Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Mit88]

And thats what I dont understand! Don't they want to make money?

Stubbornness. Probably someone in those board meetings convincing Chapek that the minute they open more spots for APs will be the minute that Out-of-state guests book up the hotels.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I can’t remember where but I’d seen (here I think?) that islands was going to Saturdays only. I was bummed as I had switched our AK and Epcot days on the fly and missed out on the flancocho and the empanada

It's open on Saturdays! You didn't miss it.

According to cast members who are working food and wine, the merchandise will be put out, and the other booths will be opening up on the 1st of September. Spoke to one in EPCOT this week!

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

The China pavilion is basically closed full time. A lot of the stores in a few different country's pavilions are still closed.

House of Good Fortune store is open in the China pavilion. (The main store). I was in there yesterday!

 

[charmed59]

And thats what I dont understand! Don't they want to make money?

My marketing background tells me they are trying to find the line.

The people willing and able to come spend big bucks may be coming because of the lack of crowds and low wait times. They were hoping there would be more. Then they were hoping that those who spend money were watching the reviews and seeing the safety would sign up and come on down. But that didn’t pan out.

So now they are re going for the locals, APs and enticing those others with good deals on tickets. They are hoping that won’t make the parks the so-so social distancing/mask wearing crowds they are seeing at DS, as that could mean less of the big spenders coming into Florida for a long vacation in a pandemic. Hopefully, the lower spending locals won’t scare away the big spenders.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We would go tomorrow but my 3 off-property AP spots are being held up for my staycation later next week. I don't want to run the risk of not getting a spot when I'm staying nearby on a day trip this weekend.

And we always spend money

We certainly can't be the only ones limiting trips because of the AP restrictions.

It's short-sighted on their part but it saves us $$ I guess!

 

[Marionnette]

And thats what I dont understand! Don't they want to make money?

I think they want to make money. They want to make more money. But I think some kind of internal data is telling them that the driving factor that is bring the bigger-spending, onsite guest to the hotels and parks would be the low crowd levels. If people are on the fence about boarding a plane, wearing a mask all day in the Florida heat, and dealing with a modified experience then seeing rising attendance due to an enlarged AP pool is going to tip them in the direction of just staying home. And Disney would rather sell multi-day tickets, merchandise at full price, 3 meals a day and an overpriced hotel room than a QS meal and some snacks. They’ve already got the AP holder’s ticket money, whether the AP walks thru the gate or not.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I’m scheduled to be there Nov. 5-9th. I’d gladly take some decor and longer hours. The hours themselves won’t make or break it for me though.

Just wanted to say that I’m so happy you have a trip on the books after so many months of madness

 

[rteetz]

Just wanted to say that I’m so happy you have a trip on the books after so many months of madness

I’m hoping it happens. Have a savanna view at AKL. I’m more excited for a new resort than the parks.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I really hope not.

That would signal some really weak numbers, obviously.

Maybe I’m thinking about it all wrong but the attendance itself doesn’t seem awful (based on low capacity), it’s the majority of people in the parks aren’t paying for new tickets, eating one QS meal, and heading home before dinner. That cannot sustain the dining, entertainment, shops, etc. in the parks

 

[LSUmiss]

....and one more thing to add to the "cons" column....

And the more this happens, the more attendance will drop

 

[yulilin3]

And the more this happens, the more attendance will drop

Domino effect

 

[Farro]

I think they want to make money. They want to make more money. But I think some kind of internal data is telling them that the driving factor that is bring the bigger-spending, onsite guest to the hotels and parks would be the low crowd levels. If people are on the fence about boarding a plane, wearing a mask all day in the Florida heat, and dealing with a modified experience then seeing rising attendance due to an enlarged AP pool is going to tip them in the direction of just staying home. And Disney would rather sell multi-day tickets, merchandise at full price, 3 meals a day and an overpriced hotel room than a QS meal and some snacks. They’ve already got the AP holder’s ticket money, whether the AP walks thru the gate or not.

Life is funny. Or really, I'm just odd.

