Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Jrb1979]

And part of the issue is that, even if Disney did started filling every seat on the rides (which I’m not sure they’ll jump right into, even UOR is still not filling every seat of every row), you still have this long physically distant queues with everyone spaced, so they’re still going to snake well beyond where they normally would. Another complication is that you have most of the ride’s capacity coming from the “standby” line so everyone is in that one queue, versus anywhere from 25% to 60% of capacity coming from the FP line, so the lack of that second queue elongates the physical line further.

The three “fixes” I’ve heard some discussion about recently are:

A) Bringing back some shows. There’s been chatter about this since the AE Union disagreement ended, but up to this point, WDW’s upper level management (which would make the call to bring any back) has been pretty quiet about it from what I understand. They announced Frozen returning and there seems to be some rumblings that maybe more could be on the way. But again, we’re talking about some shows, certainly not all. They could just be further kicking the can (they said Labor Day and here we are a month later), so we’ll see.

B) Some sort of virtual queue service. Whether they use the FP/FP+ branding, I don’t know (I doubt it), but there is apparently renewed interest in this project after IT spent some time earlier this year trying to develop a reliable system to no avail (mind you, they were under considerable time restraints and operating with very limited resources, or that’s what they say). With Standby Pass rolling out at DLP after success in SDL and TDR, they’re looking closely at it for WDW. Will WDW get a carbon copy? Likely not. It may not get anything at all, but there hasn’t been any chatter about FP/VQs since the reopening so I find it interesting talk of it has suddenly been resurrected.

Now, take this next part with a grain of salt but I thought it was very interesting. Apparently, one possibility for an “ideal” system at full rollout (which would be quite a while from now) would be a combination of virtual queue (I.e. “standby”) and a paid queue-bypass option (i.e. “FastPass”). Imagine if you combined Standby Pass (here’s your assigned return time) and a paid FP (ride one time whenever you want). I’m very very skeptical this could happen but it’s an interesting possibility.

C) This goes without saying but expect more “tweaks” like more small QS openings, shop reopenings, things like that to give Guests more spaces to go. Some of it may still be weekends-only, given that (maybe with the exception of DHS), weekdays are still seeing smaller crowds than weekends.

I'm surprised more wasn't made about the paid FP coming?

 

[skeeter31]

I'm surprised more wasn't made about the paid FP coming?

Because there’s already an entire thread on this board discussing and debating it. No need to rehash it all in here.

 

[rteetz]

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[midnight star]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/froz...-reportedly-closed-permanently-at-disneyland/

Heart broken

 

[rteetz]

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are at capacity.

 

[rpb718]

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are at capacity.

Any vloggers there now? It would be interesting to see what capacity looks like there.

 

[rteetz]

Any vloggers there now? It would be interesting to see what capacity looks like there.

We have seen some days where they have hit it before. I want to say Labor Day Weekend we did.

 

[rockpiece]

ADRS for the extended hours still haven’t been added...ugh I’m afraid they are going to come up randomly and I’m going to miss them.

 

[SaintsManiac]

ADRS for the extended hours still haven’t been added...ugh I’m afraid they are going to come up randomly and I’m going to miss them.

Use the Touring Plans ADR finder.

 

[yulilin3]

We took a bus to Disney Springs this morning. The bus was configured for 10 parties. Is this what you’re referring to? Every other bus we’ve been on was configured for six parties.

They were no empty seats next to the plastic partitions. So every seat (at least in the front half of the bus where we were sitting) was available for use, just divided by the partitions.

Edited to add photo:
View attachment 531398

Yep, that's it

 

[Elle23]

ADRS for the extended hours still haven’t been added...ugh I’m afraid they are going to come up randomly and I’m going to miss them.

While I’m happy about the extended hours, I’m salty they didn’t just offer them in the first place. Now all of my closing time ADRs are worthless and I’m stuck scrambling for new ADRs and there are none.

 

[Mal6586]

We took a bus to Disney Springs this morning. The bus was configured for 10 parties. Is this what you’re referring to? Every other bus we’ve been on was configured for six parties.

They were no empty seats next to the plastic partitions. So every seat (at least in the front half of the bus where we were sitting) was available for use, just divided by the partitions.

Edited to add photo:
View attachment 531398

This actually makes more sense to me. Several times when we were there in July, the bus couldn’t even fit its limited capacity because you had lots of parties of 2 in a section made for 5 people. This way they can tell a bigger party multiple small sections, and us tiny parties won’t feel so bad for taking up more space than is necessary.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1314991781885476865

 

[Anne Ritchey]

Also, I still haven't received my AP Tinkerbell magnet

Mid-October and no Tink magnet. My AP was renewed in March (for May expiry) I keep forgetting to ask when I go to the parks--although, I'm sure it won't do any good. No plans to return for over 2 weeks. Has anyone actually asked about this in a park ?

 

[jlwhitney]

Mid-October and no Tink magnet. My AP was renewed in March (for May expiry) I keep forgetting to ask when I go to the parks--although, I'm sure it won't do any good. No plans to return for over 2 weeks. Has anyone actually asked about this in a park ?

same no tink magnet either

 

[skeeter31]

Mid-October and no Tink magnet. My AP was renewed in March (for May expiry) I keep forgetting to ask when I go to the parks--although, I'm sure it won't do any good. No plans to return for over 2 weeks. Has anyone actually asked about this in a park ?

I would give the AP phone line a call next week and ask. Most likely your address on the AP system is wrong. There have been some really weird occurrences with the AP info in their system. The people in the parks aren’t going to be able to help as they don’t have a supply of those magnets on hand. The only staff that may be able to help are Guest Relations at DS or in that AP office in DS. But even there, they’re not going to have magnets on hand for you.

 

[Cfiiitz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/froz...-reportedly-closed-permanently-at-disneyland/

This makes me so so sad but I can’t say I’m surprised. Frozen performances had been cut down to four days a week (if I remember correctly) and we had specifically planned out January trip to cover one of the days so we could see it with our Frozen obsessed daughter. Unfortunately, the afternoon we had planned to see it they canceled the performances anyway. Her favourite thing of the trip ended up being Mickey and the Magical Map. But there have long been calls for new show or a revamp in that theatre. I just feel that, with these things, it will be a long time before we see this caliber of entertainment come back. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[Cfiiitz]

In other news... if you follow brookegmcdonald on Instagram she is at Epcot today with her family reporting on posted wait times vs. actual wait times. It’s super interesting. Some of them have been:

The Seas posted 40, actual 11
Figment posted 40, actual 8
Test Track posted 105, actual 39
Soar in’ posted 35, actual 35

Yesterday at MK:
BTM posted 55, actual 10
Peter Pan posted 35, actual 15
Winnie the Pooh posted 25, actual 15 with a clean cycle

She also posted that they have some different signs that basically say if youre not mask compliant you’ll be asked to leave.

Highly recommend following her if you want further wait time updates.

 

[LSUmiss]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/business/disney-world-coronavirus.html
Has a quote in there from one of the union reps saying there have been few cases amongst their cast members and that most of them originate from activity outside of the park.

Another timed article to try and get DLR open.

I know the virus is real so I’m not one of those ppl, but I think with reasonable precautions it’s not as bad as some worry.

 

[Jrb1979]

http://www.ibew606.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=836658
Looks like a bunch of maintenance staff is being let go as well.