Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mrsap]

Oh, I agree! The circular discussion certainly gets tedious. I just think it’s important to try to keep this thread as it was intended rather than have it become catch-all for all parks news that is more relevant to the general news round-up.

I like having a thread specifically about covid operational updates, discussion and speculation. Especially since we have Disneyland opening on the horizon, more WDW resorts reopening in the near future, etc.

If others disagree, that’s totally fine! Since the beginning of this thread, I remember Ryan reminding us (a lot) that this thread shouldn’t be a catch-all for all news so I guess it stuck with me. Not a big deal if others disagree.

It’s understandable. I wasn’t sure what news you guys were looking for, so I was just reporting everything new in both spots. I was just trying to help the board out. ETA: I’ll be more selective with what I post.

 

[jade1]

Florida Vaccination Eligibility Age Lowered to 50

I got mine (at 60) since we have a home in FL a couple weeks ago, I think its still 65 here in MN.

Thank you FL.

 

[preemiemama]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1373660156609839110

Cross-posting this because I thought it applied here. Not sure he's got accurate data- IMHO, anyway...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1373660156609839110

Cross-posting this because I thought it applied here. Not sure he's got accurate data- IMHO, anyway...

I think a lot would depend on the questions bring asked. If they are more focused on how Disney is doing given Covid and in regards to their safety measures, I can see a lot of people commenting they are "satisfied" ... I see tons of comments like "It feels safer at Disney than at my local grocery store"

And I think being satisfied awknowledging a pandemic is going on is different than being satisfied during normal times

 

[jlwhitney]

I think a lot would depend on the questions bring asked. If they are more focused on how Disney is doing given Covid and in regards to their safety measures, I can see a lot of people commenting they are "satisfied" ... I see tons of comments like "It feels safer at Disney than at my local grocery store"

And I think being satisfied awknowledging a pandemic is going on is different than being satisfied during normal times

I agree. Too much left out info to really gain much from the statement.

 

[cgattis]

It’s understandable. I wasn’t sure what news you guys were looking for, so I was just reporting everything new in both spots. I was just trying to help the board out. I’ll leave the news reporting to the experts!

Hey, that “map that Disney won’t print” is SPOT ON though! My friends are going in May (and we still might), and haven’t been since the pandemic began, so it’s a great way to be ready for what to expect. Really appreciate that one!

 

[preemiemama]

I think a lot would depend on the questions bring asked. If they are more focused on how Disney is doing given Covid and in regards to their safety measures, I can see a lot of people commenting they are "satisfied" ... I see tons of comments like "It feels safer at Disney than at my local grocery store"

And I think being satisfied awknowledging a pandemic is going on is different than being satisfied during normal times

I agree. Too much left out info to really gain much from the statement.

That was my thinking as well. Comparatively, WDW is doing a good job making people feel safe in a pandemic. But "satisfied" when you think about typical pre-COVID operations? Nope...

 

[SierraT]

It’s understandable. I wasn’t sure what news you guys were looking for, so I was just reporting everything new in both spots. I was just trying to help the board out. I’ll leave the news reporting to the experts!

I don’t go to the other boards and really only ended up here because of the COVID discussion. Thought your links were helpful.

 

[SierraT]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1373660156609839110

Cross-posting this because I thought it applied here. Not sure he's got accurate data- IMHO, anyway...

I’m satisfied but with a few exceptions:

1) Please, for the love of God, remove the plastic on the Frozen ride.
2) Keep the 6ft distancing because we very much enjoy not getting ankle rammed by strollers.
3) Please remove item that shall not be named which starts with an m sooner rather than later.

Of course, all of this is said in jest (kind of).

 

[LSUmiss]

That was my thinking as well. Comparatively, WDW is doing a good job making people feel safe in a pandemic. But "satisfied" when you think about typical pre-COVID operations? Nope...

Perhaps that says more about the terrible state of things at the parks (crowds, fast pass plus, upcharges, etc) pre-Covid than it says about now.

 

[CouponGirl]

I miss the news only thread... is there anyone that will be taking it over? Miss a few days over here and there’s a lot of missed pages to go through!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I miss the news only thread... is there anyone that will be taking it over? Miss a few days over here and there’s a lot of missed pages to go through!

The News thread has continued. @mrsap adds many links to news sources as do others.

 

[CouponGirl]

The News thread has continued. @mrsap adds many links to news sources as do others.

Hmmm... I’m not seeing that it’s been updated since January? Is it located in a new thread?

this is the one I was referring to:https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-parks-and-resorts-reopening-updates-news-only.3802762/

 

[Eric Smith]

Hmmm... I’m not seeing that it’s been updated since January? Is it located in a new thread?

this is the one I was referring to:https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-parks-and-resorts-reopening-updates-news-only.3802762/

It’s the one titled “News Roundup 2021” that is stickied at the top of News and Rumors.

 

[CouponGirl]

It’s the one titled “News Roundup 2021” that is stickied at the top of News and Rumors.

Thank you!

 

[mshanson3121]

That was my thinking as well. Comparatively, WDW is doing a good job making people feel safe in a pandemic. But "satisfied" when you think about typical pre-COVID operations? Nope...

