Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[WorldOfPooh]

I think the worst thing about this announcement is no more late night extra magic hours.

I loved being in the parks after midnight, but now I can't imagine regular late night hours ever again.

Epcot always closes at 9 unless it's a holiday.

I can maybe see MK do 10 pm closes.

AK 8 pm probably.

DHS not sure, but certainly not after midnight.

Yeah loved walking around Epcot late at night during extra magic hours even if not riding anything.

 

[yulilin3]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

 

[midnight star]

With DME now leaving next year, I hope they don't have any plans to remove the entire bus system...

 

[hereforthechurros]

And there goes DME. Certain TAs and blogs are reporting it’s ending on Jan 1, 2022.

I think — outside of complementary transportation — that’s one of the last resort benefits.

Yeah this is the first deal breaker for us. We go many times a year because it's so easy to hop a cheap flight, use DME, and not have to worry about transportation once there. It's the only reason why we continue to pay on-site prices. Renting a car about of MCO is a pain, and I refuse to pay their resort parking fee as well. What a complete miss here.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I’m seeing some folks post on other sites they think the reasoning is the new high speed rail they’re building. Someone shared this article:

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-...pm-cn4qu9ZgR8khdI1ilslELVtkd4vkLuELaDCLJ3jp8o

 

[gottalovepluto]

Gotta say, UO is looking more and more like they're going to be getting my Disney Dollars in the future...

If you have to rent a car & shlep your own luggage anyway why not at least spend part of the trip at UO?

 

[osufeth24]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

Same, doesn't affect me at all, but I feel for those that depended on this. Now you're having to take an uber or renting a car and pay the parking fee ontop of it. DS hotels are about to see much higher occupancy now

 

[andyman8]

Gotta say, UO is looking more and more like they're going to be getting my Disney Dollars in the future...

At this point, there is no difference between staying at the UOR Hotels (which — managed by Loews — are in my opinion better hotels) instead of the Disney Resorts.

At both resorts, you get:
-Early park entry (30 minutes at 4 parks, 60 minutes at 2 parks)
-Complimentary resort-wide transportation
-Charging privileges to your resort account l

Plus at UOR’s higher-end hotels, you get Express Unlimited, giving you front-of-the-line access during your time there.

The difference at Disney used to be:
-Exclusive “after hours” park access with EMH
-Free airport transportation and luggage delivery
-DDP
-Merchandise delivery to your resort
-Free MagicBands

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m seeing some folks post on other sites they think the reasoning is the new high speed rail they’re building. Someone shared this article:

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-...pm-cn4qu9ZgR8khdI1ilslELVtkd4vkLuELaDCLJ3jp8o

I thought that was a few years away from reality for MCO-WDW line?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

Thanks in advance Disney, for the opportunity to stuff us all and our luggage in a rental van and argue over directions to Disney. Time for a new verse in Makin’ Memories.

 

[rockpiece]

No evening hours is really a bummer. MK closing at 6 normally is certainly not the move. They need to bring back After Hours. They could easily still do that with social distancing.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

It is kind of insulting. With the Brightline train going to DS perhaps the plan is to eventually bus people from there instead of the airport?

 

[gottalovepluto]

This says 2nd half of 2023. So no, not dropping because train will make guests life and the environment better.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

Create memories by one yelling at the other trying to navigate foreign traffic and road signs you've never paid attention to "in the bubble"! One more magical experience to an already stressful, hyper-planned vacation!

-said kinda tongue in cheek, but yeah it's a little condescending on Disney's part to try and spin this cut positively.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Without Magical Express, we will probably do the 20 hour drive every time now unless its a short trip. And this makes quick trips look less appealing now. Rental cars are a pain with car seats - either having to check them or rent them (and the rental car seats are very sketchy, from experience.) DME is really one of the main reasons we flew. Not going to pay airfare for all of us if I have to manage all our luggage, pay for/coordinate transportation, etc. I’d honestly rather drive the 20 hours

 

[DGsAtBLT]

If you have to rent a car & shlep your own luggage anyway why not at least spend part of the trip at UO?

One of the biggest reasons we haven’t been to UO since the 90s was it was too hard to justify giving up the ease of DME on each end for a full blown stay at UO, and then it never seemed worth it to rent a car or get transport for a mid trip visit. This likely means we will finally go.

 

[hereforthechurros]

If you have to rent a car & shlep your own luggage anyway why not at least spend part of the trip at UO?

We've avoided Uni for this reason, but with a car we'd absolutely check it out. Our son has been begging but because of easy WDW transport we've pretty much ignored Uni requests. Our AP expires 12/21, looks like it's right on time to enjoy what we can for 2021.

 

[gottalovepluto]

With DME now leaving next year, I hope they don't have any plans to remove the entire bus system...

To me that is absolutely in play now. What a huge overhead cost that army of busses is.

Disney specifically states "Additionally, complimentary transportation options – such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner – will continue to be available within Walt Disney World Resort for Disney Resort hotel guests, including to and from all four theme parks " in the press release to TAs. So it's safe but Disney wants you to know they are graciously still providing this benefit for you.

 

[andyman8]

I don't partake in these 2 on site benefits but what irks me the most is Disney trying to cover this as being a move made FOR the guests
We remain focused on exploring new ways for guests to spend more time with their friends and families and creating memories to last a lifetime.

Reminds me of the PI closure statement...

I’m seeing some folks post on other sites they think the reasoning is the new high speed rail they’re building. Someone shared this article:

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-...pm-cn4qu9ZgR8khdI1ilslELVtkd4vkLuELaDCLJ3jp8o

That’s not it. Brightline (which, I’ll remind everyone, is still not running at all) won’t even be servicing MCO from South Florida until mid-2022 at the earliest. The best realistic estimates don’t have the WDW extension operational until 2023, and given how many delays Brightline has experienced, I realistically wouldn’t expect it until 2024 or 2025. I understand BL is saying 2023 but I doubt it and I can’t imagine Disney is making this decision that far in advance of the extension’s proposed opening.

 

[rteetz]

I thought that was a few years away from reality for MCO-WDW line?

It is.