Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[hereforthechurros]

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

Is this earlier than usual? Seems like it!

 

[andyman8]

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

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

The supposed "reason" is that having the Epcot line open could create distancing issues at the other stations and on the resort monorail. Of course, that's a tad bit ridiculous, given that only two of the resort monorail stations are even open right now and come April, most of the Tower rooms at the CR are going into refurb. It's about money. Why spend the money when they don't have to? As distancing needs begin to subside, I think that's going to be big frustration/narrative of Disney fans as we get into the summer.

I wouldn't expect the Epcot monorail line to be back until June or July at the earliest (when Poly comes back), but it may not come back until September when the CR tower rooms are back online. It's the weird circular logic where they don't want to spend the money on a (what they consider to be unnecessary) service when there isn't sufficient demand, but at the same time, sufficient demand would create "distancing challenges." At the end of the day, it's about money and priorities (like many of their decisions lately).

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Is this earlier than usual? Seems like it!

Yep, I think they usually come out in the summer.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

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.

I think not only people having their own experiences should be recognized, but also that people have different expectations and things that provide value to them.

As a childless couple who travels to WDW regularly, I don't really care if the SDMT line looks and/or is obnoxious, because I don't value riding it *right now* that highly since I know I can just do it next time. We didn't ride anything our first 3 days this trip and had a blast shopping, walking around parks, and dining.

That view is likely very different from a family with two kids taking an annual or once in a lifetime vacation. They value the ability to do xyz differently, and respond to the lines/optics differently as well.

(*as a preemptive edit- I don't mean for this to become a child vs childless argument thing... I'm just using this situation as an example)

 

[mshanson3121]

Is this earlier than usual? Seems like it!

Yes. Normally new packages for the following year weren't released online until early summer. I would assume the early release is because they need the money.

 

[mshanson3121]

https://**************.net/2021/02/disney-park-pass-2023-kc1/
Park reservation system is here to stay for awhile.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Yes. Normally new packages for the following year weren't released online until early summer. I would assume the early release is because they need the money.

Yeah, and they know there are people who are still not comfortable going but who are itching to book for 2022. I’m sure they’ll get tons and tons of bookings.

 

[mshanson3121]

Yeah, and they know there are people who are still not comfortable going but who are itching to book for 2022. I’m sure they’ll get tons and tons of bookings.

I'm currently hinting to DH it wouldn't hurt to book now, just in case....
What I'm not telling him is that there's really no need to book now...

 

[Teamubr]

Is this earlier than usual? Seems like it!

Yep, I think they usually come out in the summer.

The difference is, prior to Covid, you could call and book out to 499/500 days. You booked at the "today" rate and pricing would be updated when they posted the next year's rates and opened website booking. (typically around June) Until today, you could not book into 2022, even by calling. Many of us have been trying.

I booked 2 weeks in January 2022 this morning. That is well within the 499/500 day window that I could have called and booked 2 years ago.

j

 

[HokieRaven5]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1361916206802890753

 

[Wendy12]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

 

[osufeth24]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

View attachment 557073

easter is busy for 2 weeks. Local AP (minus the highest one) are blocked out for those 2 weeks

 

[mshanson3121]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

View attachment 557073

My guess is because people are avoiding Easter weekend itself thinking that it will be really busy.

 

[MMSM]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

View attachment 557073

What new restaurants opened up?

 

[HokieRaven5]

What new restaurants opened up?

No new restaurants have opened recently. They do actually close some QS options during the week when crowds are lighter, but I'm not sure if they are doing that still this week.

 

[yulilin3]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

View attachment 557073

south american countries get that whole week off. It's usually very busy the whole week

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Anyone have a good theory/explanation on why weekdays are filling up first? I assume Easter weekend will be the most crowded. More restaurants open so more capacity on weekends?? I’m stumped. Right now it’s just DHS without availability.

View attachment 557073

I’ve been wondering that too...seems very odd!

 

[HokieRaven5]

south american countries get that whole week off. It's usually very busy the whole week

It's just Brazil that still has travel restrictions in place correct?

 

[yulilin3]

It's just Brazil that still has travel restrictions in place correct?

correct, and for easter usually we see more Venezuelan, Colombians than Brazilians

 

[HokieRaven5]

correct, and for easter usually we see more Venezuelan, Colombians than Brazilians

Good to know! Thanks for the information!