Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[IceSkatingPrincess]

not hating it
https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/late...l39GlgakXXwnKXupVSpnEh9SVHiz8L41fPoBFwKMAT0Xs

This is by far the most flattering picture I've seen of the salmon castle. I hope it looks more like this than some of this images. This is a lot less... fishy

 

[Searc]

Awesome, thanks! I think we are going to purchase now and save it for our December trip. Assuming there is a December trip

Pure speculation here, but keep in mind Disney may not allow vouchers to be used to make park reservations. I know it makes zero sense considering you can't redeem the voucher until you arrive, but who knows what they'll do. Saying third party tickets won't guarantee access could be applied to vouchers, too.

 

[JayhawkCruiser]

Plenty of families and APs don't make FPs and decide morning of which park they want to go to. How would you track that without this system? If MK reaches its set reservation capacity on any given day, they can now force guests to choose another park on that day. It allows WDW can set capacity for each park each day to their ideal capacity so they aren't overstaffing one park and understaffing another. It gives WDW more control and it should serve the guest with better crowds control.

I have no issue with it. And a reminder that we don't have complete confirmation that it's here to stay.

You’ve just hit on a major point of why I’m raising questions. The system removes any final piece of spontaneity of a day at WDW. Again, I’m only talking about in a post Covid world before anyone rails on me for that again. And while I know we don’t know if it’ll be here to stay, this whole board is basically rumors and playing the what if game - and my questions arose after reading the rumor that they were planning this system pre Covid.

 

[Eeyore daily]

not hating it
https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/late...l39GlgakXXwnKXupVSpnEh9SVHiz8L41fPoBFwKMAT0Xs

It's so beautiful.

I must be really missing it, I teared up a little.

 

[Searc]

why do you say that?

It was based on comments you've made in live streams about how uncomfortable it is wearing a mask in the heat, even for someone who is used to it.

 

[Princess Merida]

I was just given this information on resort hours for initial opening. I only asked about where I was staying and Beach Club as I felt bad for how long I kept her on the phone.

Boardwalk:
Fitness: 6am-9pm
Community Hall: 10am-7pm
BW Bakery: 7am-9pm
Abracadabar: 4pm-11pm
Trattoria: 7:30am-11am Breakfast 5pm-9pm Dinner
Pizza Window: 12pm-10pm
Luna Park Pool: 11am-9pm
Poolside Activities: 2:30-8pm
Quiet Pool: 24 hours
Leaping Horse Libations: 11am-9pm
Screendoor: 9am-9pm
Movies Under the Stars: 8:30pm

Grand Floridian:
Fitness 6am-9pm
Gasparilla: 7am-10pm
Grand Floridian Cafe: 7:30am-2pm Brunch 5pm-9pm Dinner
Enchanted Rose: 4pm-11pm
Beaches Pool: 11am-9pm
Beaches Pool Bar: 11am-8pm
Beaches QS: 11am-6pm
Poolside Activities: 2:30-8pm
Cabanas: 11am-9pm
Sandy Cove: 7:30am-10pm
Movies Under the Stars: 8:30pm

Beach Club:
Fitness: 6am-9pm
Beaches and Cream: 11:30am-9pm
Marketplace: 7am-10pm
Martha’s Vineyard: 4pm-11pm
Quiet Pool: 24 hours
Movies Under the Stars: 8:30pm

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Where do you see shipping dates? I’ve looked everywhere and all I see is standard shipping and status processing.

Does your order say "Processing" on the disney site or something different?

I think somehow you misread the availability. The first release always said available June 15th. They were never listed for June 1st. I ordered immediately the first day & got the June 15th date. Within hours it went to later in June & into July shipping.

It is possible I miss read june 15 as june 1st.
I had ordered two items and one shipped but not he masks so i called. It says processing still. They stated that the new preorder date on the masks I ordered on site is the new date to expect orders by which was in August.

 

[Marionnette]

not hating it
https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/late...l39GlgakXXwnKXupVSpnEh9SVHiz8L41fPoBFwKMAT0Xs

I dislike it less now that they are adding the gold touches. But that blue!!! I finally put my finger on why I don’t care for it. The “shingles” lack any dimension. Maybe there will be some enhancement to give them a more architectural look, but right now they are just bright blue cones.

Something like this would be so much more visually appealing.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

You’ve just hit on a major point of why I’m raising questions. The system removes any final piece of spontaneity of a day at WDW.

It is a valid concern and I agree - I’m hesitant for a system like this to be implemented long term but understand why they would do it - manage crowds and staff accordingly. Especially since covid could be here for a very long time. And they’d be prepared to adjust for any other outbreak, virus, etc.

We lean toward spontaneity over strict plans. We don’t like to go to AK on rainy days so we often switch things around if our AK falls on a particularly rainy day. Growing up, we just hopped on whatever bus arrived at the resort first!

If it goes into effect long term, I’ll probably just get used to it like I did with FP+ (which I was so concerned about but ended up liking.) The situation changes and we do too along with it.

Will be interesting to see how this all plays out over time.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

Quoting the article:

​

It has since been communicated to us that this reservation system will also be in use for 2021, so this will impact you if you have either purchased a ticket in full, or have made a booking by making a deposit payment.​

That proves it, i'm going mad!

 

[hereforthechurros]

You’ve just hit on a major point of why I’m raising questions. The system removes any final piece of spontaneity of a day at WDW. Again, I’m only talking about in a post Covid world before anyone rails on me for that again. And while I know we don’t know if it’ll be here to stay, this whole board is basically rumors and playing the what if game - and my questions arose after reading the rumor that they were planning this system pre Covid.

That is a legitimate gripe, and one that remains to be seen.

