Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Kmedders]

I think it's all in play. Would be surprised if they cut back super hard, but Len Testa said on his podcast this week that they're getting like 4000-6000 guests a day in MK right now. September is coming and once kids are back in school, who knows what attendance will become. I'd be surprised if they close DHS though as it seems to be doing fine, as best as i can tell from Ohio.

good point on schools.my guess would be that IF they do something like this, it would go into play after Labor Day when schools go back in session,

 

[runningstitch]

Is anyone checking out CBR today with their re opening?

I keep looking for this! Wondering the same thing...

 

[SMRT-1]

thoughts on latest rumors from the poster on other site? It was buried within a larger thread discussing upcoming lay-offs - the entire thread sounds worrisome, but I also don't even pretend to understand financials.

Likelihood of these scenarios? Poster said decision would be made soon.(mentioned by WDWpro):

MK and MK resorts open only (most dire)
Rotating AK and DHS days open
Making Epcot an afternoon only park
Temporarily shutting down Future World entirely

None of that seems likely to me. A couple of them make no sense at all, which then makes the entire list suspect.

The PR and logistics nightmare that would result from cancelling people's park reservations and shuffling their hotel reservations yet again make this questionable. How many people would cancel their trips if only one park was available. They'd probably lose more money than they'd save. And does anyone really think that they'd cram everyone into 3 hotels + FW? The lobby crowds and lines for transportation seem like they would be a real problem for maintaining the safety protocols. Not to mention, with only 1 park open, there might be more people with resort reservations than there is park capacity, so how do you decide which resort guests get to keep their reservations? If you go based on who already has park reservations, what happens when one of the people who got to keep their resort reservation decides to cancel their trip, opening up a spot?

Epcot is already only an hour away from not opening until the afternoon, so really all this means is cutting evening hours, which seems like it would limit the local crowds that might wander in for F&W. I don't know what the evening crowds are currently like so that may not be an issue right now, but it's something to consider.

Why would they alternate AK and DHS, when DHS is consistently at max capacity? This is the one that makes me question this list the most. DHS is by far the biggest attendance draw at WDW right now, and only operating it every other day would likely cost them more money than it would save. It would also limit the already scarce park pass availability.

Why would they shut down Future World completely? That would leave Gran Fiesta Tour and Frozen as the only rides in Epcot, and the Circle-Vision shows (while a favorite of mine) aren't exactly big draws. It seems like the resulting drop in attendance (not everyone goes to Epcot just for festivals) would offset any savings from reduced staffing.

I would think they'd just cut back on park hours before they implemented any of this.

 

[osufeth24]

Since it's 2020 I won't rule anything out, but I'd be shocked if they do those things.

I get the cutting down costs, but I feel by doing that, the revenue that they are getting would go down big time (and thus defeat the purpose). I wouldn't be surprised if more than 75% of those guests would cancel

 

[JenBush]

I think a full shut down is more likely than all those modifications. Or maybe back to just the only DVC resorts and Disney Springs open.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don’t see why they would shut down future world if they have Epcot open. They need the space and things for people to do.

Also considering the source I’ll wait until others chime in.

I see the theory of shutting down Future World to work on the construction, but then that basically turns EPCOT into just the F&W festival ... and tough to charge full price. Maybe if they literally turn EPCOT into JUST an after 4 ticket park so cheaper

plus do you then only have the IG gateway entrance only?

Seems like something better in theory than reality

 

[SMRT-1]

Forgot to mention in my previous post the if they closed non-MK resorts, that people in value and moderates would have to be moved to deluxe resorts and would either be given a free upgrade, or be forced to pay the price difference. Either way, it seems like that would result in a loss in revenue from either free upgrades, or people who cancel their trips rather than pay extra.

 

[osufeth24]

Forgot to mention in my previous post the if they closed non-MK resorts, that people in value and moderates would have to be moved to deluxe resorts and would either be given a free upgrade, or be forced to pay the price difference. Either way, it seems like that would result in a loss in revenue from either free upgrades, or people who cancel their trips rather than pay extra.

that, and I just renewed my AP a few weeks ago, I would for sure be calling demanding they refund that (and I wouldn't be the only one). I feel like they'd lose even more revenue

 

[birostick]

12:45. Only up to group 20 on Rise. They are having a bad day.

