Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

I'm sure WDW has been aware for a while of issues surrounding FP+, or in some cases some communication failures regarding FP+. We've all heard anecdotally of folks who don't go often thinking that you needed to pay extra for FP+ or that you didn't need to select them ahead of time for any ride, etc. I'm sure most visitors that used FP+ as intended thought they could only ever get 3 FP+ and never even thought they could get more. Heck you had folks that only used there iphones in the parks to take pictures, and there were still folks that didn't have or use iphones at all.

Then you had the hard-core folks that were gaming the system in various ways over the years (let's just say that the "refresh" method was the last one left as others eventually ended up circumventing WDW "rules" when those loopholes were disavowed). WDW was very aware of this, with folks boasting they were able to get double-digit number of FP+ while average stand-by wait times at the parks creeped ever higher and affected many. I'm sure there were plenty of survey responses returned complaining of wait times and/or not being able to FP+ certain rides or do many rides. What possibly ended up happening are that the folks that WDW would rather have spending money in the parks were instead spending way too much time in lines, while the FP+ savvy folks that may not be the biggest spenders were doing all the rides but also spending a lot of time "refreshing" to get the next FP+ and hence not spending as much at the parks. They somehow created a no-win situation for themselves.

For lack of a better term, it seems we've created a generation of wait time or FP+ "snobs". In pre-COVID times - if they don't have a FP+, they aren't going to wait to get on a ride and just won't do it at all. That's fine for folks that live close by and/or visit often, but problematic for folks that don't. When the parks opened July in our COVID times, the lack of FP+ wasn't necessarily a problem due to attendance being at an all-time low. However as attendance has increased over time the fact that everyone is in the same boat with regards to wait times is starting to interfere with the "snobs" who are now questioning their future visits.

With the initial removal of FP+, I think for the moment WDW is "leveling the playing field" with regard to wait times. This is in prep for whatever future plans regarding FP+ or whatever replaces FP+ in the future. I'm of the belief that the future will bring something that is fairer to everyone across the board, but I really think they need to work on methods of line management (such as virtual queues) that free the guest from lines. And whatever they do, they may still have to somehow account for folks that still don't use iphones. It's a difficult task.

ETA: I had mistakenly typed "leveling the paying field" above instead of "leveling the playing field". In the end it might end up with both being correct.

This reminds me arguments of the move to FP+ from -. Lots of claims FP+ itself was a level playing field, and I do believe it mostly was in that anybody could learn to take near full advantage (I say near, because the prebooking was harder for those who were not onsite or had shorter onsite stays). At the end of the day, there is never a level playing field in terms of everyone getting the same or similar experience. Money and/or effort are always going to pay off and alter the experience in some fashion. Money obviously with VIP tours and whatever form of paid line skipping we get. Effort, in that research and planning will almost always be rewarded no matter what system they move to. Even without FP+, knowing the parks and how to efficiently tour, knowing the best times of day to try to accomplish things in a post Covid WDW, is still going to give a leg up on those who won’t research, wake early, etc.

I cannot see a WDW that is anywhere near an even playing (or paying LOL) field where that means that people coming in unprepared and unwilling to pay for the extras see similar success to people coming in planned and ready, or with open wallets.

 

[mattpeto]

With Chapek indicating that capacity will not increase at Disney World and is locked in at 25%, I think it's safe to say that park hopping and all of the likely dependencies (such as the Epcot Monorail Loop, and the Dining Plan) aren't close to being back.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Just arrived at epcot, Wording about wearing your mask or you'll be asked to leave has been added to the audio spiel

How are crowds now that the holiday weekend is over? Any reduction in attendance on a random Tuesday in October?

However as attendance has increased over time the fact that everyone is in the same boat with regards to wait times is starting to interfere with the "snobs" who are now questioning their future visits.

One could almost say (to paraphrase the "other" debate)... if you're not willing to wait in 30-60 minute lines, then don't go!

 

[DGsAtBLT]

With Chapek indicating that capacity will not increase at Disney World and is locked in at 25%, I think it's safe to say that park hopping and all of the likely dependencies (such as the Epcot Monorail Loop, and the Dining Plan) aren't close to being back.

I think theoretically they could have always brought back hopping within the confines of the capacity limits, it just would mean they are willing to deal with guests who pay for it and then cannot hop to the park of their choice due to capacity.

I agree I don’t see it back soon, but I think they could.

