Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mattpeto]

Were we ever told what their capacity limit is currently? Was it 25%?

I've been using 25%, but I don't think numbers were ever published.

FWIW:

The parks do not release capacity figures, but Disney Parks executive George Kalogridis said prior to the parks’ reopening that the company was considering reopening at 20% to 30% of its total capacity; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in August he was supportive of theme parks further increasing capacity; Disney and Universal have not responded to requests for comment regarding whether or not they’ve done so.

Source

 

[Eric Smith]

Disney won’t make any massive changes for quite some time. Look back at the opening process, the other Florida parks jumped at opening as quickly as possible, and Disney waited an entire extra month and a half and opened on their terms. Disney will continue to operate on their own terms, most likely through next summer. Social distancing in the parks and on the rides is here to stay for a while. They have put too much into getting it to the point it is today to make sweeping changes now. Yes, capacity may increase slowly over the next few months, but I think that’s going to be the only thing we see (and we probably won’t even see it because they won’t announce it). By already coming out and saying Christmas is going to be different this year and starting a full on marketing campaign reflecting those differences, they’re not about to change course now.

Didn't an executive from Disney make a public statement recently that the current WDW are pretty much what it's going to look like until there's a widespread vaccine?

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Were we ever told what their capacity limit is currently? Was it 25%?

I think the 25% is an assumption/best guess based on SDL and the first HKDL go-round. No official number was released for US parks, IIRC

 

[tlmadden73]

Just because they up the capacity, doesn't mean people will flock back.

There's still a pandemic, battered economy and a limited Disney experience that might prevent them from reaching a much higher attendance.

The good news is the pandemic is no longer an epidemic (cases are not sharply rising in most places, especially Florida).

WHEN Disney wants people to "flock back" (and that is NOT now) .. they have plenty of options to encourage that to happen. They are trying to walk the line of getting people back but not "too" many.

They will add perks or incentives, Resort discounts, ticket discounts, or simply start selling APs again. So there will be a demand for Disney. Unfortunately, the perception now is that it isn't "worth it" to go because of all the restrictions.

I'd argue they need to get past THAT hurdle to encourage people back moreso than the safety one. So again . .they have to walk that line of going back to normal and still being safe.

They are also walking the line of expenses versus revenue. In order to gear up to more capacity, they need to start having more expenses (hiring back more castmembers, opening more hotels). I am sure they are fine with running at a minimum for now.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Disney won’t make any massive changes for quite some time.

I would think that this year would be a lesson for everyone to not deal in absolutes. The only absolute right now is that - NOBODY knows what anybody is going to do at anytime, anywhere.

 

[Disney Bobby]

So what happened to the CMs? Were some laid off? Were their hours cut? Or is Disney just eating the extra cost?

How are they affected?

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Didn't an executive from Disney make a public statement recently that the current WDW are pretty much what it's going to look like until there's a widespread vaccine?

Yes, D’Amaro mentioned a lot of what we see will be in force going forward, even post vaccine (contactless payment, increased mobile order, some form of park pass). I don’t read every single headline or blog post, but I don’t remember reading anything saying that they wouldn’t slowly increase offerings, capacities, or what wasn’t/was open.

 

[Farro]

Didn't an executive from Disney make a public statement recently that the current WDW are pretty much what it's going to look like until there's a widespread vaccine?

People in top positions say a lot of things that change later on...

 

[mattpeto]

The good news is the pandemic is no longer an epidemic (cases are not sharply rising in most places, especially Florida).

WHEN Disney wants people to "flock back" (and that is NOT now) .. they have plenty of options to encourage that to happen. They are trying to walk the line of getting people back but not "too" many.

They will add perks or incentives, Resort discounts, ticket discounts, or simply start selling APs again. So there will be a demand for Disney. Unfortunately, the perception now is that it isn't "worth it" to go because of all the restrictions.

I'd argue they need to get past THAT hurdle to encourage people back moreso than the safety one. So again . .they have to walk that line of going back to normal and still being safe.

They are also walking the line of expenses versus revenue. In order to gear up to more capacity, they need to start having more expenses (hiring back more castmembers, opening more hotels). I am sure they are fine with running at a minimum for now.

Talking Covid in a Covid thread feels kind of unnatural.

We'll be out of the woods when the vaccine is available.

 

[Eric Smith]

The good news is the pandemic is no longer an epidemic (cases are not sharply rising in most places, especially Florida).

