Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[yulilin3]

Will the ride still start at 10 am or will people who got boarding groups start at 9 am the days the park opens at that hour?

RotR will most likely continue to open at 10am with the first bg

 

[yulilin3]

I just got this email

Enter the Virtual Queue for Rise of the Resistance before you arrive at the Park​ We're excited about your upcoming reservation to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios! It will come as no surprise to our Guests that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular experiences at Walt Disney World Resort and the virtual queue itself has become equally popular. To make the virtual queue process even more convenient and help Guests plan ahead, we will be piloting a new approach starting Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here's how it will work: Guests with a valid ticket or pass and a Disney Park Pass Reservation for Disney's Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system starting 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation to check for an available boarding group. This can be done before you leave your Resort hotel or wherever else you happen to be nearby at that time. Just as we do today, a second round of virtual queue inventory will still be released at 2 p.m., to anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. For people who receive a later boarding time or are waiting for the second round of virtual queue inventory, we encourage them to take their time in getting to the park. Go back to sleep, have breakfast, check out the pool and relax a bit before journeying over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Tips for getting into the virtual queue By the day before your visit, make sure you have done the following: Have an account in My Disney Experience Download the My Disney Experience mobile app* on your smart device or ensure you have the most updated version of the app before arriving at the park Link and assign your tickets to a My Disney Experience account Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day Virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience app. You must use the app on a smart device rather than using a browser when attempting to enroll in virtual queue for the 7 a.m. inventory drop. Please keep in mind, only one Guest per traveling party should attempt to enroll in virtual queue. Multiple Guests and devices attempting to enroll the same party could complicate securing a boarding group. As a reminder, in order to be eligible for the 2 p.m. virtual queue enrollment, all Guests in a party must already be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests who need additional help joining the virtual queue for the 2 p.m. enrollment time should seek out a Guest Relations or Guest Experience Team Cast Member at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Please keep in mind that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. To accommodate physical distancing, there are a limited number of admissions for Guests to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The virtual queue for this popular attraction tends to fill quickly. If you need further assistance joining the virtual queue, the following options are available to you: Call the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 939-4357 for website support, (407) 939-1936 for reservations, or use the chat feature on DisneyWorld.com To aid in physical distancing efforts, Resort Guests and Disney Vacation Club Guests can press "0" from their in-room phone or use the chat feature within My Disney Experience. Disney Vacation Club Guests can also call DVC Member Services at (800) 800-9800.

 

[rosieposie3]

Someone in a facebook group of mine said they talked to a Disney rep and got this: "Response from Disney... For the first boarding group, you can be located anywhere as long as you are on Disney property. If you are at a different Walt Disney World® theme park or resort, you will still be able to join the boarding group there. We would recommend coming to the theme parks by 7:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in order to join the boarding queue. If you have resort reservations here at Walt Disney World®, you will be able to join the boarding group since you are within the Walt Disney World® vicinity. This simply means that you are on Disney resort property to join the boarding group. However, if you miss the first boarding group, you will need to be in Disney's Hollywood Studios® in order to join the second group. "

How would they even enforce that unless you had to be on the Disney WiFi or something? My first HS day is from a Universal Hotel, soooo

I really hope that's not the case. I thought the changes would be great for us but we're staying at the Hilton Bonnet Creek and this makes it seem like we will have to travel to access the boarding group at 7am. Damn.

 

[Lilias]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding it, but that seems ilke they'll likely use geofencing and if location services indicate you're not on property or within a certain radius of DHS, I guess the app wouldn't allow you to attempt to join a group.

I guess I'll wait and see how this goes next week, but if it does indeed look like you have to be on Disney property in order to try, then I guess I'll be in the market for something on 12/14 and say bye to an extra night of the Hard Rock at Universal D:

That can't be what's going to happen, though, because then locals are going to be all over Disney property at 7 AM and...then what? Just makes no sense.

 

[Lilias]

Ohmygooodd okay now someone has a screenshot that all you need is the park reservation, lol nobody knows what's going onnnnn

Man, I just love the chaos of big changes like this as everyone tries to figure out what the heck is happening

 

[yulilin3]

On the HUB Disney does say that you can obviously change your park reservation same day if you wish and if there's availability at another park. No extra wording on the "closeness" for the bg at 7am

 

[JacknSally]

I guess I'll wait and see how this goes next week, but if it does indeed look like you have to be on Disney property in order to try, then I guess I'll be in the market for something on 12/14 and say bye to an extra night of the Hard Rock at Universal D:

That can't be what's going to happen, though, because then locals are going to be all over Disney property at 7 AM and...then what? Just makes no sense.

Maybe this is Disney's not-so-subtle way to boost breakfast bookings at the resorts.

 

[andyman8]

