Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mshanson3121]

Yes and no. It also makes it more difficult in terms of airborne exchange. Disney certainly is watching the science aspect as well which also changes daily.

Exactly. They know it can be aerosolized and can remain airborne for a few hours. Not a good thing when you have a venue with tens of thousands of people walking around coughing, sneezing, talking, laughing and essentially breathing. Which as you said - hence the mask requirement. Which they are going to NEED to enforce.

 

[TexasChick123]

Does everyone realize the earliest a NBA player will step foot on Disney property is Mid July? This is from the ESPN article on the talks with Disney.
They aren’t planning games to start until end of July. As I and many posters have mentioned before, the season and playoffs will not be over quick. Does anyone think Disney would be closed until September? If not then the NBA thing will
Have no effect on the parks. Honestly I think Disney has way more to sort out the UO ever would and it just takes longer to open a Much bigger operation. The NBA stuff is happening on the side and everyone is ready WAY too much into it. But Disney has not been communicating well so it is easy to read into every single tea leaf.

I agree with everything you said here. The NBA will be playing for 2 months per estimates and won’t start until the end of July. So unless people think the parks will be closed until September, the NBA thing doesn’t matter. We’ll all find out whenever Disney decides to tell us I guess.

 

[ZellyB]

I think the issue is they said that and nothing else. In order for companies, or even us, to make decisions they info CDC didn’t release. Like what is safe, what should be cleaned & on what time table?

I thought the CDC was mostly referencing packages and other items that are shipped or on store shelves etc. They still recommend routine disinfection of high-touch surfaces so I would imagine that would include door handles, countertops, ride vehicles etc.

 

[RWinNOLA]

I understand. There is no easy option for this though. Nobody expected a multi-month shutdown of Disney let alone most of the country. I had a trip canceled myself. I think everyone and every company are learning how to improve or change things going forward and now has experience for any future major problem like this.

And what you said there drives home my point that Disney should change their policy regarding refunds for park tickets due to the shutdown.

Nobody expected this. And if I were going anywhere else, I would have waited until the week before or perhaps arrival to spend $3000 on park tickets. But Disney, with their 60 day FP policy forces your hand to buy tickets early in order to plan your trip. Normally, that’s okay. But they still required this while they were shutdown, and while they were still taking new reservations for June.

They likely have tens of millions of dollars tied up in park tickets for summer reservations they won’t happen because they are shutdown. A lot of folks can’t just absorb that money until whenever especially with so many folks losing income due to COVID 19.

WE DIDN’T CANCEL OUR TRIP. Disney should do the right thing and refund park tickets purchased for trips during the shutdown. I know that I will be calling and I won’t be satisfied with anything short of a full refund returned to my card.

 

[LSUmiss]

Disney can say they care about guest safety all they want, but at the end of the day, theyre in it for the money. The proof is in the pudding when they allowed the parks to remain open at full capacity 4 extra days when they could have shut down the parks the night of the announcement, and let the resorts stay open until everyone had their travel arrangements. But they didnt do that. Its hard to believe they suddenly care enough that they wont open their parks because not everyone will wear masks while Universal had to listen to public comments being read during the task force meeting about guests not coming to the parks and wearing masks and they still revealed their plans to reopen. Different companies, yes. But both love money equally.

And how you’ll know it to be true that their concern about safety is a load of garbage is IF Vegas swoops in at the last second to bring the NBA there, or if they start airing the NBA games, get big viewship the first couple of days and then people stop caring because the NBA is not the same without the crowd. Then all of a sudden they’ll change their tune and pretend that they care about the guests and say the parks are opening

Edited: because apparently the use of if was ignored

And whether it’s true or not, it will be terrible optics. Ppl won’t buy that it’s for their safety especially when all the other parks are open. What is looks like on the surface is they continued to take customers’ money while they negotiated with millionaires & decided to cater to them instead of their fan base b/c it’s easier & still makes them money.

 

[Dis5150]

So everyone jumped on the NBA portion of what @rteetz posted but I haven’t seen anyone comment about them possibly only opening one park at a time...

 

[Eric Smith]

So everyone jumped on the NBA portion of what @rteetz posted but I haven’t seen anyone comment about them possibly only opening one park at a time...

I honestly don’t have a problem with that part of it. If that’s what Disney thinks is necessary, that’s ok with me.

 

[npatellye]

So everyone jumped on the NBA portion of what @rteetz posted but I haven’t seen anyone comment about them possibly only opening one park at a time...

I’ll take one park at a time over no parks. I think many people thought it possible that they would slowly open parks one by one.

 

[rteetz]

So everyone jumped on the NBA portion of what @rteetz posted but I haven’t seen anyone comment about them possibly only opening one park at a time...

True but that’s been discussed for a while as that’s been a possibility well before Disney even considering the NBA.

 

[tinkerhon]

And what you said there drives home my point that Disney should change their policy regarding refunds for park tickets due to the shutdown.

Nobody expected this. And if I were going anywhere else, I would have waited until the week before or perhaps arrival to spend $3000 on park tickets. But Disney, with their 60 day FP policy forces your hand to buy tickets early in order to plan your trip. Normally, that’s okay. But they still required this while they were shutdown, and while they were still taking new reservations for June.

They likely have tens of millions of dollars tied up in park tickets for summer reservations they won’t happen because they are shutdown. A lot of folks can’t just absorb that money until whenever especially with so many folks losing income due to COVID 19.

WE DIDN’T CANCEL OUR TRIP. Disney should do the right thing and refund park tickets purchased for trips during the shutdown. I know that I will be calling and I won’t be satisfied with anything short of a full refund returned to my card.