 

[Brianstl]

How are crowds now that the holiday weekend is over? Any reduction in attendance on a random Tuesday in October?

Is this week fall break from many in the northeast?

 

[yulilin3]

How are crowds now that the holiday weekend is over? Any reduction in attendance on a random Tuesday in October?



One could almost say (to paraphrase the "other" debate)... if you're not willing to wait in 30-60 minute lines, then don't go!

I only walked epcot for about am hour from 10 to 11ish, not a lot of people. At Riviera now, very low amount of people around

 

[yulilin3]

Also, not sure if this is new or not, someone correct me, the friendship boat dock at epcot has plexiglass in the queue

 

[skeeter31]

I just was checking MDE and noticed The Wave has been added been added to Mobile Order. I’m so excited, I love that restaurant, and we check into BLT tomorrow for a 2 night getaway and now we have that as a dinner option! We were just discussing this week that it would be a good option to add to Mobile Order as it has a giant kitchen, but is never really a full restaurant, so they have the kitchen space to prep to go orders. I could see Olivias and Turf Grill being next as well.

 

[skeeter31]

Is this week fall break from many in the northeast?

Not really a week off. Schools usually get Monday off for Columbus Day, but not sure if some schools have already eliminated that as a holiday. But I’m sure a lot of parents extend the 3 day weekend.

 

[mattpeto]

One pondering question...

With the long queues that stretch out around the park and not much else to besides the attractions themselves, how could they raise capacity SAFELY anyway?

Chapek's 25% number might be more of a "Law of Diminishing Returns" then we would think.

 

[rpb718]

Is this week fall break from many in the northeast?

My kids have been out of school for years, but in all that time we never had a fall break. Outside of the holidays we had a February break, and another towards the end of April - but never one in the fall.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1316067032031518721

 

[DGsAtBLT]

One pondering question...

With the long queues that stretch out around the park and not much else to besides the attractions themselves, how could they raise capacity SAFELY anyway?

Chapek's 25% number might be more of a "Law of Diminishing Returns" then we would think.

I think that’s a good point. Reservation capacity may very well be at a stand still until they can place people closer together on attractions, in queues, and when dining.

 

[Farro]

But wouldn't that be easily controlled with the park reservations.

Except they have capacity limits on admission. From what I see, DHS seems to be at capacity every day anyway. They could extend hours without increasing capacity. So that guests can experience the attractions in that park over a longer period of time and have more reasonable wait times.

They still might want to attract people to other parks, spread them out. Thus enticing them with longer hours on the more crowded weekends.

So if DHS is hitting capacity and AK isn't, perhaps AK with longer hrs will steal people from DHS.

I don't know.

 

[skeeter31]

My kids have been out of school for years, but in all that time we never had a fall break. Outside of the holidays we had a February break, and another towards the end of April - but never one in the fall.

Fall break is a southern thing, as schools start a month to a month and a half before schools in the north, so they usually get a bit of an extended break in the fall.

 

[DanSchwartz]

I'm all for safety. But does this really help?

 

[focusondisney]

They still might want to attract people to other parks, spread them out. Thus enticing them with longer hours on the more crowded weekends.

So if DHS is hitting capacity and AK isn't, perhaps AK with longer hrs will steal people from DHS.

I don't know.

If they want less people at DHS, they just need to lower the capacity number. If they want to spread crowds out, they just need to adjust those capacity numbers... increase the numbers at AK, decrease the numbers at DHS. Or increase the hours at DHS, so maybe the full capacity of guests will pace themselves on arriving & leaving the parks. I still don’t see how hours at other parks will decrease numbers at DHS. I do think fixing the issues with ROTR would help. As long as you need to be in the park at a certain time to have any chance of riding, guests will keep packing the park first thing in the morning.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Fall break is a southern thing, as schools start a month to a month and a half before schools in the north, so they usually get a bit of an extended break in the fall.

Yep it's yesterday and today for us. Usually coincides with Columbus Day. Our nine weeks ended last week, so it's a little break before the next term. I'm in Louisiana.

 

[MrsBooch]

Is this week fall break from many in the northeast?

I'm in PA - we don't really have Fall break so much as it's Winter Break and in December.

 

[MrsBooch]

So if DHS is hitting capacity and AK isn't, perhaps AK with longer hrs will steal people from DHS.

That's exactly what I was thinking when they posted the extended hours - it's a crowd pull.