Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SaintsManiac]

Same. I try to squeeze in as many FOP rides as I can per trip but only need half a day for the rest of Animal Kingdom so I usually rope drop it a couple of days and then go elsewhere for the rest of the day and end my day there a couple of times after spending the rest of the day at another park. No PH really puts a damper on the way I visit.

Yes! 2-3 FoP FPs always. Then hop to HS or MK depending on FP availability.

The times are changing.

 

[mshanson3121]

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

Permantent just until things settle down right? Back someday?

 

[Mit88]

Permantent just until things settle down right? Back someday?

Permanent, Permanent. Gone forever, never returning

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I practiced for ROTR boarding groups today and it looks like if I was in the park (and found good connection) I would have been successful *twice* (and probably could have attempted more if I was truly dedicated) before groups ran out at the 4PM drop.

That has to be an indication that things are getting a little better with that ride's distribution/flow, at least I hope so! Currently packing my suitcase since I leave on Sunday... so exciting!

 

[Carol Jackson]

ROR- Boarding group 11 got called around 12 and was out in about 30 minutes. Both pre shows were done and overall great ride. Back at resort now but going back for Oga reservation and hopefully less people so will try to get on new Mickey ride. Social distancing really needs to be looked at for DHS. There is a significant amount of people there compared to other parks and I am sure they are working out the kinks...

I have been at DHS since 9:30 and I have not seen any problems with social distancing. Just the opposite. I’ve seen families space themselves out two markers rather than one. And the masks are not a big deal. If you are thinking about coming I say come. Walking on these rides is amazing! Enjoying a beer at Baseline before I hit the MMRR queue. It’s down to 35 minutes, the lowest I’ve seen all day.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

If the fireworks were still happening and I had to decide over going to AK and doing FoP and Everest or going to the other 3 parks for the fireworks at the end of the night, I would be furious. Same applies for if EPCOT is the first park to bring back fireworks and I have to choose between EPCOT everyday or no fireworks every night. As you can tell, I love fireworks. Probably not as much as Carpets of Aladdin, but its close.

Or the true ultimate experience - watching the Happily Ever After fireworks while riding the Carpets of Aladdin

 

[hertamaniac]

I have been at DHS since 9:30 and I have not seen any problems with social distancing. Just the opposite. I’ve seen families space themselves out two markers rather than one. And the masks are not a big deal. If you are thinking about coming I say come. Walking on these rides is amazing! Enjoying a beer at Baseline before I hit the MMRR queue. It’s down to 35 minutes, the lowest I’ve seen all day.

Well, our cancelled AP's expire on August 12th. In a premonition of sorts, I made park reservations at HS for August 11th as that is the day our blackout expires and the day before our cancellations take effect.

I have them in a legacy mode as I won't know if we'll (or even just I) will be comfortable enough to enter the park. So I'll wait until the night before, do a risk/comfort assessment and determine if a few hours at HS is worthy. As of now, there is no way I'm stepping foot in any theme park.

 

[OKWFan88]

I have been at DHS since 9:30 and I have not seen any problems with social distancing. Just the opposite. I’ve seen families space themselves out two markers rather than one. And the masks are not a big deal. If you are thinking about coming I say come. Walking on these rides is amazing! Enjoying a beer at Baseline before I hit the MMRR queue. It’s down to 35 minutes, the lowest I’ve seen all day.

Interesting, as every ride we’ve done when we are exiting it’s a free for all and gets very bottle necked. Experienced that on MF, RnR, Slinky, TSM and even the Muppet show. Social distancing is great when in the queue to the rides but there isn’t much direction when exiting. It goes back to personal responsibility and just putting yourself at a distance.

 

[Mit88]

Or the true ultimate experience - watching the Happily Ever After fireworks while riding the Carpets of Aladdin

Truly an experience like no other.

 

[RWinNOLA]

There’s plenty enough to do at every park for a full day, but there also isn’t, if that makes sense lol. MK I could spend park open to park close without hesitation, but as someone that has been to these parks so many times, I know how to navigate the parks to get the most out of a day from multiple parks that wont have me standing in the middle of the park midway through the day questioning what we want to do next.

If I’m at DHS and there’s a long line at ToT, ill just walk over to EPCOT, grab something to eat, take a walk around WS and then walk back to DHS when I see the lines have gone down a little bit. Sure, in the time that I walked to and from EPCOT I probably would have gotten on ToT, but sometimes that walk over to the other park gives me a nice breather from the crowds and parks in general, and I find it relaxing to walk around the boardwalk, until I hit the vacation killing fence, of course

In my opinion, AK is not more than a half day park right now. We arrived around 10. Rode FOP 2x, NRJ, KS, KRR with a snack break along the way. Had 12:45 lunch reservations at Y&Y. Left there a little before 2. Rode Dinosaur and the FOP for a 3rd time and still left the part before 3. Even if EE was open, we may have spent another 30 minutes or so if we rode that 2-3 times. Really missed hopping today. We are back at the Riviera and would love to be able to finish the evening at EPCOT.

