Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Ninjagrrl]

"later this summer"

Replacing "SOON"

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

This describes me and I am fairly certain I just won't be able to go. I guess to me it is more fair for Disney to prioritize existing holders of non-refundable tickets (regardless of on or off site) over folks like me who planned a (refundable) resort stay without yet making the commitment to tickets. They were willing to make a firmer commitment to going than I was.

I get that but we just usually hop over to SoG and purchase military tickets so that is why the "lack of tickets on our end" but like you said we could have grabbed them from the military base out here but who would have known COVID was coming...

 

[fla4fun]

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

I have an 11 day trip booked for late August, and I am hoping for three Epcot, two MK, two Studios and one AK day, for a total of 8 park days. I am not going to be too picky about which days for which parks, but that’s the total I am hoping for. With the reservations in place, we shouldn’t see attendance spikes on the weekends like we normally would.

 

[Krandor]

I feel that is totally insane. So after we buy tickets and look up to see availability what if there is nothing? Then we are SOL?

I expect going forward when you buy a non-AP ticcket you do you reservation right then. So you can't buy a ticket without a reservation That is what other parks are doing.

 

[Hummingbird]

So with all of this now announced, I wonder how they will handle dining reservations in the parks...no mention of that in today's announcement.

Honestly, I'm hoping the do away with in-park ADRs and just do it like back in the day when you could go and make a reservation for day of when you got to the park

 

[Stitch 1213]

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

I would love it if someone who gets an email to let us know. That way we can all be looking out for ours. Resort and date of stay? That would assist as well so that people are not stressing as much.

 

[Mit88]

@andyman8, just curious. When you said DVC owners would have some disappointment (along with others affinity guest, of course), was it the news that dropped today, I.e., they are being given no special priority if they have resort reservations but no tickets AND, because of the 11-month window, they are being shut out of reserving park reservations next summer next week? Or is there other news yet to drop? Thanks!

By next summer, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Capacity will more than likely rise up to 100% by then and as we’ve seen in the past, there arent very many days they reach capacity. So even if a bunch of people get dates on monday that DVC members cant yet get, they’ll open more reservation slots as needed, or as they’re allowed “in the future”. You can add more reservation spots down the line and make guests happy. Taking reservation spots away in the future would not make guests happy

 

[jlwise]

It depends when and what type of insurance you purchased.

I purchased last June (2019) when I booked our May 2020 trip, and they let me move the travel insurance to my May 2021 trip when I rebooked. It’s just the insurance that Disney sells— it was $200.

 

[cdobert]

Just spent an hour on hold with WDW tickets. First line cast member (20 minute mark) said no problem getting a refund for your park hoppers. 40 minutes later, no we can't do that until July 11th - our system hasn't been set up yet to process those refunds. Good Grief, another case of left hand not telling the right hand what they are doing AND Disney holding onto my money.

 

[koszmok]

By next summer, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Capacity will more than likely rise up to 100% by then and as we’ve seen in the past, there arent very many days they reach capacity. So even if a bunch of people get dates on monday that DVC members cant yet get, they’ll open more reservation slots as needed, or as they’re allowed “in the future”. You can add more reservation spots down the line and make guests happy. Taking reservation spots away in the future would not make guests happy

That`s what I`m counting on... that park capacity will be back 100% and reservation in the future won`t be that big a problem

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yeah I actually read it as it will be available to you based on when you check in etc just like ADRs & fps used to be.

Yep I get that idea now, too. My TA's email was a little clearer:

Booking Dates for Park Reservations

The Disney Park Pass system will be available soon to select Guests. Booking dates vary based on your plans.

• Beginning June 22, 2020, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests with valid theme park admission can make reservations.

Park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, based on your Resort stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window.

 

[fla4fun]

If not limited, all this does is encourage AP holders to book a bunch of dates for the heck of it. I have villas booked for July & September- so that’s fine to reserve on Monday. I usually plan a long weekend in December, but haven’t yet & don’t really want to at this time. So, I’ll just use my AP to book dates that I “might” come after September. Which clogs the system... not smart Disney.

