Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[hertamaniac]

Can any of our Canadian friends confirm that the travel restriction to the U.S. just got tightened/changed yesterday?

I had watched a video today stating there is a new procedure in which upon returning to Canada, residents will need to stay in a "certified" hotel for 3 days while test results are obtained (at the traveler's expense).

If there is a positive test result, the resident(s) would then go to a government isolation location.

I believe they stated the new restrictions go into effect on Monday.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...er-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-for-canada

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Can any of our Canadian friends confirm that the travel restriction to the U.S. just got tightened/changed yesterday?

I had watched a video today stating there is a new procedure in which upon returning to Canada, residents will need to stay in a "certified" hotel for 3 days while test results are obtained (at the traveler's expense).

If there is a positive test result, the resident(s) would then go to a government isolation location.

I believe they stated the new restrictions go into effect on Monday.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...er-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-for-canada

All flights to “sun destinations” cancelled starting Sunday January 31st to the end of April. Most of those destinations seem to be in the Caribbean and Mexico.. not sure if Florida or AZ are on the list, both are favourites with Canadian snowbirds.

*** edited to add link from Govt of Canada website
https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-...her-restrictions-on-international-travel.html—— USA sun destinations are on the list.

International flights only allowed to land at 4 airports - Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal

All arriving international travelers required to be tested upon arrival and there is now a quarantine at a hotel at their own cost... until their test results come back - estimated cost using a three day turn around will be approximately $2000 - travelers warned to be prepared.

 

[lovethesun12]

Can any of our Canadian friends confirm that the travel restriction to the U.S. just got tightened/changed yesterday?

I had watched a video today stating there is a new procedure in which upon returning to Canada, residents will need to stay in a "certified" hotel for 3 days while test results are obtained (at the traveler's expense).

If there is a positive test result, the resident(s) would then go to a government isolation location.

I believe they stated the new restrictions go into effect on Monday.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...er-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-for-canada

There's also a pre-boarding test but I think that was already required. Some provinces (territories) were already requiring that though. I guess the only difference really is that now the isolation period is "forced" where before it was the honour system?

Our travel here is restricted and only residents of our province and those granted an exemption can enter, and that's with a 14 day isolation period. We haven't had a case (outside those tested on entry) since last Spring so it was working well. I'm really hoping that doesn't change with this new variant.

 

[mshanson3121]

Can any of our Canadian friends confirm that the travel restriction to the U.S. just got tightened/changed yesterday?

I had watched a video today stating there is a new procedure in which upon returning to Canada, residents will need to stay in a "certified" hotel for 3 days while test results are obtained (at the traveler's expense).

If there is a positive test result, the resident(s) would then go to a government isolation location.

I believe they stated the new restrictions go into effect on Monday.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...er-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-for-canada

Yes. They really want to crack down on international travel to hopefully curtail the spread of the new variants. Also, several outbreaks here have been linked to travel related cases unfortunately. Many provinces also have further restrictions, prohibiting travel between provinces. For example, our province prohibits anyone from entering except for essential reasons, and those who do enter have to isolate for 14 days. Also, the only airports accepting international flights now are Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

So between limited access to airports, and the strict isolation requirements, not to mention the increased cost, it's definitely going to make it extremely difficult for Canadians to travel to the US. I doubt Disney will be seeing many Canadian visitors for quite some time.

 

[lovethesun12]

Yes. They really want to crack down on international travel to hopefully curtail the spread of the new variants. Also, several outbreaks here have been linked to travel related cases unfortunately. Many provinces also have further restrictions, prohibiting travel between provinces. For example, our province prohibits anyone from entering except for essential reasons, and those who do enter have to isolate for 14 days. Also, the only airports accepting international flights now are Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

So between limited access to airports, and the strict isolation requirements, not to mention the increased cost, it's definitely going to make it extremely difficult for Canadians to travel to the US. I doubt Disney will be seeing many Canadian visitors for quite some time.

Yeah no one can travel here from any other provinces either without being a resident and an isolation period. Some of our residents/exemptions were outside the country though so I guess they will have to wait to fly here until after their isolation period now.

Interesting but I just realized that those receiving an exemption will then most likely have to isolate a second time, since anyone travelling here from Toronto/Montreal/Calgary/Vancouver have to isolate here now anyway. That's like 28 days of isolation!