WHEN Disney wants people to "flock back" (and that is NOT now) .. they have plenty of options to encourage that to happen. They are trying to walk the line of getting people back but not "too" many.

They will add perks or incentives, Resort discounts, ticket discounts, or simply start selling APs again. So there will be a demand for Disney. Unfortunately, the perception now is that it isn't "worth it" to go because of all the restrictions.

I'd argue they need to get past THAT hurdle to encourage people back moreso than the safety one. So again . .they have to walk that line of going back to normal and still being safe.

They are also walking the line of expenses versus revenue. In order to gear up to more capacity, they need to start having more expenses (hiring back more castmembers, opening more hotels). I am sure they are fine with running at a minimum for now.

That's not what determines what an epidemic is. An epidemic means that there is widespread occurrence of an infectious disease. The US definitely still falls in to that category. Florida is seeing more daily cases currently than it was when Disney announced the WDW reopening. The huge spike is gone, but the problem has not gone away.

 

[Pyotr]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309553805143543810

What exactly is “limited social distancing?” I don’t think it was ever defined.

 

[Eric Smith]

What exactly is “limited social distancing?” I don’t think it was ever defined.

It's code for "we don't care, just get that tax money rolling in"

 

[gottalovepluto]

What exactly is “limited social distancing?” I don’t think it was ever defined.

Wherever you pick between 6 feet apart and pack ‘em in like sardines

 

[hereforthechurros]

Didn't an executive from Disney make a public statement recently that the current WDW are pretty much what it's going to look like until there's a widespread vaccine?

I believe that comment was in reference to their studios, but hard to imagine they'd apply that to one arm of business and not the theme parks.

 

[PrincessV]

Obviously you need to do what you are comfortable with.

But I do question why you think you would be deserving of a refund on your AP if Disney (safely under whatever standards they are using) increases capacity to a point that you don't feel comfortable going? That would be your decision to not use your AP, not a decision made by Disney.

They aren't going to just start letting in throngs of people...

Because my AP expired/renewed at the time when WDW announced its COVID-19 strategy: I renewed based on what they said they would do to manage reopening in a pandemic. I've visited a few days since reopening and was very happy with how they are managing the situation. Like I said, I don't really think they will increase capacity substantially for a while, but if they do, yes, I'll be asking for a cancelation and partial refund.

 

[Farro]

Because my AP expired/renewed at the time when WDW announced its COVID-19 strategy: I renewed based on what they said they would do to manage reopening in a pandemic. I've visited a few days since reopening and was very happy with how they are managing the situation. Like I said, I don't really think they will increase capacity substantially for a while, but if they do, yes, I'll be asking for a cancelation and partial refund.

Sorry, but did WDW outline their specifics for you that you can prove they would not be following their reopening plan? Did they say they would never increase capacity?

Again, no one should go anywhere they aren't comfortable with, but if Disney decides (and who knows if they will) to start increasing capacity in a manner they feel is safe, it's no one's choice but your own not to go. I don't think you should get a refund, but luckily my opinion doesn't matter.

 

[anthony2k7]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ne...ns-on-restaurants/ar-BB19qhV8?ocid=uxbndlbing

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=881858179300405

Most risky situation, now with no mitigation at all. Ridiculous.

 

[mattpeto]

Off topic, changed my placeholder reservation from December 2020 at BWI to August 2021 YC (just another placeholder until Oct-Dec 2021 becomes available). It was a 2 hour call to Guest Services.

Some interesting things I noticed:

• My bounceback offer (% off rack rate was basically disqualified as soon as I moved the rev according to the CM).
• Couldn't book Boardwalk Inn even in August 2021. Not making rooms available there yet.
• The death of the MagicBands might be a tad premature. "Complete order by August 15, 2021 for pickup at check-in." They just want to stop shipping them guys.
• The Dining Plan is definitely coming back. The option is still available from the summary and just says you can't add it at this time

All stuff we all kind of knew, but good reinforcement.

 

[Disney Bobby]

If the hospitals are ok and people want to go out, they should be able to do so without restrictions. The goal of these shutdowns was to flatten the curve and protect the hospitals from become overloaded. If those 2 factors change, then readdress. But everyone knows the deal now, so you can make your own decisions based on your individual circumstances.

 

[anthony2k7]

Just because they up the capacity, doesn't mean people will flock back.

There's still a pandemic, battered economy and a limited Disney experience that might prevent them from reaching a much higher attendance.

And large parts of the rest of the world now well into the 2nd wave, which is looking like it will be worse than the first even with m's and other measures in place.