Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Sarahslay]

Yep and the new trips too! Like mine for Christmas week, woo hoo. I am super hyped, lines or no lines our family is really looking forward to it. Of course, now I have to start a new wish list
1. Longer hours
2. Rat
3. Caseys
4. People Mover!

I'm trying to keep my wish list short for Christmas week, nice and simple so maybe the powers that be will be like "that's not asking too much....let's do that!"
1. Longer hours
2. People mover.

I really missed the people mover on my last trip, it didn't feel like a true MK day without a few spins around, crossing my fingers that the current schedule for reopening is true and it's open for my Thanksgiving week trip too.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Yep and the new trips too! Like mine for Christmas week, woo hoo. I am super hyped, lines or no lines our family is really looking forward to it. Of course, now I have to start a new wish list
1. Longer hours
2. Rat
3. Caseys
4. People Mover!

I believe it was reported that the People Mover is opening in late November! 11/22.

 

[abs1978]

I'm trying to keep my wish list short for Christmas week, nice and simple so maybe the powers that be will be like "that's not asking too much....let's do that!"
1. Longer hours
2. People mover.

I really missed the people mover on my last trip, it didn't feel like a true MK day without a few spins around, crossing my fingers that the current schedule for reopening is true and it's open for my Thanksgiving week trip too.

Add in Narcoose's and this is my Thanksgiving wish list as well. I don't even want anything crazy. 9-9 or even 9-8 would make me happy.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Look how upset people got at Universal because they are going to seat every row on the coasters instead of every other...

Are people who actually go that upset? If they are Universal will see a drop in people trying to ride those rides. Otherwise it’s just your usual Internet Screamers...

 

[hereforthechurros]

Add in Narcoose's and this is my Thanksgiving wish list as well. I don't even want anything crazy. 9-9 or even 9-8 would make me happy.

Narcoosee’s is reportedly opening later this month!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Look how upset people got at Universal because they are going to seat every row on the coasters instead of every other. Which I still don't get - if we all have masks on, what's the difference...
And I'd rather see every other row seating on Living With the Land and Safari rather than those plastic partitions between the rows. How can you see? I hope those go away in time - I'd rather wait longer and keep my mask on.

How could they increase ride capacity while still being worried about "optics"? And they won't extend hours until they consistently see more visitors and make more money I imagine.

Hopping - well again it's about controlling the capacity at each park. Now I'm sure there is a way they can do it, but they just don't seem to want to. It's probably not worth it with the reduced hrs anyways.

And lastly - - if Universal does end up having some of their haunted houses on select nights, and it's successful, I actually do think this will affect some decisions by Disney.

If people's perceptions start to change and the demand is there, I see Disney loosening some restrictions/adding back some things (not masks, those will be here for a while) more quickly than I think most of you do. When/if the pendulum swings in the way of people wanting to go to parks, do things, etc. - Disney will follow. It's nice to think Disney cares about us and our health, but really, they care about public perception.

Let's just hope for a better winter.

Good point on the extra hours hopping would require. I hadn’t thought of that but yeah. It’s pretty hard to take a midday break and then enjoy the evening at another park when nothing is open long enough!

 

[Vern60]

Narcoosee’s is reportedly opening later this month!

This is the kind of slow trickle that has me really excited and hopeful.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Longer hours, Trader Sam’s, and California Grill brunch for Christmas please!

 

[skeeter31]

Just thought I'd throw this out there as it's crossed my mind reading some of the posts the past couple of days. Maybe it's not going to be such a slow season post Labor day. Is it possible that there really is pent up demand and now that people are seeing more and more they are feeling safer and safer? I mean who doesn't feel like a vacation after being pent up for so long?
I just remember when WDW was getting ready to reopen, management (if I recall correctly), didn't seem worried about demand at all. That didn't happen until the covid numbers went way up.
I guess all I'm saying is it's possible things actually could remain a bit more crowded than many anticipated going into the Holidays. Especially since Disney is offering discounts now, and have announced at least some Holiday activities, oh and recent marketing blitz as well has me thinking ...

I think there is still demand, but just the volume of travel in general drops off after Labor Day. You can already see it at Disney, especially on the DVC side, when you check availability for the next couple of months. There are rooms available in every resort, and room types that are never seen outside of the 11 month window (like value studios at AKL, standard view studios and 1 beds at BWV, and standard view studios and 1 Beds at BLT. These all go to show that the volume of guests at Disney will be lower for the next couple of months (probably right up until Thanksgiving). We just booked quite a few 1 and 2 night stays at various DVC properties during that time period. Now, that does fall into your theory that the demand is still there, but this is a time period we usually go to a Disney multiple times (September and January when the crowds are low).

Mainly, Disney knows that travelers drop off now, and that won’t really impact their decision making in the long run. They’ll really want to see what happens come the Thanksgiving-NYE period to make decisions going forward.

 

[rpb718]

I think a lot of people moved their trips to September, I know a lot of people who did just this thinking it would be better since September is slower. Much like several years ago when those rescheduling from cancelled Irma trips moved their vacations to the beginning of December after hearing it's typically a great time to go due to low crowds and all the holiday decorations. With the cancelations of all parties, and many things a lot of people go to Disney for during the holidays, I think we'll have a better picture in to October.

I remember there was a thread months ago with a poll of when folks were moving their stays to later this year and I believe September and October topped the list. Couple that with the recent reduction in park hours and you feel like the parks are more crowded. I'd be interested in how crowded DS is in the evenings now compared to before but haven't seen any reports of that.

As for hopping to return, parks hours would also have to be expanded more than an hour almost across the board with at least two parks having increased evening hours - not EMH, but just longer because you don't want just one park being open late. Currently, depending on transportation options, getting from park-to-park generally takes too much valuable park time away - especially given the current meager park hours - to make it really worthwhile (with the possible exception of going between HS and EP if you walk fast enough).

