Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[TikiTikiFan]

I’m expecting Summer 2021 to be a non-stop version of Spring Break 2021 for Disney World.

As someone going in June..... *nervous laughter*

 

[hereforthechurros]

I’m expecting Summer 2021 to be a non-stop version of Spring Break 2021 for Disney World.

Definitely starting to look that way. When people have the luxury of picking their Florida vacation, summer is sometimes left out because of the heat. But with restrictions easing, and summer being the first available time to safely travel for many people, I do expect this to be the summer of George for WDW.

 

[Farro]

Definitely starting to look that way. When people have the luxury of picking their Florida vacation, summer is sometimes left out because of the heat. But with restrictions easing, and summer being the first available time to safely travel for many people, I do expect this to be the summer of George for WDW.

I've tried for so many years to have my "summer of George" and just like George, it never quite works out.

 

[WriterGina]

Our schools start later than most (not until after Labor Day), so we've planned our family's first trip back to Disney/Universal since 2015 for the very end of August and early September. Here's hoping some of the madness abates by then!

 

[kylenne]

As someone going in June..... *nervous laughter*

Never in my life have I ever been upset about my birthday falling around Memorial Day than this year, lol. I don’t mind heat and humidity at all so going in the summer isn’t a big deal for me, and I actually enjoyed the lower crowds when I went in August a couple of years ago. But I really do think it’s going to be crazy from Memorial Day on due to more people having access to vaccines and feeling more comfortable with traveling. Just anecdotally, when I was moving my dates around, my TA had a hard time finding availability at my resorts with the current offers (I actually have to pay rack my last night at YC, but she’s gonna keep checking). And my flight down there is looking pretty dang full.

BTW, since I made that last post I saw that I hadn’t actually booked a “just in case” reservation for my YC pool day and sure enough 6/3 HS is full for resort guests but wide open for APs. I called Disney since my TA is actually down there right now and didn’t wait even 10 minutes on hold, after getting bounced around a couple of times the Passholder help desk was able to book my HS reservation no problem.

 

[preemiemama]

As someone going in June..... *nervous laughter*

Feeling the same about July...

 

[jade1]

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

That's been true for us.

Pandemic highlights (I know a low bar) by far have been our WDW Parks visits.

But some things were better for us than "normal times".

I will even say some of our best moments have been this year, such as walking on to FoP at 4:30 many times was never heard of before. Actually same with Safari. Even FP+ usually had some wait. EPCOT Food/drink booths have had no wait at all many times. Characters going right by us out of nowhere. Wide opens spaces to walk in when we felt like distancing. Spacing out while waiting in lines is wonderful. Entire Skyliner cabins and monorail cars to ourselves. Having things sterilized right in front us before use doesn't seem bad. When we did open parks we had great success for attraction times.

I'm ready to go back to normal, but it's still been a great WDW year for us anyway. For sure one we will never forget-and in a very positive light.

 

[hereforthechurros]

As someone going in June..... *nervous laughter*

Hopefully this influx of bookings leads to WDW opening more dining, reopening shows, bringing back CMs. When they run the parks at full speed it is quite manageable. It's the still running the parks like they're only 15% full when they're at full 35% capacity that's getting old.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

That's been true for us.

Pandemic highlights (I know a low bar) by far have been our WDW Parks visits.

But some things were better for us than "normal times".

I will even say some of our best moments have been this year, such as walking on to FoP at 4:30 many times was never heard of before. Actually same with Safari. Even FP+ usually had some wait. EPCOT Food/drink booths have had no wait at all many times. Characters going right by us out of nowhere. Wide opens spaces to walk in when we felt like distancing. Spacing out while waiting in lines is wonderful. Entire Skyliner cabins and monorail cars to ourselves. Having things sterilized right in front us before use doesn't seem bad. When we did open parks we had great success for attraction times.

I'm ready to go back to normal, but it's still been a great WDW year for us anyway. For sure one we will never forget-and in a very positive light.

My July and August pandemic trips were fabulous. Some of the best WDW trips we have ever taken. February, however, was a completely different experience and in no way mirrored my July and August visits from a crowds/wait time standpoint.

