Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[tlmadden73]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309553805143543810

Wow .. didn't realize the announcement had theme parks going back closer to "normal" .. I wonder what "limited social distancing protocols" looks like for theme parks? Allowing more people in parks? Filling up ride vehicles to full capacity?

I don't see Disney jumping on this right away as they probably want to be perceived as "safe", but I do see them "quietly" increasing capacity and filling up ride vehicles more if queue lines start to get unreasonably long.

I do see their competition jumping on this though- Universal especially .. to try and draw more people to their parks (and away from Disney). (Which they already are doing by having modified haunted houses, no reservations, etc.).

 

[mattpeto]

I agree. They will do the right thing.

But also, they will keep increasing capacity as much as they feel they can and people need to understand that too. They aren't going to keep such low capacity until everyone feels comfortable with them increasing - I'm sure they've got numbers/charts/third eyes used in planning the increase.

Disney won't want the PR nightmare if they can trace an outbreak from the parks. It's a chain reaction that will hurt them for sure and cause an immediate closure, especially if they increase capacity.

I expect them to be conservative through the end of the year.

I'm actually a little afraid of the cavalcades, those things draw too much of a crowd and might have to be rethought.

 

[Farro]

Disney won't want the PR nightmare if they can trace an outbreak from the parks. It's a chain reaction that will hurt them for sure and cause an immediate closure, especially if they increase capacity.

I expect them to be conservative through the end of the year.

I'm actually a little afraid of the cavalcades, those things draw too much of a crowd and might have to be rethought.

I mean, do we know that they haven't already started increasing capacity? Why is everyone so sure they haven't?

Every vlog I watch on you-tube (been watching a lot lately) and I never see huge crowds for the cavalcades. People seem to love them and it would be a real shame if Disney stops them.

 

[mattpeto]

I mean, do we know that they haven't already started increasing capacity? Why is everyone so sure they haven't?

Every vlog I watch on you-tube (been watching a lot lately) and I never see huge crowds for the cavalcades. People seem to love them and it would be a real shame if Disney stops them.

DHS is a mess.

The rest of the wait times at all the parks look kind of the same-ish from opening to me. Maybe a tad higher, doesn't mean they increased capacity.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I agree. They will do the right thing.

But also, they will keep increasing capacity as much as they feel they can and people need to understand that too. They aren't going to keep such low capacity until everyone feels comfortable with them increasing - I'm sure they've got numbers/charts/third eyes used in planning the increase.

Plus, us John/Jane Q Publics don’t see if they are adding capacity to the reservation buckets before they grey out. We all get frustrated with Disney IT around here, but surely they have a team that can add a couple hundred spots to each park every few weeks and keep an eye on park operations.

Clearly there are more people in the parks in September than there were in August. Whether that’s closer to full original buckets or new, larger buckets, we will never know.

 

[Farro]

DHS is a mess.

The rest of the wait times at all the parks look kind of the same-ish from opening to me. Maybe a tad higher, doesn't mean they increased capacity.

We will have to agree to disagree. If numbers stay same/get better in Florida, no cases traced back, I think they will definitely start increasing capacity near holidays. They started advertising again, they want people to start coming back.

They can always roll back if they have to.

 

[skeeter31]

Wow .. didn't realize the announcement had theme parks going back closer to "normal" .. I wonder what "limited social distancing protocols" looks like for theme parks? Allowing more people in parks? Filling up ride vehicles to full capacity?

I don't see Disney jumping on this right away as they probably want to be perceived as "safe", but I do see them "quietly" increasing capacity and filling up ride vehicles more if queue lines start to get unreasonably long.

I do see their competition jumping on this though- Universal especially .. to try and draw more people to their parks (and away from Disney). (Which they already are doing by having modified haunted houses, no reservations, etc.).

Disney won’t make any massive changes for quite some time. Look back at the opening process, the other Florida parks jumped at opening as quickly as possible, and Disney waited an entire extra month and a half and opened on their terms. Disney will continue to operate on their own terms, most likely through next summer. Social distancing in the parks and on the rides is here to stay for a while. They have put too much into getting it to the point it is today to make sweeping changes now. Yes, capacity may increase slowly over the next few months, but I think that’s going to be the only thing we see (and we probably won’t even see it because they won’t announce it). By already coming out and saying Christmas is going to be different this year and starting a full on marketing campaign reflecting those differences, they’re not about to change course now.

 

[rteetz]

I mean, do we know that they haven't already started increasing capacity? Why is everyone so sure they haven't?

Every vlog I watch on you-tube (been watching a lot lately) and I never see huge crowds for the cavalcades. People seem to love them and it would be a real shame if Disney stops them.

I don't believe they have increased capacity at this time. I think they are getting much closer to that limit though each day hence why we are seeing some increases in wait times.

 

[Disney Bobby]

They should increase capacity. Disney has handled this well and their methodology is proven. Cali really needs to let them open Disney Land again. At this point, staying completely closed is an overreaction and doing more hard than good. As we have heard, let the science lead the way.

 

[tlmadden73]

Disney won’t make any massive changes for quite some time. Look back at the opening process, the other Florida parks jumped at opening as quickly as possible, and Disney waited an entire extra month and a half and opened on their terms. Disney will continue to operate on their own terms, most likely through next summer. Social distancing in the parks and on the rides is here to stay for a while. They have put too much into getting it to the point it is today to make sweeping changes now. Yes, capacity may increase slowly over the next few months, but I think that’s going to be the only thing we see (and we probably won’t even see it because they won’t announce it). By already coming out and saying Christmas is going to be different this year and starting a full on marketing campaign reflecting those differences, they’re not about to change course now.