Totally agree ! We are booked for July 14, and probably won't be going based on all of the changes (and not saying that they are not necessary) - but Disney needs to do the right thing and refund money for tickets - I love the sound of coins, but won't give you a dollar bill for a shiny quarter - 25% experience for 100% dollar doesn't make sense

 

[Dis5150]

True but that’s been discussed for a while as that’s been a possibility well before Disney even considering the NBA.

I obviously missed all that talk but to be fair, I’m not on this board all the time and have a hard time catching up 20-30 pages lol. I’m guessing (hoping) they would refund the hopper portion of my package if that happens.

 

[planecrazy63]

Tomorrow we wait to see if any CM schedules come out... but if it's like the last few weeks they won't until Wednesday. @yulilin3 - I'm sure you will post if you hear anything (and thanks for the livestream today from DS)

 

[rteetz]

I obviously missed all that talk but to be fair, I’m not on this board all the time and have a hard time catching up 20-30 pages lol. I’m guessing (hoping) they would refund the hopper portion of my package if that happens.

I’m sure that’s part of their planning.

 

[Brianstl]

So the latest rumor over at WDW Magic is that one of the options being explored is opening only DHS and World Showcase in Food & Wine mode while only operating the Epcot/Skyliner resorts. Says MK is most likely the last park to open. All because of how you get people to and from the parks.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

So the latest rumor over at WDW Magic is that one of the options being explored is opening only DHS and World Showcase in Food & Wine mode while only operating the Epcot/Skyliner resorts. Says MK is most likely the last park to open. All because of how you get people to and from the parks.

Well there’s one way to decrease the kids wearing masks issue.

 

[mshanson3121]

This issue may become a new concern they will likely have to evaluate. Just posting for info.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending...ys/3DWIQNEC4JENBDFWSQULQYAAQ4/?outputType=amp

So many people like to pretend that now that we are slowing down the rate of increase, that it's "over" and are letting their guards down in their desire to return to normal. But the reality is there are still sooo many unknowns, and new things popping up with this virus. For example, the numbers of children getting this new inflammatory disorder is continuing to grow. And most of the children getting it, were asymptomatic for Covid.

If Disney is indeed planning a later opening, wanting to wait and see what happens first as things re-open - good on them. But for heaven's sakes, tell people that lol. "Because we want to ensure our guests and employees are returning to a safe environment, we do not anticipate re-opening our theme parks until late summer/early fall (insert date of choice). This will allow our team time to adequately assess the risk and prepare accordingly. Because this date is subject to change (earlier or later), for the time being existing reservations will be cancelled automatically on a week by week basis, approximately 3 weeks prior to your scheduled arrival date." Yadda, yadda.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

True but that’s been discussed for a while as that’s been a possibility well before Disney even considering the NBA.

Perhaps at a different level of seriousness, but I bet the NBA was a possibility as soon as both the league and the resort were suspended.

 

[LSUmiss]

I’m not sure that there will be a need for any kind spin. Disney has made it very clear that WDW & DL are closed until further notice. Repeatedly in the media; on social media and in the form of a pop up on all of their websites when you log on, and even MDE has temporary closure at the very top of the page along with the pop up about understanding the possibility of a covid exposure at WDW. Closed. And without any promise of a specific reopening date. They couldn’t be more clear. Even yesterday’s Guest Relations update saying If you are planning during this uncertain period once we reopen.. you may not get the disney experience you’ve come to know & adjustments may need to be made in “real time” to any existing plans you may have made... In other words.. we are telling you that things are not the norm so please don’t expect more then we are telling you. It’s not that there has been a lack of info.. for some It’s been a case of not accepting what is being said.

Other then to those of us who are disney obsessed it will likely not mean that much to the General public who vacation at Disney, they are more likely to take things in stride and if their current disney trip doesn’t work out - they’ll just rebook or postpone. They won’t require any kind of spin.

And yet continue to sell “nonrefundable” tickets for specific dates.

 

[Violetspider]

And what you said there drives home my point that Disney should change their policy regarding refunds for park tickets due to the shutdown.

Nobody expected this. And if I were going anywhere else, I would have waited until the week before or perhaps arrival to spend $3000 on park tickets. But Disney, with their 60 day FP policy forces your hand to buy tickets early in order to plan your trip. Normally, that’s okay. But they still required this while they were shutdown, and while they were still taking new reservations for June.

They likely have tens of millions of dollars tied up in park tickets for summer reservations they won’t happen because they are shutdown. A lot of folks can’t just absorb that money until whenever especially with so many folks losing income due to COVID 19.

WE DIDN’T CANCEL OUR TRIP. Disney should do the right thing and refund park tickets purchased for trips during the shutdown. I know that I will be calling and I won’t be satisfied with anything short of a full refund returned to my card.

Exact same boat! DVC reservation back in Oct/Nov for a 10 day stay in July. We purchased 5 APs two weeks ago to get our FP privileges. That's a lot of cash that Disney has of ours. Not sure what my nephew would want back (they purchased Gold), but I'm going to need my $1,200+ Platinum Pass refunded. I wouldn't be using it until next summer if this year doesn't happen. That's a lot of time Disney gets to reap the benefits of interest on money I would prefer to have in the bank.

 

[skeeter31]

So the latest rumor over at WDW Magic is that one of the options being explored is opening only DHS and World Showcase in Food & Wine mode while only operating the Epcot/Skyliner resorts. Says MK is most likely the last park to open. All because of how you get people to and from the parks.

I’ve been thinking that for a while. MK is the hardest park to socially distance getting people in. Everyone that drives needs to take a mass transport system to the entrance. The hotel lobbies on the monorail track would be a mess with the 6 foot spacers for monorail boarding. T&TC would be a nightmare.