Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[WishesCameTrue]

We had a trip planned starting May 17th. I have all great fastpasses, etc. I haven't bothered cancelling anything yet. May 16th happens to be the last day Disney has "officially" cancelled from what I can tell.

Now, all of a sudden, I am wondering if they might try opening starting May 17th with an ultra low capacity (maybe 10%) and only let in people that still have existing plans. They will need some sort of soft open to start ramping up crowds, right? Seems like a reasonable way to see how crowds are going to behave with the new "normal."

They haven't been allowing plans before June 1 for a while now. I wonder how many people still have plans on the books right now for May 17th to June 1st.

Our trip is May 24-29, YC and everything is still on MDE. I just checked and I could check in hotel if I wanted and order magic bands but haven’t done either. Cancelled flights after they were changing things around so an 8 1/2 drive for us which is very doable. I guess I haven’t cancelled as I thought maybe a soft opening as well but I am thinking we will know for sure by the end of the week. I have a trip for June 14-19 just in case, but would move to earlier in June if it‘s available. Suggested modifications are very doable as far as I am concerned. My only no go was a required mask all the time. Although Epcot not being open would be a huge disappointment, and I would need to change resorts. I could use some pixie dust (as could we all) so here’s hoping for some Disney soon!

 

[Mit88]

EPCOT is not 50,000 capacity.. more like 125,000

50,000 according to the Orlando Sentinal and 95,000 according to someone who has “confidential” access to numbers on Quora. I went with the small 50,000 number, though its a very questionable number as there are a lot of people at EPCOT and its very spread out but you will never be in a completely empty area of the park.

95,000 people at 100% Capacity changes the numbers to

With EPCOT, With Water Parks - 190,000 people
Without EPCOT, Without Water Parks - 165,000

100,000 people at 100% Capacity

With EPCOT, With Water Parks - 192,500 people
With EPCOT, Without Water Parks - 167,500 people

125,000 people at 100% Capactiy


With EPCOT, With Water Parks - 205,000 people
With EPCOT, Without Waterparks - 180,000 people



These calculations are all under assumptions that the numbers are right. But it seems are though they could potentially allow more than just Disney Resort guests into 50% combined capacity parks. This also doesnt include people that spend the day off property, and no one at Disney Springs, or people that hang out for the day at the Hotel. But it doesnt take into account the amount of Castmembers and whether or not theyre factored into the capacity, I would assume they are though

Personally, I dont think they go with 50% capacity, I think it’ll be around 35-40%, and I don’t believe EPCOT will be open to start, I DO think the other 3 COULD realistically be open day 1, I’m almost certain the Water Parks wont be open during Phase 1 or 2.

 

[TropicalDIS]

World Showcase with walking in one direction only is probably the best WDW locale for social distancing.

Wasn't there some kind of potential plan released that had Epcot down as the park not to open right away? Was posted a while back. I think it also had MK down as the sole park to open in Phase 1.

Even if that doesn't happen, I can't see Epcot opening right away. MK/AK/HS, I can see these 3 parks all opening at once.

Anybody know what I'm talking with that potential plan that came out?

 

[rteetz]

Just proposed and is just the beginning of the discussion. There has been no official press release from Disney or Universal for what their parks will look like upon opening.

Both companies were involved in discussions for this though.

 

[gotomu212]

For DL, read Gov Newsome’s phased reopening plan. He said Phase 3 for CA is months, not weeks away and includes spas, gyms, and live sports without audience.
Phase 4 would be lifting of all restrictions and allowing concerts, conventions and live audiences. Phase 4 requires that therapeutics have been developed but I couldn’t find what exactly that encompasses.

Unless DL gets a special exception they sound like a Phase 4 to me, and just looking at how conversions seem to be progressing it seems there’s a high chance WDW opens well before DL.

 

[Mit88]

For DL, read Gov Newsome’s phased reopening plan. He said Phase 3 for CA is months, not weeks away and includes spas, gyms, and live sports without audience.
Phase 4 would be lifting of all restrictions and allowing concerts, conventions and live audiences. Phase 4 requires that therapeutics have been developed but I couldn’t find what exactly that encompasses.

Unless DL gets a special exception they sound like a Phase 4 to me, and just looking at how conversions seem to be progressing it seems there’s a high chance WDW opens well before DL.

I hope Newsom has an open mind about reopening and hes not dead set on opening California as slow as his plans seem. He’s taking a very safe approach, which is smart. Better to be safe, than sorry. But if we start opening states up and dont see spikes and more big gatherings come into play in those states and cases still dont spike, and California is still opening up at a snails pace, the people that were once worshipping Newsom’s COVID-19 approach, will turn on him very quickly.

Then again, he says things that seem strict, but look at their beaches over the weekend. Yet you hear from Californians how Florida citizens are “Morons” when they go to beaches and how California residents are doing what is told and staying home, which is very far from the truth.

At Newsom’s pace, the market strategist that said January 1st would be when Disney would reopen their parks would seem like a generous prediction.

 

[EmJ]

I hope Newsom has an open mind about reopening and hes not dead set on opening California as slow as his plans seem. He’s taking a very safe approach, which is smart. Better to be safe, than sorry. But if we start opening states up and dont see spikes and more big gatherings come into play in those states and cases still dont spike, and California is still opening up at a snails pace, the people that were once worshipping Newsom’s COVID-19 approach, will turn on him very quickly.

