Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[skeeter31]

Here we go. As most of you remember I posted up about the May 19th opening and all the guidelines I was given by my insider source. Here is the latest update I received yesterday. And to clarify, my source works for Disney though not a CM the way we view most CM's. My source is not front line, not phone, not DVC. Think above all that. Anyway,
June 1st WDW opens.
MK, AK, HS, DS and 1 water park. Mini Golf also opens. EP is on the table but may not open for a few weeks only because of the international employees they will need to bring back.
All WDW resorts open including the Wyndham resorts. Pools and Arcades will be open. Club Level lounges will be open only for coffee, soft drinks and adult beverages. Pre packaged snacks and fruits will be made available. No Breakfast, evening small plates or any CM prepared foods.
To enter a park you have to either be a resort guest with tickets or an AP holder. Everyone will be required to wear a Magic Band. If you don't have one, a complementary gray one will be issued.
All restaurants on property, except buffets, will be open with strict social distancing enforced.
Ride ques will enforce spacing between groups.
All walkways will operate like a road. Stay to the right.
No dessert parties or private tours with the exception of the VIP tour.
FP+ will be available but No single rider lines.
Busses, ferry boats, Monorail and Minnie Vans will be in operation. Uber and regular Lyft will not be available.

This is all tentative so please don't make any plans based on what I wrote. Things at WDW are very fluid and changing daily. I will update if I get any more information.

For now I am still keeping our May 21st trip because the May 19th date is "Still on the table" but will most likely not happen. I do have a June trip booked as a backup so I'm not really worried either way.

I think what bothers me the most about your posts is to have this information your source would have to be pretty high in the food chain at Disney and that person isn’t going to divulge this much information to someone they know is going to go and spread it on a message board. Disney for sure monitors sites like this for leaks (all companies have staff on the lookout for leaks) and it would be easy for them to track who leaked this info and your source would be fired. Especially when you’re so blatant in telling us its a high ranking employee. Plus, unless your source is Chapek or someone on that level, they’re not going to know the abundance of info you’re posting.

 

[ogfalconsr]

Here we go. As most of you remember I posted up about the May 19th opening and all the guidelines I was given by my insider source. Here is the latest update I received yesterday. And to clarify, my source works for Disney though not a CM the way we view most CM's. My source is not front line, not phone, not DVC. Think above all that. Anyway,
June 1st WDW opens.
MK, AK, HS, DS and 1 water park. Mini Golf also opens. EP is on the table but may not open for a few weeks only because of the international employees they will need to bring back.
All WDW resorts open including the Wyndham resorts. Pools and Arcades will be open. Club Level lounges will be open only for coffee, soft drinks and adult beverages. Pre packaged snacks and fruits will be made available. No Breakfast, evening small plates or any CM prepared foods.
To enter a park you have to either be a resort guest with tickets or an AP holder. Everyone will be required to wear a Magic Band. If you don't have one, a complementary gray one will be issued.
All restaurants on property, except buffets, will be open with strict social distancing enforced.
Ride ques will enforce spacing between groups.
All walkways will operate like a road. Stay to the right.
No dessert parties or private tours with the exception of the VIP tour.
FP+ will be available but No single rider lines.
Busses, ferry boats, Monorail and Minnie Vans will be in operation. Uber and regular Lyft will not be available.

This is all tentative so please don't make any plans based on what I wrote. Things at WDW are very fluid and changing daily. I will update if I get any more information.

For now I am still keeping our May 21st trip because the May 19th date is "Still on the table" but will most likely not happen. I do have a June trip booked as a backup so I'm not really worried either way.

I am hoping as my family reservations start on June 1. Appreciate the updates.

 

[Music City Mama]

I would love if @Jimmy Mouse's info was accurate, but I have a feeling what we'll wind up seeing is kind of an in-between scenario of what he posted and what @karen4546 posted; although, I think (or maybe just wishful hoping), that it's closer to what @Jimmy Mouse posted.

 

[ogfalconsr]

I would love if @Jimmy Mouse's info was accurate, but I have a feeling what we'll wind up seeing is kind of an in-between scenario of what he posted and what @karen4546 posted; although, I think (or maybe just wishful hoping), that it's closer to what @Jimmy Mouse posted.

Agreed! at least it is a glass half full approach rather than a pessimistic glass half empty like some folks.

 

[karen4546]

I hope you are right @Music City Mama. I love WDW and I look forward to every single trip. I plan a year in advance since I book DVC rooms. I am saying this so that you know that it took a lot for me to cancel my trip May 24-29. This was going to be a huge trip with many extras and we were staying at Copper Creek for the first time in a 2br. My conversation with the DVC CM was finally the line that was drawn in the sand. After spending so much money on flights (that got canceled and had to be rebooked) and all the in betweens, I did not want to have a limited Disney experience. We love Flower and Garden and wanted to bring DH's mom. We won't make it this year to F & G but maybe our September and December trips will be the full Disney experience.

 

[yulilin3]

I would love if @Jimmy Mouse's info was accurate, but I have a feeling what we'll wind up seeing is kind of an in-between scenario of what he posted and what @karen4546 posted; although, I think (or maybe just wishful hoping), that it's closer to what @Jimmy Mouse posted.