Right after opening was an AMAZING time to visit the parks. I don't feel the same way at the moment. I'll still go this fall because I don't really mind if we don't ride much, but this year, IMO, is a very different experience than just ~ 6 months ago.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Not news AT ALL (sorry) but while you are browsing news, stressing about crowds and/or trip planning, I recommend this awesome site for some great parks music: http://soundsofdisneyland.com/

 

[kylenne]

Not news AT ALL (sorry) but while you are browsing news, stressing about crowds and/or trip planning, I recommend this awesome site for some great parks music: http://soundsofdisneyland.com/

I like Sorcerer Radio also, they’re my go to background music while working from home

 

[VeronicaZS]

At the risk of starting another mask debate (I swear I'm not), I am very curious how you all think Disney will start walking back the mask requirement? Do you think it will be gradual or one day masks will be required and the next day they won't be? I think it would be phased out, maybe only indoors and then finally not required anywhere.
How do you think they will decide the timing of that? Percent of the population that has been vaccinated, COVID rates below a certain threshold, an order by the government (CDC or President), other, all of the above?
I do think Disney will let guests wear masks for years to come.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

[CarolynFH]

At the risk of starting another mask debate (I swear I'm not), I am very curious how you all think Disney will start walking back the mask requirement? Do you think it will be gradual or one day masks will be required and the next day they won't be? I think it would be phased out, maybe only indoors and then finally not required anywhere.
How do you think they will decide the timing of that? Percent of the population that has been vaccinated, COVID rates below a certain threshold, an order by the government (CDC or President), other, all of the above?
I do think Disney will let guests wear masks for years to come.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I think that Disney is consulting with the CDC and with others who have expertise in COVID as well as with other airborne viruses and will relax the mask requirements when the guidance from those experts makes Disney comfortable with doing so.

 

[Eric Smith]

At the risk of starting another mask debate (I swear I'm not), I am very curious how you all think Disney will start walking back the mask requirement? Do you think it will be gradual or one day masks will be required and the next day they won't be? I think it would be phased out, maybe only indoors and then finally not required anywhere.
How do you think they will decide the timing of that? Percent of the population that has been vaccinated, COVID rates below a certain threshold, an order by the government (CDC or President), other, all of the above?
I do think Disney will let guests wear masks for years to come.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Disney won't change the mask mandate until the CDC changes their guidance. Masks will probably be the last thing to go as they don't cost Disney money and don't affect park capacity.

 

[HokieRaven5]

At the risk of starting another mask debate (I swear I'm not), I am very curious how you all think Disney will start walking back the mask requirement? Do you think it will be gradual or one day masks will be required and the next day they won't be? I think it would be phased out, maybe only indoors and then finally not required anywhere.
How do you think they will decide the timing of that? Percent of the population that has been vaccinated, COVID rates below a certain threshold, an order by the government (CDC or President), other, all of the above?
I do think Disney will let guests wear masks for years to come.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I don't see them doing a indoor/outdoor situation for the theme parks at any point (water park obviously handled differently). It will either be mandated to wear them, or it won't. If they continue as they are currently it will be based upon whatever the CDC guidance is with their own implementations beyond if they still feel that necessary.

Personally I don't see the requirement dropping until next year once kids are eligible for the vaccine. Pfizer only just recently began testing on kids so maybe by the end of this year beginning of next year that will begin to happen as well. Even though their overall to kids risk has been low by comparison to adults Disney still will take the cautious approach on that.

 

[mrsap]

More good news, now for Disneyland CM’s...

All California Adults to be Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning April 15th

 

[mrsap]

Expiration Dates Extended on Select Disneyland Park Tickets

 

[hereforthechurros]

At the risk of starting another mask debate (I swear I'm not), I am very curious how you all think Disney will start walking back the mask requirement? Do you think it will be gradual or one day masks will be required and the next day they won't be? I think it would be phased out, maybe only indoors and then finally not required anywhere.
How do you think they will decide the timing of that? Percent of the population that has been vaccinated, COVID rates below a certain threshold, an order by the government (CDC or President), other, all of the above?
I do think Disney will let guests wear masks for years to come.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

All of the above. Remember that kids, a HUGE part of WDW attendance, don't even have access to a vaccine. With variants this thing will be trickier to end than we thought of so while we may reach herd immunity for one variant, we won't have that for another. But I remain positive that falling infection rates will allow for these things to relax by the end of summer. However do we take our masks off and let our guard down ahead of cold/flu/COVID season? Exhausting to consider.

EDIT: as others said, when CDC ends the need for masks so will WDW. That's the only thing that seems certain. Not saying herd immunity HAS to be reached for that to happen.

 

[mrsap]

‘Incredibles’ Room Retheme Confirmed for Disney’s Contemporary Resort

 

[VeronicaZS]

Interesting, everyone is pretty consistent with their thoughts.

How will they do it though, will you wake up one morning to a push notification on MDE saying masks are no longer required? I would imagine that people who are more cautious would freak out that they are now on a maskless vacation. Conversely, if they announce the easing of mask requirements at some future date it will be a nightmare to police in the days leading up to the mask free date.
The Disney+ documentary is going to be epic. (Not trying to start a rumor, I just really hope there is a Disney COVID documentary!)