Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

It seems like it .. why open if you can't be open for the reasons people LIKE your product? People are putting up with masks and social distancing in grocery stores and restaurants because .. well .. we HAVE to eat. We don't HAVE to go to a theme park.

Disney without meet and greets, fireworks, park hopping, flexibility, etc. just isn't a product a lot may not want to consume.

Just like I saw a news story on Chick Fil-A. When they resume dine-in operations, they aren't going to have playground access and free refills. For my family .. that is the two main reasons we choose to DINE-IN at those places and why we go there when traveling across country with little kids. With as crowded as chick-fil-a restaurants get EVERY day, why even try to be open for dine-in if it is going to be so restrictive?

Man .. I hope this stuff is way more temporary than these companies are planning for, because I think some of these changes are going to hurt companies more than help them. Some people just may stop doing business with them due to it just being so darn inconvenient and then once they stop using that product .... and then out of sight .. out of mind.

Disney could have the same issue .. thousands upon thousands of families basically writing them off for the rest of the year. Not necessarilly because of the virus but because of all the restrictions they've announced and no ideas when those will be lifted. So they might think about going next year and then go "You know that beach vacation we had in summer 2020? Let's do that again! That was more fun and relaxing and cheaper than our last Disney vacation. We just decided to go and went .. no pre-planning not crowds, etc.

Honestly though, there has been a (kinda of) vocal but small group on these threads since March who have been saying Disney needed to remain closed a lot longer than the majority felt. We were told we were negative, just wanted other people to suffer and miss out, were crazy, should just not go if we didn't like it/were scared, etc. I think a lot of us saw the writing on the wall and this was how Disney would have to open, maybe not the exact details, but the general idea that it would be missing a lot and would not be the WDW trips we all have come to know.

I am really glad that if they are going to open, they are taking this entire situation very seriously even if it's costing them.

 

[Violetspider]

Oh my word. So I’ve been following this thread pretty regularly for the past few weeks,and it’s been a great source of info. Last month we had already moved our trip to 2021 and have been dealing with some tough issues around our DVC points etc (DVC owner).

However I just checked for the first time since 8 AM today (busy workday), and there are over 35 more pages since then, which I calculate to be at least 700 posts. I feel like I should just exit now as not sure I want to commit to a few more hours of reading tonight ..... but it’s so entertaining. What to do?!

Same here, I just skipped to the last two pages. All caught up now!!

 

[Marissa227]

How can it be 30 day rolling park reservations when you can make 60 day ADRs? That math makes my head hurt.

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Honestly though, there has been a (kinda of) vocal but small group on these threads since March who have been saying Disney needed to remain closed a lot longer than the majority felt. We were told we were negative, just wanted other people to suffer and miss out, were crazy, should just not go if we didn't like it/were scared, etc. I think a lot of us saw the writing on the wall and this was how Disney would have to open, maybe not the exact details, but the general idea that it would be missing a lot and would not be the WDW trips we all have come to know.

I am really glad that if they are going to open, they are taking this entire situation very seriously even if it's costing them.

I clearly remember the pitchforks coming out.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I clearly remember the pitchforks coming out.

I still have the scars.

 

[Krandor]

Honestly though, there has been a (kinda of) vocal but small group on these threads since March who have been saying Disney needed to remain closed a lot longer than the majority felt. We were told we were negative, just wanted other people to suffer and miss out, were crazy, should just not go if we didn't like it/were scared, etc. I think a lot of us saw the writing on the wall and this was how Disney would have to open, maybe not the exact details, but the general idea that it would be missing a lot and would not be the WDW trips we all have come to know.

I am really glad that if they are going to open, they are taking this entire situation very seriously even if it's costing them.

I am glad they are taking it seriously as well and like what they are doing. However, I'd be careful about trying to go "I told you so". I think it is best if that be avoided.

 

[nashvilleash]

I couldn’t agree more, but Am I acting delusional thinking they will try to create a new form of Disney Magic to entice us to return during these unusual times!?

It’s like they aren’t even trying to give some semblance of the old experience. Bare bones, take it or leave it.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Yeahhh...some of this is really overboard.

I don't understand the CL cuts. We don't ever book that, but can't they social distance in the club rooms? Have someone serve the food, wine, water? Seems like a silly cut when there are ways around it.

