Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

The vaccine is made of pixie dust and the odor from the monorail.

Odor from the monorail can fix any problem, don’t knock it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Do I have time to pour wine?

 

[chasgoose]

Hope so, and it’s not a reflection on how long they feel they can’t operate restaurants/parks somewhat normally. What gives me pause is changing Free Dining to 35% off instead.

Leads me to believe they are not confident they can deliver on the DDP for a loooong time.

I think also its going to come in connection with a massive reconsideration of planning dates in terms of when and how things like ADRs and FP+ can or will be made. They don't know when it will be safe to go fully back to normal (a vaccine or other solution could come in January or it could come in June). Disney likely is going to want maximum flexibility on its end so it doesn't get caught promising its guests too much and failing to deliver.

The current setup existed because it benefitted Disney to know and be able to have some idea of what its guests would be doing in advance and plan accordingly. With such a complicated operation, that data allowed Disney to operate far more nimbly than it ever could and reduce costs without reducing guest experience. FP+ and the ADR windows allowed Disney both the ability to use its resources more efficiently and accommodate more visitors, which is almost certainly why the Theme Parks division has become one of its most profitable business lines. While the ADR/FP+/Magic Bands/MDE operations did also streamline things for guests and made their experiences better if they knew how best to work with them and could plan ahead, these innovations were always about what Disney stood to gain from an operations perspective from the massive data gathering it provided about a significant portion of its guests. Unfortunately, all of that data gathering from past ADRs/FP+/Magic Bands is useless for the next year or two and they are going to have to wing it until things get back to normal or at least we have a better sense of how COVID-19 will ultimately play out/a vaccine is delivered. Until then, even though Disney will still be doing everything in its power to feed its data gathering operations, 180 day ADR windows or even 60 day FP+ (or whatever replacement they come up with)/park reservation windows are going to be unlikely, because its going to be nearly impossible for Disney to know what they can deliver that far out (especially at first/if we have a second wave).

This is almost certainly why Disney is going to be loath to release more specifics and details than they have to for the next year or so and things are going to be far more touch and go. Things will likely get back to "normal" sooner than September 2021, but I doubt things are going to be very "predictable" until COVID-19 is either fully under control or reduced to more predictable and vaccinable patterns like the seasonal flu. Especially for people who frequent these boards, used to and enjoying meticulously planning (or at least using the tips and tricks learned here to craft the experience that works best for them) it totally sucks not to be able to have certainty about what, for many, such an expensive vacation will actually look like, but I do think that Disney's theme park operations team is second to none, and that once they start actually letting guests back in (in whatever specific form that may be) the learning curve will be very steep and they will adapt quickly going forward.

 

[JacknSally]

Disney scientists have been quietly working on a vaccine, and it is now ready for the masses.

3 rides on Living with the Land cures covid and heals the soul.

 

[Krandor]

I've always been a fan of Big Brother, but guess this experience has proven I am not great at expecting the unexpected lol.

Big Brother themselves had to expect the unexpected when BB Canada got shut down in the middle of their season due to COVID. Everything is in flux.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Is it fair to say if we were refreshing a certain annoying website to see news, said website could be uploading it on the hour in about 5 minutes?

 

[cakebaker]

Okay, but that was their choice. I can still be upset about the possibility about my vacation possibly getting radically changed. I knew going in that would be the case, but the optics just don't look great imo.

How was it their choice? They got cancelled. I think it stinks too, but it really stinks that those who just booked a different date don’t get the really great 35% off that others who booked later do. That discount rivals the best AP discounts. I’d be really irked if I was in that boat.

 

[mshanson3121]

Listen, it’s almost my bedtime. I gotta know if i gotta stay up tonight or not.

Stay up. Caffeine and chocolate, lots of it

 

[e_yerger]

I think also its going to come in connection with a massive reconsideration of planning dates in terms of when and how things like ADRs and FP+ can or will be made. They don't know when it will be safe to go fully back to normal (a vaccine or other solution could come in January or it could come in June). Disney likely is going to want maximum flexibility on its end so it doesn't get caught promising its guests too much and failing to deliver.

The current setup existed because it benefitted Disney to know and be able to have some idea of what its guests would be doing in advance and plan accordingly. With such a complicated operation, that data allowed Disney to operate far more nimbly than it ever could and reduce costs without reducing guest experience. FP+ and the ADR windows allowed Disney both the ability to use its resources more efficiently and accommodate more visitors, which is almost certainly why the Theme Parks division has become one of its most profitable business lines. While the ADR/FP+/Magic Bands/MDE operations did also streamline things for guests and made their experiences better if they knew how best to work with them and could plan ahead, these innovations were always about what Disney stood to gain from an operations perspective from the massive data gathering it provided about a significant portion of its guests. Unfortunately, all of that data gathering from past ADRs/FP+/Magic Bands is useless for the next year or two and they are going to have to wing it until things get back to normal or at least we have a better sense of how COVID-19 will ultimately play out/a vaccine is delivered. Until then, even though Disney will still be doing everything in its power to feed its data gathering operations, 180 day ADR windows or even 60 day FP+ (or whatever replacement they come up with)/park reservation windows are going to be unlikely, because its going to be nearly impossible for Disney to know what they can deliver that far out (especially at first/if we have a second wave).

This is almost certainly why Disney is going to be loath to release more specifics and details than they have to for the next year or so and things are going to be far more touch and go. Things will likely get back to "normal" sooner than September 2021, but I doubt things are going to be very "predictable" until COVID-19 is either fully under control or reduced to more predictable and vaccinable patterns like the seasonal flu. Especially for people who frequent these boards, used to and enjoying meticulously planning (or at least using the tips and tricks learned here to craft the experience that works best for them) it totally sucks not to be able to have certainty about what, for many, such an expensive vacation will actually look like, but I do think that Disney's theme park operations team is second to none, and that once they start actually letting guests back in (in whatever specific form that may be) the learning curve will be very steep and they will adapt quickly going forward.

Can i get a tl;dr on this? Too stressed to read. Must refresh. Constant refreshing.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Being reported on multiple sites & through travel agents on twitter: https://mickeyblog.com/2020/05/28/w...es-new-reservations-system-being-implemented/

 

[Krandor]

Clarity maybe? It’s not something unexpected I don’t think

Desantis approved the proposal?

 

[osufeth24]

The virus saw the eyesore on I4, and said, aight Imma head out now

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Tin foil hat time!
My guesses for what could possibly be in whatever we are about to get smacked with:

1. Which non-DVC resorts are reopening (if any)
2. Doing away with current FP system
3. Keeping FP system but everyone has to start over
4. Doing away with all ADRs, everyone needs to start over
5. No dining plans
6. No dining plans except CS
7. Announcement of recovery offer

 

[Spridell]

Is it this?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1266167985997316098

 

[rteetz]

Desantis approved the proposal?

No that’s not news worthy

 

[runjulesrun]

Clarity maybe? It’s not something unexpected I don’t think

I can't believe I'm saying this but the thought of all ADRs and FPs going away is very freeing. Maybe we will have the spontaneous Disney experience we fell in love with as a family years ago. I can get behind that.

 

[rteetz]

Is it this?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1266167985997316098

Part of it

 

[mhautz]

I shiver with antici.....

 

[Farro]

Do I have time to pour wine?

There is always time to pour wine. Always.

 

[e_yerger]

I can't believe I'm saying this but the thought of all ADRs and FPs going away is very freeing. Maybe we will have the spontaneous Disney experience we fell in love with as a family years ago. I can get behind that.

SAME. HERE!!