Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Ariel 1715]

speaking for our family (and this may seem dramatic) - we are still going in a few weeks despite all the cuts.
We aren't stupid, we know that the experience is going to be watered down etc. but I fully don't care. We just don't care. We know there's a pandemic. We know there are dangers and issues etc. and we are prepared to be safe upon return, we'll be keeping our kid home for the recommended (not required) quarantine - even with all that - we don't care.

Without getting too detailed because it is still hard for me to talk about, two months ago my 5 year old son was the victim of a really bad dog bite/attack. We were EXTREMELY lucky, he is physically basically back to himself with some scarring but he is struggling emotionally.
We weren't really going to keep this trip, before the accident, we were talking about canceling and banking our DVC points to next year etc. for a big Vero Beach trip.
But in under 30 seconds I saw the most important person in our life, almost taken from us.

After he got to a physically healed place - we realized we need this trip. So I'm not here for the doom and gloom which is not to say I'm blind to the issues, to the cost cutting, to the experience cutting, to the price gauging.
From our perspective - if we can see him smile again, and go a day without asking us if he "looks like Frankenstein", I'll pay for that.

Also - I have him talking to a therapist, because it caused some anxiety issues that I want to get in front of and give him a way to handle things that seem out of his control - so I'm not looking at this trip as a band aid - but I know he has loved having something to look forward to and I believe it has helped him A LOT.

TL/DR - life is short and I am not putting something off if we can make it happen in the short term no matter what it looks like today at WDW.

Just go and make the most of it. We had a wonderful time in Disney even with all the mask issues and crowds. Just go have fun!! Be safe, wear masks and do what your family is comfortable with!!! Hope your son is feeling better and has the best time!!

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/tomorrowland-peoplemover-refurbishment-extended-to-january-9-2021/

 

[Brianstl]

Disney+ is targeted to reach annual revenue of $30B surpassing parks and ent. in 3 to 4 years.

It will take Disney+ much longer to generate the profit numbers that Parks, Experiences and Products was producing before the pandemic. That is if it ever can reach the same numbers. P,E & P was the second largest profit generator in the company behind networks and unlike networks it was showing real growth on the profit side with consistent year over year income growth at 10%+. Nextflix is the biggest player in the streaming wars and P,E, & P generated almost 4x as much income as Netflix did in FY 2019.

That is why Chapek got the CEO job instead of Kevin Mayer.

 

[Jrb1979]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/tomorrowland-peoplemover-refurbishment-extended-to-january-9-2021/

At this point they might as well make it Rocket Rods 2.0 but with better technology.

 

[Princess Merida]

speaking for our family (and this may seem dramatic) - we are still going in a few weeks despite all the cuts.
We aren't stupid, we know that the experience is going to be watered down etc. but I fully don't care. We just don't care. We know there's a pandemic. We know there are dangers and issues etc. and we are prepared to be safe upon return, we'll be keeping our kid home for the recommended (not required) quarantine - even with all that - we don't care.

Without getting too detailed because it is still hard for me to talk about, two months ago my 5 year old son was the victim of a really bad dog bite/attack. We were EXTREMELY lucky, he is physically basically back to himself with some scarring but he is struggling emotionally.
We weren't really going to keep this trip, before the accident, we were talking about canceling and banking our DVC points to next year etc. for a big Vero Beach trip.
But in under 30 seconds I saw the most important person in our life, almost taken from us.

After he got to a physically healed place - we realized we need this trip. So I'm not here for the doom and gloom which is not to say I'm blind to the issues, to the cost cutting, to the experience cutting, to the price gauging.
From our perspective - if we can see him smile again, and go a day without asking us if he "looks like Frankenstein", I'll pay for that.

Also - I have him talking to a therapist, because it caused some anxiety issues that I want to get in front of and give him a way to handle things that seem out of his control - so I'm not looking at this trip as a band aid - but I know he has loved having something to look forward to and I believe it has helped him A LOT.

TL/DR - life is short and I am not putting something off if we can make it happen in the short term no matter what it looks like today at WDW.