Wdw knows their customers. They’ve warned over and over things won’t look the same but people are still balking left and right at every change. If they don’t offer the same product, people will complain, demand a refund, whatever. So they’re sort of eliminating the chance for that while things slowly reopen. It’s either that or recalibrate prices to match current value which we know they don’t do.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I couldn’t agree more, but Am I acting delusional thinking they will try to create a new form of Disney Magic to entice us to return during these unusual times!?

This is going to be a unique experience. Disney like never before and never again once this thing is in the rearview.

If I was local I would totally go.

 

[Music City Mama]

All park hoppers will be converted to base tickets - again difference refunded.

Well, believe it or not, I don't think that would benefit me. I bought 10-day park hoppers before the last price increase, and I'm pretty sure 10-day base tickets are now more expensive than what I paid since I got I discounted pre-price increase tickets through UT. Figures.

 

[Krandor]

I couldn’t agree more, but Am I acting delusional thinking they will try to create a new form of Disney Magic to entice us to return during these unusual times!?

IMO they are trying to get all the bad news out now. Then they'll focus on the new experiences and new things they are doing for when people return.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I am glad they are taking it seriously as well and like what they are doing. However, I'd be careful about trying to go "I told you so". I think it is best if that be avoided.

I'm not trying to I told you so, more like see we weren't mean jerks who wanted Disney to go bankrupt and people to not go to WDW.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

How can it be 30 day rolling park reservations when you can make 60 day ADRs? That math makes my head hurt.

Could be resort guests, most of whom aren’t local or day drive away, would be given a jump at the 60 day mark? Or just a sign that they didn’t really learn that dining before other plans and then changing things all around again really sucks for planning.

 

[Pickle Rick]

Wdw knows their customers. They’ve warned over and over things won’t look the same but people are still balking left and right at every change. If they don’t offer the same product, people will complain, demand a refund, whatever. So they’re sort of eliminating the chance for that while things slowly reopen. It’s either that or recalibrate prices to match current value which we know they don’t do.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The same people complaining and very angry at Disney now will, probably less than a year from now even, forget about it all and continue to be regulars at WDW spending their money. Disney knows their fanbase very well.

 

[Farro]

Honestly though, there has been a (kinda of) vocal but small group on these threads since March who have been saying Disney needed to remain closed a lot longer than the majority felt. We were told we were negative, just wanted other people to suffer and miss out, were crazy, should just not go if we didn't like it/were scared, etc. I think a lot of us saw the writing on the wall and this was how Disney would have to open, maybe not the exact details, but the general idea that it would be missing a lot and would not be the WDW trips we all have come to know.

I am really glad that if they are going to open, they are taking this entire situation very seriously even if it's costing them.

I get this and understand why it's happening. I was surprised people are "surprised" by changes too.

But that's different than being happy about it. Now I'm sure (well mostly) that my trip wouldn't be affected by this, but there are certain cuts that would make me rethink the trip. Would you fault Disney? No. But it's still something you can be disappointed about and perhaps choose to cancel/postpone a trip until things are more normal again.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I get this and understand why it's happening. I was surprised people are "surprised" by changes too.

But that's different than being happy about it. Now I'm sure (well mostly) that my trip wouldn't be affected by this, but there are certain cuts that would make me rethink the trip. Would you fault Disney? No. But it's still something you can be disappointed about.

I agree100% that people have every right to be upset. I would be, too. However, I do not think that Disney is being evil, or punishing people, or being big meanies. They are opening. That should be enough right now.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The same people complaining and very angry at Disney now will, probably less than a year from now even, forget about it all and continue to be regulars at WDW spending their money. Disney knows their fanbase very well.

100% agree.

I think when operations return to mostly normal almost everyone who is able to make a trip (financially, etc) but was staying away will come back.

 

[Brianstl]

So has anyone been refunded their money on purchased Dining Plans to this point?

 

[MrsBooch]

If I had planned on going I would be fine with it but I'd die in July or Aug so I'm out for those months. I'd consider a fall trip without FP+ and ADRs before 60 days. But, I'm used to Disneyland planning and ADRs at 60 days sounds absolutely ideal to me lol.

No park hopping is a deal breaker. No TS is a deal breaker. Limited hotels might be a deal breaker depending on what's on offer. (I'm assuming masks will morph down to recommended in a few months...)

....was that said?? They are not doing table service? Or is it just super limited?

 

[Farro]

Plan has been approved!!!

(did I miss this?)