Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[yulilin3]

What’s the latest on shows returning?

All equity are furloughed indefinitely along with other cm departments

 

[yulilin3]

I would be so so happy if one of the “losses” of the pandemic was the current version of the Christmas special, and bringing back something resembling what it used to be with far more park footage and less celebs I don’t even know performing holiday music.

My favourite part of the current version is the Disney parks commercials they play during.

I don't think we'll see the return of the actual parade during the special from wdw as that bottled the entire parade route almost all day. What they do now is easier to manage and less space to close

 

[yulilin3]

I gave it a few hours but I’m still salty about the projections thing. I’ll withhold my true judgment until I see what they do, but Christmas sweater designs and “regal” red, green and gold just do not sound aesthetically pleasing or appropriate to me for Cinderella’s castle. Especially the Christmas sweater design part.

Kind of one of those “even though you CAN do it, should you do it?” situations.

Eh, time will tell, but it just sounds silly to me. The castle lights (IMO) are stop you in your tracks, bring tears to your eyes beautiful. And this year we are getting a tacky Christmas sweater.

I hope I’m wrong and I hope it looks great.

You said it, they don't want people stopping in their tracks. The castle lights brought a lot of people to stand and take pics with them in the background the projection will bring people to come and take a pic of the castle, less need to patrol people taking masks off. I understand why they're doing it, still sad though

 

[chicagoshannon]

Do they just run the skyline all night? It was still running at 11pm last night and was going when we woke up this morning.

 

[osufeth24]

Do they just run the skyline all night? It was still running at 11pm last night and was going when we woke up this morning.

Most likely it's just testing

 

[umichigan10]

I think we're burying the lead here.....

It's going to snow in Disney Springs...

That seems on par for 2020

 

[FrankieWinthrop]

I would be so so happy if one of the “losses” of the pandemic was the current version of the Christmas special, and bringing back something resembling what it used to be with far more park footage and less celebs I don’t even know performing holiday music.

My favourite part of the current version is the Disney parks commercials they play during.

You mean, they should go back to showing the PARADE on the Christmas Special about the parade?! I miss those days, too. Actually show the floats and characters? The past couple of years they’ve barely showed Santa and the reindeer, let alone the soldiers and other holiday classic characters we grew up watching on the Christmas parade.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Looks like Hong Kong Disneyland might re-re-open soon

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303482980963319811

 

[gottalovepluto]

The ugly sweater castle. As if the current paint job isn't bad enough.

We had added one night at GF to our December Vero Beach vacation when the AP discount came out. I didn't expect parties, fireworks, parades, storytellers, or a processional at WDW this year. But with even no castle icicle lights & no resort gingerbread displays, I've decided to cancel. I had thought that those more passive attractions would remain. At this point it just won't be special enough to be worth the time & money. We'll go in December 2021.

I'm now relieved that I hadn't yet gotten around to changing our flights.

When I was visiting GF last year and the Gingerbread House was up that lobby was crazy. COVID nightmare.

I hope you get the chance to enjoy GF it in it’s full Xmas glory next year!!

 

[Farro]

Do they just run the skyline all night? It was still running at 11pm last night and was going when we woke up this morning.

I was watching a video of the skyliner at night. Wouldn't it have been awesome if they had a small light in the shape of a Mickey head on top of them (think of a Taxi sign) and you saw those floating through the skies at night?

Are they always one party (no matter size) to each car or is this during pandemic only?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Out of curiosity - what were everyone's expectations for the holiday's?
For me -
Decorations, and themed food and merch. Basically - exactly what we are getting for Halloween.

I was hoping for Holiday themed random "parades" (we're getting that)

Bonus points for whatever version of Festival of the Holidays we get at Epcot - plus there will be singing, holiday carols and Christmas music - Voices of Liberty is awesome and being able to have the Main Street Philharmonic involved is also bonus points awesome.

