Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Farro]

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

It is good news.

Some of the game booths opened again in Dinoland. I think this is how it will be. Things will be brought back without a big announcement, slowly but surely.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

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.

I could see a lot of people agreeing with you if they bookended an hour either way at all four parks (maybe add both hours to Epcot to open at 10 when the new hours kick in).
My personal opinion is hours will be added, then hopping within two months after whenever that happens.
It is when the hours will return consistently that has us all waiting at the moment. If the Thanksgiving/Christmas season pans out, maybe that 1/1/21 target date isn’t too far off for hopping to return.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

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...

Hubby & I are Universal AP holders & aren't at all upset with this change.

 

[focusondisney]

Narcoosee’s is reportedly opening later this month!

Yea! Maybe Yachtsman’s Steakhouse will be next!

 

[yulilin3]

It'll be a wait and see what will come first. Adding hours or adding entertainment. Either one will mean Disney spending more money than what they are now. Either one will help spread the crowds.
Personally I hope they add entertainment, of course it won't really help Epcot or MK but would work wonders at DHS and AK

 

[Shelleyfs]

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!

My biggest wish would be the ability to send items from the park back to the resort. I think I will honestly miss that the most, but it will save me money in the long run. I am too lazy to carry stuff all day around the parks.

 

[andyman8]

While I always do appreciate your viewpoints and bits of info that you share, it looks like it's not just Universal, and it's not just KS that is sitting every seat already. During weekends when both parks are at their busiest, I'd wager that the majority of park guests would rather a 30 min wait and sit every row of a ride over 80 min to sit every other row. It's still blisteringly hot outside, and without going off topic into virus talk I'm really not sure this makes a difference health wise while masks are required at all times.

I also very much appreciate your viewpoints and first-hand reports. They are very insightful and informative, especially in such a fluid situation! The only thing I'd add is that this thread is a small snapshot of the larger population of Guests visiting Disney theme parks, and there's a not insignificant contingent within that population that still has a reluctance about visiting a theme park. As the situation evolves, more and more of that contingent will be willing to return and -- especially while the California Governor's eyes are on them -- I don't see WDW deviating too drastically from their already established playbook (again, the policy, as far as I know, continues to be spacing Guests), but we can definitely agree to disagree!

 

[AmberMV]

Everybody's wish list is of course different as everybody's situation is different. Personally, I can do without parades, fireworks, extended hours, shows, hopping and additional dining options but our biggest wish is for waits for rides to be low-whether that be by FastPass, MaxPass, Genie, increased ride loading or low park capacity. Our situation with 3 young toddlers is just suited to need constant movement or child meltdowns are inevitable...and nobody, not just us parents, wants to hear/see that

 

[gottalovepluto]

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.

That is the only reason I hop. And I am clamoring for it to come back! Please Disney! Just a couple more hours a night in EP, restaurants would spring back and crowds leaving would level out some as everyone wraps dinner at different times and there are no nighttime spectaculars.

And Disney let’s be real- are these mass rushes for the exit at night good for showing Newsom how safe you are? Or is a picture worth a thousand words and you’re sinking your own boat if he sees photos of this nonsense?...

 

[andyman8]

It'll be a wait and see what will come first. Adding hours or adding entertainment. Either one will mean Disney spending more money than what they are now. Either one will help spread the crowds.
Personally I hope they add entertainment, of course it won't really help Epcot or MK but would work wonders at DHS and AK

I was talking recently with a friend in Main Street Ops (not necessarily someone who would be super privy to "upper level" decisions like fireworks and entertainment but still someone who has a good sense of what's going on at MK at least), and he mentioned he couldn't see them extending hours until they brought back more entertainment offerings, specifically fireworks. Apparently, they're just not seeing the evening Guest retention that they normally do, which is why MK's "extended" hours only are to 7pm for the time being. Even as weekends have picked recently, apparently they're just not seeing the Guest spending levels that would warrant really bumping out hours. While dessert parties and corporate events certainly help cover the cost of the fireworks, the real reason Disney has always done them is to keep Guests spending money (shopping, snacking, having dinner, etc...) until the end of the day. Without that carrot, it seems that you have a "slow, trickle" of Guests leaving "throughout the late afternoon" (his words) rather than a large rush at night. With that in mind, I'd have to imagine you'll see more shows, entertainment offerings, and eventually fireworks until we see decidedly later closings. Gotta give Guests a reason to stay. At least at MK.

 

[karen4546]

That is the only reason I hop. And I am clamoring for it to come back! Please Disney! Just a couple more hours a night in EP, restaurants would spring back and crowds leaving would level out some as everyone wraps dinner at different times and there are no nighttime spectaculars.

And Disney let’s be real- are these mass rushes for the exit at night good for showing Newsom how safe you are? Or is a picture worth a thousand words and you’re sinking your own boat if he sees photos of this nonsense?

YES! We hop most days (AK -morning and MK-evening) and we go to EPCOT for dinner later. We love EPCOT and we love ending the day there. I wonder if they could do the hopping like FP+ ? If there is availability at a park in the evening then why not be able to hop?

 

[Marionnette]

While Disney’s safety level is enticing, there are still those for whom air travel is anxiety-producing. My daughter just spent a week at Disney, including the crowded Labor Day weekend and yesterday’s “packed” EPCOT. She’s on her way home and said that the first and only time that she and her friends felt unsafe was onboard American Airlines, where they’re packing passengers in like sardines again and not enforcing mask rules.

