Disneyland Reopening Speculation Superthread

[longtimedisneylurker]

I didn't see anything specific to this (unless I missed it) and if this is in the wrong thread let me know. Our two APs are expiring 9/4. Has anyone had AP's expire and have opted to have them extended by the amount of the closure (I had called to have this for our two APs when the initial emails came out with the options). Has anyone actually talked to a CM about his kind of situation?

My understanding was you only had to call if you didn't want to extend your APs and were choosing the refund, but maybe that was the way it was only if you had paid in full versus being on monthly payments. In any case, if you already opted to have your APs extended rather than take the refund option, I assume they will add on the total number of days from first day of park closure until your AP expiration date. Judging by how the app was handling my AP before it disappeared and stuff I have read about WDW, they may even end up adding 30 days to the APs, but I'm not counting on that. Ours expired shortly after Disneyland closed. At first, Disney was extending their expiration date in the app but when it became clear that no one knew when the parks would reopen they stopped doing that and the APs disappeared from the app. I was able to use the physical AP though in August to get discounts at Marceline's and World of Disney. So my expectation is that whenever Disney is ready to reopen, my AP will be active again for at least the number of days that were remaining on my pass when the parks closed.

 

[Mathmagicland]

I didn't see anything specific to this (unless I missed it) and if this is in the wrong thread let me know. Our two APs are expiring 9/4. Has anyone had AP's expire and have opted to have them extended by the amount of the closure (I had called to have this for our two APs when the initial emails came out with the options). Has anyone actually talked to a CM about his kind of situation?

Info on how APs are being handled from the Disneyland resort website - it all depends on whether AP is paid in full or on a Monthly pay plan, and whether or not an Expiration date extension is wanted.

Click on the Annual Passports to expand that section for the options details.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/travel-information/

 

[disneychrista]

Where do you find the color changes?

There was a news conference today. They said OC was one week purple one week red when they looked at the past two weeks when making the new map/assigning colors. When they reassign next Tuesday purple counties can be reassigned to red if they meet at least 2 weeks of red metrics. Those counties that are red or orange will have to be in that color for 3 weeks.

 

[midnight star]

There was a news conference today. They said OC was one week purple one week red when they looked at the past two weeks when making the new map/assigning colors. When they reassign next Tuesday purple counties can be reassigned to red if they meet at least 2 weeks of red metrics. Those counties that are red or orange will have to be in that color for 3 weeks.

Sheesh this is so confusing. It's like we need an engineering degree to understand this color-coding system. lol

Well good thing OC is headed in the right direction. Hopefully that means good things for DL.

 

[WonkaKid]

Where do you find the color changes?

Is this what you mean or are you talking about the CA COVID color tiers?

 

[worldtraveler996]

OK everyone, what do you say we get some fun "speculating" going again? What do you think will be the ride that the most people will want to ride first when they reopen? Me?
DCA: Cars ride (as my family calls it)
Disneyland: Probably anything at Galaxy's edge, but my oldie but goody pick would be Pirates.

I'm going with two DL first-timers (I've only been once myself pre-GE) so our firsts will probably be anything in GE in DL and Mission Breakout or RR in DCA. We have all been to WDW A LOT so they really want to see the rides unique to DL. Crossing our fingers for mid-October. I didn't know about the whiplash on Matterhorn the first time so I was really sore

 

[njchris]

Info on how APs are being handled from the Disneyland resort website - it all depends on whether AP is paid in full or on a Monthly pay plan, and whether or not an Expiration date extension is wanted.

Click on the Annual Passports to expand that section for the options details.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/travel-information/

Right, I read that but it doesn't say anywhere something like:
"if your pass is expiring before the park reopens, it will be extended from the date of reopening for how ever many months of the closure, regardless of your expiration date"

 

[disneychrista]

Sheesh this is so confusing. It's like we need an engineering degree to understand this color-coding system. lol

Well good thing OC is headed in the right direction. Hopefully that means good things for DL.

I think it’s just the first reassign that’s going to be that way to be fair to those counties that just meet the metrics to get off the old watch list. OC was off the watch list under the old rules but the new rules said they had to be there for two weeks (not 3 days). Other wise it is 3 weeks in a category before you can move and you must have 14 consecutive days of meeting the new metrics.

 

[WonkaKid]

Right, I read that but it doesn't say anywhere something like:
"if your pass is expiring before the park reopens, it will be extended from the date of reopening for how ever many months of the closure, regardless of your expiration date"

I’ve asked this very questions of CMs at DTD and they’ve all told me the same thing: that if you take no action, your AP will be extended automatically... once an opening date has been set.

