Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[osufeth24]

DHS capacity talk feels like old normal. ❤

Years and years of DHS capacity issues finally addressed when 2 lands and an updated headliner are added, 2 weeks after the final piece opens BAM a pandemic.

I'd say today was the first time since reopen it felt like a typical Disney day.

 

[skeeter31]

I'd say today was the first time since reopen it felt like a typical Disney day.

And I was at AK and it was quite pleasant. Very sparse crowds. Even Pandora was easy to navigate in the morning. Normal long lines for FoP and Navi, but very easy to wander. HS is going to continue to be the issue park. Thankfully it’s our least favorite park and we visit it maybe 1-2 times a year (and we go at least twice a month). So I’ll enjoy the lighter days at the other 3 parks. We are doing a HS day in November though, mainly just to eat at Sci-fi.

 

[gottalovepluto]

And I was at AK and it was quite pleasant. Very sparse crowds. Even Pandora was easy to navigate in the morning. Normal long lines for FoP and Navi, but very easy to wander. HS is going to continue to be the issue park. Thankfully it’s our least favorite park and we visit it maybe 1-2 times a year (and we go at least twice a month). So I’ll enjoy the lighter days at the other 3 parks. We are doing a HS day in November though, mainly just to eat at Sci-fi.

I’m so torn on how to handle DHS on my Nov trip. One day I think the earlier we get their the better and the next I think we should chill that morning & roll in early in the afternoon. (ROTR isn’t a big deal to us, we’d rather have lighter crowds.)

 

[Mit88]

do we think WDW will follow suite or just continue BAU

No. Just like when mask mandates are lifted and Disney will keep it in place for at least a month, if not longer. Disney prides themselves on safety above everything else. They make their own rules, and they’re going to air on the side of “over” cautiousness, always

 

[twinmom13]

I’m so torn on how to handle DHS on my Nov trip. One day I think the earlier we get their the better and the next I think we should chill that morning & roll in early in the afternoon. (ROTR isn’t a big deal to us, we’d rather have lighter crowds.)

When we were there last week, there were not lighter crowds in the early afternoon. If anything, crowds got bigger in the early afternoon, although they did drop off after 4:00.

 

[anthony2k7]

I'd say today was the first time since reopen it felt like a typical Disney day.

No need for fireworks or opening other resorts then if parks are already back to "typical Disney day". Why increase costs when guests come and fill the parks anyway?

 

[jarestel]

I think this may happen a lot to newer guests who don't fully understand the different monorail lines. I think a lot of people think the monorail stops at MK and then, at some point, stops at EP. We once got on the monorail at EP and there was a family already on the monorail. The children were telling their dad they think they needed to get off at TTC and transfer to the MK monorail. The dad insisted the monorail would eventually stop at MK (It seemed they had been on this monorail for a while and had stopped at EP several times). I'm not one to typically open her mouth, but as we were pulling in to TTC, I let them know that, yes indeed, they needed to get off and transfer to a monorail to MK, we were headed there now and we would be happy to show them where they needed to go to get the MK monorail. Dad insisted they stay on. And off they went to EP again.

Dads never admit to being lost. That's a great story though!

 

[Tigger's ally]

Dads never admit to being lost. That's a great story though!

My bet is he was just enjoying the cool air, the fresh smell and the lovely scenery.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

No need for fireworks or opening other resorts then if parks are already back to "typical Disney day". Why increase costs when guests come and fill the parks anyway?

This is the never ending game of cat and mouse we play with Disney, anyway, isn’t it? That’s how they upsell parties and EMH and fireworks viewing - the allure of lighter crowds.
Eventually word will get out that “it’s crowded anyway, don’t bother.” When that eventually happens, crowds will drop a little and WDW will offer something more (shows, hours, open a shop or two to eat crowds, find a way to increase ride capacity).

 

[hertamaniac]

No need for fireworks or opening other resorts then if parks are already back to "typical Disney day". Why increase costs when guests come and fill the parks anyway?

That's a valid point. Until they increase capacity, I see no financial driver to expand the more costly offerings.