It’s beyond Disney’s control but with as long as major carriers demonstrate such disregard for the health of their passengers, it will be a very long time before a lot of people will feel confident to fly to Orlando.

 

[andyman8]

She’s on her way home and said that the first and only time that she and her friends felt unsafe was onboard American Airlines, where they’re packing passengers in like sardines again and not enforcing mask rules.

Yeah, I've had the most "uneven" experiences on American recently. Some flights (specifically early morning mid-week flights) have been fine, but many others have not been great. A real shame since I have the Aviator card and lots of miles with them, but I've felt safer on most other airlines.

 

[Farro]

While Disney’s safety level is enticing, there are still those for whom air travel is anxiety-producing. My daughter just spent a week at Disney, including the crowded Labor Day weekend and yesterday’s “packed” EPCOT. She’s on her way home and said that the first and only time that she and her friends felt unsafe was onboard American Airlines, where they’re packing passengers in like sardines again and not enforcing mask rules.

It’s beyond Disney’s control but with as long as major carriers demonstrate such disregard for the health of their passengers, it will be a very long time before a lot of people will feel confident to fly to Orlando.

I happen to disagree. Since all of us can only base our opinions on personal anecdotes at the moment, I know quite a few people who are now booking flights. Not to Disney (because they don't really go there), but to other places.

I think people will fly again, sooner rather than later. I don't know how to explain it, but it's just the general feel now around is so much different than when the pandemic started. People are doing things again, getting used to the masks...if winter goes okay I'm betting early spring people start traveling in droves.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I was talking recently with a friend in Main Street Ops (not necessarily someone who would be super privy to "upper level" decisions like fireworks and entertainment but still someone who has a good sense of what's going on at MK at least), and he mentioned he couldn't see them extending hours until they brought back more entertainment offerings, specifically fireworks. Apparently, they're just not seeing the evening Guest retention that they normally do, which is why MK's "extended" hours only are to 7pm for the time being. Even as weekends have picked recently, apparently they're just not seeing the Guest spending levels that would warrant really bumping out hours. While dessert parties and corporate events certainly help cover the cost of the fireworks, the real reason Disney has always done them is to keep Guests spending money (shopping, snacking, having dinner, etc...) until the end of the day. Without that carrot, it seems that you have a "slow, trickle" of Guests leaving "throughout the late afternoon" (his words) rather than a large rush at night. With that in mind, I'd have to imagine you'll see more shows, entertainment offerings, and eventually fireworks until we see decidedly later closings. Gotta give Guests a reason to stay. At least at MK.

It was mentioned earlier, and I agree, that package delivery would go a LONG way to increasing my spending. Even pickup prior to leaving. Not walking around with a dozen bags or more is so nice in “normal” times.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

While Disney’s safety level is enticing, there are still those for whom air travel is anxiety-producing. My daughter just spent a week at Disney, including the crowded Labor Day weekend and yesterday’s “packed” EPCOT. She’s on her way home and said that the first and only time that she and her friends felt unsafe was onboard American Airlines, where they’re packing passengers in like sardines again and not enforcing mask rules.

It’s beyond Disney’s control but with as long as major carriers demonstrate such disregard for the health of their passengers, it will be a very long time before a lot of people will feel confident to fly to Orlando.

Yep. Border issues aside pretending we could travel to Disney right now I would not due to the need to either travel by plane or drive and make multiple stops in random places. Disney itself, aside from my discomfort dining indoors, would not be the biggest issue at this point.

Of course there are people who are not hesitatent to travel right now who may be swayed by changes Disney makes to the park operations, but for those of us who are hesitant to travel due to COVID related reasons I don’t think there’s a ton Disney can do about it at the moment.

 

[hereforthechurros]

With basics like nighttime hours and entertainment being cut for now, I feel silly even asking about luggage delivery from the airport... but any ideas when or even if that will come back?

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

... he mentioned he couldn't see them extending hours until they brought back more entertainment offerings, specifically fireworks.

But it's kind of hard to bring back fireworks without extending hours until after dark (granted, it gets dark earlier in the fall after the end of daylight savings so, theoretically, they could still close pretty early and still put on a fireworks show).

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

She’s on her way home and said that the first and only time that she and her friends felt unsafe was onboard American Airlines, where they’re packing passengers in like sardines again and not enforcing mask rules.

It’s beyond Disney’s control but with as long as major carriers demonstrate such disregard for the health of their passengers, it will be a very long time before a lot of people will feel confident to fly to Orlando.

Yeah, I've had the most "uneven" experiences on American recently. Some flights (specifically early morning mid-week flights) have been fine, but many others have not been great. A real shame since I have the Aviator card and lots of miles with them, but I've felt safer on most other airlines.

I can second this with American. My Delta & Southwest flights have all been super spaced, not so on American with the exception of just one segment. American has been good about letting you move to a different seat, but of course that only works if there is one available. I've been on a few nearly full flights recently.

Kind of a bummer seeing the wait times and reports lately, I really enjoyed July and August but I don't see much of a reason to sneak off for a quick holiday trip this year. Happy that people are visiting and money is being made, selfishly sad the totally empty park days are gone .

 

[mattpeto]

I’m starting to think fireworks and park hopping will be off the table until a vaccine.