Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[tlmadden73]

Has anyone heard that there will be no Memory Maker? I'm watching Dev and he said that's been floating around. Hadn't seen that one.

I can see that being cut .. mainly because Disney can cut those cast members to save money .. because as it stands now .. I don't see how anyone is going to be coming out to Disney in droves.

Who knows .. maybe they are banking on this "limited capacity reservation system" to artifically drive up demand .. getting people to sign up thinking they will "miss out" on the few spots open to come to Disney *shrug*

 

[Tjddis]

Does getting the email early give somebdy any kind of advantage here?

Not necessarily. But some are concerned it will lead to a lack of proper prioritizing when it comes to rebooking. You know, if they go in the same order of notification for links to rebook. Guess we will see. I’m short on faith right now. LOL.

 

[MrsSmith07]

I have the same problem to upgrade from silver to gold. I re-booked a 4th of july trip to the first week that they re-open as soon as the it was announced before they closed everything, was just waiting to upgrade.
All the CM's are working from home and can't process payments till Sunday when according to Remy they will be back in the call centers and then should be able to take payments again..maybe?
I've upgraded over the phone before as a Fl AP so we'll see. I also booked a Labor day trip at the same time so that's my back up.. already got the email for that one..or maybe both , who knows ?

If the policy stands like it was pre COVID-19, they will not upgrade over the phone. Last year, we had silver passes and added a June trip. I called/emailed and the only way to upgrade was in person.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I don’t now how people can keep comparing Universal and Disney’s opening process.

Universal can basically just say, here’s the plan for inside the parks. We’re opening on X date. They have a small enough number of rooms that they can apparently guarantee entry, they don’t have the dining reservation problem, and they don’t have pre-booked fast passes. They very clearly have a lot less to worry about modifying and figuring out. They don’t have the same level of expectations from guests, and that’s not a slight against Universal, they are just not the same kind of dedicated vacation that Disney is for a lot of people.

Yeah it’s nice they can give all the answers, open faster, have things be seemingly less complex, but that isn’t because Disney is just sucking and falling behind Universal.

 

[andyman8]

Another consideration WDW is looking at right now: international reservations. With the current travel restrictions, it’s unclear if by July 11, non-U.S. citizens will be able to easily obtain a visa and travel to the U.S. The most likely answer is no, but they still have a number of international reservations on the books. It gets more complicated when you consider just how many different countries people come from. For example, July is a prime time for BrazilIan travel to WDW, but given the current situation there, “regular” leisure travel between the U.S. and there seems unlikely. On the other hand, Canada may see leisure travel resume sooner. What do you do with those reservations? Do you wait for the affected parties to cancel? Do you allow them to book a spot in the reservation system even if you’re pretty sure they won’t be able to travel? Do you factor those reservations into resort consolidation? This is a problem somewhat unique to WDW of all the Disney Parks, given how many international tourists it attracts and the large variety of countries those tourists come from.

 

[chasgoose]

I guess that will be the million dollar question. The customers are such a varied bunch. AP holders that have more flexibillity perhaps less demands, DVC owners that are fine without parks, loyal diehards that will go no matter what, those who want a fully planned total experience etc. of course everyone is entitled to their opinion and free to participate in a way that works for them. Nobody is right or wrong. I represent the type of customers who goes every 2 years, plans out everything, and does not mind paying a premium price but for that price has high expectations of customer service and expects the opportunity to get the most value I can from the experience. It’s not unusual for us to be in the parks every day, open to close and frequent emh/a party of its happening. The way they have handled the fallout here will make me think twice about going again soon. No disrespect to anyone who sees it different. At the least it will very interesting to see how it all plays out and what the long term economic impact of the pandemic and their actions in response will be.

I think that's likely why Disney is taking it a lot more slowly now and being somewhat vague on specifics and details. They were too confident that things would be better faster when they originally rescheduled people and offered the free dining etc. so now they are trying to manage customer expectations and only promise what they think they can actually deliver.

