level of resort you are at. Maybe the offer one free use to resort guests on any ride that is not one of the top two in demand attractions at the time you decide to use it.

Disney can program the system to figure out what you are willing to pay and then price the upcharges on an individual basis. Why only charge $40 per person to the family that is clearly willing to pay $60 per person to avoid a two hour line? Everyone will be seeing different prices on their phone based not only on current demand but based on what Disney has learned it can charge you individually.

 

[anthony2k7]

Isn't that how hopping works anyways? It's an extra charge on a base ticket.

My point was that they'll use it as an opportunity for significant price rises for those who want flexibility at least.

 

[dlavender]

If FP+ is gone forever, this is what I could see Disney doing when business starts getting back to normal crowd wise...…...

Disney offering more days of EMH at the parks for onsite resort guests to justify what they charge for rooms. Then using Genie as an attraction planner when you arrive in the park based on what is going on in the park at any specific time that day. It will make suggestions based on the preferences you enter for your party and on what it learns about you while you our at the park. Then Genie will offer you the ability to purchase the right to jump to the front of the line of one attraction you choose for an extra fee. That fee will be based on the current wait time for that attraction. So if you want to jump to the front of a two hour wait for FOP, that will be $50 per member of your party. If they aren't getting any takers at $50 the system can be programmed to drop the price to $40. If you want jump to the front of the line of another attraction or that one again, you pay another fee. Maybe, they offer some kind of discount for onsite that varies based on what level of resort you are at. Maybe the offer one free use to resort guests on any ride that is not one of the top two in demand attractions at the time you decide to use it.

Disney can program the system to figure out what you are willing to pay and then price the upcharges on an individual basis. Why only charge $40 per person to the family that is clearly willing to pay $60 per person to avoid a two hour line? Everyone will be seeing different prices on their phone based not only on current demand but based on what Disney has learned it can charge you individually.

I'm with you except for EMH. They have drastically cut those into oblivion while simultaneously raising the hotel rates into oblivion.

 

[anthony2k7]

Soaring in CA is the same exact ride now.

I hate this. Its just a film afterall! Why on earth did they feel the need to make them the same?!

 

[mattpeto]

If FP+ is gone forever, this is what I could see Disney doing when business starts getting back to normal crowd wise...…...

Disney offering more days of EMH at the parks for onsite resort guests to justify what they charge for rooms. Then using Genie as an attraction planner when you arrive in the park based on what is going on in the park at any specific time that day. It will make suggestions based on the preferences you enter for your party and on what it learns about you while you our at the park. Then Genie will offer you the ability to purchase the right to jump to the front of the line of one attraction you choose for an extra fee. That fee will be based on the current wait time for that attraction. So if you want to jump to the front of a two hour wait for FOP, that will be $50 per member of your party. If they aren't getting any takers at $50 the system can be programmed to drop the price to $40. If you want jump to the front of the line of another attraction or that one again, you pay another fee. Maybe, they offer some kind of discount for onsite that varies based on what level of resort you are at. Maybe the offer one free use to resort guests on any ride that is not one of the top two in demand attractions at the time you decide to use it.

Disney can program the system to figure out what you are willing to pay and then price the upcharges on an individual basis. Why only charge $40 per person to the family that is clearly willing to pay $60 per person to avoid a two hour line? Everyone will be seeing different prices on their phone based not only on current demand but based on what Disney has learned it can charge you individually.

I envisioned Genie being some of that and some of this:

• A way to list your preferred strategy for your visit. Are you a thrill sort of person (coasters) or did you want front seats at shows, etc? (Hopefully it's granular by Day).
• Touring Plan assistant. Genie builds your itinerary.
• Grant a Wish (FP+ or Meet & Greet).

If the system is replacing FP+, Disney will be careful not to replace free benefits at least right away. While I do think paid experiences may come out of it, I'd be surprised if that's what is initially unveiled.

 

[Mit88]

I envisioned Genie being some of that and some of this:

• A way to list your preferred strategy for your visit. Are you a thrill sort of person (coasters) or did you want front seats at shows, etc? (Hopefully it's granular by Day).
• Touring Plan assistant. Genie builds your itinerary.
• Grant a Wish (FP+ or Meet & Greet).

If the system is replacing FP+, Disney will be careful not to replace free benefits at least right away. While I do think paid experiences may come out of it, I'd be surprised if that's what is initially unveiled.

I think what Genie was proposed as at D23 is going to be much different than what we see when it rolls out. Those things you listed will probably still be part of it, but I think its going to be more important for everyone going to Disney than it was originally supposed to

 

[CastAStone]

Everyone will be seeing different prices on their phone based not only on current demand but based on what Disney has learned it can charge you individually.

Dastardly.

 

[Brianstl]

I'm with you except for EMH. They have drastically cut those into oblivion while simultaneously raising the hotel rates into oblivion.

I m just spit balling ways they will attempt to keep the premiums they charge for rooms.

 

[Brianstl]

Dastardly.

Our machine overlords will know us better than we know ourselves.

 

[dlavender]

I m just spit balling ways they will attempt to keep the premiums they charge for rooms.

They've cut so many perks from onsite and none of them have really caused a downturn in bookings.

Used to be free parking...
30 hrs + EMH weekly....

Now we pay to park and have like 8-10 hours (obviously this is pre pandemic)

Nothing has stopped people from booking onsite. They even gave the 60 day FP perk to good neighbor hotels, something I was sure wouldn't happen to preserve premium rates.

Now this is a new world so anything is possible but WDW transportation and DME seems enough for people to book onsite.

I think even if they only shelled out one FP for free to hotel guests in this proposed new system that would be enough to keep the rooms at a premium. Apparently nothing they do can stop people from paying $270/night for POR.