Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[MinnieMSue]

My DD is at King’s Island (Cincinnati OH) right now and just texted me that they’ve only gotten to ride 3 rides in 5 hours! Social distancing and the fast passes they sell for $90 a person for the day have made for a very frustrating visit.

Wow! I didn’t know KI was selling their fast lane this year. Cedar Point isn’t except people who bought them pre-covid can use them. We didn’t really notice anyone using them at CP. the Fast Lane completely ruins things for people who don’t purchase it at Cedar Fair parks

 

[New Mouse]

Hard to imagine WDW points get extended again. Now Grand Californian and Aulani, who knows. Aulani alone has around 1 of every 6 points for the whole DVC system. They can extend them for Aulani and have booking problems there or do nothing and have a flood of points into WDW DVC. It’s about a worst case scenario.

I cant speak to Aulani, but its odd they are still keeping grand cal closed. Id imagine they will be legally required to extend points. I have a reservation there in November right now.

 

[MickeyEars]

View attachment 522767

This is wonderful news!! I hope it’s reopening soon even though our next trip is until May 30, 2021. We sure missed it when we were there in July.

 

[sara_s]

FWIW I'm only seeing little little kids for the most part. Far less school-aged kids than you would normally see at this time of year.

We went into Epcot tonight for some food booths. Didn't do any rides because of the listed wait times. It's been raining on and off since we arrived earlier, but it cooled off and the breeze was fantastic!

I'd been reading that some folks saw less mask compliance at the end of the day, etc. I'm happy to report that tonight I would mark it as 90% compliance. Some people walking while eating, but most people respectfully pulling off to the side and eating or drinking. I would say 90% even because it was really obvious when someone's nose and/or mouth was out.

Tomorrow is MK day....I hope Mondays are good days. I also hope the weather holds up!

 

[Wreckem]

Well going back and forth back and forth I decided to lock in all my holiday plans.

Here’s hoping the holiday crowds aren’t terrible and Covid is not in rage mode again. Also hoping the Rat opens by Christmas. As well as some of the restaurants that aren’t currently opened. In any event all these trips will be at a leisurely pace and not rushed. It will be the third Xmas in a row at Disney. It’s sure to be different a experience.

Nov 21-27. 6 nights at Royal Pacific with UOAP and 4 day Disney tickets.

Dec 18-26. 8 nights at Royal Pacific with UOAP and 5 day Disney Tickets.

Dec 27-Jan 1. 5 night at Aria Las Vegas.

Airfares taken care of from Covid travel credits from canceled flights in March. We were originally supposed have been on a cruise the week of Christmas but I lifted and shifted because it’s probably going to be canceled after final payment is due. Unless Disney discounts rooms I’ll be keeping my Royal Pacific booking for Christmas. The Las Vegas trip was booked precovid. Bummer that there isn’t likely to be any NYE events and shows aren’t returning until spring but I’m not canceling a free room. Vegas was definitely weird in June. It’s probably going to jbe ust as weird in December but at least all the casinos will be open.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I saw one kid doing his virtual school in a Disney resort in the morning and then hit the parks in the afternoon. Super easy to do.

Just because you saw one kid doing this doesn’t mean that it’s “super easy to do” and that there is going to be a huge influx of virtual students heading to WDW. Virtual school is not the same framework everywhere. Some do a mix of independent work and live work. Some have live instruction for a full school day. It’s totally impossible to predict how it will affect crowds. Not to mention, a huge part of the country hasn’t even started school yet! We start in September, as do most districts around us, some not even until after Labor Day.

The next few weeks will be telling.

 

[chiisai]

I think it could have an impact but not significant. There will be parents who will put their kids in virtual school for a trip and put them back in person school when they get back. At least they will in Texas because the state is allowing parents to switch back and forth whenever they want. It will allow some people some more flexible travel but how many take advantage, I’m not sure.

Our virtual school day (no live option), for both elementary and secondary has live classes until about 3pm, with attendance at each class. So, we could go for afternoon park visits. Or some sort of unapproved half day leave (vacation is considered unapproved) if we want to go to the parks at noon. We may do this next year for a few days if schools are still virtual next spring to make spring break a little longer (if we decide to go, depends on state of covid treatments, numbers).

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Our virtual school day (no live option), for both elementary and secondary has live classes until about 3pm, with attendance at each class. So, we could go for afternoon park visits. Or some sort of unapproved half day leave (vacation is considered unapproved) if we want to go to the parks at noon. We may do this next year for a few days if schools are still virtual next spring to make spring break a little longer (if we decide to go, depends on state of covid treatments, numbers).

My point is that it doesn’t matter what anyone’s personal virtual learning schedule is because they are ALL different.

We will not know virtual school’s overall impact on potentially increasing crowds until school is in session everywhere. It’s simply too early to predict since it’s not even Labor Day yet. I lean toward the thought that it is not going to make a huge impact, but it’s just my feeling. I personally feel we are seeing higher crowds than earlier this summer right now because people are doing a last hurrah before school starts, and then the numbers will dip back down after Labor Day, but again - just a feeling.

Crowds typically drop off significantly Tuesday after Labor Day. I don’t think anyone can say that it will be any different this year due to virtual schooling. Do I think some will do it? Sure. It’s just too early to say it will have any overall impact on crowd level.

