Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[circus4u]

I'm so sorry to hear this! Would you be able to provide a bit more detail as to what or why? Unless it's posted somewhere else and I missed it. Just want to manage expectations for our upcoming trip.

Also how was Shades of Green?

We loved Shades of Green. Not the place to go if you want "in your face Disney theme" everywhere but a great resort. Prices for meals are extremely reasonable (they are posted on their website). Well stocked little AAFES there. Bus service is excellent, if they say a bus leaves on the half hour from either the resort or one of the parks, you can set your watch to it. This was our first time there and my wife is already wanting to go back. They accept the Star Card there for everything from your room to your meals, so you can earn points. There is a thread elsewhere in these forums about SOG if you are interested. It's one of 3 military R&R resorts around the world, active duty, retired, and 100% disabled vets (and a couple other categories) are eligible to stay there. Wife liked it so much, she booked another stay there in January with two of our adult daughters. Only downside is that it does not participate in the Magical Express, so you need to arrange transportation from the airport.

 

[circus4u]

Then I suggest not going to Universal because that mobile ordering experience was terrible. I would take Disney's all day every day.

Not a problem, never been there, even when we lived in Tampa.

 

[Mit88]

I don't think was every supposed to be complete redo. I would compare this to Maelstrom to Frozen. Track and boats the same, change our some AAs and sets and you're done.

Not that he’s heading the retheme, but that’s a weird transition to coax Tony Baxter out of retirement for, even in an advisory position. I wasn’t hoping for them to tear it down completely overhaul the attraction, but a Maelstrom to Frozen like transition isn’t intriguing. I’m excited about seeing PatF get it’s due in the parks, I just don’t want to see it be done half-..... and that’s what it seems like is going to happen.

 

[rteetz]

Not that he’s heading the retheme, but that’s a weird transition to coax Tony Baxter out of retirement for, even in an advisory position. I wasn’t hoping for them to tear it down completely overhaul the attraction, but a Maelstrom to Frozen like transition isn’t intriguing. I’m excited about seeing PatF get it’s due in the parks, I just don’t want to see it be done half-..... and that’s what it seems like is going to happen.

Tony being involved as a consultant seems to be more or less fan service. At this point he may not be involved at all. So much has changed at WDI. They are going with bare minimum at the moment.

 

[rteetz]

Not a problem, never been there, even when we lived in Tampa.

That said I wouldn't be turned off by Disney or Universal simply because of mobile ordering. I'd go back to both tomorrow if I could.

 

[MrsBooch]

We loved Shades of Green. Not the place to go if you want "in your face Disney theme" everywhere but a great resort. Prices for meals are extremely reasonable (they are posted on their website). Well stocked little AAFES there. Bus service is excellent, if they say a bus leaves on the half hour from either the resort or one of the parks, you can set your watch to it. This was our first time there and my wife is already wanting to go back. They accept the Star Card there for everything from your room to your meals, so you can earn points. There is a thread elsewhere in these forums about SOG if you are interested. It's one of 3 military R&R resorts around the world, active duty, retired, and 100% disabled vets (and a couple other categories) are eligible to stay there. Wife liked it so much, she booked another stay there in January with two of our adult daughters. Only downside is that it does not participate in the Magical Express, so you need to arrange transportation from the airport.

oh this is so good to know - especially about the Star Card - thank you!!!

I didn't realize so many categories were eligible for stays.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

That said I wouldn't be turned off by Disney or Universal simply because of mobile ordering. I'd go back to both tomorrow if I could.

Our biggest problem with Universal's approach was the way they wanted you to have a table before ordering. We used it at the Leaky Cauldron, Three Broomsticks, Voodoo, Today Café and Dino Digs. All except Voodoo Donuts were shocked that we had placed an order before we sat down and had touched "I'm here." If you timed it right and hit "I'm here" if you were next in line for a table or as you walked near the door, it probably saved 10-15 minutes and a lot of sitting around, especially in the Wizarding World.

 

[rpb718]

That doesn't fit the term "fast track"

When we went on Splash a few weeks back I made a point of enjoying it for the last time as a ride just for the nostalgia - just in case. Looking around at everything there, inside and outside, I was thinking to really do PatF right they'd have to make a LOT of changes and I'm sure use technology similar to newer attractions like FEA. This won't be a quick change like the PotC "we wants the red head" fix. I think it will be out of commission for many months. When they start is the question, and I'm not sure if they would before TRON is ready.

