Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Mit88]

I mean I see what you're getting at. But I think it's just the excitement of something that is back (even in a different form) before the pandemic. It's that sense of normalcy everyone is craving.

The opening of more restaurants (though some closing back down for the slow month of January), more retorts, a water park. It’s baby steps, but we’re getting there. Wont happen tomorrow, or the day after, but “soon” we’ll see the same excitement for normal parades, traditional M&Gs, APs being on sale again, and of course, fireworks.

But it does come at a cost, unfortunately. Because people went to the parks and paid normal pricing for the lack of experience, it’s more of an excuse to raise the prices and use these “new” additions as a driving reason. I don’t remember the last March that came and went without a price increase, so it would have probably happened again regardless of whether they brought some of these experiences back or not. But it gives them an additional reason

 

[rpb718]

The opening of more restaurants (though some closing back down for the slow month of January), more retorts, a water park. It’s baby steps, but we’re getting there. Wont happen tomorrow, or the day after, but “soon” we’ll see the same excitement for normal parades, traditional M&Gs, APs being on sale again, and of course, fireworks.

As @yulilin3 likes to say, the correct word is "parade". I remember when there were parades and was hoping the 50th would see a return of at least a MK nighttime parade (outside of parties). If it were a choice between a parade to be back in MK or cavalcades at all the parks - my choice would be for the cavalcades hands down. Not to say they are mutually exclusive, but something tells me that even the afternoon MK parade could be a thing of the past in favor of the cavalcades for the foreseeable future.

 

[andyman8]

but something tells me that even the afternoon MK parade could be a thing of the past in favor of the cavalcades for the foreseeable future.

For most or all of 2021, that’s likely the case (at least until the fall and the parties roll around) but long-term parades will be back.

 

[Mit88]

As yulilin3 likes to say, the correct word is "parade". I remember when there were parades, and was hoping the 50th would see a return of at least a MK nighttime parade (outside of parties). If it were a choice between a parade to be back in MK or cavalcades at all the parks - my choice would be for the cavalcades hands down. Not to say they are mutually exclusive, but something tells me that even the afternoon MK parade could be a thing of the past in favor of the cavalcades for the foreseeable future.

I wouldnt be opposed to it staying as Cavalcades. But I also don’t have children, and I know parades are a big thing with family’s. Whatever they decide to do, I’m fine with it. Parades do help with ride wait times as it pulls people away from attractions, even if it’s a slight help. As far as a nighttime parade, I’m pulling for Paint the Night coming to MK since I have serious doubts they had the budget for a new parade, and have already started working on it without it being leaked. Maybe for the 100th of TWDC we’ll get the new night time parade.

Side Note: Watching Mickey Views “coming in 2021” video and he mentions multiple large statues being put in MK for the anniversary, and additional ornamentation coming to the castle.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I wouldnt be opposed to it staying as Cavalcades. But I also don’t have children, and I know parades are a big thing with family’s. Whatever they decide to do, I’m fine with it. Parades do help with ride wait times as it pulls people away from attractions, even if it’s a slight help. As far as a nighttime parade, I’m pulling for Paint the Night coming to MK since I have serious doubts they had the budget for a new parade, and have already started working on it without it being leaked. Maybe for the 100th of TWDC we’ll get the new night time parade.

Side Note: Watching Mickey Views “coming in 2021” video and he mentions multiple large statues being put in MK for the anniversary, and additional ornamentation coming to the castle.

Yeah, why bother putting resources behind finishing Tron in time, let's get some statues!!!!!

 

[Mit88]

Yeah, why bother putting resources behind finishing Tron in time, let's get some statues!!!!!

Hint: Tron is one of the statues. That’s why they stopped working on it. Look, but can’t ride

 

[rpb718]

Hint: Tron is one of the statues. That’s why they stopped working on it. Look, but can’t ride

I think they should paint a sign on it with 30 foot high letters: "Tron... coming soon"

 

[Farro]

Somehow I feel a need to apologize to @rteetz.