I just got this email

​

​ ​ ​ Enter the Virtual Queue for Rise of the Resistance before you arrive at the Park​ We're excited about your upcoming reservation to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios! It will come as no surprise to our Guests that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular experiences at Walt Disney World Resort and the virtual queue itself has become equally popular. To make the virtual queue process even more convenient and help Guests plan ahead, we will be piloting a new approach starting Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here's how it will work:​ Guests with a valid ticket or pass and a Disney Park Pass Reservation for Disney's Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system starting 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation to check for an available boarding group. This can be done before you leave your Resort hotel or wherever else you happen to be nearby at that time. Just as we do today, a second round of virtual queue inventory will still be released at 2 p.m., to anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. For people who receive a later boarding time or are waiting for the second round of virtual queue inventory, we encourage them to take their time in getting to the park. Go back to sleep, have breakfast, check out the pool and relax a bit before journeying over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Tips for getting into the virtual queue​ By the day before your visit, make sure you have done the following: Have an account in My Disney Experience Download the My Disney Experience mobile app* on your smart device or ensure you have the most updated version of the app before arriving at the park Link and assign your tickets to a My Disney Experience account Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day Virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience app. You must use the app on a smart device rather than using a browser when attempting to enroll in virtual queue for the 7 a.m. inventory drop. Please keep in mind, only one Guest per traveling party should attempt to enroll in virtual queue. Multiple Guests and devices attempting to enroll the same party could complicate securing a boarding group. As a reminder, in order to be eligible for the 2 p.m. virtual queue enrollment, all Guests in a party must already be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests who need additional help joining the virtual queue for the 2 p.m. enrollment time should seek out a Guest Relations or Guest Experience Team Cast Member at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Please keep in mind that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. To accommodate physical distancing, there are a limited number of admissions for Guests to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The virtual queue for this popular attraction tends to fill quickly. If you need further assistance joining the virtual queue, the following options are available to you:​ Call the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 939-4357 for website support, (407) 939-1936 for reservations, or use the chat feature on DisneyWorld.com To aid in physical distancing efforts, Resort Guests and Disney Vacation Club Guests can press "0" from their in-room phone or use the chat feature within My Disney Experience. Disney Vacation Club Guests can also call DVC Member Services at (800) 800-9800.

So, as most expected here, it appears to be the honor system. They're just asking that you're "nearby".

 

[yulilin3]

So, as most expected here, it appears to be the honor system. They're just asking that you're "nearby".

yes, I do not expect them to use gps for this at all

 

[Mit88]

They don’t want people like me, in NY thinking it’s cute to make a park reservation that I don’t intend on using and getting a boarding group that I don’t intend on using which in turn screws over someone that misses out that is down there and wants to ride Rise.

I like that you can change your park reservation to another park if you miss out, that may spread the crowds out a little neater

 

[kimberwee]

And if you don’t get one at 7 am you can change over to another park if it has availability.

Right now I have two DHS days reserved in case we didn’t get a BG. If we get one on the first day we will switch the second day to another park.

100% this...This change really helps when planning short trips...we only have a 2nd DHS day planned, in case we don't get our RoTR BG on our first DHS day. This allows my family to move on to a different park instead ...
It would be even more amazing if we could magically get park hoppers back before our May trip...

 

[mi*vida*loca]

100% this...This change really helps when planning short trips...we only have a 2nd DHS day planned, in case we don't get our RoTR BG on our first DHS day. This allows my family to move on to a different park instead ...
It would be even more amazing if we could magically get park hoppers back before our May trip...

Yes we only have 4 park days. We were going to skip AK for a second day at DHS just in case. This helps us so much !!

 

[MrsBooch]

I mean, does it matter how confusing the messaging is now? it's only five days away. We've waited longer for other things. We can do this....

 

[yulilin3]

The closeness thing reminds me of the day i figured out i could get into the vq for hagrid's from the I4 exit to Universal Blvd, i always waited until i parked at citywalk.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Oh I just realized my HS day is the day this starts. Boo - now I get to fight with all the bloggers as well.

 

[osufeth24]

Just wouldn't make sense to have to be on property. I live 25 minutes away, would be stupid to ask me to come on property at 7, then just drive around for 3 hours.

 

[Sarahslay]

Someone in a facebook group of mine said they talked to a Disney rep and got this: "Response from Disney... For the first boarding group, you can be located anywhere as long as you are on Disney property. If you are at a different Walt Disney World® theme park or resort, you will still be able to join the boarding group there. We would recommend coming to the theme parks by 7:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in order to join the boarding queue. If you have resort reservations here at Walt Disney World®, you will be able to join the boarding group since you are within the Walt Disney World® vicinity. This simply means that you are on Disney resort property to join the boarding group. However, if you miss the first boarding group, you will need to be in Disney's Hollywood Studios® in order to join the second group. "

How would they even enforce that unless you had to be on the Disney WiFi or something? My first HS day is from a Universal Hotel, soooo

That makes zero sense with no park hopping. How are you going to be in another park and get a boarding group for a park that you have to have a reservation at that day? This would put local APs at a severe disadvantage and cause crowding in areas they don't need, especially if they aren't opening parking lots that early.

 

[Sarahslay]

They don’t want people like me, in NY thinking it’s cute to make a park reservation that I don’t intend on using and getting a boarding group that I don’t intend on using which in turn screws over someone that misses out that is down there and wants to ride Rise.

I like that you can change your park reservation to another park if you miss out, that may spread the crowds out a little neater

I have a friend who had this reaction when I told him today (he's actually at HS today). He's like "so I could get a BG from *insert city name*?" and discussing how there would be some jerk AP holder with no intentions of going just getting a BG because they can. BUT that takes weeks of planning since HS reservations book up so far in advance.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I don’t think it will make much of a different overall actually. You’ll still have people that don’t know, forget, sleep through, etc.

And, those that come in later now/before this announcement didn’t care to have a BG that day. I’d imagine there will still be a few people like that (albeit a tiny minority, I know). Some of the people that were there at 10 before, it’s because they wanted a BG and MAYBE little else. Say they get group 30, or whatever. Now they can come in at 11:30, do a Docking Bay lunch or shoot for MFSR, and have their group called.
Like @yulilin3 said, this will demonstrate the demand for MMRR or some of the other attractions.
As others said, I wonder if people who “fail” at obtaining a group will switch park reservations for the day to more empty parks? Is that a last minute option if a park has availability?

 

[MrsBooch]

And if you don’t get one at 7 am you can change over to another park if it has availability.

Right now I have two DHS days reserved in case we didn’t get a BG. If we get one on the first day we will switch the second day to another park.

Or - and this will be us - if we get DO get one on our first HS day - I'm switching that second HS day to another park (i'm coming for you Figment). The only reason I picked two days there was to give me some cushion to get a boarding group.