Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

This doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things. Lots of companies will do this. Its to note that the future is uncertain. Doesn't mean the company is closing or selling off or something like that.

It might also help them make a case for a bailout.

 

[Krandor]

This doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things. Lots of companies will do this. Its to note that the future is uncertain. Doesn't mean the company is closing or selling off or something like that.

Correct and per SEC regulations they are requited by law to make a statement when there is a possibility of disruption in their business even if (as in this case) every investor already knows about the situation. This is simply filing required statements with the SEC to comply with laws.

 

[vinotinto]

Why is it non-refundable? Did you not book through Disney?

He may have rented DVC points. Those are non-refundable.

 

[hertamaniac]

What I will find interesting is how these shutdowns effect the vlogging community. I think, generally speaking, they are finding new angles/news/reports to keep their income stream.

 

[rteetz]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/19/34-y...ies-coronavirus-visited-disney-world-florida/

 

[mshanson3121]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/19/34-y...ies-coronavirus-visited-disney-world-florida/

This is so sad. And also a great example of why all these measures are being put in place. How many people did he infect that have now returned home and infected others?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Whoa - He was coughing up blood but STILL got on a cross-country flight, THEN went to the ER?!

 

[fla4fun]

And if they don't? Would regular travelers still pay full price for tickets and a discounted 30% off rooms if they don't have fireworks shows, nighttime shows, meet and greets, and can only participate in a limited number of experiences per day, as they reduce the number of people that can ride per hour, and cannot get the ADRs to your favorite restaurants since they are only filling them to XX capacity? I just don't see the average traveler paying a premium to get a limited experience, even if they feel comfortable traveling.

Well, every traveler goes to WDW for different reasons. I have a Trip booked for June, one for August and one for December. August and December are paid in full, so I plan to go if the parks are open. June is the backup for my scheduled May trip that I expect to be cancelled and it is a room only I can easily move or cancel if necessary. All the rooms were booked at the discounts available at the time.

As an AP holder, I don’t feel I need to be in the parks from open to close. My typical park day is three FP, a meal, and some shopping and then back to the resort for R&R. I am content just to be there. So my personal touring style would work well under your scenario. There may be some others who feel the same. I know for many others, that would not be the case, and I will not judge their decision to postpone for a longer period of time.

 

[vinotinto]

Well, every traveler goes to WDW for different reasons. I have a Trip booked for June, one for August and one for December. August and December are paid in full, so I plan to go if the parks are open. June is the backup for my scheduled May trip that I expect to be cancelled and it is a room only I can easily move or cancel if necessary. All the rooms were booked at the discounts available at the time.

As an AP holder, I don’t feel I need to be in the parks from open to close. My typical park day is three FP, a meal, and some shopping and then back to the resort for R&R. I am content just to be there. So my personal touring style would work well under your scenario. There may be some others who feel the same. I know for many others, that would not be the case, and I will not judge their decision to postpone for a longer period of time.

I get it. I'm a Passholder too. I've gotten plenty of value out of my AP. It's not like I'm paying $100+ / day to be at the parks. But, most visitors are not Passholders. They have not ridden FoP, seen HEA, or eaten at Cali Grill a bunch of times. It's that demographic I'm not sure will find value out of a limited WDW experience at basically the same price as the full experience. It would need to be a severe discount to make it worthwhile and I just don't see them discounting that heavily, especially since the point is that they need to thin out the crowds.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/19/34-y...ies-coronavirus-visited-disney-world-florida/

This terrifies me as I am near that age with Asthma that I feel I outgrew. Very very scary.

I see he had beaten cancer at a young age so I assume the treatments might be a reason for the passing. The asthma thing scares the hell out of me though.

Maybe shouldn’t have been let to leave hospital with pneumonia though also

 

[J-BOY]

This terrifies me as I am near that age with Asthma that I feel I outgrew. Very very scary.

I see he had beaten cancer at a young age so I assume the treatments might be a reason for the passing. The asthma thing scares the hell out of me though.

Maybe shouldn’t have been let to leave hospital with pneumonia though also

There are a number of factors that seem to have significantly worsened his outcome just based on the limited information we have here...

