Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

Oh. My. God. Disney, why do you do this to me?? They are so damn good at emotional ads.

 

[LSUmiss]

Maybe I’m just an idiot and don’t know how to apply the discount but my biggest gripe with MO is that you can’t seem to use your AP or DVC discounts

A lot of CS doesn’t offer these discounts.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/11/first-look-space-220-restaurant-interior-at-epcot/

Is it just me or do those tables next to the view-screens look really narrow?

 

[Br'er Rabbit is the Best]

They haven't announced a Jan refurb, and this late in the game I'm starting to think they will be skipping it this year. They usually announce by mid-October. I think they need it to eat people.

I will say this is the one thing giving me hope. I would have expected them to announce a date they are starting work on this if it were happening soon. With frozen ever after (which is the closest example we have to this) the attraction closed less than a month after the announcement and its been what 5 already and no date yet? Here’s to hoping they do the right thing and push this off until at least 2022.

 

[Moliphino]

Is it just me or do those tables next to the view-screens look really narrow?

Maybe that's just a base and a larger tabletop will go on top? Cause yeah, those look tiny and awkward.

 

[mattpeto]

I just don't see how they will be able to increase capacity unless they relax protocols.

At least the stage shows, those CM could be vaccinated and operate under close proximity without social distancing. It would make it easier to produce shows and have crowd eaters.

This could help increase capacity a little bit.

But to increase to normal capacity, the protocols have to go away. Obviously you can wear masks, but if you are standing on top of another like February 2020, not sure how effective it will be...

I do think it's possible that you'll need to obtain an immunity cert. That's probably the ticket, but it will be bold and controversial. I could see them wording it:

"We are excited to bring back fireworks, meet and greets, entertainment and more of the Disney experience we provided prior to the pandemic. We have great news: these services will be brought back. However, out of abundance of caution, only visitors that provide certification of immunity will be allowed to enter Disney theme parks, resorts and Disney Springs effective September 27th. You can upload your certification to your My Disney Experience blah blah blah"

@tink2424 - I see your anger, let's have a conversation about it. Honestly, how can Disney increase capacity? Somebody please enlighten me.

Could their stance be one of the following?

A) Come at your own risk, but we're removing masks standards and social distancing protocols OR
B) Please provide proof of your immunity to Covid OR
C) We'll maintain 30% capacity (or slightly increase) until Covid is a footnote in our history.

Option A is morbid. Option C is a revenue killer. Option B infringes on privacy and will make feel people feel uncomfortable. But ultimately, I see the immunization cert as saving tourism and especially cruising. It won't always be needed.

 

[Farro]

@tink2424 - I see your anger, let's have a conversation about it. Honestly, how can Disney increase capacity? Somebody please enlighten me.

Could their stance be one of the following?

A) Come at your own risk, but we're removing masks standards and social distancing protocols OR
B) Please provide proof of your immunity to Covid OR
C) We'll maintain 30% capacity (or slightly increase) until Covid is a footnote in our history.

Option A is morbid. Option C is a revenue killer. Option B infringes on privacy and will make feel people feel uncomfortable. But ultimately, I see the immunization cert as saving tourism and especially cruising. It won't always be needed.

I feel that social distancing will be the first thing to become less restrictive before removal of masks.

Don't ask me to explain why I feel that.

Also, option B is another revenue killer until the vaccine is widely available (and I now hate the phrase "widely available").

 

[tink2424]

@tink2424 - I see your anger, let's have a conversation about it. Honestly, how can Disney increase capacity? Somebody please enlighten me.

Could their stance be one of the following?

A) Come at your own risk, but we're removing masks standards and social distancing protocols OR
B) Please provide proof of your immunity to Covid OR
C) We'll maintain 30% capacity (or slightly increase) until Covid is a footnote in our history.

Option A is morbid. Option C is a revenue killer. Option B infringes on privacy and will make feel people feel uncomfortable. But ultimately, I see the immunization cert as saving tourism and especially cruising. It won't always be needed.

I don't think anyone should be forced to take a vaccination. Plus there will be limited availability for these vaccines for a while and therefore some people won't have access.

Honestly the vaccine shouldn't factor in at all. What should factor in to the decision to up capacity & remove the restrictions should be the rates of COVID in FL and the US as a whole.

I don't agree with businesses pushing their agenda. I know that businesses have a right to do what they feel the market will bear and obviously what is legal. But I don't like it...

 

[J-Dog]

I don't think anyone should be forced to take a vaccination. Plus there will be limited availability for these vaccines for a while and therefore some people won't have access.

Honestly the vaccine shouldn't factor in at all. What should factor in to the decision to up capacity & remove the restrictions should be the rates of COVID in FL and the US as a whole.

I don't agree with businesses pushing their agenda. I know that businesses have a right to do what they feel the market will bear and obviously what is legal. But I don't like it...

Butting-in here. I don't understand your bolded comment - you don't agree that a business should "push their agenda"? So, you don't agree that Disney should try to make a profit? That is, after all, the core goal of every single for-profit business that's ever been started....

 

[hereforthechurros]

I don't think anyone should be forced to take a vaccination. Plus there will be limited availability for these vaccines for a while and therefore some people won't have access.

Honestly the vaccine shouldn't factor in at all. What should factor in to the decision to up capacity & remove the restrictions should be the rates of COVID in FL and the US as a whole.

I don't agree with businesses pushing their agenda. I know that businesses have a right to do what they feel the market will bear and obviously what is legal. But I don't like it...