 

[cristen72]

Really hoping they figure this out within the next few weeks before we go. We go several times a year and have (literally) never waited in a line more than 20 minutes, including over Christmas. We use FP and rope drop strategically to ride without waits. I had convinced myself that we'll be okay without FP because of the overall low waits, but omg I'm starting to freak out. We are stuck going because of a nonrefundable DVC rental.

We are taking the kids the week between Christmas and New Years. First time we have ever gone at that time; we have always avoided it because of crazy crowds.

I’m going into the trip knowing it will still be crowded, but not crazy pre Covid crowded. And also planning to wander around, enjoy the decorations, eat a nice meal or two, and not really plan on riding much of anything.

 

[Disdreamprincess]

Yep and the new trips too! Like mine for Christmas week, woo hoo. I am super hyped, lines or no lines our family is really looking forward to it. Of course, now I have to start a new wish list
1. Longer hours
2. Rat
3. Caseys
4. People Mover!

We are eyeing a seven-day christmaspalooza vacation. If I may, I add my WDW wishlist
- People mover
- If shortened hours, more transportation available at night after park closure
e.g. resort monorail not stopping at 8pm e.g. minnie vans
- Opening of AKL
- Signature restaurants
- California Grill brunch
- Broadened TS menus
- Tokyo Dining
- Kusafiri Coffee Shop
- Daily housekeeping

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I remember there was a thread months ago with a poll of when folks were moving their stays to later this year and I believe September and October topped the list. Couple that with the recent reduction in park hours and you feel like the parks are more crowded. I'd be interested in how crowded DS is in the evenings now compared to before but haven't seen any reports of that.

As for hopping to return, parks hours would also have to be expanded more than an hour almost across the board with at least two parks having increased evening hours - not EMH, but just longer because you don't want just one park being open late. Currently, depending on transportation options, getting from park-to-park generally takes too much valuable park time away - especially given the current meager park hours - to make it really worthwhile (with the possible exception of going between HS and EP if you walk fast enough).

Exactly. I really don’t understand the clamoring for hopping right now, with the exception of maybe wanting to make an ADR for dinner in Epcot. The hours are just to restricted right now for it to make sense. Even when hours extend a little, I see hopping being one of the last items to return.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Exactly. I really don’t understand the clamoring for hopping right now, with the exception of maybe wanting to make an ADR for dinner in Epcot. The hours are just to restricted right now for it to make sense. Even when hours extend a little, I see hopping being one of the last items to return.

Agree. We hop to watch the fireworks at whichever park we hop to. No point for us without fireworks happening.

 

[hereforthechurros]

We are taking the kids the week between Christmas and New Years. First time we have ever gone at that time; we have always avoided it because of crazy crowds.

I’m going into the trip knowing it will still be crowded, but not crazy pre Covid crowded. And also planning to wander around, enjoy the decorations, eat a nice meal or two, and not really plan on riding much of anything.

Not riding much of anything for a whole week isn’t fun! You’ll have plenty of opportunities for attractions especially if you get there early and stay late.

 

[rpb718]

Really hoping they figure this out within the next few weeks before we go. We go several times a year and have (literally) never waited in a line more than 20 minutes, including over Christmas. We use FP and rope drop strategically to ride without waits. I had convinced myself that we'll be okay without FP because of the overall low waits, but omg I'm starting to freak out. We are stuck going because of a nonrefundable DVC rental.

I believe in the past there were a significant number of folks who avoided using MDE or just didn't want to use it in the parks. Most probably made ADRs and FP+s ahead of time fine, but in the parks they would use their phones for other things and weren't making more FP+s because they either didn't know or want to or weren't savvy about when to check or doing the refresh. My feeling is that in the future, with the park reservation system possibly being used to enable hopping and mobile ordering being the QS method of choice and whatever Genie is and possibly other things unknown at this time, the days of not using a Disney phone app in the parks are gone. Ignoring the possibility of paid FP+s, I'm thinking the days of gaming the system for short wait times may also be gone. At least rope drop is still there, but the parks hours would really need to be earlier than they are now to even make that worthwhile.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Exactly. I really don’t understand the clamoring for hopping right now, with the exception of maybe wanting to make an ADR for dinner in Epcot. The hours are just to restricted right now for it to make sense. Even when hours extend a little, I see hopping being one of the last items to return.

I only care about park hopping because we have AP vouchers to activate eventually and don’t want to until it’s worth it. Otherwise I can fully live without hopping for a long while.

 

[Mit88]

Are people who actually go that upset? If they are Universal will see a drop in people trying to ride those rides. Otherwise it’s just your usual Internet Screamers...

I don’t think anyone here is all that upset. They had some strong reactions on twitter. I think it’s a questionable decision, but I’d still go on Hulk and RipRideRockit with the new seating arrangements

 

[cristen72]

Not riding much of anything for a whole week isn’t fun! You’ll have plenty of opportunities for attractions especially if you get there early and stay late.

We only have 3 park days. We’re also going to enjoy our resort and do an off site activity. It’ll actually be nice to take it slow and not be rushing from FP to FP.

 

[Farro]

Exactly. I really don’t understand the clamoring for hopping right now, with the exception of maybe wanting to make an ADR for dinner in Epcot. The hours are just to restricted right now for it to make sense. Even when hours extend a little, I see hopping being one of the last items to return.

If parks stay open even one hour later, hopping would be worth it for us. We never, ever spend an entire day in one park.

If parks close at 8, go to one park for a few hours in the morning, relax at resort. Head to another park around 5 or so and just enjoy the evening, take in the details, make a late ADR for dinner...would love it.