Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SleeplessInTO]

Other businesses have marketing practices that include encouraging customers to refer a friend or to post positive comments on social media. I don’t think Disney has had to think that way before. They should be doing a push to their post-reopening guests to make sure they let friends and family know they went and came back alive and well and saw the safety practices in effect. Word of mouth is still effective marketing. Maybe a discount on a future stay if family or friends act on a guest referral.

I don’t see this happening for quite awhile. When someone mentions they’re traveling for leisure, the standard responses I see range from “you’re selfish” to “you’re killing my mom/grandma/best friend who is a nurse”. I don’t think most people are even sharing their travel plans anymore out of fear of judgment, let alone doing referrals. (Doesn’t mean they aren’t still going. They’re just hiding it!)

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

Speaking of Epcot needing some love,

These were taken today between 1130 and 12pm.

Out of the 60 or so times i have been to Epcot I have never seen anything like it.

I will say though, it was nice with so little people and the cm's were being so nice and chatting with us everytime we stopped.

So, this is actually what I imagine when I think of EPCOT. My family and I went to WDW when I was younger, but my real memories start around 2001-2002. This picture represents a TYPICAL EPCOT summer day. I remember multiple days during which we would walk around EPCOT and see three other people in world showcase. It takes me back... Walk on Maelstrom...

 

[yulilin3]

So, this is actually what I imagine when I think of EPCOT. My family and I went to WDW when I was younger, but my real memories start around 2001-2002. This picture represents a TYPICAL EPCOT summer day. I remember multiple days during which we would walk around EPCOT and see three other people in world showcase. It takes me back... Walk on Maelstrom...

The parks were empty those years for other sad reasons

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I don’t see this happening for quite awhile. When someone mentions they’re traveling for leisure, the standard responses I see range from “you’re selfish” to “you’re killing my mom/grandma/best friend who is a nurse”. I don’t think most people are even sharing their travel plans anymore out of fear of judgment, let alone doing referrals. (Doesn’t mean they aren’t still going. They’re just hiding it!)

I'm traveling next month with my great friend who is a nurse and really, really needs break from work. She feels safe to travel so I plan on trying to help her have a great time! Everyone needs to do what is best for them and supporting mental health is important too.

 

[skeeter31]

Slightly OT - does anyone here know how late the AP phone line is open?

The call centers are open until 11pm EST.

 

[WonderlandisReality]

I'm traveling next month with my great friend who is a nurse and really, really needs break from work. She feels safe to travel so I plan on trying to help her have a great time! Everyone needs to do what is best for them and supporting mental health is important too.

I am a nurse. I’ll be there on Friday. One of the x ray techs is taking her family next week. Healthcare workers have seen some ish since March and yeah WDW is following the same standards as the hospital so the general feeling among a fair amount that I know IRL is might as well go, we aren’t really at any higher risk there than at work.

 

[hertamaniac]

Italy to reopen for cruise ships starting August 15th.

"Only passengers from the approved country list will be able to board and disembark the cruise ship at Italy ports."

https://www.traveloffpath.com/italy-reopening-for-cruise-ships-on-august-15/

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

The parks were empty those years for other sad reasons

I recall-- but that is my permanent mental image of EPCOT. I'm never sad to see it empty, as long as it's making money.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Italy to reopen for cruise ships starting August 15th.

"Only passengers from the approved country list will be able to board and disembark the cruise ship at Italy ports."

https://www.traveloffpath.com/italy-reopening-for-cruise-ships-on-august-15/

Hope that goes better than the first line to try a return...

 

[hertamaniac]

Hope that goes better than the first line to try a return...

Of which they freely admitted they did not follow their own protocols/procedures.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/...igruten-boss-says-sorry-norway-investigation/

 

[FrankieWinthrop]

I don’t see this happening for quite awhile. When someone mentions they’re traveling for leisure, the standard responses I see range from “you’re selfish” to “you’re killing my mom/grandma/best friend who is a nurse”. I don’t think most people are even sharing their travel plans anymore out of fear of judgment, let alone doing referrals. (Doesn’t mean they aren’t still going. They’re just hiding it!)