This. I haven't even been during Covid and I can say with absolute certainty I wouldn't be as satisfied now as I would be before. Reasons:

1. No FP+ (many here hate it but for us it is a huge help)
2. The change to Extra Magic Hours
3. Reduced park hours
4. The lack of entertainment and shows and characters meet n greets
5. Virtual queues for stores and mobile ordering

I'm going to guess the only way they were able to achieve those results is by skewed questions designed to give those results. Which brings us to the question of: what Covid change are they looking to make permanent and will use that survey as an "excuse" -"But look, the people said it was better!"?

 

[HikingFam]

This. I haven't even been during Covid and I can say with absolute certainty I wouldn't be as satisfied now as I would be before. Reasons:

1. No FP+ (many here hate it but for us it is a huge help)
2. The change to Extra Magic Hours
3. Reduced park hours
4. The lack of entertainment and shows and characters meet n greets
5. Virtual queues for stores and mobile ordering

I'm going to guess the only way they were able to achieve those results is by skewed questions designed to give those results. Which brings us to the question of: what Covid change are they looking to make permanent and will use that survey as an "excuse" -"But look, the people said it was better!"?

Yeah, we’ve been 3 times since September, and the surveys I got were all about satisfaction with safety measures. Which, I was very satisfied with all of that. But I kept waiting for a question that would let me unleash my frustration about the long lines and no FP, but there was never a question that touched on that part of the experience.

We are headed back in a few weeks, and I suspect this will be our last trip for a while- each time, things have been more crowded, longer lines, just a diminished experience for our family when we are used to working the system with FP and EMH and never waiting in a line more than 15-20 min. Restaurant options are also feeling very limited after a few trips, and ADRs are in high demand. The stories about pools hitting capacity are probably the last straw for me, but we will see.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Worth noting/a reminder that All Star Movies (around 1,915 rooms) reopens today (pushed back from an earlier 2/9/2021 reopening date). In total, around 12,900 Disney hotel rooms are now open (58%) and around 9,500 remain closed (42%).

The remaining announced reopenings are:

BC - 5/30/21 (around 576 rooms)
WL - 6/6/21 (around 430 rooms)
Poly - Summer 2021, but taking bookings 7/19/21 (around 485 rooms)

Which leaves the following resort hotels with no reopening information announced, most of which are rather large resorts:
AKL - around 970 rooms
BWI - around 372 rooms
POFQ - around 1,008 rooms
POR - around 2,047 rooms
ASMusic - around 1,699 rooms
ASSports - around 1,910 rooms

Note, all room counts are approximate and I'm not including DVC/Villa or Ft. Wilderness unit counts for the sake of simplicity.

Great to see another resort reopen for the CMs that work there and were called back, as well as additional hotel options for guests.

 

[Missingmypooh]

Worth noting/a reminder that All Star Movies (around 1,915 rooms) reopens today (pushed back from an earlier 2/9/2021 reopening date). In total, around 12,900 Disney hotel rooms are now open (58%) and around 9,500 remain closed (42%).

The remaining announced reopenings are:

BC - 5/30/21 (around 576 rooms)
WL - 6/6/21 (around 430 rooms)
Poly - Summer 2021, but taking bookings 7/19/21 (around 485 rooms)

Which leaves the following resort hotels with no reopening information announced, most of which are rather large resorts:
AKL - around 970 rooms
BWI - around 372 rooms
POFQ - around 1,008 rooms
POR - around 2,047 rooms
ASMusic - around 1,699 rooms
ASSports - around 1,910 rooms

Note, all room counts are approximate and I'm not including DVC/Villa or Ft. Wilderness unit counts for the sake of simplicity.

Great to see another resort reopen for the CMs that work there and were called back, as well as additional hotel options for guests.

Yay reopening!

hopefully several of these resorts with no dates open in mid September for the October 1 festivities.

I’m optimistic about the port orleans resorts, but I also know they were shuttered a long time after 9/11.

so hopefully we see the All stars, plus maybe AKL by October 1? POR open by thanksgiving? No guesses for BWI.

 

[New Mouse]

Worth noting/a reminder that All Star Movies (around 1,915 rooms) reopens today (pushed back from an earlier 2/9/2021 reopening date). In total, around 12,900 Disney hotel rooms are now open (58%) and around 9,500 remain closed (42%).

The remaining announced reopenings are:

BC - 5/30/21 (around 576 rooms)
WL - 6/6/21 (around 430 rooms)
Poly - Summer 2021, but taking bookings 7/19/21 (around 485 rooms)

Which leaves the following resort hotels with no reopening information announced, most of which are rather large resorts:
AKL - around 970 rooms
BWI - around 372 rooms
POFQ - around 1,008 rooms
POR - around 2,047 rooms
ASMusic - around 1,699 rooms
ASSports - around 1,910 rooms

Note, all room counts are approximate and I'm not including DVC/Villa or Ft. Wilderness unit counts for the sake of simplicity.

Great to see another resort reopen for the CMs that work there and were called back, as well as additional hotel options for guests.

Are there associated plans to increase park capacity again? At this point I am thinking those numbers for park capacity are about as fabricated as the guest satisfaction surveys.