1. He was on a work trip and went to Disney World at the end. Extended travel, and especially visits to theme parks can significantly lower immune response due to lack of sleep, exposure to different allergens, recycled plane air, and other illnesses.
2. He does have a history of respiratory illness, and of immune response issues (testicular cancer).
3. He started coughing up blood and waited a full day to be seen by a doctor - in between the two he also traveled again, potentially exposing him to other illnesses while his body was fighting.

It's unfortunate, but a little precaution probably would have helped a lot. I think at any point that you start coughing up blood, regardless of coronavirus, you should be headed to a doctor almost immediately. Especially so if you have pre-existing issues.

 

[Yarbogash]

I think this is going to be a bigger deciding factor than comfort level. We are heading for 1930s levels of unemployment if governments don’t react properly (even if they do, it will be a recession at least on par with 2008).

This. 100%.
For many many people the struggle will be to just keep their head above water. A Disney vacation is off the table now for all of these people and will be a very low priority going forward.
Will be a long long time before Disney can get back to the kinds of visitor numbers they had prior to this. And yes, when they reopen it will take aggressive discounting to even to begin to recover.
It’s looking more and more like the virus will ravage FL for a long time. WDW is going to be closed for many months. The concern at this point should be whether the company will survive. They are cash poor and the corporate projection reports so many revenue streams are now negatives. I’m expecting they will be bought up or get a bailout as they near bankruptcy.

 

[Goofy2015]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/19/34-y...ies-coronavirus-visited-disney-world-florida/

This is frightening.

I think this an example of why Disney needs to be closed until it is socially and ethically acceptable. Disney needs to do the right thing. They should definitely not open the park to a limited capacity early. They should open the limited capacity when it is socially and ethically acceptable.

 

[fsjking]

Why is it non-refundable? Did you not book through Disney?

Rented DVC points through an owner.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

He may have rented DVC points. Those are non-refundable.

I’m curious. If Disney is giving back the points to owners who booked, why can’t someone get a refund?

 

[rteetz]

This is frightening.

I think this an example of why Disney needs to be closed until it is socially and ethically acceptable. Disney needs to do the right thing. They should definitely not open the park to a limited capacity early. They should open the limited capacity when it is socially and ethically acceptable.

At the same time though with how many people visit disney parks and how many cases are in the US it was only a matter of time before this happened.

 

[crvetter]

I’m curious. If Disney is giving back the points to owners who booked, why can’t someone get a refund?

Just because points are returned doesn't mean they are useful. Points have expiration dates so if the points refunded happen right before they expire makes them useless or if all rooms are now booked. Also the PP reservation is in December and at this point the resorts/parks haven't been closed so the issue of what DVC is doing right now (only rest of March 2020) with owners is sort of moot for the PP's reservation.

If DVC didn't have the cancellation restrictions the prices would be much much higher, that is partly why Disney Cash rates are higher. You pay for more flexibility.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I’m curious. If Disney is giving back the points to owners who booked, why can’t someone get a refund?

There's a whole thread (technically several of them) devoted to this question on the DVC forums.

 

[Yarbogash]

At the same time though with how many people visit disney parks and how many cases are in the US it was only a matter of time before this happened.

They let it happen. Imho Disney stayed open way too long and while they were open they failed to take it as seriously as they should have. Most of the precautions they announced failed to materialize on the ground with any consistency. Hindsight is 20/20 but so many people figured it out before Disney finally closed the doors. There will be a lot of cases that can be traced back to WDW.

 

[jkh36619]

Well, every traveler goes to WDW for different reasons. I have a Trip booked for June, one for August and one for December. August and December are paid in full, so I plan to go if the parks are open. June is the backup for my scheduled May trip that I expect to be cancelled and it is a room only I can easily move or cancel if necessary. All the rooms were booked at the discounts available at the time.

As an AP holder, I don’t feel I need to be in the parks from open to close. My typical park day is three FP, a meal, and some shopping and then back to the resort for R&R. I am content just to be there. So my personal touring style would work well under your scenario. There may be some others who feel the same. I know for many others, that would not be the case, and I will not judge their decision to postpone for a longer period of time.

Thats kind of our touring plan also when we have APs