When this reservation system was first mentioned, there was information that AP would be limited as to how many park reservations they could book outside of a hotel reservation. My guess is it will work similar to the old FP limits. I could always book FP for every day of a hotel stay, and even multiple stays, if they were close enough on the calendar. But I was limited to 7 days at a time outside of those stays. They may be waiting to see how much is left after the hotel guests book on the 22nd to set an AP limit for those without hotel stays.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

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.

So sorry It can be very exhausting trying to deal with all these unknowns when all most of us really want is something familiar and comforting to look forward to during this unprecedented time. Maybe check back after capacity limits increase and other things start to normalize at the parks. Hope 2021 is a better year for everyone.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

That`s what I`m counting on... that park capacity will be back 100% and reservation in the future won`t be that big a problem

Me too.

I figure by the time I feel comfortable actually going a lot of the biggest concerns right now will be a non issue, even if reservations are still a thing.

 

[Mit88]

That`s what I`m counting on... that park capacity will be back 100% and reservation in the future won`t be that big a problem

Even if they make it back to 50% by next summer it wont be a huge issue as that’s usually the average daily capacity. They might need a little more due to it being the year of the 50th and everyone wanting to be down there. But I seriously wouldnt worry about reservations next summer if you miss out on monday.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We told our daughter if she eats her fruits and vegetables that she’ll grow tall enough to go on splash mountain (she was already the height - just needed some bribes). We were scheduled to go July 7 and had to cancel. She said to us “but I ate all my vegetables. Why does coronavirus ruin everything!!!” We are scheduled to go next year We can.

we also had bibbidi Bobbidi boutique booked so I hope it’s back up and running by April.

The way we get our kids to eat at all (including one who has a feeding tube) is by telling them it'll help them grow so they can ride ___.
We also knew DD would love the HP books, but she wouldn't try reading them until we agreed to take her to the WWOHP once she finished the series. She started reading the first book and loved it, then went through the entire series in about a month. Unfortunately, we were supposed to move over to UO on March 16
This whole pandemic obviously sucks, and that's includes that it's messed with things our kids have been motivated by.

 

[jenjersnap]

Things, for me, tend to go sideways when I assume it isn’t going to be an issue, especially with Disney. I hope you are right, truly, but I really just wanted to know if these were the disappointments Andy was referring to or whether I should brace for more DVC-specific info coming down the pike.

By next summer, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Capacity will more than likely rise up to 100% by then and as we’ve seen in the past, there arent very many days they reach capacity. So even if a bunch of people get dates on monday that DVC members cant yet get, they’ll open more reservation slots as needed, or as they’re allowed “in the future”. You can add more reservation spots down the line and make guests happy. Taking reservation spots away in the future would not make guests happy

 

[glocker]

From my understanding, in order to select someone to make a park reservation for, they must have a resort reservation. So if you have family that lives nearby who won't be staying onsite, you can't make a park reservation with them. Theirs would have to be separate.

DVC CM just confirmed that reservations will be allowed at the 60 day window for PARKS.

 

[NoTime42]

By next summer, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Capacity will more than likely rise up to 100% by then and as we’ve seen in the past, there arent very many days they reach capacity. So even if a bunch of people get dates on monday that DVC members cant yet get, they’ll open more reservation slots as needed, or as they’re allowed “in the future”. You can add more reservation spots down the line and make guests happy. Taking reservation spots away in the future would not make guests happy

Most days, no, But on the exact 50th anniversary, it’s a huuuge disadvantage.

 

[Anna_Sh]

If not limited, all this does is encourage AP holders to book a bunch of dates for the heck of it. I have villas booked for July & September- so that’s fine to reserve on Monday. I usually plan a long weekend in December, but haven’t yet & don’t really want to at this time. So, I’ll just use my AP to book dates that I “might” come after September. Which clogs the system... not smart Disney.

I’m thinking I’m also going to try to get all of my “might” dates. I wonder if cancelling will have a penalty, or if it will be like the FP?