They won't go there. They're easily drawing people now without any vaccine and surging cases so I doubt they'll handcuff themselves like that. But they of course could as a private business. Not sure how that would be pushing an agenda other than trying to keep people safe.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We wanted to like mobile ordering when it first came out - biggest problem was then you couldn’t use gift cards and we mostly paid for stuff with gift cards. I did try it at Columbia harbor house and I sat at a table with my walker and my daughter went to get the order after we said we were here. No food. Time passed. No food. More time passed. No food. Finally my daughter was able to get someone’s attention and it turned out they prepped our order when we ordered it (about 30 min before we tapped we were there). We decided it was not for us at that time. We felt we couldn’t trust the system and it didn’t let you pay with a gift card. Fast forward to now and I love it except at the resort (Pop) where we found it kind of annoying. Honestly our problem there was a lack of good options and the cardboard boxes and lack of bags to carry items back to room more than the fact we had to mobile order.

 

[mattpeto]

The won't go there. They're easily drawing people now without any vaccine and surging cases so I doubt they'll handcuff themselves like that. But they of course could as a private business. Not sure how that would be pushing an agenda other than trying to keep people safe.

All: appreciate the dialogue and perspectives. That's the struggle though. The demand for 30% capacity is being met. The only way to increase capacity is stop social distancing or add attractions to eat guests.

Nobody is forcing anyone to get a vaccine, so not sure it's agenda. In a sense they are enforcing standards now. They are forcing you to social distance and wear masks. If you don't comply, you aren't welcome.

It's possible to still grab a chunk of capacity back by adding shows (people eaters), the water parks, etc. But to go to pre-pandemic levels and set off HEA, holiday parties, etc., they will need to make sure they are not responsible for a spread.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I feel that social distancing will be the first thing to become less restrictive before removal of masks.

Don't ask me to explain why I feel that.

Also, option B is another revenue killer until the vaccine is widely available (and I now hate the phrase "widely available").

I agree, and think masks are the last to go (aside from people creating their own personal distancing habits).

Masks are easy. No skin off Disney’s back making people keep them on even when the threat level decreases worldwide. They don’t impact operations like distancing does.

 

[J-Dog]

All: appreciate the dialogue and perspectives. That's the struggle though. The demand for 30% capacity is being met. The only way to increase capacity is stop social distancing or add attractions to eat guests.

Nobody is forcing anyone to get a vaccine, so not sure it's agenda. In a sense they are enforcing standards now. They are forcing you to social distance and wear masks. If you don't comply, you aren't welcome.

It's possible to still grab a chunk of capacity back by adding shows (people eaters), the water parks, etc. But to go to pre-pandemic levels and set off HEA, holiday parties, etc., they will need to make sure they are not responsible for a spread.

While I completely agree with you here, we also have to assume that Disney knows that there is a significant chunk of potential attendees that are NOT coming due to Covid restrictions, just as there are a significant chunk that are not coming due to Covid.

I agree that they will need to ensure that they are handling crowd increases responsibly, but I guarantee that they are well aware that they will gain profit by opening more as soon as it is safe.

 

[New Mouse]

We ordered from Pecos last Sunday (the 8th) and it was seriously the best experience. We went early (seated with our food by 11 am) and there were a ton of tables open. It was so nice not waiting in the crowded ordering area, being able to find a table so easily, and I like how they include a small tray with toppings now (versus using the toppings bar).

It seems to be hit and miss with the days of the week and tines. We did Friday at 230pm it took 30 minutes for our order to be prepared and it was wrong.

 

[SMRT-1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328389962220244992

Sounds about right for what it looks to have been - a modification of the existing FP+ code.

 

[New Mouse]

Yeah and the app didn't work for me half the time. I didn't get it to work at Krusty's and then just went up and ordered anyways. I got it to work barely at the pizza place that's name is escaping me at the moment. We hate on Disney IT a lot but man I would be taken that experience over my Universal one in that respect.

I think its ironic that 2 companies who rely so heavily on technology really suck at it on a regular basis when it comes to guest facing sites and apps. When Disney rolled out Disney Experience it was like bailing out water on the titanic for a good year plus.

 

[New Mouse]

They haven't announced a Jan refurb, and this late in the game I'm starting to think they will be skipping it this year. They usually announce by mid-October. I think they need it to eat people.

It was still in pretty good shape this week. Better than usual because of the closure id imagine. I wouldnt be surprised to see them let ir ride until the end.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I feel that social distancing will be the first thing to become less restrictive before removal of masks.

Don't ask me to explain why I feel that.

Also, option B is another revenue killer until the vaccine is widely available (and I now hate the phrase "widely available").

I agree that distancing goes first, but it’s not a popular opinion when I bring it up. My reasoning is this:
If, come June or July, vaccine uptake by the GP is enough that infection rates have dropped nationally to an r0 of 0.4-0.75 (or some other low range), the risk of being close to someone WITH A MASK ON if 70% of the general population is 90% protected, the risk of infection is substantially lower. In addition, we’ll have good amounts of better therapeutics by that time to handle what does leak through. I also think Disney will either require or strongly incentivize CM to be vaccinated, depending on what the union contracts allow. A protected staff will open up their hunger for more “butts in seats,” and the only way to achieve that is to drop distancing or greatly compact it (say 3 ft line markers instead of 6, and increase restaurant capacity).
As to the Option B scenario @mattpeto laid out, I don’t know if parks will require proof of guests. But it’s the only meaningful way I see cruising to resume. If I knew my fellow passengers were vaccinated (those of eligible age, anyway), AND we were still wearing masks for maybe a year or so after cruises resume to further protect the kids who couldn’t be vaccinated and the 10% “missed” by ineffective vaccines, I’d be on that sailing. So, if DCL didn’t require it but a competitor did, my loyalty would change for the short term.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Maybe that's just a base and a larger tabletop will go on top? Cause yeah, those look tiny and awkward.

Perhaps they're designed to encourage people to eat a few bites and leave quickly... maybe even facilitate a 45-minute time limit or something similar to Oga's (only half joking).