This is 100% us! We’ve travelled but no posting on social media (other than inside Disney groups) or telling folks outside of those we normally would talk to. It’s like opening yourself up for ridicule. People feel so strongly one way or the other about this and our society has lost the ability to agree to disagree peaceably.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Other businesses have marketing practices that include encouraging customers to refer a friend or to post positive comments on social media. I don’t think Disney has had to think that way before. They should be doing a push to their post-reopening guests to make sure they let friends and family know they went and came back alive and well and saw the safety practices in effect. Word of mouth is still effective marketing. Maybe a discount on a future stay if family or friends act on a guest referral.

Something like this could very much backfire on them. I think of McDonald’s #McDStories social campaign fail from a while back. And there have been many more that have backfired due to timing and messaging. This is really not the time for a grassroots social media push for people to take off and run with. Could easily get hijacked by the wrong audience. I also don’t think this is a time for Disney to be overly encouraging people who are on the fence to come.

It’s really best for their public perception to lay low rather than to make a big marketing push to the general public right now.

Best to just host select influencers who are already followed by Disney fanatics and the most likely folks to travel there at this time. It’s hyper targeted and doesn’t cost much for them to comp some meals and rooms at hotels that aren’t full anyway.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

This is 100% us! We’ve travelled but no posting on social media (other than inside Disney groups) or telling folks outside of those we normally would talk to. It’s like opening yourself up for ridicule. People feel so strongly one way or the other about this and our society has lost the ability to agree to disagree peaceably.

Yep.
I don't do social media, Disboards is my only socializing.
I didn't tell anyone but family, and the one person I did have to tell, I found myself saying we were in "Orlando" instead of Florida or Disney. Just felt Florida is discussed more in the news than just Orlando, and saying Disney felt odd in that situation.
Our waiter at Topolinos asked if we got a lot of ridicule from family/friends for coming.
Most people who would think we are crazy, don't know enough to know the new rules at Disney.
We have no regrets. I've been wearing my pin "Finally Home".

 

[Alana20]

I wonder if they would consider closing only Epcot during the week since crowds seem to be so low. Can anyone who has been there recently comment as to whether this is typical?

We were there on Tuesday 8/4 and it was so empty in World Showcase my daughter made the comment that it felt like an apocalyptic movie. I’ve never seen anything like it. We literally walked on Frozen also.

 

[Mit88]

While everyone is excited to not have to plan fp in advance, local ap have to plan in advance when before we didn't need to.

Yup. And thats a problem. You can get away with it allowing constant access to 3 of the parks and occasionally you get lucky or time has passed and your DHS reservation arrives, but not being able to enter a single park for almost a month? Disney’s going to have to do something, quick. Reallocate the bucket slots again, open up capacity, maybe? Not sure if that 2nd one is a good idea. I’m not 100% convinced APs will go away altogether, but I’m closer to saying its a good possibility now more than I ever have when those rumors have popped up

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I don’t see this happening for quite awhile. When someone mentions they’re traveling for leisure, the standard responses I see range from “you’re selfish” to “you’re killing my mom/grandma/best friend who is a nurse”. I don’t think most people are even sharing their travel plans anymore out of fear of judgment, let alone doing referrals. (Doesn’t mean they aren’t still going. They’re just hiding it!)

We only told immediate family. DH doesn't post much on social media anyway.

 

[constanze]

This is 100% us! We’ve travelled but no posting on social media (other than inside Disney groups) or telling folks outside of those we normally would talk to. It’s like opening yourself up for ridicule. People feel so strongly one way or the other about this and our society has lost the ability to agree to disagree peaceably.

Same here!---One of our favorite parts of being at DisneyWorld---was being able to relax and finally not "hiding" the fact that we we were actually happy and excited to be on vacation People feel so strongly one way or the other and like to share their opinions (whether you're asking for them or not) we felt we just needed to keep our trip to ourselves, except among our close friends and family.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I'm traveling next month with my great friend who is a nurse and really, really needs break from work. She feels safe to travel so I plan on trying to help her have a great time! Everyone needs to do what is best for them and supporting mental health is important too.

I hope you and your friend have a wonderful trip

 

[mm824]

Are the food stands open in Epcot during the week? I couldn't tell from the photos ....

 

[xuxa777]

This is 100% us! We’ve travelled but no posting on social media (other than inside Disney groups) or telling folks outside of those we normally would talk to. It’s like opening yourself up for ridicule. People feel so strongly one way or the other about this and our society has lost the ability to agree to disagree peaceably.

This is absolutely true, we see this with all our friends as well.