Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[anthony2k7]

If Disney were to open tomorrow there would be thousands of VLOGGERS alone that would show up. Add another couple of thousand locals. I mean would be nowhere near full but it would be more than you think I would bet. Another thread or someone on twitter put out a poll and something like 60% said they would go back right away when it opened.

Ok opening day a few thousand vloggers and locals turn up and make MK worth opening. What about the other parks, or MK on day 2?

 

[TDSAXX]

I think these closures are going to extend for a lot longer than people think, or imagine.
Without a vaccine, it is unsafe to open a public gathering space, especially the scale of a theme park or sports arena.

Call me crazy, but I think it will be sometime in 2021 when Disney reopens anything. It's just too risky.

You’re crazy (no offense you asked for it).

 

[Farro]

I think these closures are going to extend for a lot longer than people think, or imagine.
Without a vaccine, it is unsafe to open a public gathering space, especially the scale of a theme park or sports arena.

Call me crazy, but I think it will be sometime in 2021 when Disney reopens anything. It's just too risky.

Okay, you're crazy!

 

[jlwhitney]

I think these closures are going to extend for a lot longer than people think, or imagine.
Without a vaccine, it is unsafe to open a public gathering space, especially the scale of a theme park or sports arena.

Call me crazy, but I think it will be sometime in 2021 when Disney reopens anything. It's just too risky.

I think the opposite and people are going to be surprised that things do open up earlier. I agree theme parks are gonna take longer than most of our local stuff, but bottom line is that 98% of people survive it, possibly more and there is no guarantee a vaccine will ever happen. Sure there may be one in 12-18 months or could take 2 plus years or things could change and no attempts produce the results they need.

 

[HuskieJohn]

If Disney were to open tomorrow there would be thousands of VLOGGERS alone that would show up. Add another couple of thousand locals. I mean would be nowhere near full but it would be more than you think I would bet. Another thread or someone on twitter put out a poll and something like 60% said they would go back right away when it opened.

That’s why when the parks first open they need to open to resort guests only and not AP (just keep extending the AP end dates) or off site guests.

Also WDW also needs to not allow new reservations at the resorts for the sake of having a soft opening until they are actually ready.

Re-opening is going to be a logistical challenge which they can’t just drop right in and would benefit from some sort of soft opening.

 

[dmband]

Not sure of the accuracy of these.. but I could see the parks being reopened in reverse order starting with phase 3 and then working up from there depending on how it goes.


Phase A Closure
No admission of guests with one day tickets, and no admission of guests even with FastPass+ reservations unless they have one of the following:

• Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
• Those staying at a Disney Resort
• Annual Passholders
• Those re-entering the park that day.
• Those "hopping" from another park.
• Those with in-park reservations or appointments.

Phase B Closure
No admission of guests with one day tickets, and no re-entering or hopping from another park unless they have one of the following:

• Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
• Those staying at a Disney Resort with FastPass+ reservations
• Annual Passholders
• Those re-entering the park that day.
• Those "hopping" from another park.
• Those with in-park reservations or appointments.

Phase 1 Closure
Casual visitors are turned away at the automobile toll plazas. This means that people without tickets, those with one-day, single-park tickets, and those intending to use cast member passes will not be allowed to park.
Other guests may enter such as:

• Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
• Those staying at a Disney Resort
• Annual Passholders
• Those re-entering the park that day.
• Those "hopping" from another park.
• Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
• Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 1 is the most common closure level over the past 10 years and frequently happens during busy times like the Christmas and Easter periods.
Phase 2 Closure
The only guests allowed through the turnstiles and into the parking lots are:

• Those staying at a Disney Resort
• Annual Passholders
• Those re-entering the park that day.
• Those "hopping" from another park.
• Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
• Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 3 Closure
The only guests allowed through the turnstiles and into the parking lots are:

• Those staying at a Disney Resort
• Annual Passholders
• Those with in-park reservations or appointments.

Phase 4 Closure
The park and parking lot are closed to all arriving guests. It is very rare that any of the parks get to Phase 4 and has only happened a few times in the past 15 years.

This is exactly what I have been thinking.
Makes sense and would control crowds

 

[dm1996]

Disney Springs should be able to open up with restrictions in late May. If that goes well, I think they will open selected resorts that they can staff quickly.
I would think mid June for MK and probably HS. I don’t think they will be able to staff all four parks nor do I think they will need it until fears die down a bit. I think Epcot and AK are likely to stay closed until they can get the college program at full capacity.
Who knows what science will bring us tomorrow or next week. So many brilliant people out there working on this that I can only think somebody will find the answer.

 

[Spridell]

Ok opening day a few thousand vloggers and locals turn up and make MK worth opening. What about the other parks, or MK on day 2?

I would bet we are going to see a lot of people coming that are within driving distance to the World. Very very similar to what happened after 9/11. First couple of months lots of people driving instead of flying. So could be half to quarter full depending on whats open.

