Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Dentam]

ResortTV1 livestream is doing a skyliner tour of resorts tonight. Crowding issue in Pop with a lot of ppl waiting for mobile orders indoors there. Josh walked in, showed it, and speed walked right back out. Sounds like it is a situation created by parks closing and reduced food options. Disney needs to address this - even if it's just having people wait outdoors, that would be safer.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1286766168120930304

Great news! Was able to move up my HS reservations. Overall, with the added spots now for all parks, it seems very flexible to meet the needs of local APs like me to book frequently.

 

[andyman8]

ResortTV1 livestream is doing a skyliner tour of resorts tonight. Crowding issue in Pop with a lot of ppl waiting for mobile orders indoors there. Josh walked in, showed it, and speed walked right back out. Sounds like it is a situation created by parks closing and reduced food options. Disney needs to address this - even if it's just having people wait outdoors, that would be safer.

Saw that as well. I always appreciate how honest they are. Much like crowding at attraction exits (by the hand sanitizer), QS entrances seem to be another chokepoint that needs to be addressed. With Pop, I imagine the problem is also exacerbated by the fact that it is currently the only Value/Moderate option on property at the moment, so it is reasonably full, but some folks in the comments also mentioned similar issues at the Contempo Cafe. I'm going to be at BLT/Contemporary early next month, so I'm hopeful Disney resolves this as soon as possible. For the time being, I'd suggest ordering and waiting a decent ways away from the entrance and then high tailing it through the crowd when your order is called.

 

[New Mouse]

ResortTV1 livestream is doing a skyliner tour of resorts tonight. Crowding issue in Pop with a lot of ppl waiting for mobile orders indoors there. Josh walked in, showed it, and speed walked right back out. Sounds like it is a situation created by parks closing and reduced food options. Disney needs to address this - even if it's just having people wait outdoors, that would be safer.

Im surprised the struggle is real with these decisions. Simple math...parks closing earlier creates higher demand for food and services elsewhere.

 

[Dulcee]

Saw that as well. I always appreciate how honest they are. Much like crowding at attraction exits (by the hand sanitizer), QS entrances seem to be another chokepoint that needs to be addressed. With Pop, I imagine the problem is also exacerbated by the fact that it is currently the only Value/Moderate option on property at the moment, so it is reasonably full, but some folks in the comments also mentioned similar issues at the Contempo Cafe. I'm going to be at BLT/Contemporary early next month, so I'm hopeful Disney resolves this as soon as possible. For the time being, I'd suggest ordering and waiting a decent ways away from the entrance and then high tailing it through the crowd when your order is called.

Hopefully this is a sign to Disney that they need to start expanding options if they continue to see what seems like increased attendance.

 

[Dulcee]

I’m worried we’ll see similar issues at CBR, especially since they aren’t opening the TS option

 

[LSUmiss]

My understanding is that it'll be quite some time. Most O&T (Office and Technical) roles and TWDC corporate roles are either still on furlough or working from home, unless those employees absolutely have to be in the parks.

Key paragraph: "When I hear from guests, and especially when I hear people complain about how “you can’t do this now,” or “you can’t do that now,” there’s one thought that always runs through my head: “Well, you’re here by choice, and I’m here by necessity. You had a choice to come, and I did not.” But if they’re going to come and follow the safety guidelines, I’m grateful to have a job. I love what I do. But once people start to complain about the safety measures that have been taken to not only protect them but also us, that’s when I get frustrated."

I've heard from more than a few CMs that there's a fair amount of complaining to CMs about what's not available at the moment. Please be better.

I agree ppl should be better. We thanked every CM we saw & they all seemed appreciative of that. BUT as far as the article...everyone is there by choice even if one is for fun vs the other working. No one is forced to do anything.

 

[xuxa777]

https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/07/disney-world-worker-reopening-diary.html
Interesting from a CMs point of view.

So at first, everyone was just like, “Oh, cool, two-week paid vacation! We’ll get to stay at home and not do anything.”

Sounds more like a complaining employee that didn't want to work then anything else.

 

[fla4fun]

Sure. But people are going to complain. Everywhere. During anything. Until the end of time.
Fact. Let's not act like it's unexpected or surprising.

True, but taking it out on someone who doesn’t set the policies or have the power to do anything to make it better for you is counterproductive. If you (general you, not you specifically) aren’t happy, go to Guest Relations and find out who you need to speak to about your particular complaint. Be firm, but be polite. When I have an issue bad enough that I need to bring it to someone’s attention, I want to be sure it’s the person who can make it right for me. It just adds to MY frustration to take it out on someone who can’t help me.

I was very thankful for the CMs who were working when I was there last week. I have finished my first week of quarantine since returning home, and many times this week I thought about how nervous I would be if I had a job working as closely as many of these CMs do with the public and wondering every day if I were infected by them. I don’t want to make their job any more difficult than it already is.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

My understanding is that it'll be quite some time. Most O&T (Office and Technical) roles and TWDC corporate roles are either still on furlough or working from home, unless those employees absolutely have to be in the parks.

Key paragraph: "When I hear from guests, and especially when I hear people complain about how “you can’t do this now,” or “you can’t do that now,” there’s one thought that always runs through my head: “Well, you’re here by choice, and I’m here by necessity. You had a choice to come, and I did not.” But if they’re going to come and follow the safety guidelines, I’m grateful to have a job. I love what I do. But once people start to complain about the safety measures that have been taken to not only protect them but also us, that’s when I get frustrated."

I've heard from more than a few CMs that there's a fair amount of complaining to CMs about what's not available at the moment. Please be better.

