Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SouthFayetteFan]

Seems like this 11 day span (2/11 - 2/21) is going to help revenue tremendously in what will otherwise be a very soft Q2 of Disney's fiscal year. This year was always going to include the February trifecta: Valentine's Day + President's Day + Mardi Gras in a 4 day span. (For reference, the last time this happened was in 2015). Nothing I saw out of the wait times today surprised me - if anything there were encouraging signs with lower waits than are typical for this holiday.

I think it's easy to confuse what it looks like and feels like, vs. what the actual data shows. Here are wait times from President's Day 2020 vs. President's Day 2021 (the blue line is today). The major factors that are different are socially distant lines which take up more space, and lack of FastPass to ensure 3 short waits.



As some have said, people hear 35% capacity and think - "oh man, Disney will be dead, I want to be there!" not realizing what 35% really means. What those people really want is Disney at 15-20% of capacity which is what it seems like we're getting on weekdays through much of Jan/Feb (outside of the major holidays).

 

[coolbrook]

Would Memorial weekend crowds typically be similar to President's weekend or would people be more likely to wait for their trips until school is out? I realize some schools are out then, but some are not. Here in Missouri we will be out, but when we were in North Carolina we were not out by then.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

As an update, we ended up going to Magic Kingdom after dinner (got there around 730pm) and it was DELIGHTFUL. So much better than it has been all weekend. Waited 5min for Pooh, walked on to Haunted Mansion, 20min for Peter Pan, and about 25 for Big Thunder. Space was at 25 when we headed out. We left around 9 to head back to the resort and have sangria at three bridges

The weather was absolutely incredible tonight and I was so surprised with how great MK was in the evening. It looked like most holiday people must have burned themselves out during the day because crowds were seriously low compared to earlier. I got a picture on the castle walkway into the tunnel to fantasyland with nobody else in it. Easily. There was a lot more space to walk around and was generally just nicer. I am SO glad they extended a few evenings because wow the difference between this and the daytime park experiences we have had is wild.

 

[pooh'smate]

I'm here now on my 3rd pandemic trip (the others being July and August). There is definitely an extremely noticeable increase in crowd levels ( expected for a holiday weekend). We haven't done many rides, but came to the parks for the atmosphere and to shop at the festival of the arts. For us, it has still been a great trip even without a rides focus. We've found it to be really relaxing kind of taking things as we go and not worrying about what we ride. This would not be a good time for us if we wanted a long park days trip.

We did AK this morning and the safari line went to the festival of the lion King theater, as did the flight of passage line in the opposite direction. River journey line reached Tiffins. As regular visitors, we don't feel a need to wait in those lines but I definitely understand the pressure people who only come annually/less would feel to get everything done and why many of them are frustrated. Gorilla falls trail was closed this morning too which pushed more people out into the main areas. I won't lie, the crowds have kind of looked like a mess this weekend but you can also tell that it is an organized chaos. They thought through where to put all the people in these massive lines so that they don't just obstruct everything.

This has been a great weekend for shopping, dining, and people watching, but definitely not what you want if you desired a rides-focused trip.

The days of early pandemic empty main areas are definitely gone I'm so glad I was able to experience that quiet period, because boy does this make me miss fastpass!

It is nice to take a trip that forces you to stop and smell the roses though. We talked about even doing a trip similar to this again because it is so great having no agenda. I'm laying out at the pool right now and will head back to the room when I feel like it. Besides a Sanaa reservation tonight, I have no firm plans and it is kind of great!

We were in WDW in early October and the safari line reached the Lion King theater but the actual wait was only about 25 min.

 

[Marissa227]

As an update, we ended up going to Magic Kingdom after dinner (got there around 730pm) and it was DELIGHTFUL. So much better than it has been all weekend. Waited 5min for Pooh, walked on to Haunted Mansion, 20min for Peter Pan, and about 25 for Big Thunder. Space was at 25 when we headed out. We left around 9 to head back to the resort and have sangria at three bridges

The weather was absolutely incredible tonight and I was so surprised with how great MK was in the evening. It looked like most holiday people must have burned themselves out during the day because crowds were seriously low compared to earlier. I got a picture on the castle walkway into the tunnel to fantasyland with nobody else in it. Easily. There was a lot more space to walk around and was generally just nicer. I am SO glad they extended a few evenings because wow the difference between this and the daytime park experiences we have had is wild.

Thanks for posting this, because I think this will be our plan of attack for Easter. Late breakfast, swim, hit the park for evening hours (assuming they are extended).

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

We were in WDW in early October and the safari line reached the Lion King theater but the actual wait was only about 25 min.