ETA: And to the rest of the world if someone takes a video of the ride and edits in the song...

I am ashamed.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/park-hopper/'Guests are now able to check the Park Hours calendar and soon will be able to check the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park.'

What does soon mean in this case? Yesterday it could've meant tommorow, the day hopping returns. Today it could mean whenever, some date hopefully in the not too distant future. Look what Opening Soon meant for Space220.

We don't like the S word around here. Gives us flashbacks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The opening of more restaurants (though some closing back down for the slow month of January), more retorts, a water park. It’s baby steps, but we’re getting there. Wont happen tomorrow, or the day after, but “soon” we’ll see the same excitement for normal parades, traditional M&Gs, APs being on sale again, and of course, fireworks...

I gotta brush up on my retort game. Where are those located at Disney World again?

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I wouldnt be opposed to it staying as Cavalcades. But I also don’t have children, and I know parades are a big thing with family’s. Whatever they decide to do, I’m fine with it. Parades do help with ride wait times as it pulls people away from attractions, even if it’s a slight help. As far as a nighttime parade, I’m pulling for Paint the Night coming to MK since I have serious doubts they had the budget for a new parade, and have already started working on it without it being leaked. Maybe for the 100th of TWDC we’ll get the new night time parade.

Side Note: Watching Mickey Views “coming in 2021” video and he mentions multiple large statues being put in MK for the anniversary, and additional ornamentation coming to the castle.

I think that day parades will eventually return. They had just debuted Magic Happens at Disneyland right before covid hit. They know parades are a big deal. There was no sign that FOF was on the chopping block or anything, until covid hit. I don’t see why a typical day parade wouldn’t eventually return. It costs $$$ but they had just dumped tons of money into developing Magic Happens. I think they still value an elaborate parade production. During longer park hours, it also keeps people in the park spending $$$ instead of heading back to the hotel mid afternoon for a swim or nap.

Night parades ... well ... not sure about that. Haven’t been feeling confident about night parades returning for a while. I’d love if Paint the Night somehow made it to MK.

 

[Mit88]

I gotta brush on my retort game. Where are those located at Disney World again?

Anywhere, and everywhere. Karen’s love to break out a good retort while on Disney property

 

[HikingFam]

I wouldnt be opposed to it staying as Cavalcades. But I also don’t have children, and I know parades are a big thing with family’s. Whatever they decide to do, I’m fine with it. Parades do help with ride wait times as it pulls people away from attractions, even if it’s a slight help. As far as a nighttime parade, I’m pulling for Paint the Night coming to MK since I have serious doubts they had the budget for a new parade, and have already started working on it without it being leaked. Maybe for the 100th of TWDC we’ll get the new night time parade.

Side Note: Watching Mickey Views “coming in 2021” video and he mentions multiple large statues being put in MK for the anniversary, and additional ornamentation coming to the castle.

As a family with young kids, we LOVE the cavalcades! We start our park days early and usually head back to the resort after lunch, so trying to stay for a 3:00 parade was always a struggle. In a perfect world, I’d add a little more variety/surprise to the cavalcades, but even when we’ve seen the same ones 20 times, the kids still get so excited when they hear the “loud music” indicating that a cavalcade is coming.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

As a family with young kids, we LOVE the cavalcades! We start our park days early and usually head back to the resort after lunch, so trying to stay for a 3:00 parade was always a struggle. In a perfect world, I’d add a little more variety/surprise to the cavalcades, but even when we’ve seen the same ones 20 times, the kids still get so excited when they hear the “loud music” indicating that a cavalcade is coming.

We always struggled with the parade being at basically the hottest time of day so we also often missed it due to being when we took out mid day break

I would love if the non-MK ones stayed even if they eventually bring back Festival of Fantasy to MK. Seems like offering best of bother worlds (so it probably won't happen)

 

[New Mouse]

There is a twist. From the article there is two rumored twists. One would be possible early entry from resort guests. The other is that resort guests may get to park hop before 2pm.

