Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[gottalovepluto]

Not entirely sold on this 30 minute thing being a “perk.” I think it could be, but will need to see reports. I’m already having a hard time convincing my husband to stay on-site in November.

It's not a perk, lets be real. Every Disney and Disney Neighbor hotel will have access so you and thousands of your closest friends can enjoy the perk together.

I find this especially funny in light of the fact everyone can enter 20-45 mins right now to prevent covid crowding at the entry points...

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Not when you need multiple car seats as many families do. You might get a ride share with one car seat but you’ll never get two. You either need to lug the car seats with you and check them or rent them with the car. And car rental places often can’t guarantee rental car seat availability and they can be pretty bad quality and condition (from unfortunate experience.)

Yep. Until we have no kids in car seats a rental car is far and away our best and only real option without DME.

I think for us it will open us up to new experiences, as much as I’m disappointed in the news. Little things like going to Boma for breakfast early in the morning where before it was a pain in the butt with Disney transport (and ride shares were not a real option), and then possibly a UO visit.

 

[MrsBooch]

The comments section of the Disney Blog post is blowing up - people are not happy. I can't figure out how to comment - but I wrote an email - which I would think amounts to the same effect.

Nothing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Tough when you've got 4 kids (3 who need car seats). I often see families with 3+ kids in the parks, so I know we're not alone. Admittedly I've only taken an Uber using a car seat a handful of times, but each time has been a hassle (having to wait for them to retrieve the seat from the trunk and actually install it). And I've never had one with more than 2 car seats available (we had to wait a while for it, too).

Rental car companies are gonna make a killing in 2022 on the car seat upgrade...

 

[Eeyore daily]

And there are others like me who will still stay on property just to be close to the parks.

I contemplated staying off site for our upcoming trip but even with offsite parking fees and cheaper (sketchy) places I still prefer to be in the bubble but maybe that's my escape from "Florida"

 

[Funfire240]

For sure, if you’re still staying on site it’s an easy solution. We’ve done that before and it’s roughly an extra $100 for a not great experience. And you’d be shocked how many people don’t feel comfortable taking them. We are fine for the most part but I’ll be honest, FL Uber drivers are something else haha.

But if no DME forces people off-site they’re better off renting a car to get around and not calling an Uber 2x a day to get to and from the parks, at the very least.

This is us. I know uber/lyft don't have many problems but we are just not comfortable with using either service. We went to SeaWorld one day during our last 2 trips and even though it was more expensive then these options from POP, we booked a private transfer thru Mears. I'm trying to recall though, because if right, I remember hearing that Mears laid off quite a few employees and I'm sure they have to be experiencing a large income loss thru all of this as well.
The removal of DME really puts a damper on things and I hope they come up with something else - that doesn't cost a fortune either but I have a feeling that will not be an option. I loved being able to just hop on the bus and not worry about anything.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The comments section of the Disney Blog post is blowing up - people are not happy. I can't figure out how to comment - but I wrote an email - which I would think amounts to the same effect.

Nothing.

Concur. Disney knew that was coming. Disney does not give a darn. Afterall demand for the week of the 50th proves people will come and they will pay full price for the privilege. Especially once COVID is done... this has to be their thinking. Nothing else makes sense.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It's not a perk, lets be real. Every Disney and Disney Neighbor hotel will have access so you and thousands of your closest friends can enjoy the perk together.

I find this especially funny in light of the fact everyone can enter 20-45 mins right now to prevent covid crowding at the entry points...

Yeah I missed the other resorts bit. Ugh. Seriously considering offsite and adding Universal with the savings. Their deluxe resorts are actually worth it.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

For sure, if you’re still staying on site it’s an easy solution. We’ve done that before and it’s roughly an extra $100 for a not great experience. And you’d be shocked how many people don’t feel comfortable taking them. We are fine for the most part but I’ll be honest, FL Uber drivers are something else haha.

But if no DME forces people off-site they’re better off renting a car to get around and not calling an Uber 2x a day to get to and from the parks, at the very least.

At a risk of stereotyping, I think there are a lot of older folks who don't feel comfortable taking rideshares. My dad, for one. We recently had to explain to him that you agree to a price before you book an Uber; he was under the impression that they could charge you whatever and since your CC info is already there, you have no way to refuse. My mom is fine riding in one, but would have zero idea how to book an Uber or Lyft.

We've used the Mears van service in the past but never liked it. We've never had a "bad" DME driver, but those van drivers... One time, DH and I were buckling our seatbelts and the driver tried telling us not to use them. He said in FL, if you're over 17 you don't have to use a seatbelt (idk if that's true or not, I honesty don't care, bc I always use a seatbelt).

 

[yulilin3]

Surprised they're allowing all these comments on DPB. Ive been blocked from posting ever since i called out an author for using spanglish when trying to appeal to the latino audience

 

[Moliphino]

The comments section of the Disney Blog post is blowing up - people are not happy. I can't figure out how to comment - but I wrote an email - which I would think amounts to the same effect.

Nothing.

