Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Krandor]

I think it’ll be shorter notice than that tbh. It’ll be 13 days from announced reopening of DS to officially reopening. I think they’ll do about a 10 day turnaround. Not as quick as City Walk or Shanghai, but enough to get people with existing reservations there before panic cancelling their reservations and flights. Just my guess. Maybe they’ll do a prolonged announcement to opening period

I think you can look at the rolling cancellations for an indication of how much notice they are going to give.

 

[LSUmiss]

It’s finally hot here. 91. It has been unseasonably cooler up until today. Masks were suddenly a lot less ubiquitous at Target & Walmart today. At max I would say 50/50, but it was probably 60/40 no masks. We shall see.

Exactly. lol

I think they have it ready to go too but are waiting til at least this week to submit it so they don’t look too eager.

 

[TexasChick123]

IMO, this is definitely an issue for those of us who are DVC members. If they open, they can rescind their policy of allowing the points to revert to the use year vs, going into holding after the 30 day mark. So I have about 10 days to make a final decision on my trip or risk quite a few points. I know there are others sweating a banking deadline that could impact their use of points as well. As frustrating as it is for cash reservations, you know you will get a refund. If I wait, I risk a policy change. So, while I agree in theory that they won't open resorts before parks, it's possible they will to avoid an even further backlog of points from building up. (Personally, I hope you are right!)

I’m right there with you. We have an end of June - beginning of July trip planned. If I don’t know more by 30 days out, I’ll probably go ahead and cancel. I don’t want to risk my points going into holding if resorts are open when parks aren’t.

 

[MrsBooch]

For DVC members there is some new information based on the Florida Phase 1 plan. As of Monday, May 18:

VACATION RENTALS:
Counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals by submitting a written request and county vacation rental safety plan to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Dave

I wish that meant that our resorts opened more quickly - especially Vero or Hilton Head - but the CMs are all in the same union (I think) so if they are waiting on some kind of agreement with a union for WDW they will probably all have to wait to go back.

 

[LSUmiss]

I think it’ll be shorter notice than that tbh. It’ll be 13 days from announced reopening of DS to officially reopening. I think they’ll do about a 10 day turnaround. Not as quick as City Walk or Shanghai, but enough to get people with existing reservations there before panic cancelling their reservations and flights. Just my guess. Maybe they’ll do a prolonged announcement to opening period

But since they have to submit the plan to the mayor, we will probably know the potential opening date before the official announcement.

 

[dina444444]

For DVC members there is some new information based on the Florida Phase 1 plan. As of Monday, May 18:

VACATION RENTALS:
Counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals by submitting a written request and county vacation rental safety plan to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Dave

This was brought up the other day but vacations rentals is talking about things like VRBO and Air BnB and the like. To me DVC falls under hotel operations.

 

[Mit88]

They would have to give some notice ahead of resorts opening because they are going to need people to have time to book flights, etc that go with a vacation...like you said. So there is absolutely NO way Disney is going to only give the world a 10 day notice that they will be opening. BUT I think we will see resorts advertised as "opening first" ahead of Disney's official opening. I do not mean that the resorts will open before Disney, just that Disney's resorts will allow guests to come...and then we may see an announcement for the park openings that coincides with whatever date the resorts open (even if the resorts announced their opening first).

Yeah But they dont want people that don’t know it’s going to be a limited capacity opening to show up expecting to get in. If you give a heads up weeks ahead, That’s a lot of time for people that weren’t considering a Disney trip to now prep for a trip. We, the people on Disney forums will know what the opening criteria will be, but there are people that won’t see or know that there’s capacity limits and book a trip because “Disney is open”.

 

[preemiemama]

I’m right there with you. We have an end of June - beginning of July trip planned. If I don’t know more by 30 days out, I’ll probably go ahead and cancel. I don’t want to risk my points going into holding if resorts are open when parks aren’t.

Exactly our timeframe. I just know that they are going to announce that they are opening during our dates about a week after we cancel the trip...

