Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Mit88]

Yes I saw Silver say that. Still don't think players will sign off on it

I think it’ll be tougher this time around because its now convincing 30 teams to play an entire season, or at the very least the start of a season in a bubble. I’m sure there wasn’t even a question on whether or not to do a bubble for just the playoffs. When you make it that far into the season, and have a way to finish it out, its very easy to bear down and get it done.

I think if they absolutely need to play in a bubble next season, the NBAPA will get something done to play, but I’m not 100% convinced it’ll be Disney again. Ive said it before, Vegas is more enticing for these players (except the Lopez brothers) and Vegas has the hotels, the courts, and the money to get a deal done. But with the infrastructure already in place at Disney, and ESPN’s relationship with the NBA, they might try to convince the players that its best for both party’s to play at Disney again.

That’s assuming they need it. We’re still a few months away from that type of decision needing to be made

 

[Mit88]

I wonder if they will have strict rules at the Fort for trick or treating? There's a large group of campers that come every year and go all out during Halloween and it's the best trick or treating in Orlando, super fun atmosphere

I go down every September/October and every year I say I’m gonna go over there and check it out and never do. If they’re playing Halloween movies there again this year, I think with the park hours, its much easier to make that type of commitment for us if they are doing those.

Its the same people camping there pretty much every year, so Disney or at least the CMs working at FW probably know most, if not all of the regular Halloween season campers, so the trick or treating situation might be up to the individuals staying there. Because of how serious the situation is, of course Disney could step in and say its not allowed this time, but I would guess because most of the people there know each other, and if they’re willing to keep the tradition alive, I’m sure they’re all responsible enough to take the necessary precautions to make it happen safely and keep it fun. I’m hopeful that they get to do it again this year. I love watching the FW vlogs from the Halloween festivities there

 

[skeeter31]

Yes those are all valid points.

I think everyone kind of envisions the classic Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and that is really unlikely to happen. What I'm suggesting is something that's very limited (2x - 3x per week) and becomes the thing to do one of the nights you are staying for an extended stay instead of going to Disney Springs and or relaxing at your hotel.

I have no idea what the numbers are. Let's just use some arbitrary numbers. Maybe Disney has 50K-100K stay on property in Nov-December. Right now those people are split into 4 parks each day. Crowds are extremely low (and partially by design). Right now those 50K-100K each night have very little to do besides Disney Springs.

What if you take the 50K-100K and split them into two parties per week? Even if you didn't get 50%, you'd still land probably 30K attendees, charge $50/person and that covers the fireworks and the parades costs by far. Make it good for AP owners (you get in free for one event). The labor costs have already been crunched due to the reduced hours at the other parks. Now you have the merchandising, the night entertainment and World Showcase gets a boom for their restaurants.

A Christmas overlay to Frozen Even After and other attractions would be pretty cheap and would be a huge hit.

It would draw people back.

So in this time of cost cutting for Disney, they’re supposed to come up with 1 or even 2 brand new Christmas parties (and an overlay for a ride) in 2 months and then have it ready to go? Plus, on top of that, you want them to give away admission to these massive cost expenditures to people staying 6 or more nights? People that are coming to Disney during this time for 6 or more nights, are coming regardless. They’re most likely not going to lose many people in that category. Where they are hurting for visitors is the day guests or locals wanting to come for a night or 2. There is absolutely no way Disney will run a Christmas party this year (an existing one they don’t have to imagineer) and an even lesser chance they’re going to create 2 new parties or new overlays to rides in such a short time span. Parties take them a year or more to plan, create, order supplies, etc. And if they were going to, which they’re not, they’d want to make money off it, not give it away for free.