For sure. I am sure Disney knew about this announcement well before it was made, and it would be foolish to try and just reverse course now. They are a giant ship in the ocean, it takes a long time to make a turn.

It's obvious that Disney doesn't have any plans of being even close to normal until AT LEAST Spring Break of 2021. So I agree .. the main thing Disney will do is just slowly increase capacity (quietly) and MAYBE increase ride capacity. But mainly .. they'll just open up more restaurants and hotels ..... maybe.

But at least smaller parks and restaurants can open up if they want.

 

[mattpeto]

We will have to agree to disagree. If numbers stay same/get better in Florida, no cases traced back, I think they will definitely start increasing capacity near holidays. They started advertising again, they want people to start coming back.

They can always roll back if they have to.

Just because they up the capacity, doesn't mean people will flock back.

There's still a pandemic, battered economy and a limited Disney experience that might prevent them from reaching a much higher attendance.

 

[Farro]

Just because they up the capacity, doesn't mean people will flock back.

There's still a pandemic, battered economy and a limited Disney experience that might prevent them from reaching a much higher attendance.

I don't think any of my posts said that.

But obviously if they are advertising, they want people to come back. If people want to come back, they will increase capacity. I don't think they'd roll out an advertising campaign specifically targeting the Holidays if they weren't willing to increase capacity by small increments at a time.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Oooooh! Increase capacity via morning EMH for resort guests! I know that’s my Friday lunch wine talking, but a boy can dream!

 

[PrincessV]

This Floridian is VERY worried about what this great big return to near normalcy will mean. Under Phase 3, employers of all types are urged to resume normal operations with limited social distancing and limit telework - this isn't just about adding capacity to restaurants. I fear another big surge is coming.

But in regard to WDW, I still won't do any indoor dining, so no change for me there. But I did not cancel my AP because I was comfortable with how WDW has reduced capacity, its mask mandate, and its adherence with social distancing protocols. I absolutely will not visit if they increase park capacity to a point where safety is a major issue, and you bet I'll be demanding a refund of some type on my AP. I don't think they will, though. I hope they don't.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I don't think any of my posts said that.

But obviously if they are advertising, they want people to come back. If people want to come back, they will increase capacity. I don't think they'd roll out an advertising campaign specifically targeting the Holidays if they weren't willing to increase capacity by small increments at a time.

Bolded for emphasis. They want/need us back. They will need places to put all of us when we’re ready, and they have a plan for whenever that comes to fruition.

 

[Farro]

This Floridian is VERY worried about what this great big return to near normalcy will mean. Under Phase 3, employers of all types are urged to resume normal operations with limited social distancing and limit telework - this isn't just about adding capacity to restaurants. I fear another big surge is coming.

But in regard to WDW, I still won't do any indoor dining, so no change for me there. But I did not cancel my AP because I was comfortable with how WDW has reduced capacity, its mask mandate, and its adherence with social distancing protocols. I absolutely will not visit if they increase park capacity to a point where safety is a major issue, and you bet I'll be demanding a refund of some type on my AP. I don't think they will, though. I hope they don't.

Obviously you need to do what you are comfortable with.

But I do question why you think you would be deserving of a refund on your AP if Disney (safely under whatever standards they are using) increases capacity to a point that you don't feel comfortable going? That would be your decision to not use your AP, not a decision made by Disney.

They aren't going to just start letting in throngs of people...

 

[Eeyore daily]

This Floridian is VERY worried about what this great big return to near normalcy will mean. Under Phase 3, employers of all types are urged to resume normal operations with limited social distancing and limit telework - this isn't just about adding capacity to restaurants. I fear another big surge is coming.

But in regard to WDW, I still won't do any indoor dining, so no change for me there. But I did not cancel my AP because I was comfortable with how WDW has reduced capacity, its mask mandate, and its adherence with social distancing protocols. I absolutely will not visit if they increase park capacity to a point where safety is a major issue, and you bet I'll be demanding a refund of some type on my AP. I don't think they will, though. I hope they don't.

This is exactly how I feel. I was fine with everything being limited and low crowds but IF places are going to be packed I don't want to be there. I am so mad at myself for renting DVC points for this trip. I'd cancel it if I could.

 

[Farro]

This is exactly how I feel. I was fine with everything being limited and low crowds but IF places are going to be packed I don't want to be there. I am so mad at myself for renting DVC points for this trip. I'd cancel it if I could.

Places aren't going to be packed.

Even if they start increasing capacity, it's not going to be like "oh hey, come on in everyone! no social distancing needed! let's hug!"

 

[mattpeto]

I don't think any of my posts said that.

But obviously if they are advertising, they want people to come back. If people want to come back, they will increase capacity. I don't think they'd roll out an advertising campaign specifically targeting the Holidays if they weren't willing to increase capacity by small increments at a time.

Fair point.

They also ran that promo before getting clearance to increase capacity. Maybe they weren't reaching 25% in Oct-Dec (no parties, prob killed a ton of buzz) and decided to make a pitch.

 

[Farro]

Fair point.

They also ran that promo before getting clearance to increase capacity. Maybe they weren't reaching 25% in Oct-Dec (no parties, prob killed a ton of buzz) and decided to make a pitch.

Were we ever told what their capacity limit is currently? Was it 25%?