Early entry is not a twist. Park hopping earlier than others also isnt a twist. They are both reduced benefits.

Aside from holywood studios, there is 0 reason to limit hppping to before 2pm and even then they could still easily eliminate hoppers from trying for boarding passes.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Early entry is not a twist. Park hopping earlier than others also isnt a twist. They are both reduced benefits.

Aside from holywood studios, there is 0 reason to limit hppping to before 2pm and even then they could still easily eliminate hoppers from trying for boarding passes.

The benefit connected to park hopping would be different and thus a "twist"

Something could be a "twist" and a "reduced benefit" at the same time. "Twist" doesn't have to be better

 

[corn princess]

As a family with young kids, we LOVE the cavalcades! We start our park days early and usually head back to the resort after lunch, so trying to stay for a 3:00 parade was always a struggle. In a perfect world, I’d add a little more variety/surprise to the cavalcades, but even when we’ve seen the same ones 20 times, the kids still get so excited when they hear the “loud music” indicating that a cavalcade is coming.

Sam's! My girls got excited to watch the same ones 2 or 3 times! They also loved the FOF parade but it was always during the time we went back for a break!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

For the people who like the cavalcades and prefer them to a scheduled elaborate parade like FOF ...

Would you still like the cavalcades as much if you could do real traditional meet and greets again?

IMO, the cavalcades add more character time to fill the covid-related parade AND meet & greet voids right now.

While the cavalcades are spontaneous and fun, would they be as much of a hit if you could meet and personally interact with pretty much any character you wanted again?

FOF is such a production from start to finish - I think it would truly be a loss if it never returned. All the dancers/choreo, character performers, the huge cast, the big show stopping floats ... would be pretty disappointing for the small cavalcades to replace something like that long term.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

For the people who like the cavalcades and prefer them to a scheduled elaborate parade like FOF ...

Would you still like the cavalcades as much if you could do real traditional meet and greets again?

IMO, the cavalcades add more character time to fill the covid-related parade AND meet & greet voids right now.

While the cavalcades are spontaneous and fun, would they be as much of a hit if you could meet and personally interact with pretty much any character you wanted again?

FOF is such a production from start to finish - I think it would truly be a loss if it never returned. All the dancers, character performers, the huge cast, the big show stopping floats ... would be pretty disappointing for the small cavalcades to replace something like that long term.

I get what you are saying but I think I just like how random and smaller the cavalcades are and not something you have to plan a chunk of your day around

Like I said, I think best case is FoF comes back to MK but the cavalcades remain at the other parks

I do want to see at least some traditional l meet and greets come back, but I would also be ok with a slight reduction of how many of them there are in exchange for keeping some of the random characters around (like Joy and Pooh in the field at Epcot or the Country Bears on the roof of their building, etc)

 

[only hope]

For the people who like the cavalcades and prefer them to a scheduled elaborate parade like FOF ...

Would you still like the cavalcades as much if you could do real traditional meet and greets again?

IMO, the cavalcades add more character time to fill the covid-related parade AND meet & greet voids right now.

While the cavalcades are spontaneous and fun, would they be as much of a hit if you could meet and personally interact with pretty much any character you wanted again?

FOF is such a production from start to finish - I think it would truly be a loss if it never returned. All the dancers, character performers, the huge cast, the big show stopping floats ... would be pretty disappointing for the small cavalcades to replace something like that long term.

At AK and HS, I want them to stay when m&g’s come back- with holiday versions. Epcot just doesn’t have enough room. MK I think it’d be neat if they divvied up the old parade into calvacades + holiday variations. Having more than one chance to see it helps with crowd control (which would still be good post-covid; who actually enjoys parade crowds?) and flexibility in touring. Having times listed post-covid would be nice though.

The “random” appearances (rooftops etc) are nice too. Makes the park come alive.