 

[yulilin3]

That's a valid point. Until they increase capacity, I see no financial driver to expand the more costly offerings.

the financial driver will be when people stop coming because it is so busy and there's only attractions to do. Or when they get so many emails with the same complaint. That's why I always tell people to email f the had a good or bad experience, they do read them and if they have enough of them, they will take action, it's happened before

 

[Farro]

No need for fireworks or opening other resorts then if parks are already back to "typical Disney day". Why increase costs when guests come and fill the parks anyway?

So you'd rather guests stay away and Disney keeps having to close more resorts, cut more things?

It's been pounded into our heads by some that Disney won't make any fast moves due to optics, wanting to take a very conservative approach with Covid - so why does anyone think that they are all of a sudden going to add hours, shows, fireworks because it's crowded sometimes?

They aren't. A few hours here and there.

I mean, hasn't everyone been saying there won't be a real attempt towards normalcy until next Spring? But now we are supposed to be upset that people are going again, but that's ruining things because Disney won't bring back fireworks because of it? Confusing.

 

[Sarahslay]

Question regarding transportation at the parks after close: how late do the buses keep running after park close considering they are allowing after close ADRs? We have a Cali Grill ADR the sunday before Thanksgiving at 7:40 and really didn't want to drive or take Uber, but MK closes at 7 so I just wanted to see if there is any way the buses are still running to get back to YC around 9-ish. I know it's unlikely, but park of me is very hopeful so we can have some drinks. Had the thought of doing DS to CR and what not to get around from YC to CR, but that's so time consuming.

 

[rockpiece]

Is the walkway at GF open yet? I know earlier in the week it was very close to opening.

 

[rteetz]

Is the walkway at GF open yet? I know earlier in the week it was very close to opening.

Not yet

 

[LSUmiss]

Did spaceship earth ever close for refurbishment?

 

[anthony2k7]

So you'd rather guests stay away and Disney keeps having to close more resorts, cut more things?

It's been pounded into our heads by some that Disney won't make any fast moves due to optics, wanting to take a very conservative approach with Covid - so why does anyone think that they are all of a sudden going to add hours, shows, fireworks because it's crowded sometimes?

They aren't. A few hours here and there.

I mean, hasn't everyone been saying there won't be a real attempt towards normalcy until next Spring? But now we are supposed to be upset that people are going again, but that's ruining things because Disney won't bring back fireworks because of it? Confusing.

Not what I said and not my point at all.

If people say the parks are crowded, then disney are gonna think they don't need to bring back additional entertainment etc.

More likely though, parks are still just full of CMs/APs because other guests still aren't going. If there was demand, they would reduce the AP buckets and reimpose CM blackouts to allow higher value guests to fill that capacity.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Did spaceship earth ever close for refurbishment?

Nope!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think for HS they're getting close to a popping of the bubble, something has got to give. Either re lower capacity (which won't happen). Or they got to increase ride capacity.

they really need "other" things to do .... just think of all the non-attraction things they had in DHS pre-covid:

- Citizens of Hollywood
- Voyage of Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast
- Frozen Sing -a long
- Character meets: Disney Jr, Star Wars, Mickey and Minnie character meet (that often had pretty long line), etc.
- Star Wars Stage Show
- Fantasmic!
- Star Wars Fireworks
- I am sure I am missing things


All those things absorbed a lot of people (and even if the evening things were only once a day, it made for good time to do rides if you were willing to skip those)

 

[yulilin3]

they really need "other" things to do .... just think of all the non-attraction things they had in DHS pre-covid:

- Citizens of Hollywood
- Voyage of Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast
- Frozen Sing -a long
- Character meets: Disney Jr, Star Wars, Mickey and Minnie character meet (that often had pretty long line), etc.
- Star Wars Stage Show
- Fantasmic!
- Star Wars Fireworks
- I am sure I am missing things


All those things absorbed a lot of people (and even if the evening things were only once a day, it made for good time to do rides if you were willing to skip those)

Star Wars A Galaxy Far Far Away show was cancelled pre covid. But I don't understand why they can't bring back VotLM, Frozen Sing Along and Beauty and the Beast. With good social distancing measures they are all doable.