It's kind of like the switch to backup boarding groups for RoTR. Initially they were handing out a free park hopper ticket and an anytime FP to anyone in a boarding group that didn't get called. When it became clear there was no way to accurately predict how many boarding groups would get on in a given day, they switched to the backup boarding group system with no guarantee of getting called (with the expectation that at least some of them would be).

 

[mhautz]

I don’t now how people can keep comparing Universal and Disney’s opening process.

Universal can basically just say, here’s the plan for inside the parks. We’re opening on X date. They have a small enough number of rooms that they can apparently guarantee entry, they don’t have the dining reservation problem, and they don’t have pre-booked fast passes. They very clearly have a lot less to worry about modifying and figuring out. They don’t have the same level of expectations from guests, and that’s not a slight against Universal, they are just not the same kind of dedicated vacation that Disney is for a lot of people.

Yeah it’s nice they can give all the answers, open faster, have things be seemingly less complex, but that isn’t because Disney is just sucking and falling behind Universal.

Let's also wait until next week until we judge how great those plans actually are. I don't think there will be major issues, but we're giving Universal a free pass before anything actually happens. They might know demand will be greatly reduced, but what if their decision to not do a reservation system WAS a mistake?

 

[Sarahslay]

I wouldn't worry too much about tickets for a Christmas trip yet. It's unlikely Disney is going to open up park reservations that far in advance. Everything we have seen from Disney thus far suggests that they are moving away from large advance windows for all kinds of reservations so they can adapt more easily if things change. If they are cutting the ADR window down by 2/3rds, there's no way they are going to require you to make park reservations 7 months in advance (or anywhere close to that far out). They have no idea how many people they will even be able to allow in that far out.

I think you will have a better sense of when you will need to have park tickets in place in order to have priority access to park reservations for a Christmas trip once we see how Disney implements its plans for the July opening (and you certainly will if you still go on your August and November trips) so I wouldn't worry too much for now.

but they aren't allowing anyone to buy tickets, that's the thing, and they won't open up new ticket sales until people who are eligible make their park reservations. At that point it's a race against time to get the tickets and make a reservation

They’re not going to open up reservations for the rest of the year initially, that’s why they’ve reduced the booking windows for ADRs. Think of this more on the scale of FP+ windows, not on the scale of the dated ticket windows.

Yes, but if they keep ticket sales blocked for a certain window I'm still out of luck unless I can get in and buy them an AP before that window opens (who knows if they will even allow that). My husband has tickets for November so no problem, but won't have his AP until about the 30 day mark before our December trip, so he won't have a ticket to make reservations with until a month out. It is incrediby frustrating to think about. If they don't open up for buying tickets until after those who already have tickets can book a reservation then I might be SOL for our trip.

 

[LSUmiss]

I am in MD too and I don't see anyone wearing masks outside. Not required and children under 9 don't need to wear them period.

Under 9 is the most reasonable thing I’ve seen yet re masks on kids.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Another consideration WDW is looking at right now: international reservations. With the current travel restrictions, it’s unclear if by July 11, non-U.S. citizens will be able to easily obtain a visa and travel to the U.S. The most likely answer is no, but they still have a number of international reservations on the books. It gets more complicated when you consider just how many different countries people come from. For example, July is a prime time for BrazilIan travel to WDW, but given the current situation there, “regular” leisure travel between the U.S. and there seems unlikely. On the other hand, Canada may see leisure travel resume sooner. What do you do with those reservations? Do you wait for the affected parties to cancel? Do you allow them to book a spot in the reservation system even if you’re pretty sure they won’t be able to travel? Do you factor those reservations into resort consolidation? This is a problem somewhat unique to WDW of all the Disney Parks, given how many international tourists it attracts and the large variety of countries those tourists come from.

According to the emails, if that is a reliable source (cause Disney IT), I got one as a Canadian and I have valid tickets. No plans to go.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I don’t now how people can keep comparing Universal and Disney’s opening process.

Universal can basically just say, here’s the plan for inside the parks. We’re opening on X date. They have a small enough number of rooms that they can apparently guarantee entry, they don’t have the dining reservation problem, and they don’t have pre-booked fast passes. They very clearly have a lot less to worry about modifying and figuring out. They don’t have the same level of expectations from guests, and that’s not a slight against Universal, they are just not the same kind of dedicated vacation that Disney is for a lot of people.

