Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[bpx2]

I don't know if i can get upgraded from CR CL theme park view. on hold now to change to the campground in our RV, it's been 3 hours 50 minutes now. it's really not that complicated is it?

That doesn't give me much hope they'll be answering my call anytime soon - I've been on hold a little over 2 hours.

I have a cash stay at Copper Creek starting June 22nd and want to add on a day due to flights. Has anyone staying at one of the resorts that's reopening tried to modify their dates during the initial reopening period?

 

[cakebaker]

I saved the email that Disney sent me about my reservation. Here is what it says:

However, because you have valid Theme Park admission, you will have access to the Theme Park reservation system before new tickets are sold to other Guests. There’s nothing you need to do at this time. We’ll be contacting you soon with details on this new system as well as the process of making new dining and experience reservations. If you have previously booked experiences, you’ll also be provided with first access to make new reservations

I understand that, but that doesn’t say this is exclusive to resort guests . The newly released information says preference will be given to current ticket holders and AP’s. Resort guests with valid tickets would be included of course, but it doesn’t say first dibs is limited to only resort guests.

 

[MrsSmith07]

I'm just annoyed that people are still able to buy annual passes, but Disney won't let me upgrade a silver to gold anywhere except at the parks.

 

[jenjersnap]

That is interesting. One of my FB friends did a video tour of a refurbed 1 BR right before the shutdown and specifically mentioned capacity was remaining at 4 (didn’t show a single bed at all). I will be sincerely glad to be wrong since that adds an option for my family of five! We are doing the air bed thing this trip.

This is true about the difference between a cash reservation and a points reservation, however this resort is in the middle of a refurb. The newly redone rooms include a fold-down single bed in the living room of one and two bedroom villas.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Or their name is Sven....

Exactly what I was going to say.

Sven/Finn/Flynn lives to rumor another day.

 

[chasgoose]

But wouldn’t you know if you have a park reservation at least 30 days before you go? It’s not like you get there & don’t know if you’ll get in, right? Or have I misunderstood the plan?

Once the system opens up you should be able to know what park reservations you have before going (maybe not 30 days out for the guests arriving in the first week the parks are open depending on when the system is up and running). That, however, is only if you are the type of WDW visitor (like most people here) who plans in advance. There are going to be plenty of people who show up with no reservations only to find out they can't get into the parks, but that wouldn't really be Disney's fault.

 

[glocker]

What i'm trying to say is...NY has more daily tests and less positive cases than Florida. This quarantine restriction really doesn't make sense to keep around much longer. Obviously numbers can be still "good" for both states. But when you compare the states. putting people in quarantine from a state that has better numbers than Florida's is just...odd. I of course understand why it was initially put in place but things are very different now than how it was months ago and hopefully things stay getting better when more of NY reopens.

As a NY traveler with a mid-July arrival, I have been watching this closely. My fear is that this is politically motivated at this point. If so, my argument to Disney would be that, as a "property owner" I should be compensated for the points I am not being allowed to use. There is ZERO good reason to restrict travel from our region when we are, indeed, out performing the South in quelling the virus. My family is taking a risk entering Florida, NOT the other way around. This makes the planning all the more frustrating.

 

[Marionnette]

This is true about the difference between a cash reservation and a points reservation, however this resort is in the middle of a refurb. The newly redone rooms include a fold-down single bed in the living room of one and two bedroom villas.

They aren’t even halfway done with the refurb. They cannot be booked for a party of 5 adults unless you are booking on points. And even then, there is no guarantee that you will be assigned a villa with that has been refurbished.

 

[cakebaker]

My family is taking a risk entering Florida, NOT the other way around. This makes the planning all the more frustrating.

It is ridiculous that the travel restrictions are still in place. There are several states spiking to a worrisome rate that are free to travel wherever they want, including Florida.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

But wouldn’t you know if you have a park reservation at least 30 days before you go? It’s not like you get there & don’t know if you’ll get in, right? Or have I misunderstood the plan?

I could see this being an issue with people who fly, if 30 days is the long term plan. Who wants to commit to plane tickets before knowing what parks you will/won't get? Currently you can book last minute for cheap. I just booked flights for universal yesterday and we leave Saturday. But in normal times, buying 30 days out would be unreasonable.

 

[LSUmiss]

That isn’t true I was able to just purchase one 30 seconds ago and it went through and it is on my mde.