I am so sorry your family is having to go through this. I'm happy that your son is okay and it sounds like he has a great family who will get him through the hard stuff now. I cannot imagine almost losing my children. It's definitely something no parent should have to go through. Love and prayers to your son and family. Yes, no one knows what tomorrow will bring and we are living like that as well. 9 days until our trip!! We will miss some things (fireworks, meet & greets, shows, Woody's lunchbox), but nothing is really normal right now and we need to make the best of what we've got. I hope your son has a fabulous time at Disney World!!!

 

[skeeter31]

At this point they might as well make it Rocket Rods 2.0 but with better technology.

Nooooo. Absolutely hated Rocket Rods. Rode it twice in DL and loathed it. Peoplemover is my absolute favorite. My guess is it’s just taking longer to replace each of the support pillars. They’re only working during the nights on things like that and with the expanded park hours, those nights get shorter and shorter.

 

[andyman8]

Very interesting timing here. It seems like there are now some conversations about nighttime entertainment actually happening at least at the WDW-level for the first time since March. No definitive timing yet but the goal is sometime within the first half of 2021. There’s a mountain of logistics to sort through apparently, so even once they determine a point where they feel it’s safe, it’ll take a bit to re-launch them. Don’t expect all of them to start back at once and at least one (in addition to RoL, which was already announced) will not return.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1320791050567348224

 

[rteetz]

Very interesting timing here. It seems like there are now some conversations about nighttime entertainment actually happening at least at the WDW-level for the first time since March. No definitive timing yet but the goal is sometime within the first half of 2021. There’s a mountain of logistics to sort through apparently, so even once they determine a point where they feel it’s safe, it’ll take a bit to re-launch them. Don’t expect all of them to start back at once and at least one (in addition to RoL, which was already announced) will not return.

This is similar to what is being said on WDWMagic.

 

[skeeter31]

Very interesting timing here. It seems like there are now some conversations about nighttime entertainment actually happening at least at the WDW-level for the first time since March. No definitive timing yet but the goal is sometime within the first half of 2021. There’s a mountain of logistics to sort through apparently, so even once they determine a point where they feel it’s safe, it’ll take a bit to re-launch them. Don’t expect all of them to start back at once and at least one (in addition to RoL, which was already announced) will not return.

My initial guess would be Fantasmic being done. HS has the draw already with SWGE and they wouldn’t phase out fireworks at MK (too iconic) and the Harmonious barges are very clearly being built. So I’m think Fantasmic with the theater issue both loading and unloading it.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

speaking for our family (and this may seem dramatic) - we are still going in a few weeks despite all the cuts.
We aren't stupid, we know that the experience is going to be watered down etc. but I fully don't care. We just don't care. We know there's a pandemic. We know there are dangers and issues etc. and we are prepared to be safe upon return, we'll be keeping our kid home for the recommended (not required) quarantine - even with all that - we don't care.

Without getting too detailed because it is still hard for me to talk about, two months ago my 5 year old son was the victim of a really bad dog bite/attack. We were EXTREMELY lucky, he is physically basically back to himself with some scarring but he is struggling emotionally.
We weren't really going to keep this trip, before the accident, we were talking about canceling and banking our DVC points to next year etc. for a big Vero Beach trip.
But in under 30 seconds I saw the most important person in our life, almost taken from us.

After he got to a physically healed place - we realized we need this trip. So I'm not here for the doom and gloom which is not to say I'm blind to the issues, to the cost cutting, to the experience cutting, to the price gauging.
From our perspective - if we can see him smile again, and go a day without asking us if he "looks like Frankenstein", I'll pay for that.

Also - I have him talking to a therapist, because it caused some anxiety issues that I want to get in front of and give him a way to handle things that seem out of his control - so I'm not looking at this trip as a band aid - but I know he has loved having something to look forward to and I believe it has helped him A LOT.

TL/DR - life is short and I am not putting something off if we can make it happen in the short term no matter what it looks like today at WDW.

I'm so glad your little guy is physically okay. I think there are many of us for whom the parks offer a respite from a real life that's got some tough aspects. None of our kids are healthy, and for one who's had a particularly tough time, sometimes the *only* way we can get him to eat by mouth (he's got a feeding tube) is to remind him that the more he eats, the faster he'll be tall enough for different rides at WDW. Our trips provide motivation, and give him something to look forward to.