I would think people would see low crowds (anywhere, not just Disney) and think -uh oh, everyone is staying home, I better too.

But if people see that people are going to parks again they would think - hey, people seem more comfortable going out again, I can too!

Obviously I dont understand the complexities of the human mind...

 

[chicagoshannon]

Maybe I’m thinking about it all wrong but the attendance itself doesn’t seem awful (based on low capacity), it’s the majority of people in the parks aren’t paying for new tickets, eating one QS meal, and heading home before dinner. That cannot sustain the dining, entertainment, shops, etc. in the parks

It's a thin line because they also don't have a lot of food places open. I know when we go in 2 weeks we'll be eating off property a lot because a lot of the stuff we like isn't open and we can't hop to Epcot to eat F&W.

 

[Jrb1979]

Domino effect

It makes sense. As I posted before since it's mostly AP holders in the parks the guest spending isn't as high as it normally is without the resort guests. Since those guests don't seem to be coming anytime soon, the only course of action now to get higher revenues is to cut more things.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Stubbornness. Probably someone in those board meetings convincing Chapek that the minute they open more spots for APs will be the minute that Out-of-state guests book up the hotels.

Or it will convince even more out of towners to stay home...

Right now, all guests do a positive/negative for if they should travel...for out of towners, it's as follows...

Sole positives are empty parks and fun attraction...
Cons are virus risk, awful travel, short hours, oppressive heat, mask annoyance, possible quarantines, equivalent costs for less, etc, etc...

So, taking the empty park positive and lessening it means the meager number of out of town hotel ticket buying guests gets even tinier...

 

[Tigger's ally]

Or it will convince even more out of towners to stay home...

Right now, all guests do a positive/negative for if they should travel...for out of towners, it's as follows...

Sole positives are empty parks and fun attraction...
Cons are virus risk, awful travel, short hours, oppressive heat, mask annoyance, possible quarantines, equivalent costs for less, etc, etc...

So, taking the empty park positive and lessening it means the meager number of out of town hotel ticket buying guests gets even tinier...

Those arent the "sole posituves".

We are going in December. I look forward too.
1. Staying in our favorite resort?
2. Riding our favorite rides
3. Eating at our favorite restaurants
4. Drinking at our favorite restaurants and lounges.
5. Watching the sunset from the boardwalk
6. Swimming at our favorite pool.
7. Riding the Skyliner for the first time.
8. Seeing princesses in cool cars.

I can go on, and on. SOLE my patooty.
I refuse to wallow in a big tub of self pity and negatism. Theres alot of reasons to go.

 

[Mit88]

Those arent the "sole posituves".

We are going in December. I look forward too.
1. Staying in our favorite resort?
2. Riding our favorite rides
3. Eating at our favorite restaurants
4. Drinking at our favorite restaurants and lounges.
5. Watching the sunset from the boardwalk
6. Swimming at our favorite pool.
7. Riding the Skyliner for the first time.
8. Seeing princesses in cool cars.

I can go on, and on. SOLE my patooty.
I refuse to wallow in a big tub of self pity and negatism. Theres alot of reasons to go.

Its still a Disney vacation, thats a bigger positive than any negative you could bring up, even covid. Now, if there were reported outbreaks on property, then that would be far more of a concern for me. But if they’re not giving me a reason to be concerned, I can make a long pro’s list thats not just empty parks.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

As an out of towner I would love to go. But the problem is that the reports of Disney’s great efforts in keeping people safe + the low wait times coincided with reports of ever increasing positive cases of COVID in Florida.

I think it was bad timing.

 

[midnight star]

As an out of towner I would love to go. But the problem is that the reports of Disney’s great efforts in keeping people safe + the low wait times coincided with reports of ever increasing positive cases of COVID in Florida.

I think it was bad timing.

THIS.

 

[Farro]

As an out of towner I would love to go. But the problem is that the reports of Disney’s great efforts in keeping people safe + the low wait times coincided with reports of ever increasing positive cases of COVID in Florida.

I think it was bad timing.

THIS.

Well the good news is it looks like things are improving greatly there on the virus front!