Then again, he says things that seem strict, but look at their beaches over the weekend. Yet you hear from Californians how Florida citizens are “Morons” when they go to beaches and how California residents are doing what is told and staying home, which is very far from the truth.

At Newsom’s pace, the market strategist that said January 1st would be when Disney would reopen their parks would seem like a generous prediction.

Newsom said the data and science would drive how fast the state progresses through the phases. If things start to reopen and there is no spike in cases, no second wave, hospitals and first responders are coping, PPE is available (not just to medial professionals, but police, daycare workers, grocery clerks, etc.), then I would expect him to move rapidly through the phases. If those things don’t happen and there is a surge in cases/hospitalizations/deaths instead, then he would move more slowly.

 

[Jrb1979]

Newsom said the data and science would drive how fast the state progresses through the phases. If things start to reopen and there is no spike in cases, no second wave, hospitals and first responders are coping, PPE is available (not just to medial professionals, but police, daycare workers, grocery clerks, etc.), then I would expect him to move rapidly through the phases. If those things don’t happen and there is a surge in cases/hospitalizations/deaths instead, then he would move more slowly.

That's the way we are doing it here in Canada. IMO that's the best way to go. I hope Disney doesn't rush to open and takes every safety precaution.

 

[jerry557]

So phase 4 requires basically a treatment or a vaccine.

So the question is....if there is never any vaccine, does Disneyland never reopen?

 

[Pickle Rick]

So phase 4 requires basically a treatment or a vaccine.

So the question is....if there is never any vaccine, does Disneyland never reopen?

I think it's clear he'll amend his guidelines if things go well in the earlier phases. If they don't, it will take longer. He's taking the safe approach unlike others.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

I wonder at what stage of the year it is feasible for overseas guests to visit, I could potentially see that kicked down the road until there are more treatment options. I am not entirely sure whether travel bans are part of the 'phased' process or whether that is more a governmental decision.

 

[yankeesfan123]

So phase 4 requires basically a treatment or a vaccine.

So the question is....if there is never any vaccine, does Disneyland never reopen?

Your own post said “treatment or vaccine”... I think having a good treatment would suffice.

 

[anthony2k7]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1255432116755628032

Now that's how to do social distancing!

 

[Eric Smith]

I wonder at what stage of the year it is feasible for overseas guests to visit, I could potentially see that kicked down the road until there are more treatment options. I am not entirely sure whether travel bans are part of the 'phased' process or whether that is more a governmental decision.

International travel will be a national level decision. I would expect that international travel will be the last thing to open back up.

 

[e_yerger]

Both companies were involved in discussions for this though.

I know this. I can read and I can see that both companies were involved in the discussion. But this does not mean that it is an official press release coming from these companies. Unless I’m wrong? If so I’d really want to see the press releases, with company titleheads or links from company websites, outlying the procedures for opening.


Not to get off topic, but this is such an issue with mainstream media right now. The information we’ve gotten from this task force is not direct news from Disney and Universal. It is still beginning discussions that the president of WDW and CEO of UOR happen to be a part of. Those are 2 very different things.

 

[Eric Smith]

I know this. I can read and I can see that both companies were involved in the discussion. But this does not mean that it is an official press release coming from these companies. Unless I’m wrong? If so I’d really want to see the press releases, with company titleheads or links from company websites, outlying the procedures for opening.


Not to get off topic, but this is such an issue with mainstream media right now. The information we’ve gotten from this task force is not direct news from Disney and Universal. It is still beginning discussions that the president of WDW and CEO of UOR happen to be a part of. Those are 2 very different things.

I don't believe anyone thinks this is an official press release from Universal or Disney. Also, the source for this isn't the "mainstream media". Take it for what it is worth but this tells us where things are likely to be headed for park openings.

 

[e_yerger]

I don't believe anyone thinks this is an official press release from Universal or Disney. Also, the source for this isn't the "mainstream media". Take it for what it is worth but this tells us where things are likely to be headed for park openings.

I totally agree with what you’re saying. But there are people on the boards that think this is the gospel truth and are making vacation plans based on it. I’m just trying to keep this in perspective that this is NOT Disney’s official procedures.

 

[mshanson3121]

I don't believe anyone thinks this is an official press release from Universal or Disney. Also, the source for this isn't the "mainstream media". Take it for what it is worth but this tells us where things are likely to be headed for park openings.

Oh yes they do on social media. Seriously this is being passed around as a release directly from Disney.

 

[JaNelson38]

International travel will be a national level decision. I would expect that international travel will be the last thing to open back up.

Tough to say. Certain places may take longer than others, but just like in this country, a "one size fits all" process might not be appropriate with regards to international travel resuming. You may see the US reach agreements with individual countries with regards to international travel resuming based on each country's situation. There's a limited amount of international airports in the country, so I would think some strict testing measures will be put in place and running before international travel resumes, which shouldn't be too difficult to implement.

I suspect the border and travel with Canada will resume in short order sometime in the next few weeks. But Europe may be a bit sketchy. I don't anticipate any non-essential, non-business travel between the US and China/Asia for a long time.

 

[mhautz]

Oh yes they do on social media. Seriously this is being passed around as a release directly from Disney.

Just like last week when all I saw were mainstream new sources saying Disney wouldn't open until 2021 as if an external analyst's statements taken slightly out of context are fact.