Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[TheMaxRebo]

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

fully agree ... I will say it seems to have switched pretty quickly. I could see a lot of people seeing those low crowds in July and August (on top of seeing the safety measures Disney put in place, and that they were working well) and then deciding that they will do a trip - but for most people, even traveling a month or 2 months later is a "last minute trip" so hard to react super fast to changes. So they booked their trip expecting one thing and are now experiencing something else

Now, were they worng to expect crowds as low as July? Maybe, but I think something less that what is seen now is understandable (and maybe we will get to a happy medium over time)

 

[rstevens333]

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

That sounds good to me. My strategy was always to book some FPs and then just follow the wait times and let the day take me where it took me.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Those of us who usually travel during holiday weeks are very familiar with waiting for shopping, bathrooms and food. Everyone needs to adjust their expectations I think.

It's kind of refreshing to be back on to the old crowd level posts.

ETA: I am willing to bet we see a drop off, as usual, after this week. Fall break is a very busy time. I can't say that enough.

 

[MrsBooch]

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!

yeah i'm talking more from the perspective of - they aren't changing NOW - like in the immediate - we have no indication that anything is coming down the pike from Disney to make changes that would impact the lines - so all else equal - no wiggle room in this moment of right now.

So if you aren't comfortable with it right now don't come which is what everyone says about mask compliance which is why I said Lines are the new Mask - i'm not saying it's apples to apples...

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Super short lines encouraged lots of people to come, which made the lines too long, which then deters people from going, which makes lines shorter, which in turn encourages more people to come...

 

[DGsAtBLT]

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.

I’d guess the answer to most (like nearly everything lately) has something to do with the financial benefit to Disney of doing those kinds of things weighed against the cost. They are definitely capable of figuring out how to handle near everything you mentioned if it benefited them.

Discussions surrounding Disney cutting costs in areas where guests would rather them spend the money is some old normal sneaking back in. Yay?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

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!

and hopefully they do - and maybe they are. As I mentioned in another post, this shift in crowd levels did seem to happen pretty quick - maybe quicker than Disney expected and they are playing catch up now


I do think if we assume that we are at that 25% max capacity now, if we take these same crowd levels but add a couple more shows and a few socialyl distance meet and greets (so now the queue space for things like Mickey, Tinker Bell, the Princesses, etc. in MK are used) then maybe there is that "happy medium" of sufficient crowds but people not on top of each other due to the physical size of queues. Adding a couple hours to the park days would help too

 

[hereforthechurros]

As far as optics go- I don’t care what is and isn’t bad for Disney - I’m not towing that line.

I’m saying - I can show you long lines and say nothing and it looks bad. But is it really bad? I hear mixed things.

things I hear consistently-

it is hot.
lines are long.
Not enough places to eat.
Need more shows

But what i don’t hear consistently:

I waited in line for a very long time
Posted wait time is less than/same as actual

Until I start seeing constant correlation between long line and long wait - I’m saying that this is an optics issue

For me. For MY vacation in 40 days, the pics of long lines don’t matter until they mean something.

I have to believe most people are going by app wait times. I've been twice now and agree, a long line doesn't automatically = a long wait, but if you're checking the app and deciding where to go next you can only go by those wait times, which are mostly showing longish. Even if it's not a long wait in total, it will stop people from getting in line and riding what they want which is a bummer. You don't know until you've waited.

Soarin this past weekend never fell below 60. Frozen held steady at 95. Test Track was 90. Gran Fiesta was 20+ (we specifically asked the CM if she thought we could make it through the line in 20 minutes and she said no). I also used the Touring Plans lines app and it showed the wait times weren't far off from what was listed. Seeing the Frozen line snake along Norway in August was jarring at first. But seeing it all the way up into China in October meant the wait was a whole lot longer than August.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Super short lines encouraged lots of people to come, which made the lines too long, which then deters people from going, which makes lines shorter, which in turn encourages more people to come...

Its the ciiiiiiiircle of life...

 

[yulilin3]

Super short lines encouraged lots of people to come, which made the lines too long, which then deters people from going, which makes lines shorter, which in turn encourages more people to come...

And remember to add the flip flop on hours
Disney opened with a number in mind and thus park hours were set
People didn't come making Disney shorten the hours
People started to come and so Disney is changing hours again

 

[babydoll65]

Not sure if this was posted here yet.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...rs-shuttles-for-theme-park-transportation.htm

 

[Farro]

Not sure if this was posted here yet.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...rs-shuttles-for-theme-park-transportation.htm

I didn't expect that!

 

[MrsBooch]

Not sure if this was posted here yet.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...rs-shuttles-for-theme-park-transportation.htm

interesting....

i wonder if this will be the case at all partner hotels going forward??

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Not sure if this was posted here yet.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...rs-shuttles-for-theme-park-transportation.htm

Wonder if the busses will be dropping off at the TTC now as other private arrangements do...

 

[rteetz]

Not sure if this was posted here yet.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wa...rs-shuttles-for-theme-park-transportation.htm

Has to be a cost measure. Likely cheaper than paying Disney directly.

 

[babydoll65]

Has to be a cost measure. Likely cheaper than paying Disney directly.

I'm sure but to tell you the truth, I find the Mears buses much more comfortable lol

 

[babydoll65]

Wonder if the busses will be dropping off at the TTC now as other private arrangements do...

If that's the case, I see many Swan and Dolphin guests walking to the Yacht and Beach club for transportation

 

[yulilin3]

all 4 ships at Bret, France

 

[Moliphino]

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.

The Peter Pan line was an absolute delight for that reason. It actually moved a little too fast - I wanted to see the new queue elements that I never have before because I always used FP.

 

[LSUmiss]

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

The problem I guess is that max capacity is a secret so ppl can’t figure out what that really looks like. I understand why Disney would not want to disclose that except it’s also what starts to give the appearance of deception.