I agree we're going to see some version of both scenarios
Disney has always had problems with keeping the public informed (heck they have problems with having their cast informed) On their end they have always been hesitant and late to share info because they don't want the visitors to start planning and then having to change plans. But at this point, and with the article from that one person that came out saying it wouldn't open until 2021, I think they should at least address that, come out and say something to the effect of "we're working hard to open in a safe and efficient way, we will share our plans with you as soon as we have everything figured out"
This is another area where Universal is superior, I have always said they treat their Team Members better and are better in the communication front.
We still have potentially a whole month to go until we see the parks opening but it would be nice to come out and say "hey, we didn't forget about you, we're working on something, stay tuned" even if it doesn't give us any real info it would be nice to hear from them directly and hopefully appease everyone for the time being

 

[abnihon]

Interesting new info! I hope it’s true!
Where does this leave face characters, fireworks, parades and shows?
Also I wonder if you will still be able to eat at a buffet restaurant (we have Tusker House booked) and they will just change the way they serve?
All very interesting and gives me hope!!!
Very different from the rumor that it will be only FL residents at first...

 

[juice0358]

I think what bothers me the most about your posts is to have this information your source would have to be pretty high in the food chain at Disney and that person isn’t going to divulge this much information to someone they know is going to go and spread it on a message board. Disney for sure monitors sites like this for leaks (all companies have staff on the lookout for leaks) and it would be easy for them to track who leaked this info and your source would be fired. Especially when you’re so blatant in telling us its a high ranking employee. Plus, unless your source is Chapek or someone on that level, they’re not going to know the abundance of info you’re posting.

Bingo, he has been adamant it would be May 19th now pushed it back 2 weeks. What makes you think in two weeks he isn’t on here again saying the source says it will be June 15th. One thing is obvious though, if you give the people good news on here you are very believable to some.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I think what bothers me the most about your posts is to have this information your source would have to be pretty high in the food chain at Disney and that person isn’t going to divulge this much information to someone they know is going to go and spread it on a message board. Disney for sure monitors sites like this for leaks (all companies have staff on the lookout for leaks) and it would be easy for them to track who leaked this info and your source would be fired. Especially when you’re so blatant in telling us its a high ranking employee. Plus, unless your source is Chapek or someone on that level, they’re not going to know the abundance of info you’re posting.

Unless they want it leaked. There has been so much negative info rumored and so many negative responses about the potential modifications. They need people associating positive thoughts with them again.

 

[Jrb1979]

Bingo, he has been adamant it would be May 19th now pushed it back 2 weeks. What makes you think in two weeks he isn’t on here again saying the source says it will be June 15th. One thing is obvious though, if you give the people good news on here you are very believable to some.

Exactly cause alot of people don't want to believe Major changes are coming. This virus will be around for awhile and so will physical distancing.

 

[2Lunds]

Here we go. As most of you remember I posted up about the May 19th opening and all the guidelines I was given by my insider source. Here is the latest update I received yesterday. And to clarify, my source works for Disney though not a CM the way we view most CM's. My source is not front line, not phone, not DVC. Think above all that. Anyway,
June 1st WDW opens.
MK, AK, HS, DS and 1 water park. Mini Golf also opens. EP is on the table but may not open for a few weeks only because of the international employees they will need to bring back.
All WDW resorts open including the Wyndham resorts. Pools and Arcades will be open. Club Level lounges will be open only for coffee, soft drinks and adult beverages. Pre packaged snacks and fruits will be made available. No Breakfast, evening small plates or any CM prepared foods.
To enter a park you have to either be a resort guest with tickets or an AP holder. Everyone will be required to wear a Magic Band. If you don't have one, a complementary gray one will be issued.
All restaurants on property, except buffets, will be open with strict social distancing enforced.
Ride ques will enforce spacing between groups.
All walkways will operate like a road. Stay to the right.
No dessert parties or private tours with the exception of the VIP tour.
FP+ will be available but No single rider lines.
Busses, ferry boats, Monorail and Minnie Vans will be in operation. Uber and regular Lyft will not be available.

This is all tentative so please don't make any plans based on what I wrote. Things at WDW are very fluid and changing daily. I will update if I get any more information.

For now I am still keeping our May 21st trip because the May 19th date is "Still on the table" but will most likely not happen. I do have a June trip booked as a backup so I'm not really worried either way.

I have no "insider knowledge", just sharing my own personal info. My neighbor works for Starbucks, and they've been told not to expect their on-site stores to open for at least a full year. My niece was accepted for the international program this year, which was obviously canceled, and when she asked if she could apply for 2021, she was told no (not because she was a poor candidate, because there would be no international program). I could imagine canceling the international program could indicate WDW's preference for full-time local CMs, but the Starbucks thing doesn't sound promising for re-opening any time soon.

