Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[hertamaniac]

We had a double dip booked for this fall but changed it. I’m not sure how I’d feel cruising at the moment either. Not sure how you’d social distance on the ship unless it’s running at a much reduced capacity

The river cruise on NickoVISION that started last week had 40 guests vs. 220 capacity. They also had other restrictions which might give us insight into what the major cruise lines are jostling with. I think the days of self-serving buffets are gone.

 

[JM23457]

I think the days of self-serving buffets are gone.

Certainly on hold while the world is grappling with Covid, but gone forever is unlikely. Buffets are very popular, and full service is expensive for the line. After a couple of years, self-service buffets will probably reemerge.

 

[NoTime42]

Since not much news I'll throw these out there. This is two tweets from today showing Character "experiences" at Universal.

The first one shows a platform with different fur characters rotating appearances and you can interact from a distance get photos from a distance, etc

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271836131861069824

Second is of Doc Brown, so a face character, who is also interacting from a distance

https://twitter.com/x/status/1271825836656730113

How would people feel about this type of thing at Disney? Would it work knowing people (incl kids) couldn't get hugs? Could it even create new/better interactions?

Personally, I would like to see more characters in the open, while roaming the parks. Visible characters add a ton to atmosphere.

 

[hertamaniac]

Certainly on hold while the world is grappling with Covid, but gone forever is unlikely.

It will return, but I don't see it happening in 2020.

Some guests are very adamant about having a buffet on their cruise ship. In fact, I think it was Royal Caribbean that recently changed their language about having the buffet being a sit down, TS experience. There was quite a strong response from cruisers about how the buffet is central to their cruise and Royal changed their position. I can see it as a crew member serving the guests at the buffet stations.

 

[WonderlandisReality]

Competition is always going to incite arguments. DC vs Marvel. Star Trek vs Star Wars. Ferngully vs Avatar.

Okay, clearly I have missed some good reading...where are the Ferngully vs. Avatar battles at?

 

[chasgoose]

I disagree. When a 4-night stay in a standard room at the Four Seasons is in the same price range as a 4-night stay in a standard room at the Polynesian, it is perfectly fair to compare them.

That was my point, anyway. Disney's lapses this summer are causing many guests to look beyond Disney, and see favorable alternatives elsewhere that they might never have considered otherwise.

I guess, but Disney has never offered Four Seasons-level service at the Deluxe resorts. People pay those prices at Disney Deluxes because they are on-site and offer a more immersive experience, whereas Four Seasons can charge what it charges because it offers a much higher level of service (I mean the idea that hotels that charge what Disney Deluxes charge only offer turndown service for CL guests is a perfect example of what Disney offers compared to a Four Seasons, not that its a big deal, but that's what most people would expect at a hotel charging what the Deluxes charge). Disney is totally up front about what they are offering: a decently appointed Hilton/Marriott level 4 star experience with immersive theming and being in the Disney bubble and they can charge what they can because people are willing to overlook the quality of the hotel itself for the other features. They aren't competing with Four Seasons on luxury/service and they never have, so it's sort of unfair to expect that from them.

 

[hertamaniac]

Highly unlikely, IMHO.

I think the CDC will provide limits and protocols for the initial sailings in August. I see very limited capacity and shorter duration cruises (2-4 day).

 

[gatechfan99]

I would be shocked if Disney treats AP tickets for someone with a resort reservation differently, They never have for FP and I don’t think they will with this.

I may be misunderstanding you, but they definitely have for me. When I stay on property, I can make a FP for the whole stay at 60 days (65, 66, 67 days in advance, etc.) When I throw a night in at the Homewood Suites on arrival day and want to go to the park that night, I can only make a FP reservation with my AP at 30 days.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I would be shocked if Disney treats AP tickets for someone with a resort reservation differently, They never have for FP and I don’t think they will with this.

I disagree-- according to the UK version of the resort email posted yesterday, bookings are the TOP priority, and any ticket will do.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

FWIW, DCL has been offering early August cruise discounts for Florida residents and Military for the last few weeks so that isn't much of a development and I wouldn't read into it. The now canceled Alaskan sailings & a I believe a few Med were discounted for a while as well.

I think it will still be a few weeks until we get real cruise news. Which is annoying

 

[Sandisw]

I disagree-- according to the UK version of the resort email posted yesterday, bookings are the TOP priority, and any ticket will do.

That is what I meant. Having a resort reservation with an AP won’t be treated differently than someone who has a regular ticket.

So having a reservation at a hotel, regardless of ticket type, will be in the same bucket.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yeah but our usual suspects for hints of news coming said they don't have any whispers in the pipeline...so we may not get news all weekend

I can use a weekend off so I’m gonna call this good news...

 

[gottalovepluto]

@yulilin3 was just there today and said "Social Distancing in queues was fine"... She rode Hagrid twice today, I will wait for her real time report.

Blogging 101: outrage gets clicks!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Also, and I know this is Universal talk but I believe Disney will go the same way. got confirmation cause I stopped and asked and also saw, that if you cannot wear a mask for medical reasons (they don't ask you to bring any documentation, it's an honor system) they will pull you aside, you answer some questions about your condition and they put a wristband on you so that the TMs know, this also happens if you are allergic to hand sanitizer
I saw a lady wearing a face shield, no mask and found it strange and then I looked down and she had a wristband. So if you still want to have some sort of protection you can wear a face shield but need to explain at the entrance your condition

That is excellent news, and a good way to handle it I think. I’m happy to hear the person who couldn’t wear a mask at least wore a face shield.

 

[Spridell]

I think the CDC will provide limits and protocols for the initial sailings in August. I see very limited capacity and shorter duration cruises (2-4 day).

Agree on this.

Lot's of rumblings going around about cruises starting again in Aug with limited capacity on ships and max 4 day cruises. To start at least......

 

[gottalovepluto]

-

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Split stays are 2 separate reservations for dining, magic bands and online check-in. That’s not a new COVID development.

That's never been my experience. So long as I've had a continuous stay onsite, I have had one online check-in, one dining ADR date, one fast pass date, and one magic band to take me thru both stays. I just had the same exact scenario as recently as my June split stay reservation, although that did ultimately go "poof" of course.

 

[cakebaker]

And are cruises really going to be taking place in two months? The CDC has not yet given the OK to cruises.

Unfortunately, Disney offering special deals is no indication of whether they're going to be operating or not. Ask me how I know.

Since I want our cruise to be cancelled in early October though, I fully expect they'll be up and running at least by then.

 

[skeeter31]

That's never been my experience. So long as I've had a continuous stay onsite, I have had one online check-in, one dining ADR date, one fast pass date, and one magic band to take me thru both stays. I just had the same exact scenario as recently as my June split stay reservation, although that did ultimately go "poof" of course.

That’s interesting. We usually stay at multiple resorts on our vacations, sometimes switching daily to experience different resorts, and we’ve always had to online check in for each resort, had options for magic bands for each stay (even though we have way too many magic bands at this point and have to turn them down), etc.

 

[RamblingMad]

It will return, but I don't see it happening in 2020.

Some guests are very adamant about having a buffet on their cruise ship. In fact, I think it was Royal Caribbean that recently changed their language about having the buffet being a sit down, TS experience. There was quite a strong response from cruisers about how the buffet is central to their cruise and Royal changed their position. I can see it as a crew member serving the guests at the buffet stations.

The buffets on cruise ships are gross. Too many parents let their kids grab whatever they want without proper hygiene.