Well, tons of guests complained before so guess there is one thing that hasn't changed

 

[only hope]

So at first, everyone was just like, “Oh, cool, two-week paid vacation! We’ll get to stay at home and not do anything.”

Sounds more like a complaining employee that didn't want to work then anything else.

Don’t forget this quote: “Now, four months later, when we first started hearing rumblings that we were going back, I was just excited to be able to get out of the house. But the more I sat down and thought about it, I was just anxious.”

As a person who is now considered an “essential” worker and never stopped working in the public (wholesale club), I disagree.The nature of jobs that have contact with the public have all changed, and all have become dangerous. Any one of us could die or get seriously ill from covid, and we are more likely to be infected due to the nature of our jobs. The psychological change for those in the theme park/entertainment sectors is greater than those of us at stores, since their jobs revolve around providing a great experience which is now at odds with keeping people as safe as possible. Also, most of the WDW cm’s who have been called back just went back to work weeks and ago and are still adjusting to their new normal. The parks haven’t been open long. This is all new to them.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

My family have arrived yesterday afternoon and have been to DHS yesterday and today. So far we're having a great time! Been on lots of rides, including our first time ever on RoR and MMRR! My kiddos (9 and 7) have been doing great with the masks so far. It's been nice to not worry about FP times and to be able to ride everything multiple times! For example, my DD7 has ridden SDD 9 times! MK is up tomorrow!

 

[Jjbbllfrg]

ResortTV1 livestream is doing a skyliner tour of resorts tonight. Crowding issue in Pop with a lot of ppl waiting for mobile orders indoors there. Josh walked in, showed it, and speed walked right back out. Sounds like it is a situation created by parks closing and reduced food options. Disney needs to address this - even if it's just having people wait outdoors, that would be safer.

They need more options for people to be able to order and take back at least to room.. when tables are fewer and far between as well.

 

[Jjbbllfrg]

Im surprised the struggle is real with these decisions. Simple math...parks closing earlier creates higher demand for food and services elsewhere.

Especially when the restaurants and bars and pool close at 9:00

 

[Mit88]

Are we surprised a CM is upset about working? There were 10,000 of them that signed the petition to delay the opening. I’m surprised this is the only report we’ve seen. Most CM’s seem happy and grateful to be back at work from what I’ve heard

 

[Brianstl]

That’s pretty inexcusable. Anyone going to WDW right now without researching what’s running and not would be nuts. If you don’t like what’s running, don’t go, but going and then taking it out on CMs makes zero sense. I remain amazed by how many things are actually operating right now.

Some guests and cast members are always going to complain no matter what. Given the added stress of a trip right now on both guests and cast members, what is described in the article seems pretty mild.

That said, let’s all remember to be nice to each other. Being nice doesn’t cost us anything and will often make you feel better yourself.

 

[Mit88]

That’s pretty inexcusable. Anyone going to WDW right now without researching what’s running and not would be nuts. If you don’t like what’s running, don’t go, but going and then taking it out on CMs makes zero sense. I remain amazed by how many things are actually operating right now.

Not everyone scours Disney fan forums. Some people going to Disney might be from smaller towns/cities in states that haven’t been impacted yet. Not every state has been hit as hard as NY and Florida. That’s why the mask mandate is so hard to make country wide. If you don’t see the impact happening in front of your eyes, chances are you’re not going to take it as seriously as someone that sees it happening in their town/city. Heck, Florida cant even get on the same page about masks. Someone could be local in a town where masks aren’t mandatory, head up to Disney thinking it might be just as lax as their town. It might be easy to assume because its 2020 that everyone knows about everything happening everywhere at every second, but some people aren’t as in tune with things as you think. Why do you think Disney made tickets available at guest services? Possibly because people didn’t know that they needed to make reservations?

Do I believe the anger and frustration should be taken out on the CMs because those people didn’t do research? Absolutely (insert word that I cant say here) not. It’s never excusable, pandemic or not. But I’d be dense to think it hasn’t happened, and wont continue to happen, pandemic or not

 

[Mit88]

Some guests and cast members are always going to complain no matter what. Given the added stress of a trip right now on both guests and cast members, what is described in the article seems pretty mild.

That said, let’s all remember to be nice to each other. Being nice doesn’t cost us anything and will often make you feel better yourself.

if you’re feeling stressed, do what I do. You’ll instantly feel much, much better.

 

[MegaraWink]

This week was probably the best Disney trip I've ever taken. I expected to get Covid (I haven't, yet). 7 days in the parks. Today is my last day, at AK, then I drive home. After the terrible loneliness and depression of the last 4 months, I needed exactly what Disney sells. Life is short and painful; thank goodness for what happiness we can discover! The spontaneity and PEACE at Disney right now, that is something I may never experience again. I feel truly lucky. I went from saying "What a time to be alive" in a negative way, to saying it in a positive way this week.

If you can get to the parks, do it. Enjoy it while you can!

Oh, and I spent alllll day at Epcot yesterday. I was surprised. There's still much to enjoy there. People talk about how you miss the international program, but I think Disney has done a great job at faking it. I guess they've assigned people based on appearance and language skills.

 

[Dulcee]

Oh, and I spent alllll day at Epcot yesterday. I was surprised. There's still much to enjoy there. People talk about how you miss the international program, but I think Disney has done a great job at faking it. I guess they've assigned people based on appearance and language skills.

I wonder if as CMs applied for different temporary spots there was a subset of CMs who may have asked to work at a country of ancestry? Not quite the same as the international CMs but a nice chance for people to still proudly show off a part of their heritage.