Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[jenjersnap]

I feel so terribly for on site guests who didn’t get tickets before they paused them. Disney could have put out a warning message the week before “Make sure you purchase tickets for your onsite stay ASAP”. Similar to the linking message. Honestly, this leads me to believe they hope all these guests cancel.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I understand the morning but the evenings are just as crowded trying to leave

With night shows.

I bet without them it’s a more consistent and less crowded exit as it gets closer to park closing.

 

[Eric Smith]

I understand the morning but the evenings are just as crowded trying to leave

Will that be the case without fireworks though?

 

[TropicalDIS]

But... will that availability possibly change in the minutes or time it takes to purchase and go back in to select your parks?

it’s possible. But hopefully in most cases you aren’t down to 20 spots left or something like that.

 

[Brianstl]

Our trip is in early august, as a biologist I can't help but watch the numbers closely. It is important to remember that its not just the raw positives that matter. 3,000 new cases in an area with the population and density of NYC (where most of NY's early cases were located) is a very different epidemiological story compared to 3,000 cases in the areas of FL that new cases appear to be coming from. Density is a major factor to how this virus spreads and I'm not sure anywhere in FL can really model the population and density distribution seen in NYC and its surrounding areas.

Personally, I'd be more worried if I had rebooked for December through the rest of the winter. Combined with flu season and a resurgence in air travel, well, there is a reason Disney is already tempering expectations for their Christmas party....

While not the NYC or LA metro area, Mami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area and Tampa- St. Pete metro area are among the highest density metro areas in the country.

 

[koszmok]

Do you know what section on the website any of this will be under? Will we navigate through My plans?

When the system opens for you simply log on to your Disney account I think there will be a new blue bubble maybe at the space of the old FP+ blue bubble

 

[TropicalDIS]

Do you know what section on the website any of this will be under? Will we navigate through My plans?

I’m quite sure you will need to go through my Disney experience and it will be a link on the main page.

hopefully Disney sounds an email out before Monday

 

[Racheldb]

From DPB release today:
For Existing Ticket Holders and Annual Passholders: Beginning this week, we will reach out to existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders with more information on when they will be able to check availability to make their park reservations.

Could that mean they will send an e-mail with details about time of day you can make reservations, etc?

That is what I am thinking! It sounds like additional information will be coming prior to Monday....

 

[woody337]

Will that be the case without fireworks though?

It wouldnt surprise me if its still packed trying to get on the boats and buses

 

[Searc]

Im sorry

I’m really optimistic that once COVID is less of an issue this will all be stuff seasoned Disney guests can adapt to without much issue, like FP+ was.

I've only been going since 2006 and I've rolled with every single change since then. Those announced today are too much for me and how I want to vacation at Disney now. I'll continue to follow and see how it works out for everyone else.

 

[Raggou]

When the system opens for you simply log on to your Disney account I think there will be a new blue bubble maybe at the space of the old FP+ blue bubble

This would make sense to me put it right in line with all the others.

May the odds be ever in our favor

 

[rpb718]

I have a vacation package reservation (bounceback) scheduled for December that I was going to push back to the late Fall of 2021. If I'm being honest with myself, I'd say there is no way I'd go back right now.

• Not with Covid-19 out there and potentially traveling with elderly parents
• Not with forcing you to wear to mask
• Not with park reservations that time your arrival
• Not with missing park hopper
• Not with ADR changes and lack of FP+
• Not due to lack of complimentary Magicbands

But here's the thing....I don't blame Disney for any of these changes!

I also hope selfishly that there people that can overlook these changes to help Disney muddle through the hard times. If this is the new norm (like Covid is still here - God I hope not) several years from now, I probably would relinquish my position eventually and return.

I have to think at least 2 of the above will be part of the new normal going forward.

 

[Mit88]

Im sorry

I’m really optimistic that once COVID is less of an issue this will all be stuff seasoned Disney guests can adapt to without much issue, like FP+ was.

My sentiments exactly. This is all worst possible case planning. They can take away restrictions in the future, whenever that may be able to be done, thats much easier than only making restrictions for a couple months and then have to do another round of guest recovery if/when they had to add restrictions again.

I dont really think much of what was announced is really here to stay long term, except the complimentary magic bands.

 

[LSUmiss]

Timed entry confirmed.


Step 3: Select a Date and Park




Choose the date and the theme park that you’d like to visit from the available reservations. Please note that dates and theme park selections are limited and subject to availability.
After creating your party in the Disney Park Pass system, you’ll be prompted to:

• Select a Date: View a calendar and choose one of the available dates for your visit.
• Select a Theme Park: Park hours will be displayed for your convenience.
• Select a Time: This is the time that you can visit the park.

After selecting your date, park and time, you can confirm your reservation.
Go to Step 4

I’m all for timed entry if there is a window like arrive between 9-10am or something like that & if once you’re in you’re in for the day & can come back after a break. If it cuts down on lines to enter, I think that will actually be better.

 

[gatechfan99]

Just a random thought about when the system opens Monday morning. I suspect most people will be trying to up their chances to get in and be on a desktop, laptop, phone, Ipad, etc. all at once. So however many people are crashing the system at that time, multiply that by 2 or 3 for the number of devices that are crashing the system right then. Nightmare.

 

[rteetz]

I dont really think much of what was announced is really here to stay long term, except the complimentary magic bands.

Yep from what’s been said that was in the works prior to Covid so this sped that decision up.

 

[jlwise]

If you have travel insurance currently on a package for next year (moved from this year), and things like mandatory masks and other things are still in place next May, will this allow me to get a refund on everything including tickets in the package? I would just be out the $200 for the travel insurance?

 

[hereforthechurros]

Looking forward to seeing if those with AP vouchers (and resort res.) can book Monday without issue.

 

[Mit88]

Yep from what’s been said that was in the works prior to Covid so this sped that decision up.

I think everyone that knows what they are already, probably has enough of them to begin with. And if not, I have about 30 to spare if anyone needs one lol

 

[mmackeymouse]

They're reserving entry times because they don't want a huge crowd of people at the entry to the park. They're trying to even out the crowd level entering throughout the morning. It has to do with social distancing.

They made their bed though. They shortened park hours, and they made starting times later in some parks.

What I am saying is there was already a natural even-ing out of the crowd level, because there people who rope dropped and people who came later in the day. When you start jacking with park hours and making the opening time later....welp, that natural even-ing goes bye bye.

Side note: how long till there is a premium price attached to the first reservations of the day?

Easy. We spend two full days in Epcot every trip.

We love Epcot, we do. And we normally go multiple times every trip, if even just for a few hours at a time. Before everything was a mess, it was my favorite park.

That said, Future World is a disaster area.

And with fewer shops and fewer restaurants opening in World Showcase, it makes the offerings even lesser. I, too, find it difficult how to spend an entire day at Epcot.

Will that be the case without fireworks though?

Well, if people are trying to get their money's worth, a lot of people will probably stay as late as they can.