Not shocking a phone CM was wrong

 

[princesscinderella]

Additionally, the following special offerings and childcare services will not be available during the initial reopening:

• Fireworks voyages and tasting cruises, including the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
• Fun runs
• Wonderland Tea Party at Park Fare
• Hula lessons
• In-room childcare services
• Mermaid school
• Special classes and programs—including culinary, cultural and animal programs​

• I don’t know what mermaid schools is as I’ve never heard about it before but I’m a little sad that it’s not open because I’d love to go to mermaid school!!

 

[RWinNOLA]

As a NY traveler with a mid-July arrival, I have been watching this closely. My fear is that this is politically motivated at this point. If so, my argument to Disney would be that, as a "property owner" I should be compensated for the points I am not being allowed to use.

The problem with your argument is that WDW isn’t dictating the travel restrictions. They are only following orders put in place by the governor.

EDITED to change is to isn’t, important distinction.

 

[princesscinderella]

I think you’re right. I just checked DVC availability from July 13-25 and most resorts are open for that entire period in almost all room types. Seems like you could get any room type for the full period at SSR, OKW, BLT. All others have most room types available with studios being the hardest to come by for the full two weeks.

AKV Jambo is waitlist for everything.

i agree that DVC will most likely not be operating at max capacity this year but I feel like 2021 will be tough to get last minute reservations or at the 7 month window for non home resorts. I think a lot of owners are probably banking their 2020 Pts into 2021 which is why they capped borrowing to 50% to help with the availability next year.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I can’t believe how much I wanna go to Disney again, just because I’m not allowed to go to Disney again.

I had no plans to go this year. Now I want to go.

 

[Mzpalmtree]

I could see this being an issue with people who fly, if 30 days is the long term plan. Who wants to commit to plane tickets before knowing what parks you will/won't get? Currently you can book last minute for cheap. I just booked flights for universal yesterday and we leave Saturday. But in normal times, buying 30 days out would be unreasonable.

I’ve expressed concern about the proposed 30 day window here and elsewhere. I know Disney has made their cancellation policy for cash guests more lenient through early October, but if implemented, the 30 day park reservation window would be at odds with the existing pay off deadline for packages unless that changes long term. It would definitely be at odds with the cancellation deadline for DVC members to prevent their points from going into holding. I know that Disney has indicated that parks are not guaranteed for either resort guests or DVC members but the time frames just seem strange and I hope they are taken into consideration.

 

[Jacq7414]

I live in NY so I keep a close eye on how things are trending. CNN's website has some nice graphs for each state's daily numbers and how they've been trending the last 14 days. NY,NJ,CT have been trending down for a couple of weeks now while the Florida trend line keeps going up. I can't tell the exact numbers but it looks like this last week has been where Florida has started to have more cases per day than NY. I know this topic isn't meant for discussions about numbers and the virus but this quarantine rule placed on these 3 states is starting to look really silly.

They lifted the ban from Louisiana now too. (Sorry is this was said). I don’t really understand why it’s still in place. We aren’t going until April 2021, so I’m sure by then it’ll be lifted - but who the hell knows anymore

 

[ajksmom]

As a NY traveler with a mid-July arrival, I have been watching this closely. My fear is that this is politically motivated at this point. If so, my argument to Disney would be that, as a "property owner" I should be compensated for the points I am not being allowed to use. There is ZERO good reason to restrict travel from our region when we are, indeed, out performing the South in quelling the virus. My family is taking a risk entering Florida, NOT the other way around. This makes the planning all the more frustrating.

As a resident of CT I’m none too fond of the order still being in place.

But until a state reaches Phase 2 non- essential travel is still banned.

So I personally have no expectation of DeSantis even addressing the issue until our region reaches that phase.

 

[RWinNOLA]

i agree that DVC will most likely not be operating at max capacity this year but I feel like 2021 will be tough to get last minute reservations or at the 7 month window for non home resorts. I think a lot of owners are probably banking their 2020 Pts into 2021 which is why they capped borrowing to 50% to help with the availability next year.

I agree. Was just replying to a comment that crowd levels may be lower at initial them park opening than some are speculating.

 

[glocker]

As a resident of CT I’m none too fond of the order still being in place.

But until a state reaches Phase 2 non- essential travel is still banned.

So I personally have no expectation of DeSantis even addressing the issue until our region reaches that phase.

My county will be in phase 2 on Tuesday.