 

[rteetz]

Our biggest problem with Universal's approach was the way they wanted you to have a table before ordering. We used it at the Leaky Cauldron, Three Broomsticks, Voodoo, Today Café and Dino Digs. All except Voodoo Donuts were shocked that we had placed an order before we sat down and had touched "I'm here." If you timed it right and hit "I'm here" if you were next in line for a table or as you walked near the door, it probably saved 10-15 minutes and a lot of sitting around, especially in the Wizarding World.

Yeah and the app didn't work for me half the time. I didn't get it to work at Krusty's and then just went up and ordered anyways. I got it to work barely at the pizza place that's name is escaping me at the moment. We hate on Disney IT a lot but man I would be taken that experience over my Universal one in that respect.

 

[yulilin3]

We really didn't go to ride, mainly for the ambience and to see the Christmas decorations. This was my first trip back in four years (although my wife has been twice since I last went). We went to Magic Kingdom one day for four hours and rode Small World and Haunted Mansion. Went to Hollywood for 3 hours, rode Toy Story Mania. Last trip was to Epcot, probably about 5 hours and rode Soarin'. We did enjoy Regal Eagle Smoke House. Tried to order in person counter service in Tomorrowland, but they were rather insistent that I do mobile ordering. Did do Mobile ordering at Deluxe Burger in Disney Springs which did turn out OK. Everywhere we tried to mobile order, we weren't permitted into the facility until the screen turned purple and said our order was ready. Got to Hollywood about 4 or 4:30, ABC Commissary was closed, they sent us to Back Lot (I think that's what it was called) and it closed 5 minutes before we got there. Sent us to Rosies, limited menu but at least it was hot. Down side about that was everyone in the pick up line ahead of me seemed to be ordering mixed drinks (didn't know they served drinks there), and took about 10-15 minutes to get through the line to get our food) Ordered breakfast during a visit to Pop Century, we went in as soon as they said it was ready. 3 egg omlet looked like a single scrambled egg with him and cheese sprinkled on the top. It was cold. My wife's waffles and eggs were also cold. I think that was the last time we bought any Disney food. Rest was at Shades of Green.

I see, well maybe next time you come just be more familiar with the process. Opening and closing times of restaurants can be found on the app and you can reserve your meal time in the morning, that way when your reservation time comes around you only have to wait for the food to be prepared, which usually takes only about 10 minutes. You are able to counter order as well they are just pushing the MO as much as possible, is just a matter of being firm. Since the advent of MO I never had a problem, it just takes some time to get used to it and learn how to do it properly so you take advantage of it

 

[rteetz]

When we went on Splash a few weeks back I made a point of enjoying it for the last time as a ride just for the nostalgia - just in case. Looking around at everything there, inside and outside, I was thinking to really do PatF right they'd have to make a LOT of changes and I'm sure use technology similar to newer attractions like FEA. This won't be a quick change like the PotC "we wants the red head" fix. I think it will be out of commission for many months. When they start is the question, and I'm not sure if they would before TRON is ready.

And Tron likely won't be ready until 2022 at this point.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328389962220244992

 

[fatmanatee]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...tertainment-offer-glimpse-of-exciting-future/

The Guardians test vehicle vid is pretty interesting, not exactly what I expected from its movement (for some reason I expected more spinning?) but maybe that's due to the limits of the track.

 

[rteetz]

The Guardians test vehicle vid is pretty interesting, not exactly what I expected from its movement (for some reason I expected more spinning?) but maybe that's due to the limits of the track.

Thats just a test track. They are using the spinning to show sets/scenes.

 

[rteetz]

 

[skeeter31]

@Mit88, just so you know for your next trip, if you happen to use the mobile ordering for TS restaurants, as long as your APs and DVC are linked to your MDE, the discounts pop up automatically when you get to the payment screen. We did it on our last trip ordering from Olivias and both discounts were automatically there and we could pick either AP or DVC (both were the same discount so it really didn’t matter).

 

[HokieRaven5]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328389962220244992

So the Genie App service should be available "SOON" right?!?!?!?

 

[figmentfinesse]

I think the re-theme starts once it goes down for its usual refurbishment in January 2021. I’ve just been holding out hope that they’d leave it up until 2022 so that I could experience the attraction one more time but it appears that won’t be the case. Don’t mean to derail the thread. Just hate they keep making announcements on this with 0 details.

They haven't announced a Jan refurb, and this late in the game I'm starting to think they will be skipping it this year. They usually announce by mid-October. I think they need it to eat people.

 

[rteetz]

So the Genie App service should be available "SOON" right?!?!?!?

Not until sometime in 2021 I believe.

 

[osufeth24]

Not until sometime in 2021 I believe.

Well, that's is considered soon in disney's dictionary