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I actually think it will be harder for them to fill the mods and values due to not having the 60 day FP kind of perk. I may be wrong but I don’t think 60 day FP was necessarily a make or break selling point for people booking deluxe, but I think it did definitely help people choose a Disney value or mod over an off site option.

I think people will continue to pay the deluxe prices for prime location/convenience to a park & amenities. Resorts on the skyliner will probably be ok since that is a convenience selling point now.

But I really think the no 60 day FP will impact how full the values/mods are more than the deluxes though.

Right, I agree with you. My comment about “very expensive resorts” includes their value resorts. All Stars is lower end motel quality for 4 times the price of a lower end motel.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Peoplemover's refurb extended through Feb 28th

What in the heck is going on with this ride? They could have rebuilt it from scratch in this amount of time.

 

[hertamaniac]

Yes. They really want to crack down on international travel to hopefully curtail the spread of the new variants. Also, several outbreaks here have been linked to travel related cases unfortunately. Many provinces also have further restrictions, prohibiting travel between provinces. For example, our province prohibits anyone from entering except for essential reasons, and those who do enter have to isolate for 14 days. Also, the only airports accepting international flights now are Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

So between limited access to airports, and the strict isolation requirements, not to mention the increased cost, it's definitely going to make it extremely difficult for Canadians to travel to the US. I doubt Disney will be seeing many Canadian visitors for quite some time.

I am not trying to not bring doom and gloom to the forecast, but a whisper came across my desk this AM; expect a similar restriction forthcoming to the U.S. international travelers in 10-14 days.

I miss freedom.

 

[Jrb1979]

What in the heck is going on with this ride? They could have rebuilt it from scratch in this amount of time.

They have decided to change to it to rocket rods.

 

[rpb718]

Disney World Extends Theme Park Hours for Valentine’s Week

MK & EP gets some later hours (up to 10PM in a few cases), and even AK gets a few 8PM closings.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Disney World Extends Theme Park Hours for Valentine’s Week

MK & EP gets some later hours (up to 10PM in a few cases), and even AK gets a few 8PM closings.

It’s Mardi Gras. Lots of Louisiana people headed to WDW.

 

[LSUmiss]

It’s Mardi Gras. Lots of Louisiana people headed to WDW.

And with no parades, even more ppl are headed out of town.

 

[skeeter31]

It’s Mardi Gras. Lots of Louisiana people headed to WDW.

And Presidents Day week which is winter break for most of the northeast. So lots of NY, NJ, CT, MA people as well.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My guess is that in the current environment disney couldn't give them assurances about things that they wanted assurances on and didn't want to promise things they didn't know for sure they could deliver.

I’m wondering if it could possibly be that Pop Warner was not willing to meet Disney requirements? PW is not known for being an easy group to handle nor is following rules re: guest conduct, followed well. Possibly it was easier to just walk away then deal with the challenges?

 

[mshanson3121]

Yeah no one can travel here from any other provinces either without being a resident and an isolation period. Some of our residents/exemptions were outside the country though so I guess they will have to wait to fly here until after their isolation period now.

Interesting but I just realized that those receiving an exemption will then most likely have to isolate a second time, since anyone travelling here from Toronto/Montreal/Calgary/Vancouver have to isolate here now anyway. That's like 28 days of isolation!

That's what they weren't clear on. So say an NB resident arrives in Montreal (for example), do their 3 days in hotel, get a negative test, can they then hop on a plane home to NB to do their 14 day isolation? Or do they have to do 14 days in Montreal before being allowed to go on a plane home? And would they have to isolate again once they get to NB? I really don't think they would be required to, since they literally just finished an isolation and have a negative test.

Regardless - it still pretty much takes Canadians out of the equation for Disney tourism - they would need at least 5 weeks of vacation time: two to quarantine upon arriving in the US, then a week of Disney, then 17 days for isolation upon arriving back in Canada (assuming they don't have to isolate another 2 weeks upon arriving in their province if they don't live in the 4 cities accepting flights). I can't imagine most employers are going to give their employees a 5 week block of vacation time right now, so they can travel internationally for fun during a pandemic. And forget it if you have kids. I mean I suppose if they're already doing remote learning that's one thing, but not all places offer it.

