Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Eric Smith]

Pop and AOA don't share pools. Someone from AOA's magic band wouldn't get them into one of the pools at Pop.

Ah, didn't know that. I wasn't sure if you had to scan in to the pools at the Value resorts.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We should probably just agree to disagree on Disney not caring about the guest experience. I don’t think they’ve only been floating on reputation for “years” - we have had over the top guest service on all of our our 5 trips between 2016 and 2020, and I’ve been going there 35+ years. Still so happy with our decision to purchase DVC a while back.

I think people traveling during a pandemic should be adjusting expectations accordingly. None of what is happening here is a surprise, Disney warns about all of the limited experiences. And it is no doubt a modified experience at the moment.

Our family loves the CM organized lawn games/playtimes too but I just don’t see Disney providing the high touch things like hula hoops, parachutes, balls, etc. That, plus the group games/play can be tricky with kids from all different families not distancing, etc. I don’t really think those things are doable right now.

Idk, I think it'd be easy to wipe down the equipment for lawn activities between users. (Either by CMs or having wipes available for guests to use, like at shopping cart stalls.) Or having CMs throw hula hoops into kiddie pools of disinfectant between users (like they do with the clubs at mini golf). If they can wipe down ride vehicles and railings, they can wipe down hula hoops and balls. They could mark off places to stand with tape or stickers. But again, that presumes they'd be willing to pay for the manpower etc.

 

[Moliphino]

Ah, didn't know that. I wasn't sure if you had to scan in to the pools at the Value resorts.

Honestly, I'm not sure if you normally need to at Pop. The AOA pool did because it was nicer and newer. But if they're manning the gates to control capacity I would think they'd be verifying you're actually staying at that resort.

 

[karen4546]

My other question would be how many people are staying at resorts without going to the parks or doing minimal park days? Is it an unexpectedly high number? That could be causing the pool to be more popular with longer periods of time spent at the pool.

I think that with the sold out park days and the fact that some people are not Disney planners (makes me shiver like when the jackals say "Mufasa") and they may have been some of the unlucky ones to not get into a park....

But who knows?.? I personally can't see paying Disney prices for a hotel/resort and not going to the parks. We are DVC and I might stay at a WDW resort for a few days if the parks were closed but not likely.

My trip is in 5 days and I am not really as excited as I usually am... It is going to be fine- just fine (saying this to myself)

 

[zacharyleo34]

my city park did this: sign up for a two hour window, come any time during that window. Kick everyone out when that window is up, and the next group can come in. I think that would be the only option for scheduling time frames.

I really would hate that though. Fingers crossed that it’s a kink that Disney is working to out. It’s not fair to their CMs to have to manage yet another covid restrictions that I guarantee will lead to angry guests if it isn’t just a one time occurrence.

Yeah now that would make sense, I wonder if it would be a virtual queue of sorts? It just sounds like the most effective way to do most of the suggestions still sounds like a bit of a nightmare. Idk, I'm at one of those "yes this is a problem but I'm not sure the solutions are solutions" thought processes. I mean no one should monopolize the pool time, but putting restrictions like that might flip the spectrum of folks who are mad

 

[mrsap]

Will Disney Cruise Line require vaccination to sail

 

[mrsap]

New Social Distancing Signs Installed Yesterday Have Been Removed in Disney World

So much for that

 

[Justrose]

Well, that stinks. I was looking forward to not have huge parties breathe down my neck next week.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I didn't say it would fix it, I said it would HELP.

Thank you. Let's not let perfect be the enemy of good, or better. A company trying to show improvement or adjust goes a long way with customer satisfaction. Ignoring the problem they knew would happen beforehand (due to the fact that you know exactly how many people will be at each resort each day) and leaving the consumer to just figure it out is never a great look. I'm not saying there's a quick fix to this and hopefully WDW will learn ahead of what could be a busy summer/fall.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I haven't seen any trip reports about Blizzard Beach at all which I would hope means it hasn't been too overwhelmed with people during spring break? That's my backup plan for everything this summer- heat, masks in heat, crowds... and now pools at capacity. Run away to the waterpark!

AP discount through 2021 at Blizzard Beach. Pretty good deal!

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...scount-on-water-park-tickets-in-disney-world/

 

[hereforthechurros]

WDW mailing magnets to current AP holders.

https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2021/03/16/wdw-passholders-orange-bird-magnet-coming/

 

[Sarahslay]

Or, maybe Disney could actually care when people are upset?