People need to start to realize a Disney experience for the rest of 2020 is going to be a massively reduced experience from what they’re used to. Yes, decorations for the holidays will probably go up. Will the gingerbread houses in resorts? I’m not sure they’ll go for that outlay at this point, but the wreaths and trees will be up since they’re in storage and ready to go.
Parks will have reduced hours, rides will have downtimes, resorts could be changed at the last minute. Anything is possible. It also wouldn’t surprise me in the least to hear that Disney is reaching out to all major sporting leagues in the country offering space for bubble events. They’re going to look for any easy revenue they can get at this point, and they’re not going to lay out the expenses to increase attractions or events for guests right now. But to keep expecting that by Christmas everything will be back to normal just isn’t a good outlook to have right now. If you’re expecting parties, and fireworks, and entertainment, prepare to be disappointed. And for me at least, it’s better to go with low expectations and have little surprises around every corner than to go expecting the best experience and be let down everyday.

 

[Eric Smith]

We want to go during Flower/Garden. And quite honestly, I feel like when they open up bookings for the rest of next year, prices will be outrageous!

I'll just keep my reservation, makes no sense to cancel until I see what will happen.
Maybe nothing! Maybe a great upgrade! Maybe I'll come into a ton of money and can book whatever I want!

You could always try the Swan/Dolphin as a backup.

 

[Spridell]

I wonder if they will have strict rules at the Fort for trick or treating? There's a large group of campers that come every year and go all out during Halloween and it's the best trick or treating in Orlando, super fun atmosphere

I hope they still do the christmas decorations at their campsites.

I already have a golf car reserved to go see them all. Will be a first for me.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

They also believed there was substantial demand before they opened and they were wrong on that too. Now they are taking drastic measures just a few weeks later because they were wront... so Im gonna go with me probably being more right on this one.

They do believe a positive financial impact is more important right now. I wouldnt argue going full bore open as I do think closing resorts in their entirety is important (dvc bit em on that one though), but keeping your parks open is extremely important right now. Id rather see 3 parks (epcot is a dumpster fire right now) 8 hours a day with everything as opposed to this band aid approach. Some earlier suggested opening epcot to the masses for free and I think thats a very viable approach.

I took it to mean there is demand to return to parks - but the virus is the problem, not people's desire to go to the parks. And why we are seeing biggest gaps in people traveling - the Passholder Calendar is pretty booked up so there is demand amongst the group already there

I don't disagree some adjustments are needed to make it "better" for the smaller number of people that are coming. That idea of treating WS as like Disney Springs are just for food and drinks and no rides (and then work on the construction in Future World) I think is interesting (obviously have to deal with people who have Epcot booked as a park reservation).

I do think staggering the times more would help - even if reducing total hours have Epcot open from 3 to 10 or whatever instead of 11 to 7, plus would decrease demand on resort dining/lack of activities there

I just think that they don't necessarily want a ton more people in the parks right now - some more that are paying for a hotel or for a day ticket, sure, but if they wanted more (or any type) they would open up the passholder calendar more - the fact they haven't tells me they are fine with the crowd levels they have

 

[Eric Smith]

They also believed there was substantial demand before they opened and they were wrong on that too. Now they are taking drastic measures just a few weeks later because they were wront... so Im gonna go with me probably being more right on this one.

They do believe a positive financial impact is more important right now. I wouldnt argue going full bore open as I do think closing resorts in their entirety is important (dvc bit em on that one though), but keeping your parks open is extremely important right now. Id rather see 3 parks (epcot is a dumpster fire right now) 8 hours a day with everything as opposed to this band aid approach. Some earlier suggested opening epcot to the masses for free and I think thats a very viable approach.

When they decided to open, Florida was around 1,000 daily cases. When WDW opened, it was 10 times that. That’s the biggest factor here and I don’t blame them for not predicting that.

 

[mattpeto]

So in this time of cost cutting for Disney, they’re supposed to come up with 1 or even 2 brand new Christmas parties (and an overlay for a ride) in 2 months and then have it ready to go? Plus, on top of that, you want them to give away admission to these massive cost expenditures to people staying 6 or more nights? People that are coming to Disney during this time for 6 or more nights, are coming regardless. They’re most likely not going to lose many people in that category. Where they are hurting for visitors is the day guests or locals wanting to come for a night or 2. There is absolutely no way Disney will run a Christmas party this year (an existing one they don’t have to imagineer) and an even lesser chance they’re going to create 2 new parties or new overlays to rides in such a short time span. Parties take them a year or more to plan, create, order supplies, etc. And if they were going to, which they’re not, they’d want to make money off it, not give it away for free.