I am not trying to not bring doom and gloom to the forecast, but a whisper came across my desk this AM; expect a similar restriction forthcoming to the U.S. international travelers in 10-14 days.

I miss freedom.

So... mandatory hotel room isolation and testing, then 14 day isolation at home? Or restrictions between interstate travel?

I really think Disney is going to have to survive 2021, at least the vast majority of it, on US residents only. I think once these new restrictions go in place, international tourism is going to become next to nothing. Also, they're warning of another wave coming already, thanks to the new variants. So the spring/summer we were all hoping was going to be better, they're now suggesting could be worse than anything we've seen yet.

 

[jlwhitney]

I’m wondering if it could possibly be that Poo Warner was not willing to meet Disney requirements? PW is not known for being an easy group to handle nor is following rules re: guest conduct, followed well. Possibly it was easier to just walk away then deal with the challenges?

I really could see a lot of being Disney not ready to commit to anything this year and they want to lock in a place to have it. People and organizations aren't gonna wait forever for Disney. They will just look elsewhere.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I am not trying to not bring doom and gloom to the forecast, but a whisper came across my desk this AM; expect a similar restriction forthcoming to the U.S. international travelers in 10-14 days.

I miss freedom.

I haven’t seen that rumor from any reputable source. From those I know traveling internationally the testing requirement alone was enough to cancel 99% of their trips. No one wants to get stuck abroad.

I have seen in the news the airline industry is pushing back hard on the administration who wants to require Covid testing prior to *domestic* flights. That’s the rumor us flyers to WDW need to watch.

 

[hertamaniac]

So... mandatory hotel room isolation and testing, then 14 day isolation at home? Or restrictions between interstate travel?

I just DM/PM'd the link to you where this rumor comes from and the source(s).

 

[lovethesun12]

That's what they weren't clear on. So say an NB resident arrives in Montreal (for example), do their 3 days in hotel, get a negative test, can they then hop on a plane home to NB to do their 14 day isolation? Or do they have to do 14 days in Montreal before being allowed to go on a plane home? And would they have to isolate again once they get to NB? I really don't think they would be required to, since they literally just finished an isolation and have a negative test.

Regardless - it still pretty much takes Canadians out of the equation for Disney tourism - they would need at least 5 weeks of vacation time: two to quarantine upon arriving in the US, then a week of Disney, then 17 days for isolation upon arriving back in Canada (assuming they don't have to isolate another 2 weeks upon arriving in their province if they don't live in the 4 cities accepting flights). I can't imagine most employers are going to give their employees a 5 week block of vacation time right now, so they can travel internationally for fun during a pandemic. And forget it if you have kids. I mean I suppose if they're already doing remote learning that's one thing, but not all places offer it.



So... mandatory hotel room isolation and testing, then 14 day isolation at home? Or restrictions between interstate travel?

I really think Disney is going to have to survive 2021, at least the vast majority of it, on US residents only. I think once these new restrictions go in place, international tourism is going to become next to nothing. Also, they're warning of another wave coming already, thanks to the new variants. So the spring/summer we were all hoping was going to be better, they're now suggesting could be worse than anything we've seen yet.

You're right but they were probably prepared for that situation anyway. We've been told all along travel restrictions would most likely be 2 years.

There are probably a lot of people like me who kept their vacation $ and are planning extra trips in 2022 (3 for us) to "make up" for those that were lost =)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I really think Disney is going to have to survive 2021, at least the vast majority of it, on US residents only. I think once these new restrictions go in place, international tourism is going to become next to nothing. Also, they're warning of another wave coming already, thanks to the new variants. So the spring/summer we were all hoping was going to be better, they're now suggesting could be worse than anything we've seen yet.

yeha, I think the plan is hope there is enough "pend up demand" from Americans as we get into the spring breaks and the summer (thinking at least more people will be comfortable traveling from further away one a good chunk of the population gets vaccinated) - already seeing some of that with CMs being blocked for much of February and seems higher attendance expected for the winter breaks, etc.

Then you have the 50th stuff and holiday stuff in the fall to carry them (at least "enough") and then they start trying to get back to "normal" in 2022 - and we see where demand stays when they get back to full capacity levels and see where economy is at, etc.