 

[mshanson3121]

I agree we're going to see some version of both scenarios
Disney has always had problems with keeping the public informed (heck they have problems with having their cast informed) On their end they have always been hesitant and late to share info because they don't want the visitors to start planning and then having to change plans. But at this point, and with the article from that one person that came out saying it wouldn't open until 2021, I think they should at least address that, come out and say something to the effect of "we're working hard to open in a safe and efficient way, we will share our plans with you as soon as we have everything figured out"
This is another area where Universal is superior, I have always said they treat their Team Members better and are better in the communication front.
We still have potentially a whole month to go until we see the parks opening but it would be nice to come out and say "hey, we didn't forget about you, we're working on something, stay tuned" even if it doesn't give us any real info it would be nice to hear from them directly and hopefully appease everyone for the time being

I agree with what you said. However, as soon as they allowed guests to book starting June 1st, they allowed guests to start planning knowing they'd possibly (and now likely) have to change plans. Honestly at this point, I don't think they have much to lose by saying something. There comes a point where the silence will hurt them more PR-wise, than a statement that is made clear that it is conditional/subject to change.

 

[whodatdare]

Regarding the "leaks", information in business is often intentionally leaked and tracked for public response. It happens in the Tech world by Apple, sports world with trades, and the business world ("will free dining be coming out??? Rumor is...). Companies in general don't mind a leak because it will give them a way to test the waters... and if they don't like the response.. it doesn't have to happen and they can say "we never said that".
As for me, I am keeping my hopes high for July. Of course, I'll believe the optimistic posts more because I want to, not because they are more reliable LOL

 

[TheMaxRebo]

For me the idea of WDW closing made this thing reality. I wasn’t ready for that!

 

[mshanson3121]

Regarding the "leaks", information in business is often intentionally leaked and tracked for public response. It happens in the Tech world by Apple, sports world with trades, and the business world ("will free dining be coming out??? Rumor is...). Companies in general don't mind a leak because it will give them a way to test the waters... and if they don't like the response.. it doesn't have to happen and they can say "we never said that".
As for me, I am keeping my hopes high for July. Of course, I'll believe the optimistic posts more because I want to, not because they are more reliable LOL

Definitely. But if this were the case - why put out leaks that are light years apart?

 

[e_yerger]

As for me, I am keeping my hopes high for July. Of course, I'll believe the optimistic posts more because I want to, not because they are more reliable LOL

shamelessly plugging the thread I started of people who are hopeful for their Summer trips & plan on going if parks are open! https://www.disboards.com/threads/summer-2020-trips-if-wdw-is-open-were-going.3799694/

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Interesting new info! I hope it’s true!
Where does this leave face characters, fireworks, parades and shows?
Also I wonder if you will still be able to eat at a buffet restaurant (we have Tusker House booked) and they will just change the way they serve?
All very interesting and gives me hope!!!
Very different from the rumor that it will be only FL residents at first...

If you are interested, the latest edition of the DIS Unplugged Dining show is focused on buffets and how they could look going forward - no insider information just their theories based on experience

Ideas went from being largely the same but a CM behind the counters would put the food on your plate that you ask for to having a list be shown to you of all the opens and then a server brings you a plate to your table to changing to more of family style

One other point brought up (by Deni I believe) would be the elimination of all paper menus to more of a digital approach

Just another example of logistic type things that need to be thought through

 

[KBoopaloo]

Why would Uber and regular Lyft not be available? Is the idea that using Uber and regular Lyft would potentially bring in non resort guests from outside property? That seems sort of goofy considering that anyone with a rental car staying at a resort could still drive off property at any time and there are plenty of AP holders who will be coming in from off property as well. You would think they would want people using services like these more to lessen the number of people of Disney transport.

 

[yulilin3]

If you are interested, the latest edition of the DIS Unplugged Dining show is focused on buffets and how they could look going forward - no insider information just their theories based on experience

Ideas went from being largely the same but a CM behind the counters would put the food on your plate that you ask for to having a list be shown to you of all the opens and then a server brings you a plate to your table to changing to more of family style

One other point brought up (by Deni I believe) would be the elimination of all paper menus to more of a digital approach

Just another example of logistic type things that need to be thought through

I think a CM serving/handing out food will be the procedure as we move forward.
During the press event for MMRR we had a dinner party and usually we would just walk up to the table and grab the pre plated offerings, this time they had CM wearing gloves handing us the items (this was obviously during the time period when we all knew of the virus and Disney had started taking steps to minimize spread in the parks)
at buffets this would be helpful as it will also minimize loss of food, people tend to go overboard in buffets and fill up plates that they end up tossing, with a CM the portions will be better regulated

 

[yulilin3]

Why would Uber and regular Lyft not be available? Is the idea that using Uber and regular Lyft would potentially bring in non resort guests from outside property? That seems sort of goofy considering that anyone with a rental car staying at a resort could still drive off property at any time and there are plenty of AP holders who will be coming in from off property as well. You would think they would want people using services like these more to lessen the number of people of Disney transport.

I think reason number one is money. They want you using Minnie vans. They have been trying to get rid of outside transportation sources for a while now
Safety would be the other issue, Disney can clean each and every Minnie van after use, outside cars can't be controlled and it would be up to the driver to clean