People need to start to realize a Disney experience for the rest of 2020 is going to be a massively reduced experience from what they’re used to. Yes, decorations for the holidays will probably go up. Will the gingerbread houses in resorts? I’m not sure they’ll go for that outlay at this point, but the wreaths and trees will be up since they’re in storage and ready to go.
Parks will have reduced hours, rides will have downtimes, resorts could be changed at the last minute. Anything is possible. It also wouldn’t surprise me in the least to hear that Disney is reaching out to all major sporting leagues in the country offering space for bubble events. They’re going to look for any easy revenue they can get at this point, and they’re not going to lay out the expenses to increase attractions or events for guests right now. But to keep expecting that by Christmas everything will be back to normal just isn’t a good outlook to have right now. If you’re expecting parties, and fireworks, and entertainment, prepare to be disappointed. And for me at least, it’s better to go with low expectations and have little surprises around every corner than to go expecting the best experience and be let down everyday.

I never said two Christmas parties. You don’t think they have been working on social distancing fireworks practices since March at all the parks?

 

[Jothmas]

My biggest reason to stay onsite still is that I can't get in the dang park with my AP unless we stay onsite. Frustrating situation.

Yes, for my four day trip in September that I’m doing to take advantage of my extended AP, I’m staying offsite two nights, but to make sure I can reserve four park days, I’m staying one night at Pop. The savings from staying offsite more than make up for the cost of a rental car and having a car gives me more flexibility in the evenings.

 

[mattpeto]

I never said two Christmas parties. You don’t think they have been working on social distancing fireworks practices since March at all the parks?

Put some Santa hats on the animatronics and maybe some Christmas lights.

 

[anthony2k7]

I never said two Christmas parties. You don’t think they have been working on social distancing fireworks practices since March at all the parks?

If they had and they had a solution surely they would have gone ahead and done it already?

So either they think they just can't do it safely, or there just arent enough people likely to be in the parks to pay for it

 

[SaintsManiac]

Put some Santa hats on the animatronics and maybe some Christmas lights.

Same overlay as the TSL Christmas stuff. It's cute and easy.

 

[cristen72]

At $160 a day for a ticket from Christmas to New Year’s Day, with reduced hours and no fireworks, parades, character dining, and so many other things missing, plus on site rooms $300 a night even at Pop, the holiday season looks grim.

 

[mattpeto]

If they had and they had a solution surely they would have gone ahead and done it already?

So either they think they just can't do it safely, or there just arent enough people likely to be in the parks to pay for it

I don’t disagree with the previous posters at all.

I’ll fall off the hill completely when they announce the party has been cancelled.

 

[anthony2k7]

Put some Santa hats on the animatronics and maybe some Christmas lights.

WDW all new holiday overlays.... yeti with a hat, pirates with hats, star tours with hats. It could work..... although most of those animations are so unreliable the hats might just be a bit too much!

 

[SaintsManiac]

And I 100% agree with the poster that said not to expect the gingerbread displays at the resorts. Lower your expectations now if you're traveling this November/December.

 

[anthony2k7]

And I 100% agree with the poster that said not to expect the gingerbread displays at the resorts. Lower your expectations now if you're traveling this November/December.

Yeah I guess most of the CMs that do that kinda thing are maybe still furloughed currently

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yeah I guess most of the CMs that do that kinda thing are maybe still furloughed currently

Not only that, but it costs major money to build them.

 

[rockpiece]

Is the Enchanted Rose open?

 

[Mit88]

I never said two Christmas parties. You don’t think they have been working on social distancing fireworks practices since March at all the parks?

I’m not sure they’ve been “working” on the fireworks practices since March, but I’m sure they’ve tried to come up with ideas, especially once Seaworld started theirs. Only problem with the Disney parks compared to Seaworld is theres not as many obstructions of seeing the fireworks from the lake at SW as opposed to Magic Kingdom where theres only so many places you can be in the park to have a good view, and thats not even taking the castle projections into account. If they’re going to bring fireworks back in 2020, the only park I can see it at is Epcot