 

[Wreckem]

As for the possibilities of what Disney will do. I’d except at minimum steeply reduced park hours for the remainder of the year except around Holidays. That’s the minimum. From there who knows. No one can predict what’s going to happen next in 2020.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Im firmly a never say never, like I have been for what feels like the better part of the year at this point. 2020 has put me on team anything is possible (and not in the fun follow your dreams kind of way, lol).

If revenue isn’t where they want it, and they aren’t happy with bookings in the near future, I don’t think they hesitate in shutting down more resorts and even scaling back park hours (as in, not operating all 4 every day). In July of last year, or even early this year, how many people thought Disney would take 3 resorts out of inventory to host the NBA? Lots of out of the ordinary “impossible” stuff happening this year. At the end of the day they will do what they need to do to come out of this at the other end, and that’s beneficial to all of us who want to return to the WDW that we love.

 

[BrianR]

Back to staffing, I know that they're trying to keep some of the DCL call center people off of furlough by adding them to ShopDisney customer service. Definitely not a lateral from a job experience perspective, but at least you still have a job and benefits?

 

[rteetz]

I see the theory of shutting down Future World to work on the construction, but then that basically turns EPCOT into just the F&W festival ... and tough to charge full price. Maybe if they literally turn EPCOT into JUST an after 4 ticket park so cheaper

plus do you then only have the IG gateway entrance only?

Seems like something better in theory than reality

They aren’t going to go full go on construction when trying to save money.

 

[osufeth24]

You'd think though before they do that, they'd try some other things. Like resort prices are still kinda high.

I was looking at middle of the week late sept, and even with the 40% AP almost all the open resorts were $300+ a night. Not saying they go super cheap, but I personally wouldn't pay that much when I already live close by

 

[sara_s]

You'd think though before they do that, they'd try some other things. Like resort prices are still kinda high.

I was looking at middle of the week late sept, and even with the 40% AP almost all the open resorts were $250+ a night. Not saying they go super cheap, but I personally wouldn't pay that much when I already live close by

Definitely. I hope they give that AP discount for the rest of the year. I have a trip scheduled for first week of Nov and will be pretty annoyed if I'm expected to pay rack rate, to the point of I might cancel entirely.

 

[dlavender]

You'd think though before they do that, they'd try some other things. Like resort prices are still kinda high.

I was looking at middle of the week late sept, and even with the 40% AP almost all the open resorts were $300+ a night. Not saying they go super cheap, but I personally wouldn't pay that much when I already live close by

Yeah $180 a night at pop doesn't do it....

 

[Sandiz08]

They should roll back prices if they expect people to come right now. I feel sad for Disney. I know the magic is still there, but it’s been dimmed a little.

 

[SMRT-1]

Im firmly a never say never, like I have been for what feels like the better part of the year at this point. 2020 has put me on team anything is possible (and not in the fun follow your dreams kind of way, lol).

If revenue isn’t where they want it, and they aren’t happy with bookings in the near future, I don’t think they hesitate in shutting down more resorts and even scaling back park hours (as in, not operating all 4 every day). In July of last year, or even early this year, how many people thought Disney would take 3 resorts out of inventory to host the NBA? Lots of out of the ordinary “impossible” stuff happening this year. At the end of the day they will do what they need to do to come out of this at the other end, and that’s beneficial to all of us who want to return to the WDW that we love.

While this is a time of "expecting the unexpected," there's a difference. There was a large financial incentive for Disney to host the NBA. These rumored operational changes don't seem to make sense financially, and Disney isn't likely to implement supposed cost-saving measures if they would actually result in a net loss; it defeats the purpose.

 

[SMRT-1]

I see the theory of shutting down Future World to work on the construction, but then that basically turns EPCOT into just the F&W festival ... and tough to charge full price. Maybe if they literally turn EPCOT into JUST an after 4 ticket park so cheaper

plus do you then only have the IG gateway entrance only?

Seems like something better in theory than reality

I could see cutting hours across the board, but just cutting the hours at Epcot seems like it might be a problem given that APs or people who already bought multi-day tickets wouldn't see any savings, and they would be paying the same price for fewer hours at Epcot as they are for the other parks.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

Ok... Obviously. But it's the highest number of daily deaths reported to date in Florida, and the numbers keep going up.

I think all of us know by now how you feel about Disney opening/remaining open.
Is it necessary to soapbox about it every single day?