 

[chiisai]

My point is that it doesn’t matter what anyone’s personal virtual learning schedule is because they are ALL different.

We will not know virtual school’s overall impact on potentially increasing crowds until school is in session everywhere. It’s simply too early to predict since it’s not even Labor Day yet. I lean toward the thought that it is not going to make a huge impact, but it’s just my feeling. I personally feel we are seeing higher crowds than earlier this summer right now because people are doing a last hurrah before school starts, and then the numbers will dip back down after Labor Day, but again - just a feeling.

Crowds typically drop off significantly Tuesday after Labor Day. I don’t think anyone can say that it will be any different this year due to virtual schooling. Do I think some will do it? Sure. It’s just too early to say it will have any overall impact on crowd level.

I agree with you. I don’t think a majority of people will decide to vacation solely because school is virtual, given for a large number of counties virtual is live, attendance taken, and goes until mid afternoon. It might influence some to add a few days, but missing parks every day until late afternoon isn’t the touring plan a lot of visitors with families would want, especially with how expensive a trip can be.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I agree with you. I don’t think a majority of people will decide to vacation solely because school is virtual, given for a large number of counties virtual is live, attendance taken, and goes until mid afternoon. It might influence some to add a few days, but missing parks every day until late afternoon isn’t the touring plan a lot of visitors with families would want, especially with how expensive a trip can be.

And with limited park hours too. With parks potentially closing 5:00pm, 6:00pm and 7:00pm ... if you’re busy until mid to late afternoon, there’s not really much time. Many won’t find the cost worth that short amount of time.

It will be interesting to see what crowd levels do this fall!

 

[jpeterson]

Craziness.
I wonder who is in charge of the report card.

And just to add.....I think remote learning will look a lot different (be more intensive) with the start of a new school year then with the spring scramble of remote learning. I doubt there will be much impact in the parks.

I really don't think it's quite as bad as switching whenever they want. I'm in Central Texas, we have to pick before the start of each grading period (some weeks before actually) and they have home room teachers dedicated to in-person and virtual. The kids have synchronous learning throughout the day until nearly 3:00, (4:00 Eastern). This is grades 2 & 3.
I really don't think virtual learning will have much impact on Disney. Parents who would have pulled their kids for a trip pre-COVID-19 might still do so, but most still won't.
It would really vary kid to kid anyway, if they could do virtual at Disney. One of mine could probably do OK. The other one struggles to focus at home. Put a castle out the window and no way!

 

[chicagoshannon]

For the record, when my family is in the parks the next couple of weeks it's not because of virtual school. We are homeschoolers (have been forever) and already have 6 weeks of school under our belts for the year. We are on vacation not doing any sort of school while there (unless you count our trip to Kennedy Space Center).

 

[Sara W]

I don't think assumptions can be made across the board. I am bringing my kids down next week. They will do classes all day Tuesday (pool lunch break) and then Thursday morning. We have Wellness Wednesdays that are basically to do what is best for you and your family. You can join online specials (classes outside of core) or stay away from screen time altogether if you choose, we are choosing to go to Magic Kingdom. All of the live classes are also recorded so students can catch up if the time didn't work with their family (which is what we'll do with Thursday afternoon classes as we drive home). They just have to submit their work online. All this to say - each school system is going to be so different and who knows what we're going to see.

 

[anthony2k7]

Just because you saw one kid doing this doesn’t mean that it’s “super easy to do” and that there is going to be a huge influx of virtual students heading to WDW. Virtual school is not the same framework everywhere. Some do a mix of independent work and live work. Some have live instruction for a full school day. It’s totally impossible to predict how it will affect crowds. Not to mention, a huge part of the country hasn’t even started school yet! We start in September, as do most districts around us, some not even until after Labor Day.

The next few weeks will be telling.

Exactly, plus possibly most importantly, just because the kid appears to be "doing" the schooling, do we really think the kid was concentrating 100% on the schooling or perhaps a little preoccupied thinking about the rest of the day at disney?

 

[rteetz]

We are getting way too far off here with the school topic.

 

[jlwhitney]

I agree with you. I don’t think a majority of people will decide to vacation solely because school is virtual, given for a large number of counties virtual is live, attendance taken, and goes until mid afternoon. It might influence some to add a few days, but missing parks every day until late afternoon isn’t the touring plan a lot of visitors with families would want, especially with how expensive a trip can be.

And also have to take into account the area they are from and if in person school was offered. I am in NE FL and my county only had 20% pick virtual (its a full day) and the majority of those are the ones that are also not traveling or doing activities and such. So while I know some districts in the country are all virtual and those would have more that might have the desire to travel and some won't.

 

[jcbftw]

DCL Blog just tweeted that the cash room side of Poly is not opening until 2021, with "enhancements" to Great Ceremonial House and guest rooms. Wonder what this means for 'Ohana and Trader Sam's...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1300421609283518464

 

[chicagoshannon]

Wow didn't they just refurb the GCH? Maybe they'll add the Koi fish back into the little ponds outside.

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/08/brea...ge-resort-to-remain-closed-until-summer-2021/

 

[jpeterson]

Wow didn't they just refurb the GCH? Maybe they'll add the Koi fish back into the little ponds outside.

I don't know about the poly specifically, but if they are thinking long-term, now might be a great time to invest in resort refurbs. Easier to shuffle people around with lower attendance. But might be hard to stomach the expenses for the execs.