Yeah it’s nice they can give all the answers, open faster, have things be seemingly less complex, but that isn’t because Disney is just sucking and falling behind Universal.

There you go using logic again...

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Let's also wait until next week until we judge how great those plans actually are. I don't think there will be major issues, but we're giving Universal a free pass before anything actually happens. They might know demand will be greatly reduced, but what if their decision to not do a reservation system WAS a mistake?

Absolutely agree.

Universal has won in a lot of people’s minds before we even know if their decision to rush to open is a colossal mistake.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

There you go using logic again...

It happens occasionally. I can’t promise it all the time though.

 

[JacknSally]

Goodness, you step away for 45 minutes.... I saw Carlye's tweet about having to have both an existing hotel AND tickets to get that priority access. Did I miss anything else?

 

[chasgoose]

I don’t now how people can keep comparing Universal and Disney’s opening process.

Universal can basically just say, here’s the plan for inside the parks. We’re opening on X date. They have a small enough number of rooms that they can apparently guarantee entry, they don’t have the dining reservation problem, and they don’t have pre-booked fast passes. They very clearly have a lot less to worry about modifying and figuring out. They don’t have the same level of expectations from guests, and that’s not a slight against Universal, they are just not the same kind of dedicated vacation that Disney is for a lot of people.

Yeah it’s nice they can give all the answers, open faster, have things be seemingly less complex, but that isn’t because Disney is just sucking and falling behind Universal.

Exactly. Universal probably also has a higher proportion of local guests and even to the extent a Universal guest is an out of towner on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, its still probably just as a day or two add-on to a longer Disney trip. At worst you could be looking at a hardcore HP fan just flying into do Universal, but even then they are only likely to stay a day or two so we are talking a significantly cheaper trip that is far easier to reschedule. Not to mention that Universal is simply a much simpler operation.

 

[MKEMSE]

Goodness, you step away for 45 minutes.... I saw Carlye's tweet about having to have both an existing hotel AND tickets to get that priority access. Did I miss anything else?

Halloween parties won't be canceled (according to Caryle's previous tweet).

 

[mshanson3121]

On the other hand, Canada may see leisure travel resume sooner.

It won't be resuming anytime soon. The closure was extended into June, and currently it's fully anticipated to extend in July. Trudeau wants the border kept closed as long as possible. So the reality here is, even if Trump forces it open, Canadians will be required to quarentine for 14 days after visiting the US for a long time to come. Which will prohibit most people from visiting.

 

[andyman8]

Yes, but if they keep ticket sales blocked for a certain window I'm still out of luck unless I can get in and buy them an AP before that window opens (who knows if they will even allow that). My husband has tickets for November so no problem, but won't have his AP until about the 30 day mark before our December trip, so he won't have a ticket to make reservations with until a month out. It is incrediby frustrating to think about. If they don't open up for buying tickets until after those who already have tickets can book a reservation then I might be SOL for our trip.

Ticket sales will resume once they’ve gone through this sort of “roll call” (who’s coming initially, who’s canceling, what ADRs and park reservations have people made). I would expect to see new ticket sales and reservations resume before July 11 (but not too soon beforehand) for the initial 60 day window. Now, that doesn’t mean all dates within that initial window will be available, but since your not worried about that period, that shouldn’t concern you. Anyways, once they resume sales, go ahead and buy your tickets before the booking window for December opens. Once they’ve “opened” the new system, expect to see an approach similar to how they did FP+ for resort guests.

 

[Yooperroo]

I just got the email stating because I have valid tickets I will get priority access, and the only tickets I have on my account are unactivated APs. So they are definitely counting those as valid tickets. I currently have split stay reservations for July and one in October.

 

[Eric Smith]

I just got the email stating because I have valid tickets I will get priority access, and the only tickets I have on my account are unactivated APs. So they are definitely counting those as valid tickets. I currently have split stay reservations for July and one in October.

Same situation here.