Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Krandor]

But a 60 min wait for little mermaid now snakes all the way to dumbo in the blazing sun & that it not about perspective. That’s just miserable.

That is a point I hadn't though about. A 30 minute queue when you're inside the nice themed area in the shade like at say jungle cruise is certainly different then a 30 minute wait out in the sun by the swiss family tree.

 

[yulilin3]

If you just wanted to be in the MK and didn't care about attractions, what's good?

Surely there must be quiet areas and food that doesn't get huge lines, right?

All this congestion is probably due to the Peoplemover closure. It's kind of the main draw of the entire park.

I can tell you from personal experience going on attractions with minimal wait is still possible, eating with minimal wait is possible, obviously you can always just sit somewhere and take in the sights and sounds without issues.
The problem i think most people complaining have is that they are expecting an experience similar to what it was prior to March and that is just not possible right now and for a very long time

 

[TheMaxRebo]

what other than max occupancy would be the number they were using?

When this all started there were discussions about what level of capacity Disney woudl manage to. I think everyone thought the guideline from the state meant 25% of max capacity, but would Disney manage that high knowing that 25% for max capacity (e.g., like New Year's Eve levels) with social distancing would be pretty crowded. So would they instead manage to a percentage of a "normal" day

I think pretty clear now they are operating up to 25% of total max capacity - at least for now. It would be a little loosy-goosey with the terms/numbers/English Language if they meant they have never increased the max capacity above 25% - HOWEVER on any given day we might manage the allotment of passes below that 25% . So their could have been only enough passes given out in July for 10% of capacity and that woudl still make it true that they never increased their max capacity above 25%

 

[Farro]

When I want to go into a store to shop or get some AC relief I don’t want to have to stand in a line in the hot sun. We use shows as “rest” time. That’s no more. Then the QS issues. Seems like there’s no breathing room. It’s a constant “hurry up and wait.”

And you used to be able to hop to a less crowded park. Now you're just kind of stuck.

I guess it's just back to the old days of getting there for rope-drop and doing as much as you can right away!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I can tell you from personal experience going on attractions with minimal wait is still possible, eating with minimal wait is possible, obviously you can always just sit somewhere and take in the sights and sounds without issues.
The problem i think most people complaining have is that they are expecting an experience similar to what it was prior to March and that is just not possible right now and for a very long time

Not even comparing it to March - people are comparing to how it was in July and August

 

[yulilin3]

When this all started there were discussions about what level of capacity Disney woudl manage to. I think everyone thought the guideline from the state meant 25% of max capacity, but would Disney manage that high knowing that 25% for max capacity (e.g., like New Year's Eve levels) with social distancing would be pretty crowded. So would they instead manage to a percentage of a "normal" day

I think pretty clear now they are operating up to 25% of total max capacity - at least for now. It would be a little loosy-goosey with the terms/numbers/English Language if they meant they have never increased the max capacity above 25% - HOWEVER on any given day we might manage the allotment of passes below that 25% . So their could have been only enough passes given out in July for 10% of capacity and that woudl still make it true that they never increased their max capacity above 25%

Im actually surprised that Chapek disclosed a number, I'm more puzzled and curious as to why he did it

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And you used to be able to hop to a less crowded park. Now you're just kind of stuck.

I guess it's just back to the old days of getting there for rope-drop and doing as much as you can right away!

Almost like old strategies still apply - get there for rope drop to do a few things, maybe take a break mid day (probably not a full on pool break, but go to a MK resort for lunch or something like that), look to eat at off times, stay late when crowds start to lessen and the weather cools, etc.

 

[yulilin3]

Not even comparing it to March - people are comparing to how it was in July and August

And that is plain lack of common sense. We all said that was an anomaly and to enjoy it while you could, no one said that would be the norm going forward, many voiced that it wouldn't be viable for Disney to continue to operate with such low attendance

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That is a point I hadn't though about. A 30 minute queue when you're inside the nice themed area in the shade like at say jungle cruise is certainly different then a 30 minute wait out in the sun by the swiss family tree.

although on the flip side, a 30 min queue with 6' of space in front of and behind me that is constantly moving (due to not waiting for FP line) is a lot better than a 30 min queue with people all smushed up against me and going through long periods of not moving at all

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Typical capacity would find up with different numbers for every day which seems like more work for little gain. Setting a number period of MK is current Max X and AK is currently max Y or whatever seems far easier to deal with instead of having max 10k monday, 12k tuesday, back to 11k wedneday then up to 20k on saturday (totally made up numbers)

Not to mention it still does little to help people picture what it looks like compared to old times, given that attractions, queues, and “other” (dining, shopping, characters, entertainment, etc) are not absorbing people like they did pre-pandemic. And that is not something I think Disney ever would, or even should, announce.

I think grumbling about the wait times across the board for everything is totally fine and expected because we all want the smoothest park experience we can, 2020 or not, but I don’t think Disney has been deceptive or flat out lying about any of it. People drew their own conclusions based on the earlier part of the summer which for all we know could have actually been some much lower percentage actually in the parks.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And that is plain lack of common sense. We all said that was an anomaly and to enjoy it while you could, no one said that would be the norm going forward, many voiced that it wouldn't be viable for Disney to continue to operate with such low attendance

right, but I think people see the shortened park hours, no parades, no character meets, no fire works, etc. while still paying full price BUT saw that nearly everything was a walk on as that making it a tradeoff.