While there are things we definitely miss (park hopping, parades, character meets), and we certainly hope things like fireworks that we don't necessarily stop and watch that often come back soon, none of those things are crucial for us.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Not sure how much effect this plan would have had on the parks, but I thought this story was interesting...

ESPN scraps plans to host 8 men's college basketball events in Orlando bubble

1:02 PM CT

Jeff BorzelloESPN Staff Writer

ESPN is canceling plans to host eight of its men's college basketball events in a singular locale in Orlando.

ESPN had planned to move eight of its 10 nonconference events to the ESPN Wide World of Sports property at Walt Disney World in Orlando, including the Champions Classic, Charleston Classic, Myrtle Beach Invitational, NIT Season Tip-Off, Wooden Legacy, Orlando Invitational, Jimmy V Classic and Diamond Head Classic.

The ESPN Wide World of Sports was the site for the NBA's bubble.

"ESPN Events set out to create a protected environment for teams to participate in early-season events in Orlando," an official statement from ESPN said. "Based on certain challenges surrounding testing protocols, we opted to resume these tournaments during the 2021-22 season."

The challenges around testing protocols refers primarily to re-testing players who had already previously tested positive for coronavirus and been cleared. The protocols for a player testing positive while in the Orlando bubble were another key discussion point.

The bubble was expected to run from Nov. 25 until early December, highlighted by the Champions Classic and the Jimmy V Classic. While the other six events are likely to simply resume in 2021, there is hope for the Champions Classic and Jimmy V Classic to move to a different location for this season, sources told ESPN. The Champions Classic features Michigan State vs. Duke and Kansas vs. Kentucky, while Jimmy V was expected to feature Baylor vs. Illinois and Gonzaga vs. Tennessee.

 

[rteetz]

My initial guess would be Fantasmic being done. HS has the draw already with SWGE and they wouldn’t phase out fireworks at MK (too iconic) and the Harmonious barges are very clearly being built. So I’m think Fantasmic with the theater issue both loading and unloading it.

I agree but I also think they could also have plans for the Fantastic theater. Capacity would certainly be lower. Upon entry its a socially distant line much like anything else. Exit you use the entrance and the multiple overflow exits. Certain sections guided to each exit.

 

[gottalovepluto]

At this point they might as well make it Rocket Rods 2.0 but with better technology.

OMG I WISH!!!! That was my favorite Disney ride of all time. It brought “tomorrow” to Tomorrowland. It. Was. Awesome.

Yeah, yeah. I know it ain’t happening because of the various issues it had but a girl can dream!

 

[SaintsManiac]

Very interesting timing here. It seems like there are now some conversations about nighttime entertainment actually happening at least at the WDW-level for the first time since March. No definitive timing yet but the goal is sometime within the first half of 2021. There’s a mountain of logistics to sort through apparently, so even once they determine a point where they feel it’s safe, it’ll take a bit to re-launch them. Don’t expect all of them to start back at once and at least one (in addition to RoL, which was already announced) will not return.

One of the HS shows I am sure. Could be either.

 

[mattpeto]

From Philly and 42 days for us. Admittedly, Disney was like steak before the pandemic, but when you are starving, a hamburger can taste almost as good !!!

When you get back the Eagles will have a winning record finally.

 

[mattpeto]

I agree but I also think they could also have plans for the Fantastic theater. Capacity would certainly be lower. Upon entry its a socially distant line much like anything else. Exit you use the entrance and the multiple overflow exits. Certain sections guided to each exit.

Maybe Epcot Forever is done. I really doubt they’d kill F!

 

[andyman8]

This is similar to what is being said on WDWMagic.

Do you remember which poster(s)? I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets picked up more widely.

 

[Farro]

Maybe Epcot Forever is done. I really doubt they’d kill F!

I'm interpreting as one not coming back ever, not just coming back as a new show. Epcot will have a show.

I think Fantasmic.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe Epcot Forever is done. I really doubt they’d kill F!

No I think EF comes back before Harmonious is ready.