They do care, trust me. I get treated extra special at YC now after I complained. They make sure I have a good room location, my room is always perfect, and they leave treats and bottles of water for me (this trip is was chocolate covered espresso beans for me, and cookies for my daughter, trip before was chocolates and an anniversary frame). Practically fall over themselves to help me. It's not like they don't care, this weekend was nuts with the nation wide outage of first their reservation system on Friday (when lots of people were arriving), and then MB system going out for hours on Saturday. They were handed a lot of blows this weekend that really tested them, and as someone who was there I'm not angry with how things were handled. True, I'm not a pool person, but the quiet pools are open and were pretty empty a lot of the time. SAB isn't the only show in town, and the other resorts do have quiet pools as well. If I wanted to relax by a pool I'd find one, if going to the feature pool is that important then plan a day away from the parks and start your day early by the pool.

 

[Sarahslay]

New Social Distancing Signs Installed Yesterday Have Been Removed in Disney World

So much for that

It's impossible to enforce really, I saw one CM try at spaceship earth on Friday with a huge group, and I would think it's nearly impossible to tell people to spread out and keep them that way. Those large groups spread out anyway, I don't see what good having them break up among markers does anyway.

Well, that stinks. I was looking forward to not have huge parties breathe down my neck next week.

It's no different than smaller groups staying on their lines. I have no fear telling them to back up off me.

 

[HokieRaven5]

It's impossible to enforce really, I saw one CM try at spaceship earth on Friday with a huge group, and I would think it's nearly impossible to tell people to spread out and keep them that way. Those large groups spread out anyway, I don't see what good having them break up among markers does anyway.


It's no different than smaller groups staying on their lines. I have no fear telling them to back up off me.

Yeah I chalked this up as another thing that would lead to potentially more confrontational interactions between guests and CMs.

As someone traveling with a group of 10 I'll gladly spread out my group among 3 different lines for a personal bubble.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well, that stinks. I was looking forward to not have huge parties breathe down my neck next week.

Fwiw I found most people receptive when I felt they were too close and I asked them to give me some space.

 

[SarahC97]

Fwiw I found most people receptive when I felt they were too close and I asked them to give me some space.

I've had mixed results to my asking people to respect distancing markers. One family mocked me and continued to ignore them as they stood as close to me as they could. But most people I think aren't paying attention and will respect the markers once it's pointed out.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I've had mixed results to my asking people to respect distancing markers. One family mocked me and continued to ignore them as they stood as close to me as they could. But most people I think aren't paying attention and will respect the markers once it's pointed out.

Ouch! Some people suck

Gotta admit I would have bailed at the first chance if anyone got that close to me repeatedly, I’m just not ok with being that close to folks yet

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I've had mixed results to my asking people to respect distancing markers. One family mocked me and continued to ignore them as they stood as close to me as they could. But most people I think aren't paying attention and will respect the markers once it's pointed out.

Not really Disney related, but this has been happening to me locally when im out shopping and ive been finding it frustrating. Im not even all that Covid crazy, but I see no reason not to simply respect peoples space in times like these. Im socially distancing on a line, and people keep coming up and standing directly next to me or behind me, like really CLOSE, like we’re looking eachother in the face when I turn around?! And if I say something they scoff & do nothing. At least I can mentally prepare myself for this kind of behavior at Disney.

 

[zacharyleo34]

Disney is already treading water on the parks financially. They're not going to limit resort capacity because the pools filled up.



In most situations, this wouldn't work. Unless it was possible to walk from an open resort to a closed resort, people wouldn't go for this. I don't think many would want to wait for a bus, jump on a bus, swim and then repeat the process while wet just to go to a pool.



I don't see this being a realistic option.



How do you know what guests are affected? Do you give it to every guest at the resort whether they were actually going to go to the pool or not? Do you prorate it based on how long the pool was actually at capacity?



The information that pool offerings could be reduced is listed on the Disney website. The website also goes out of its way to tell you that there are COVID restrictions in place. The pool possibly filling up is a risk that people took whether consciously or unconsciously.



I don't think Disney is telling anyone to "pound salt", but it's not Disney's responsibility to compensate people for this issue. The pools are what they are. SAB filled up in the pre-COVID times. Disney is a popular destination, there are crowds which may impact your experience.

Yeah because you bet your butt if folks heard those "affected" got something special everyone would chime in and say they were also in that group. It would be a mess, and not an actual solution to the problem imho.

 

[New Mouse]

What are they able to open? An arcade can maybe hold 10 people at one time right now.

An arcade, every resort and limit capacities at the resort both waterparks...etc. etc. Etc. Stop being an apologist.