 

[mshanson3121]

On our last trip back from WDW. we faced a REALLY long security line at the airport. We were just getting ready for the long wait when a dog handler walked by us, telling us to keep our phones put away and keep our shoes on. They then walked a dog by us and - BINGO,we were through, in minutes. So I got to thinking, could they do the same thing with COVID? Turns out I'm not the only one with this thought;

https://www.citylab.com/life/2020/0...-dogs-smell-detect-covid-19-infection/609403/

Imagine if simply walking a dog by the security screening line would be all it would take to identify anyone with COVID? That would get the parks, airports, you name it, back up and running in no time. Not only that, but the article states that the dogs could be trained in 4-6 weeks, not months.

Honestly it wouldn't surprise me. After all they are able to detect brain tumors, seizures before they happen and a host of other things. And maybe I'm crazy, but I could easily see this being implemented in Disney at security.

 

[JPM4]

Disney Springs should be able to open up with restrictions in late May. If that goes well, I think they will open selected resorts that they can staff quickly.
I would think mid June for MK and probably HS. I don’t think they will be able to staff all four parks nor do I think they will need it until fears die down a bit. I think Epcot and AK are likely to stay closed until they can get the college program at full capacity.
Who knows what science will bring us tomorrow or next week. So many brilliant people out there working on this that I can only think somebody will find the answer.

I don’t see them opening anything unless they can open all 4 parks at once. They would have to refund even more money for the people who go and already purchased tickets under the assumption all 4 parks are available.

 

[Spridell]

I don’t see them opening anything unless they can open all 4 parks at once. They would have to refund even more money for the people who go and already purchased tickets under the assumption all 4 parks are available.

Disney Springs WILL DEFINITELY open first and possibly next month or end of Next Month.

Disney Springs has a lot of locals that frequent it and as soon as some of the restrictions are lifted in Florida I see it opening fairly quickly.

The parks and hotels are a different story.

 

[HuskieJohn]

I don’t see them opening anything unless they can open all 4 parks at once. They would have to refund even more money for the people who go and already purchased tickets under the assumption all 4 parks are available.

They close the parks for hurricanes but the resorts are still open...so why wouldn’t that be an option here?

Also with the DVC contracts WDW is going to push to open those first before they worry about anything else.

If the parks are closed they don’t need to give out any refunds...the tickets will be good for future dates for when they come back.

 

[jlwhitney]

Disney Springs WILL DEFINITELY open first and possibly next month or end of Next Month.

Disney Springs has a lot of locals that frequent it and as soon as some of the restrictions are lifted in Florida I see it opening fairly quickly.

The parks and hotels are a different story.

I agree, its mostly a fancy shopping mall, so if restarante and stores can open there is no reason they won't. Plus with out all the hotel/park traffic it won't be nearly as busy. If they open in May I know we are planning a day trip down from NE Fl for lunch and such as something to do.

 

[e_yerger]

I really like the idea of parks being open to resort guests only.

 

[xuxa777]

They close the parks for hurricanes but the resorts are still open...so why wouldn’t that be an option here?

Also with the DVC contracts WDW is going to push to open those first before they worry about anything else.

If the parks are closed they don’t need to give out any refunds...the tickets will be good for future dates for when they come back.

This is a bit different than a hurricane , they can’t close the resorts immediately when they close the parks, the aren’t going to kick people out, it took a while for the resorts to close this time too once the park closed.

 

[xuxa777]

I know most everyone thinks they need to limit attendance in some way, but I don’t see a need to do that at all. They wont open without the staffing and that won’t be as big of an issue as people are making it out to be. It is the last thing Disney would want to do.

 

[C&Jx2]

I don't know for sure but would rides need to be inspected again before opening and if so how long would that take

I have heard there are employees still running rides and keeping them up to date. I’m no expert though and I am definitely “in the know” so take that for what’s it worth... lol

 

[mshanson3121]

I have heard there are employees still running rides and keeping them up to date. I’m no expert though and I am definitely “in the know” so take that for what’s it worth... lol

It was reported a few ((several?) pages back they're draining the hydraulics and preparing the rides for long term storage/shut down.

 

[mhautz]

I don’t see them opening anything unless they can open all 4 parks at once. They would have to refund even more money for the people who go and already purchased tickets under the assumption all 4 parks are available.

I kind of agree. Even if Disney intentionally reduces the number of guests entering it's resort, it doesn't do much good if you're cramming them into one or two parks. If you have half the demand, but half the supply, you're in the same place you were before.

 

[Vern60]

I really like the idea of parks being open to resort guests only.

I wonder how that would work though? I mean I suppose there are already a good amount of people who already have reservations but I mean do you think they would advertise? Such as, opening soon, but only to resort guests?