 

[everreal15]

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 think Pete has mentioned that he felt like Disney has not really been a fan of the dining plan and would look for an opening to do away with it if they could. This pandemic could be that reason. Disney has progressively made the dining plan less and less of a deal. Its not really a good "deal" not at all but it does offer convenience which is why why have gotten it when we did. Since its just me and and the wife we found it easier without the dining plan since we like to do a lot of lounges.

It will be interesting if Disney opts to not bring it back. I think it would upset a lot of people if they did. But I think it most families worked out the math for what they normally would spend it wouldn't be that big of a deal. I know there are families that the DP is always great for but I think the majority its convenience or perceived value even if its not always great value.

I think they will bring it back but I could totally see it going either way.

 

[yulilin3]

In my opinion, AK is not more than a half day park right now. We arrived around 10. Rode FOP 2x, NRJ, KS, KRR with a snack break along the way. Had 12:45 lunch reservations at Y&Y. Left there a little before 2. Rode Dinosaur and the FOP for a 3rd time and still left the part before 3. Even if EE was open, we may have spent another 30 minutes or so if we rode that 2-3 times. Really missed hopping today. We are back at the Riviera and would love to be able to finish the evening at EPCOT.

It's the thing, there are so many ways to tour the parks. I stay at least an hour when i have the chance just at gorilla falls trail, i like touring conservation station and sitting down at the aviary inside maharajah jungle trek

 

[FrankieWinthrop]

It's the thing, there are so many ways to tour the parks. I stay at least an hour when i have the chance just at gorilla falls trail, i like touring conservation station and sitting down at the aviary inside maharajah jungle trek

Yeah. To each their own. I’m not a fan of the aviary...I have bad luck with bird rooms...But I have a feeling seeing a closed up Nemo show when we’re there next week will bring tears to my eyes. My family loves that show! We usually see it twice when we’re in AK and have met the cast twice. Maybe we’ll just reenact it ourselves and sing the songs (in our of course) as we walk by.

 

[mshanson3121]

Permanent, Permanent. Gone forever, never returning

LIAR!

Please say you're lying.

I thought maybe just for Covid. We loved Rivers of Light

 

[Mit88]

It's the thing, there are so many ways to tour the parks. I stay at least an hour when i have the chance just at gorilla falls trail, i like touring conservation station and sitting down at the aviary inside maharajah jungle trek

Was about to say this. If you’re into the animal aspect of the park, and not just the rides, it’s more than a 1 day park. Personally, I can’t do all of the animal trails in a day, even though it’s all different species, it becomes repetitive. I’ll do 1 or 2, do a couple rides, leave for another park and do the other trails another day. But AK has ALOT to offer than just the rides

 

[Mit88]

LIAR!

Please say you're lying.

I thought maybe just for Covid. We loved Rivers of Light

Unfortunately I’m not lying. But they’ll replace the show with something else down the line. They didn’t build the stadium for it to not be used outside of a rest area

 

[Farro]

It's the thing, there are so many ways to tour the parks. I stay at least an hour when i have the chance just at gorilla falls trail, i like touring conservation station and sitting down at the aviary inside maharajah jungle trek

We spend 2-3 days each trip. We can't get enough of AK!!!

 

[yulilin3]

We spend 2-3 days each trip. We can't get enough of AK!!!

Yeah and now I feel like dhs went down a notch without the entertainment, frozen sting along was always fun and of course muy beloved citizens I'd Hollywood. The actors are all eager for this dispute to end, they're fearing for their careers, some with 25 years in the park

 

[Farro]

Yeah and now I feel like dhs went down a notch without the entertainment, frozen sting along was always fun and of course muy beloved citizens I'd Hollywood. The actors are all eager for this dispute to end, they're fearing for their careers, some with 25 years in the park

Oh I'm sure. A lot of my friends are in creative fields and I'm so sad watching whats happening to them...

 

[Sunnywho]

I’m nervous about this. Which processes do folks think may become permanent? I really would like a return to “normal” as much as possible one day.

Even after the pandemic ends, the average guest will be more cautious after having gone through a pandemic. Disney will want to encourage people to feel safe coming to a theme park and that means keeping whatever processes make people feel safer. I think Disney will have up to five years of diminished attendance with people not wanting to be around people as much as we used to.