 

[joyjanet]

It’s sad that Disney has to tell people that they are voluntarily assuming all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 when they visit the parks to keep from being sued by sue happy guests. If people are afraid of getting COVID-19, I hope they stay home.

 

[e_yerger]

Exactly our timeframe. I just know that they are going to announce that they are opening during our dates about a week after we cancel the trip...

I have a trip at end of July, and I don’t plan on making a decision until after the 4th.

 

[michellej47]

I don't think it's necessarily to demand reopening. But I think the government wants a date, whenever that may be. They want to know. DeSantis said on Friday that the theme parks should be focusing on a date.

And that appears to be the issue. Disney doesn't seem to want to commit to any dates or timelines. And it's not only making people mad because they can't plan their trips, but the government also wants to know how that fits in their reopening plans.

Just because we don't know a date doesn't mean Disney doesn't have one. I'd bet they have an idea of when they think they can safely open. I don't begrudge them holding on to that info right now, because if they announce a date and can't meet it, people will not be happy.

 

[Mit88]

The won't have the resorts open before parks do. People (in general) will not pay the premium to stay at a hotel with no theme parks there.

There are people that will pay the money to stay on property just to stay at the resort. Just like there are people that will pay $52M To hop on SpaceX knowing that it wont land on the moon. Doesnt mean there will be a lot. And in Disney’s case, it doesnt mean there will be enough to make the amount of money worth it. And even if they did open resorts first, and they did hit their capacity threshold. What do you do with thousands of people at each resort, with nowhere but the pools and Disney Springs to go to on property? Try keeping 5,000 people 6 feet away from each other at each resorts pool. Or tell 1,000+ people that they cant use the pool because all of the time slots to use the pool are booked.

 

[Brianstl]

I believe I said the state has an interest. The feds do not. But none of them can make them open. DeSantis has no right to get a date from Disney until they’re ready to give it.

Disney and Universal are going to pay tons of attention to what the administration says about reopening. They are asking for billions of dollars in bailouts. So the feds have an interest and Disney has an interest in what the feds say. The feds can’t force them to open or stay closed, but they can sure put them in a position where their best interest is to do as the feds want them to do. When you go to the government trough to feed, you do as your told.

 

[StevieB81]

I think Disney will open when they feel it’s relatively safe to, regardless of pressure by politicians. He’s there for pics.

I'm not sure VP Pence is coming to apply pressure. I'm thinking it is to show support for re-opening. WDW re-opening is a pretty big announcement for the country and the economy as a whole. It will show that things are starting to get back to normal on a pretty big stage. It was a really big deal when they shut down. It is equally as big when they re-open. There are risks involved that others will be watching closely. The Federal government saying "we're on your side in this" might give Disney some reassurance that they're doing the right thing. It will sort of be the green light for everyone else to take the next step. Maybe even PAs governor will loosen his grip if WDW opens? I can only hope

 

[LSUmiss]

I'm not sure VP Pence is coming to apply pressure. I'm thinking it is to show support for re-opening. WDW re-opening is a pretty big announcement for the country and the economy as a whole. It will show that things are starting to get back to normal on a pretty big stage. It was a really big deal when they shut down. It is equally as big when they re-open. There are risks involved that others will be watching closely. The Federal government saying "we're on your side in this" might give Disney some reassurance that they're doing the right thing. It will sort of be the green light for everyone else to take the next step. Maybe even PAs governor will loosen his grip if WDW opens? I can only hope

So exactly when is he supposed to go to FL?

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

.

 

[StevieB81]

So exactly when is he supposed to go to FL?

Pretty sure Wednesday. The day before they will or will not cancel my trip

 

[Azziefan]

Do we think after pence visits Disney is likely to announce something Friday or by June 1? Thank

 

[rteetz]

Do we think after pence visits Disney is likely to announce something Friday or by June 1? Thank

I don’t think the Pence visit will change anything Disney is doing.

 

[dismom58]

I don’t think the Pence visit will change anything Disney is doing.

He is coming to deliver PPE! I think Disney is a side stop unless they are recipients of the equipment