I think it said 35, but it did not seem to be moving much at all and was growing very quickly so we passed. We went to Kidani early for our dinner reservation and spent extra time watching the animals there. A great compromise and more relaxing anyway!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

2022 packages now available for booking
https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/2022-walt-disney-world-resort-vacation-packages-now-available/

 

[Princess Merida]

2022 packages now available for booking
https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/2022-walt-disney-world-resort-vacation-packages-now-available/

Still no dining plans

 

[Eric Smith]

Still no dining plans

Those won't come back until they reopen many more restaurants and they aren't required to distance the tables in those restaurants. They just don't have the capacity to handle dining plans right now.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Still no dining plans

I think DDP will be the last thing to return and it will be different.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

RUMOR
Just saw on another site they are placing distance markers on Epcot monorail ramp...

 

[Kitty & Covs Covs]

RUMOR
Just saw on another site they are placing distance markers on Epcot monorail ramp...

Let's get this rumor substantiated! I like hearing this soooo much.

 

[bffer]

RUMOR
Just saw on another site they are placing distance markers on Epcot monorail ramp...

Let's get this rumor substantiated! I like hearing this soooo much.

Well, Super Enthused (You Tube) showed the Monorail being tested last week when she was at Epcot. I wouldn't be surprised if they open that line up soon!

 

[andyman8]

Seems like this 11 day span (2/11 - 2/21) is going to help revenue tremendously in what will otherwise be a very soft Q2 of Disney's fiscal year. This year was always going to include the February trifecta: Valentine's Day + President's Day + Mardi Gras in a 4 day span. (For reference, the last time this happened was in 2015). Nothing I saw out of the wait times today surprised me - if anything there were encouraging signs with lower waits than are typical for this holiday.

I think it's easy to confuse what it looks like and feels like, vs. what the actual data shows. Here are wait times from President's Day 2020 vs. President's Day 2021 (the blue line is today). The major factors that are different are socially distant lines which take up more space, and lack of FastPass to ensure 3 short waits.

View attachment 556720

As some have said, people hear 35% capacity and think - "oh man, Disney will be dead, I want to be there!" not realizing what 35% really means. What those people really want is Disney at 15-20% of capacity which is what it seems like we're getting on weekdays through much of Jan/Feb (outside of the major holidays).

It might help a little but not that much. WDW isn’t used to operating as a weekends and holidays destination. Its infrastructure is built for 6-night/7-day stays. These sorts of “bursts” of attendance aren’t sustainable.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

RUMOR
Just saw on another site they are placing distance markers on Epcot monorail ramp...

Apparently Disney changed their minds, not opening-now for overflow.

 

[MMSM]

Apparently Disney changed their minds, not opening-now for overflow.

I’m confused. What is not opening now because of overflow?

 

[NashvilleMama]

Many guests these days arent casual travelers.

I do think a LOT of disney travel agents are telling their customers about this 35% threshold. I know quite a few people who booked thinking it was going to be empty, not understanding the reality of this on busy weekend/holiday times.

 

[chad_1138]

I’m confused. What is not opening now because of overflow?

It looked like the Epcot monorail was going to open soon because of the recent testing and there was a CM placing 6-ft markers on the Epcot monorail ramp at the TTC. Evidently those are for overflow lines for the express monorail

 

[Eric Smith]

It looked like the Epcot monorail was going to open soon because of the recent testing and there was a CM placing 6-ft markers on the Epcot monorail ramp at the TTC. Evidently those are for overflow lines for the express monorail

Where did you see that it will be used for overflow?

 

[hereforthechurros]

As an update, we ended up going to Magic Kingdom after dinner (got there around 730pm) and it was DELIGHTFUL. So much better than it has been all weekend. Waited 5min for Pooh, walked on to Haunted Mansion, 20min for Peter Pan, and about 25 for Big Thunder. Space was at 25 when we headed out. We left around 9 to head back to the resort and have sangria at three bridges

The weather was absolutely incredible tonight and I was so surprised with how great MK was in the evening. It looked like most holiday people must have burned themselves out during the day because crowds were seriously low compared to earlier. I got a picture on the castle walkway into the tunnel to fantasyland with nobody else in it. Easily. There was a lot more space to walk around and was generally just nicer. I am SO glad they extended a few evenings because wow the difference between this and the daytime park experiences we have had is wild.

I definitely agree evenings are better. Holiday crowds = more families with small children who are up early, in early, then out early. We had a flight in the evening so couldn't take advantage of evening MK crowds.

Not that you're doing this, but I see it all over the boards: can we normalize people who were in the parks each having their own experiences? We've been almost 20 times and in MK probably closer to 40. We know busy, and not busy. We overheard plenty of unhappy people during our time in lines yesterday. We know when it feels like WDW is cutting corners by not staffing appropriately vs. the before times (before park reservations) when they could be caught off guard. We had an awful time yesterday, and not saying that's all Disney's fault but get that's not the case - nor would I want to be the case - for everyone.