Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[TikiTikiFan]

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

No clue, maybe someone else has insight? Either way it won’t be a direct shot to your hotel it seems like.

I suppose the removal of the free luggage tags was the writing on the wall? This really sucks, I’m so surprised they’re doing this. Some of the cuts haven’t been too surprising but this is a step too far. What were they thinking?

 

[yulilin3]

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.

just be honest
"listen we're losing billions of dollars and have to make tough choices and unfortunately this is a cut we must make"
I think we would all understand that

 

[gottalovepluto]

just be honest
"listen we're losing billions of dollars and have to make tough choices and unfortunately this is a cut we must make"
I think we would all understand that

The reality is they don't have to cut this service so that would be a very poorly received press release. Ever more poorly received than this information is being because at the same time as annoying guests Disney would freak investors that finances are worse than Disney is stating.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

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

I agree in the "better hotels" comment. When we stayed at RPR in August, even the half-closed shell of what it obviously was supposed to be was really impressive for the price. A real value, especially when you included the ExpressPass perk of being a guest there.

 

[rteetz]

Reminds me of the PI closure statement...

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.

And that’s if they get all final approvals. The train with one stop supposedly at Disney springs is a high speed passenger train not a commuter. This train won’t be constantly going back and forth to the airport.

 

[osufeth24]

I'll get it out the way now, for those already trying to figure how to drive from MCO to Disney, it's actually very easy.

From MCO take 417 south. Take 417 south to either exit 6 or 3. There's giant signs that says take exit 6 for DS and EPCOT, and exit 3 for AK, HS, and MK. Whichever your resort is closest to, take that. It'll take straight to Disney property, and follow Disney signs from there.

 

[hereforthechurros]

It's assumed DME prices were wrapped into the hotel stay. And they've already raised rates for 2021. Interesting that they thought just doing away with it was a better option that making it paid or just increasing again in 2022.

 

[Brianstl]

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.

I really don't get what they are thinking here. It is just going to make staying off site the obvious choice for many. If I am I going to have to pay for transportation, I am done staying at WDW and their deluxe resorts. I will stay off site and use the money we saved from not booking a Disney Deluxe Resort on one of their VIP tours. That will allow us to do less days at WDW. We can take those days and money not spent at WDW and spend them at Universal instead.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

It's assumed DME prices were wrapped into the hotel stay. And they've already raised rates for 2021. Interesting that they thought just doing away with it was a better option that making it paid or just increasing again in 2022.

Im also surprised they didn’t go paid first. I wonder if that speaks to the assumption that travel is still not going to recover enough anytime soon where enough people are both flying in from a distance (not driving in with their own vehicle) and staying onsite.

 

[mattpeto]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1348685575075856385

and

https://twitter.com/x/status/1348686146302316544

 

[hereforthechurros]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1348685575075856385

and

https://twitter.com/x/status/1348686146302316544

I mean, yes but also people often plan Disney a year or more out. They’ll miss out on bookings if they don’t announce sooner than later.

 

[gottalovepluto]

From Disney "We know how much guests enjoy extra park time, so coming later this year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels will be able to enjoy more fun with 30-minute early entry to ANY theme park, EVERY day. "

Anyone who still has expectations there will be something good at Disney for the 50th... just write "hopes and dreams" on a piece of paper and throw it in your trash can.

 

[andyman8]

Im also surprised they didn’t go paid first. I wonder if that speaks to the assumption that travel is still not going to recover enough anytime soon where enough people are both flying in from a distance (not driving in with their own vehicle) and staying onsite.

At the moment, Disney contracts Mears to operate the (free) service to their resorts. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mears take a (reduced) fleet and “partners” with Disney to become their official airport transportation provider through a paid service (like $20 per person or something) under a similar or different name (like just Magical Express or Magical Shuttle or something like that). Like Alamo rental cars, they can still sell them as part of Walt Disney Travel packages. They can play certain Disney clips and movies like a variety of offsite resort busses operated through Mears do. That way, Disney goes from paying Mears for the service to Mears paying Disney essentially.

I don’t think we’ll hear anything about that until at least when they open 2022 bookings in the summer, but that will depend on how things are going.

 

[focusondisney]

From Disney "We know how much guests enjoy extra park time, so coming later this year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels will be able to enjoy more fun with 30-minute early entry to ANY theme park, EVERY day. "

Anyone who still has expectations there will be something good at Disney for the 50th... just write "hopes and dreams" on a piece of paper and throw it in your trash can.

Other select hotels?? I hope they don’t include all the ones that got the extra fast pass time last year.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

There are rumors floating around elswhere that Mears’ situation (who operates DME) may be driving this - perhaps Mears will be filing for bankruptcy, etc. It sure seems like another Disney cutback, but maybe it has more to do with Mears.

Maybe Disney will start and operate their own (likely paid) service at some point. Maybe.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Other select hotels?? I hope they don’t include all the ones that got the extra fast pass time last year.

That's exactly what it reads they will do to me...

 

[rteetz]

That's exactly what it reads they will do to me...

And they will because those hotels and Disney have agreements.

 

[focusondisney]

And they will because those hotels and Disney have agreements.

I thought those agreements only went thru the end of this year. No reason they have to extend them

 

[focusondisney]

There are rumors floating around elswhere that Mears’ situation (who operates DME) may be driving this - perhaps Mears will be filing for bankruptcy, etc. It sure seems like another Disney cutback, but maybe it has more to do with Mears.

Maybe Disney will start and operate their own (likely paid) service at some point. Maybe.

That’s exactly what I was thinking, this might be Mears issues.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

just be honest
"listen we're losing billions of dollars and have to make tough choices and unfortunately this is a cut we must make"
I think we would all understand that

or even something more vague like "Studies of what experiences our guests value the most, in conjunction with the operating expenses related to each of these activities has resulted in an adjustment to some of our offerings."

Don't spin it with "due to guest demand and in order to provide a more magical experience ...."