The current model at WDW was unsustainable. Crowds were so thick it was hard to move at times, and forget standby or finding a table to eat QS. The hub for fireworks was legitimately unsafe with thousands streaming in each night just to watch fireworks and people fighting over space. Something had to give, and COVID finally pushed their hand into dealing with it.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Thinking out loud here:

Supposedly the new park reservation system was in the works *before* Covid (per OP up thread and I’m thinking Covid just put a rush on its development). So maybe the Park Rez system is a refinement to the dated tickets roll-out last year? WDW liked what they saw in terms of staffing and capacity control and decided to take it further?

 

[hereforthechurros]

I dislike it less now that they are adding the gold touches. But that blue!!! I finally put my finger on why I don’t care for it. The “shingles” lack any dimension. Maybe there will be some enhancement to give them a more architectural look, but right now they are just bright blue cones.

It looks straight out of a cartoon/movie. But whether that's good or bad in in the eye of the beholder

 

[chicagoshannon]

Interesting that the pools don't open until 11am. I guess everyone can sleep in. lol

 

[Pages26]

Yes there is slightly more testing but today is new record for covid cases in Florida and highest deaths since 2June. The rate of cases have now been increasing for 2 weeks continuously when you compare the same day to previous week i.e monday to monday before. Unfortunately we will see deaths increase throughout this week as they lag 2 weeks behind.

I think the the reason Disney are leaving the reservation system so long is they are waiting until as long as possible to see how bad the situation is.

I don't think the economy will shutdown again but In months time with cases increasing there could be thousands of cases a day, with hundreds of cast members off isolating if they been near someone, then the won't have as much capacity.

Also with a unionized staff, how bad does it get before the union pull the plug and say it's not save to work.

I would not be surprised if universal actually closes again before Disney even opens as if cases increase exponentially it gets to stage where public won't risk a theme park and opening costs more than they make.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

That proves it, i'm going mad!

I’m going mad right with you, as I couldn’t find the quoted content, FAQ, etc. either on that site.

 

[JayhawkCruiser]

Thinking out loud here:

Supposedly the new park reservation system was in the works *before* Covid (per OP up thread and I’m thinking Covid just put a rush on its development). So maybe the Park Rez system is a refinement to the dated tickets roll-out last year? WDW liked what they saw in terms of staffing and capacity control and decided to take it further?

In that context it makes more sense to me. Honestly I just hope there’s a ticket or AP tier that still allows you to bypass a reservation system.

 

[Krandor]

Yes there is slightly more testing but today is new record for covid cases in Florida and highest deaths since 2June. The rate of cases have now been increasing for 2 weeks continuously when you compare the same day to previous week i.e monday to monday before. Unfortunately we will see deaths increase throughout this week as they lag 2 weeks behind.

I think the the reason Disney are leaving the reservation system so long is they are waiting until as long as possible to see how bad the situation is.

I don't think the economy will shutdown again but In months time with cases increasing there could be thousands of cases a day, with hundreds of cast members off isolating if they been near someone, then the won't have as much capacity.

Also with a unionized staff, how bad does it get before the union pull the plug and say it's not save to work.

I would not be surprised if universal actually closes again before Disney even opens as if cases increase exponentially it gets to stage where public won't risk a theme park and opening costs more than they make.

I'm not sure about totally closing but if things increase I could see things like restaurant max capacity go back down again. So I think we'd see going back a phase or two before totally closing again....but that is assuming increases don't go exponential. That was always the fear - exponential growth (which we saw in NY for a time)

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I would not be surprised if universal actually closes again before Disney even opens as if cases increase exponentially it gets to stage where public won't risk a theme park and opening costs more than they make.

I know tons of people in Florida, and also near Orlando, and the rising cases has not stopped them from going on with their lives, they are just being cautious. Some are just happy to finally be back at work.

I doubt universal will close. Many people who are now working, completely relied on themselves working. They know the risks, and they still want to be working.

We have to, at some point, let people make their own decisions, without ruining their financial lives. Can't just open and close and open and close.

Like I said, we won't even be out of the Covid world, we will just need to learn to live in the Covid world, being as safe as we can

Many of these new infections are mild from what they are saying, and hospitalizations actually went down yesterday with 68 people admitted. Deaths have also dropped. With the 2 week lag, we will know more in 2 weeks about the hospitals, but I hope for the best. I hope everyone continues to be safe, and recovers

 

[chicagoshannon]

Yes there is slightly more testing but today is new record for covid cases in Florida and highest deaths since 2June. The rate of cases have now been increasing for 2 weeks continuously when you compare the same day to previous week i.e monday to monday before. Unfortunately we will see deaths increase throughout this week as they lag 2 weeks behind.

I think the the reason Disney are leaving the reservation system so long is they are waiting until as long as possible to see how bad the situation is.

I don't think the economy will shutdown again but In months time with cases increasing there could be thousands of cases a day, with hundreds of cast members off isolating if they been near someone, then the won't have as much capacity.

Also with a unionized staff, how bad does it get before the union pull the plug and say it's not save to work.

I would not be surprised if universal actually closes again before Disney even opens as if cases increase exponentially it gets to stage where public won't risk a theme park and opening costs more than they make.

So the percentage of new cases is actually less than yesterday's percentage. Also, with the deaths, the weekends don't tend to count them accurately so usually on Tuesday they "catch up" with the weekend deaths. If you look back at the graph's you'll see Sat/Sun/Mon almost always have a lot more deaths. And again the Miami/Broward counties are the ones mostly increasing.

Keep an eye on it but dont' freak out. As someone from IL, that's the best advice I can give you. We had a good 10 days where we had over 2,000 (or right around 2,000) new cases. We are now way lower than that. It can go up quick but also down just as quickly.