 

[montreid]

I think it’s just the first reassign that’s going to be that way to be fair to those counties that just meet the metrics to get off the old watch list. OC was off the watch list under the old rules but the new rules said they had to be there for two weeks (not 3 days). Other wise it is 3 weeks in a category before you can move and you must have 14 consecutive days of meeting the new metrics.

Exactly. Like San Diego got off just one week prior to Orange and we're in the Red already and started the 21 day clock while Orange didn't -- yet the stats are running nearly parallel tracks just a few days apart. So reasonable to allow a rebalance of tiers after 1-2 weeks. Fully expect Orange County to be into the Red Tier.

Let's see where the data takes us in two weeks though with Red reopening of indoor activities. SD hasn't hit Orange Tier numbers anyways, so we'll be lucky to have it continue downward trends and not have another spike with the reopening.

Regardless would really be nice to have Food and Wine to transition us back. That'll be enough reason for us to stay up there and spend dollars.

@worldtraveler996 - don't gloss over the cross-over rides though - some are very different and you appreciate them and it's fun to compare notes -- Space, POTC, PP, BTMRR, Small World, HM-- all different and worth it --- of course! BTW, Matterhorn whiplash nothing compared to WDW Space's jarring track

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I didn't see anything specific to this (unless I missed it) and if this is in the wrong thread let me know. Our two APs are expiring 9/4. Has anyone had AP's expire and have opted to have them extended by the amount of the closure (I had called to have this for our two APs when the initial emails came out with the options). Has anyone actually talked to a CM about his kind of situation?

I called today for more info. My flex pass expired in mid-August. They told me today I can request a refund but couldn’t give me exact $ amount as it goes through a different person and they have to plug in my info to get that info. Other option is to have pass extended and they of course won’t know the new expiration date until they have an opening date. But once they announce the date, we can call back to request refund if we choose that. Also, she said when parks open, AP’s and ticket holders will be given priority reservations. HTH

 

[DLgal]

I read some really bad news regarding the vaccines today -- the mRNA vaccines need to be kept at -4 deg F (Moderna) and -94 deg F (Pfizer), this is going to be a MAJOR issue going forward, most of these vaccines cannot just be stocked in a normal freezer, much less shipped via standard cold-chain logistics vehicles.

Ugh. I really do think DL/all of us will have to adapt to no vaccine DL for quite a bit longer. Waiting for it isn't going to be feasible (yet).

-4 is not a big deal at all. My side by side freezer is currently set to -8. That's well within range for standard freezers. Liquid nitrogen can be used to store the ones that need to be colder. It's really not going to be a huge issue.

 

[JohnR5101]

For me, probably Peter Pan... and then Buzz seven or eight times ;-). Then POTC and HM.

Rob, why am I not surprised
For me, at this point I would even take Small World (oh, not that song again!). (Apologies to anyone who really loves that ride).

 

[mentos]

-4 is not a big deal at all. My side by side freezer is currently set to -8. That's well within range for standard freezers. Liquid nitrogen can be used to store the ones that need to be colder. It's really not going to be a huge issue.

It isn't, but it becomes an availability issue I'm limited in what I can buy based on storage.

Because a place like Disneyland will probably be competing for that same vaccine... granted, Disney can buy $10k lab grade fridges no sweat if they want to mass vaccinate their employees.

 

[DLgal]

OCs numbers put us very solidly ino Red territory and we will be able to move there next Tuesday when they redo the classifications.

Remember, they use a 7 day average WITH A 7 DAY LAG, so on Sept 8, they will look at the dates of 8/35-9/1. Using those dates, OC definitely qualifies for Red status.

In addition, our county health agency and school district both confirmed today that we are expected to move into Red on 9/8 and then will be eligible to reopen schools 2 weeks later, so 9/22.

IF Disneyland gets the go ahead to reopen once we are in Red, I expect the earliest possible date will be 9/22.

 

[EDS19]

Just to highlight a few things we KNOW from Disney and a few things we KNOW from the State of California’s new Blueprint for a Safer Economy... That help highlight why some are very optimistic an announcement is coming and why some are thinking it will still be some time until we get an announcement.