A lot of angry people on Twitter, too.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I am really bummed about DME. In the past couple of years I discovered the delight of a last minute solo trip when a good airline sale would pop up combined with a good AP resort rate. I often take the latest flight out after work to cut down on time off needed and I arrive at 11 pm or midnight. Having DME made this workable because I felt safe getting on that bus by myself at that time. I use rideshare services in regular life but don’t think I would feel comfortable getting in an Uber or Lyft alone at midnight in Orlando. This stinks.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Remember it's "baby steps". The baby has a tendency to fall down - a lot - early on. However, this time it hurt itself on something and is back to just crawling.

I'm thinking of eventual folks from overseas that rely 100% on DME and park transportation to get around. Some countries have different traffic patterns or norms quite different than ours, so driving here would be a challenge.

As for EMH, for us if it's not PM it's not on our radar. Others revel in rope drop and love the early morning, it's just not for us.

I'm *not* a morning person. I don't think I've ever, in all our trips, done morning EMH. We did a LOT of evening though

I'm also thinking about all the people from cities who don't drive at all, from overseas, etc. I wonder if this will lead to a significant increase in traffic accidents?

 

[andyman8]

He said in FL, if you're over 17 you don't have to use a seatbelt (idk if that's true or not, I honesty don't care, bc I always use a seatbelt).

“Click it or ticket” would like a word lol (that’s Florida’s statewide seatbelt campaign)

But in all honesty, you have a valid point. There are a lot of people (older folks certainly but also families, etc...) who are uncomfortable/unfamiliar with rideshare for a slew of reasons, which is why I was a little surprised to see Disney reference them in their announcement. I personally love rideshare and have never hesitated to take one (for what it’s worth, I’ve always used rideshare to get back to the airport from WDW after taking DME to my resort since they insist on picking you up 3-4 hours before your flight), but I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that all -or even most- of the the unmet demand by eliminating DME will be passed along to Uber/Lyft. If anything, I think the rental car companies will benefit most from this (and then so does Disney because you’re now paying to park your rental car).

 

[Eric Smith]

And there are others like me who will still stay on property just to be close to the parks.

I contemplated staying off site for our upcoming trip but even with offsite parking fees and cheaper (sketchy) places I still prefer to be in the bubble but maybe that's my escape from "Florida"

I would stop going to the parks before I stayed offsite. I don't want to see the "real world" when I got down to Disney.

 

[skeeter31]

I'm *not* a morning person. I don't think I've ever, in all our trips, done morning EMH. We did a LOT of evening though

I'm also thinking about all the people from cities who don't drive at all, from overseas, etc. I wonder if this will lead to a significant increase in traffic accidents?

People are reacting to this as if DME has been in place since 1971. I agree it was a great service, but it’s only been there since 2005. People figured out ways to get to and from the airport for 34 years before DME and they’ll figure it out again. Will it lead to a decrease in people staying on property, yeah but probably not the amount of people we’re thinking or for the length of time we’re thinking. But people will adapt. I always loved renting a car at MCO and driving to Disney. Gave me such a special feeling driving in through the entrance sign and then driving around property. Really prepared me for now living in Florida. I know how to get everywhere on property and multiple ways to get from point A to point B.

 

[MrsBooch]

I'm not old - i think - and i don't feel comfortable with rideshares. I have to do a lot of solo travel for work and I've had really unpleasant experiences to the point that I now pay out of pocket with marginal reimbursement to secure my own car.

There is no way I'm having the whole fam pile into a rideshare on vacation for a solid 30 minutes between airport to resort.

 

[Farro]

Pretty bummed about ME. And surprised. I feel like they are going to re-try their own version of Lyft/Uber in the future, probably can order only on the not yet released Genie app...regardless, it won't change our preference in staying on-site.

But I'm actually happy about the 30 minutes in every park, every day. I think it will spread people out. And for us specifically, we would just use it to wander and take photos before the masses come.

As far as no evening EMH, we always go in October so there were hardly any anyways. I've said before, those ticketed after hours (not a party, just there after hours) hold such an appeal to us. I hope they bring those back. I'd skip some sit down dinners to pay for extra night hours in a couple parks.

 

[Jroceagles]

with walls coming down...any shot Rat opens this month?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

People are reacting to this as if DME has been in place since 1971. I agree it was a great service, but it’s only been there since 2005. People figured out ways to get to and from the airport for 34 years before DME and they’ll figure it out again. Will it lead to a decrease in people staying on property, yeah but probably not the amount of people we’re thinking or for the length of time we’re thinking. But people will adapt. I always loved renting a car at MCO and driving to Disney. Gave me such a special feeling driving in through the entrance sign and then driving around property. Really prepared me for now living in Florida. I know how to get everywhere on property and multiple ways to get from point A to point B.

This is how I feel about the FP+ window loss too. These perks may have helped people justify stays but at its core these individual perks are not what drive people to want to stay on property as a whole.

I hope nobody interprets that to mean I’m not disappointed or sad because I am or am apologizing for Disney, but I think they must know that these perks aren’t enough to move the needle for enough people one way or the other.