Was anyone really expecting MVMCP? or the Candlelight Processional? Or anything else that was cut?

I wasn't expecting that the lights wouldnt be on the castle but I understand it...I guess? I'm not devastated - it won't be NOTHING - projection is ok.

I had 2 buckets if you will

Expected: decorations, but half as much. No resort decor. Yes Xmas trees in parks. Xmas lights on Castle. Characters dressed up for Xmas in MK

Hoped: resort decor, full park decor, Holiday Food Festival

So basically the only thing that threw me was lack of Castle lights. Overall I’m happy with where it ended up and I SO hope the resorts I stay at are decorated for Xmas, or decorated while In staying there in mid-Nov because that happened to me last year at BC & WL and it was MAGICAL!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I was watching a video of the skyliner at night. Wouldn't it have been awesome if they had a small light in the shape of a Mickey head on top of them (think of a Taxi sign) and you saw those floating through the skies at night?

Are they always one party (no matter size) to each car or is this during pandemic only?

Pandemic only

 

[Moliphino]

Pandemic only

Yup. Riding as a party of 4 on opening day we were with other parties 2 out of 4 times. It would have been more if the people behind us had kept up.

 

[mrhat]

I'm just curious how anyone is actually going to see the projections..... if the park is closing at 6 still I dont believe sunset is until right around then for most of Nov...I guess by Dec time it'll be like 5:30ish so you get to see it as you're walking out of the park I guess? Unless they are going to extend hours seems really limited....tho it'll be nice to see something from BLT

 

[SaintsManiac]

When I was visiting GF last year and the Gingerbread House was up that lobby was crazy. COVID nightmare.

I hope you get the chance to enjoy GF it in it’s full Xmas glory next year!!

I was thinking about that, too. We couldn't even get close to it last year.

 

[Aimeedyan]

For me, I was not expecting much holiday wise. I thought they might have the ToT projections, since it never drew a fireworks-type crowd, some Christmas decorations (I love the ones at HS!), Epcot holiday food booths, and castle lights. I was not expecting fireworks, Candlelight, XMas parties, storytellers, gingerbread houses (due to huge crowds), tree trail at DS, etc. Basically, anything that people congregated at.

Only thing I'm surprised by is the castle lights and am pretty bummed.

As an AP who dreads party season, I'm pretty happy with the cancellation of the Christmas party

 

[hereforthechurros]

All equity are furloughed indefinitely along with other cm departments

So the agreement announcement didn't really matter? Maybe I am confusing two different groups...

 

[hereforthechurros]

When I was visiting GF last year and the Gingerbread House was up that lobby was crazy. COVID nightmare.

I hope you get the chance to enjoy GF it in it’s full Xmas glory next year!!

Yeah Disney seems pretty against attracting those not staying there to resorts right now so Gingerbread gawking being cut out this year makes perfect sense.

I wonder how they'll deal with WL since that lobby/Christmas tree display might be the most popular on property. The lobby was filled with people just visiting last year, as in no place to sit, or even stand really. While festive, it was a bummer to be paying WL Christmas prices and not be able to enjoy it on some nights.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I'm just curious how anyone is actually going to see the projections..... if the park is closing at 6 still I dont believe sunset is until right around then for most of Nov...I guess by Dec time it'll be like 5:30ish so you get to see it as you're walking out of the park I guess? Unless they are going to extend hours seems really limited....tho it'll be nice to see something from BLT

Definitely one of the bigger questions for the entire holiday season at the moment is the hours. I've started seeing the 'Magic is Here' commercials in my market so I think they're ready to accept more guests. Let's hope that translates to longer hours eventually!

 

[Mit88]

Its still 2 months away, I expect they’ll extend the hours to accommodate for the projection viewing experience. The parks weren’t even open yet 2 months ago. A month and a half ago the parks were almost deserted. Just because the park hours have MK closing at 6 right now doesn’t mean they can’t extend that to 7 or 8 between now and then