Now if you still are missing all those things, still have shortened (compared to normal times) park hours, still no FP, still no park hopping,e tc. AND now you have to wait 30-60 mins in the hot sun for each ride AND still paying full price as now there isn't the value that maybe before you could see it as still making financial sense

 

[DGsAtBLT]

although on the flip side, a 30 min queue with 6' of space in front of and behind me that is constantly moving (due to not waiting for FP line) is a lot better than a 30 min queue with people all smushed up against me and going through long periods of not moving at all

Theres perception again! Give me a moving 30 minute line any day vs a 30 minute one where I’m standing still watching FP guest after FP guest go in front of me.The second one would feel so much longer.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not to mention it still does little to help people picture what it looks like compared to old times, given that attractions, queues, and “other” (dining, shopping, characters, entertainment, etc) are not absorbing people like they did pre-pandemic. And that is not something I think Disney ever would, or even should, announce.

I think grumbling about the wait times across the board for everything is totally fine and expected because we all want the smoothest park experience we can, 2020 or not, but I don’t think Disney has been deceptive or flat out lying about any of it. People drew their own conclusions based on the earlier part of the summer which for all we know could have actually been some much lower percentage actually in the parks.

and I think most people agree with that, but when you see vloggers and stuff questioning if it is a lie (or flat out saying it is) then it creates all these debates, etc.

I agree with @yulilin3 that I am surprised that Chapek said a number. If he had just said "when we first opned we didn't see attnedance up to what we were ablet o manage to - and now we are seeing increased attnednace but we having increased our max capacity" then there is less to argue / debate / do math

 

[DGsAtBLT]

and I think most people agree with that, but when you see vloggers and stuff questioning if it is a lie (or flat out saying it is) then it creates all these debates, etc.

I agree with @yulilin3 that I am surprised that Chapek said a number. If he had just said "when we first opned we didn't see attnedance up to what we were ablet o manage to - and now we are seeing increased attnednace but we having increased our max capacity" then there is less to argue / debate / do math

Same vlogger who recently lead people to believe hopping and FP was on the way back without immediately clarifying the situation to gain clicks so consider me not shocked, lol.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Not the person you asked, but at one point I remember there being a discussion about them using "typical" or "usual" capacity vs. max capacity. But obviously that isn't the case- and with them trying to run a business and make a profit I understand why.

IMO, 25% of "capacity" can only be referring to 25% of "max" capacity. That's what capacity means.

On most days, the average/typical/usual "attendance" doesn't reach capacity, but the capacity never changes. By definition, it is the maximum number of people the park can hold.

 

[Farro]

And that is plain lack of common sense. We all said that was an anomaly and to enjoy it while you could, no one said that would be the norm going forward, many voiced that it wouldn't be viable for Disney to continue to operate with such low attendance

Everyone has to decide what's "worth" it. When we pay thousands of dollars for a trip, it's normal for people to start saying..."hey, it seemed okay before, but now with what I'm reading, I just don't feel like spending all that money to wait longer than normal for things I don't normally wait for and to have an experience I don't think would be enjoyable."

I'm not an idiot, I didn't think it would be empty and no lines forever, in fact I didn't like it empty. But again, I didn't think - maybe I should have? - about the long lines being reported (maybe not true?) for just food, stores and what not. For us, not sure we would find that to be an enjoyable experience. I know my brother, who does not follow Disney message boards/social media, would not love waiting in a long line to just get some booze at Epcot on a random Tuesday!

Maybe that's not the case. So time will tell, but I don't think people are lacking common sense for being surprised at the reports of lines EVERYWHERE.

 

[yulilin3]

right, but I think people see the shortened park hours, no parades, no character meets, no fire works, etc. while still paying full price BUT saw that nearly everything was a walk on as that making it a tradeoff.

Now if you still are missing all those things, still have shortened (compared to normal times) park hours, still no FP, still no park hopping,e tc. AND now you have to wait 30-60 mins in the hot sun for each ride AND still paying full price as now there isn't the value that maybe before you could see it as still making financial sense

100% a personal decision. And here comes the plain old argument that many hate
If it doesn't make sense to you, right now, don't come

 

[MrsBooch]

It seems like it's shaping up to where Lines are the new M word as far as - they aren't going anywhere - it's part of the park experience - make the best of it or don't come situation.

Not great. but that's the vibe i'm picking up from the discourse of the last few days.

 

[RamblingRabbit]

I'm hoping people have seen the insane distance that the lines are traversing and have cancelled their trips for next week!

I would like to inform the other 24.9% that would be there December 7-11 that it is too crowded and not safe. My wife and I will bite the bullet and go for us all.

 

[Farro]

It seems like it's shaping up to where Lines are the new M word as far as - they aren't going anywhere - it's part of the park experience - make the best of it or don't come situation.

Not great. but that's the vibe i'm picking up from the discourse of the last few days.

Well, I think that's debatable. Masks, no wiggle room.

But there are some things Disney could do to help lessen the lines if they wanted - up capacity on rides, add hopping back (don't tell me they can't figure out how, they can), add more hours.

Why can't some meet and greets come back? They can physical distance using props and such. Everyone in masks, could make for funny pictures!