Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[anthony2k7]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284164794463944705

Looks even quieter today than previous days??

 

[tlmadden73]

I'm listening to the Dis Patreon podcast with just Pete - he mentioned he thinks the Dining Plan is totally done and not coming back (speculation of course). But that's the first time I've heard anyone say something like that. What do you guys think? Operationally speaking has that been floated before? Is the dining plan some kind of burden that they might be glad to be rid of? I always thought it was a money maker for Disney.

I agree . .why wouldn't it return? "Packaging" things together is a great way to oversell things to people who don't do math and just lock in people at a price point. And it doesn't cost Disney anything (besides inconvience of tracking it) ..right? For most (not all) dining plan people -- they are paying more than they are consuming.

The problem is . .since the implement of Magic Bands (which gives guests the ability to pay cashlessly (which could lead them to spend more since they aren't pulling cash out of their pocket) . .the dining plan was just too confusing and restrictive for most guests (and I am sure for Disney to keep track of). Maybe they come out with a high priced "all inclusive" type of dining plan, but the ones where you need to keep track of all your "credits" just seems antiquated.

The only reason to get rid of the dining plan I can think of? Be able to raise food prices "quietly" at will without having to raise the more public "dining plan" price.

 

[LSUmiss]

at least one near us has signs all over the place saying reusable bags are not allowed at all

On a positive note, I did see all sizes of the reusable bags at WDW are now $1 so that is nice!

Yes! We have been stocking up. We use them for all kinda stuff & there are different ones in different parks & the resorts.

 

[LSUmiss]

Just had the additional month show up on my annual passes (Plat). They were set to expire 9/2/20 and now are showing 10/2/20.

That’s the extra month that they said we wouldn’t get til oct?

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284169825531711494

 

[tinkerhon]

We are at AK today. Got in the park around 10. Very short wait for FOP and NRJ. Expedition Everest has been down since park opening. Hope this isn’t an all day thing. That’s my kids favorite. We missed Test Track on out Epcot day because it was down nearly the whole day. That’s really the only disappointing thing so far this trip

Test Track was down - maybe things are getting back to normal !

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I agree . .why wouldn't it return? "Packaging" things together is a great way to oversell things to people who don't do math and just lock in people at a price point. And it doesn't cost Disney anything (besides inconvience of tracking it) ..right? For most (not all) dining plan people -- they are paying more than they are consuming.

The problem is . .since the implement of Magic Bands (which gives guests the ability to pay cashlessly (which could lead them to spend more since they aren't pulling cash out of their pocket) . .the dining plan was just too confusing and restrictive for most guests (and I am sure for Disney to keep track of). Maybe they come out with a high priced "all inclusive" type of dining plan, but the ones where you need to keep track of all your "credits" just seems antiquated.

The only reason to get rid of the dining plan I can think of? Be able to raise food prices "quietly" at will without having to raise the more public "dining plan" price.

I think it has to do with limiting restaurant capacity long term and having reduced ADR availability as an impact of that. The deluxe plan offers 2 TS meals a day - what if all resorts are open, attendance is picking up and they are still having to limit restaurant capacity?

I could see them maybe only bringing back the QS plan.

 

[LaDonna]

Yes!

It also kills me how everyone abandoned their reusable bags in all the stores around here (you are allowed to use them still, you just have to bag your own items) and now plastic is king again!

We still carry ours.

it never fails I always forget my reusable bags
I’m glad that at our local grocery stores at least have a spot to put the plastic bags for recycling

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284177392320356353

 

[dreamit]

For those watching wait times, this entire week we’ve found wait times significantly overstated at all parks except AK. For example, we just walked on Splash three times in a row with 30 minutes posted each time. BTMR posted at 35 and from entering the line to boarding was 12 minutes. Yesterday Test Track showed 60 minutes and it was a 15 minute wait.

 

[vinotinto]

at least one near us has signs all over the place saying reusable bags are not allowed at all

On a positive note, I did see all sizes of the reusable bags at WDW are now $1 so that is nice!

If anything good comes out of this pandemic, it’s the $1 reusable bags. I love them and I will be grabbing a whole bunch more. I’m packing now for our trip down tomorrow and I’m using our bags!

 

[vinotinto]

Got boarding group 11 Woohooo

What time were you in the parking lot? How tight was it to drive, get through security and scan into the parks?

 

[Mit88]

If anything good comes out of this pandemic, it’s the $1 reusable bags. I love them and I will be grabbing a whole bunch more. I’m packing now for our trip down tomorrow and I’m using our bags!
View attachment 511115

If there’s anything I know I can say for certain, the bags will go back to normal price the day before I get there. Not that they’re expensive at regular price, I just have a hard time paying more than a dollar for a reusable bag

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

If there’s anything I know I can say for certain, the bags will go back to normal price the day before I get there. Not that they’re expensive at regular price, I just have a hard time paying more than a dollar for a reusable bag

Is the 30% AP discount available for these.......70 cents isn't a bad price!!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm listening to the Dis Patreon podcast with just Pete - he mentioned he thinks the Dining Plan is totally done and not coming back (speculation of course). But that's the first time I've heard anyone say something like that. What do you guys think? Operationally speaking has that been floated before? Is the dining plan some kind of burden that they might be glad to be rid of? I always thought it was a money maker for Disney.

I love Pete and the podcasts but often due to time constraints I listen to them delayed. Sometimes his predictions are good, other times not so much. I'm hoping this is one time he's off. I love the break from looking at prices that the DDP offers me.

 

[mshanson3121]

So, you stay away for a day and you miss 75 pages. Anything exciting happen, or pretty much same old? Discussion of wait times, AP issues, and crowds?

 

[Farro]

I'm more concerned with when will all restaurants be open and full menus be offered again. Don't care about dining plan.

 

[andyman8]

Not that this is really all that important, but I got tested after I came home from few days at WDW and my result came back negative. So you can go to WDW and come back COVID-19 free.

 

[NoTime42]

So, you stay away for a day and you miss 75 pages. Anything exciting happen, or pretty much same old? Discussion of wait times, AP issues, and crowds?

Yesterday had the permanent cancellation of Stitch, Primeval Whirl and Rivers of Light

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I'm listening to the Dis Patreon podcast with just Pete - he mentioned he thinks the Dining Plan is totally done and not coming back (speculation of course). But that's the first time I've heard anyone say something like that. What do you guys think? Operationally speaking has that been floated before? Is the dining plan some kind of burden that they might be glad to be rid of? I always thought it was a money maker for Disney.

I highly doubt it is gone for good. The dining plan is a huge cash cow for Disney, I would expect to see it back in some capacity eventually, likely whenever restaurants can operate similarly to how they did pre-covid. I'm sure WDW would be thrilled to be able to sell packages with dining plans for the 50th if that ends up being possible.