From Disney:

• Josh D’Amaro Chairman of Disney Parks said last week on the Dow report, when asked about Disneyland, “As soon as a date and those guidelines are set, I can tell you we’re ready. Needless to say, we’re eager to get the engine going again. I want to get cast members back to work as quickly as I can.”
• Jim MacPhee Disney World’s Chief operating officer said a week or two ago, “Disneyland has been ready to roll since July.”
• According to reports from Gay Days their Disney sources say Disneyland would need 10 days’ notice to get cast members back to work and trained before they can reopen. I’ve heard from some it may be closer to 14 days. So this last bullet is a little less official than the first two.

From the State of California:

• Currently no Guidelines provided for theme parks to reopen, none of the tiers currently allow for theme parks to reopen.
• From Governor Newsom: "It is a very dynamic conversation, and so we didn't include it in the update today. That is a separate conversation. It's an easier one to have, frankly, with some of the larger [theme parks]. We're trying to accommodate for some of the other amusement activities in the state, and so you'll be getting that as soon as we work through that. One of my afternoon meetings is in this space, and we're actively looking to see where we land on that."
• As others have mentioned Based on Orange Counties current case/positivity rate (if they stay where they have been for the past 9 days) they will be in the Red tier starting Tuesday Sept 8th.
• For every tier (other than purple) a county must be in that tier for 21 days before they can move to the next, and they must be at the “higher” tiers case/positivity rate for 14 days before moving to that tier. (And it is totally possible a county would have to move back a tier if they don’t meet standards for two weeks.)

The items above are what we know from official sources. Now this is me adding my own thoughts. Disney simply can’t make an announcement until they have the official guidelines, at the same time I think they are hoping the guidelines arrive soon. That may be why it seems like the current hotel cancelations are more of a “slow rolling” two weeks out cancelation instead of the usual mass email on Thursday afternoon. Disney knows they need two weeks to get the cast members back, but they are hopeful they can make an announcement once the State gives the green light. Still my opinion, but if the state follows the guidelines they have done with other sectors it is very likely we will see different “levels” of how open the parks can be. For comparison:

Museums and Aquariums: Purple: Outdoors Only. Red: Indoor activity 25% Capacity, Orange Indoor Activity 50% Capacity, Yellow can open indoor with modifications. So it may be that if Orange County has two rough weeks for case counts and ends up back in Purple Disneyland could remain open but only outdoor rides, outdoor dining, etc. and then when things improve indoor rides could reopen again at 25%. Or maybe decisions like this add to the difficulty and negotiations of finding what works best for the State and for the Theme Park sector as a whole.

 

[DLgal]

Just to highlight a few things we KNOW from Disney and a few things we KNOW from the State of California’s new Blueprint for a Safer Economy... That help highlight why some are very optimistic an announcement is coming and why some are thinking it will still be some time until we get an announcement.

From Disney:

• Josh D’Amaro Chairman of Disney Parks said last week on the Dow report, when asked about Disneyland, “As soon as a date and those guidelines are set, I can tell you we’re ready. Needless to say, we’re eager to get the engine going again. I want to get cast members back to work as quickly as I can.”
• Jim MacPhee Disney World’s Chief operating officer said a week or two ago, “Disneyland has been ready to roll since July.”
• According to reports from Gay Days their Disney sources say Disneyland would need 10 days’ notice to get cast members back to work and trained before they can reopen. I’ve heard from some it may be closer to 14 days. So this last bullet is a little less official than the first two.

From the State of California:

• Currently no Guidelines provided for theme parks to reopen, none of the tiers currently allow for theme parks to reopen.
• From Governor Newsom: "It is a very dynamic conversation, and so we didn't include it in the update today. That is a separate conversation. It's an easier one to have, frankly, with some of the larger [theme parks]. We're trying to accommodate for some of the other amusement activities in the state, and so you'll be getting that as soon as we work through that. One of my afternoon meetings is in this space, and we're actively looking to see where we land on that."
• As others have mentioned Based on Orange Counties current case/positivity rate (if they stay where they have been for the past 9 days) they will be in the Red tier starting Tuesday Sept 8th.
• For every tier (other than purple) a county must be in that tier for 21 days before they can move to the next, and they must be at the “higher” tiers case/positivity rate for 14 days before moving to that tier. (And it is totally possible a county would have to move back a tier if they don’t meet standards for two weeks.)

The items above are what we know from official sources. Now this is me adding my own thoughts. Disney simply can’t make an announcement until they have the official guidelines, at the same time I think they are hoping the guidelines arrive soon. That may be why it seems like the current hotel cancelations are more of a “slow rolling” two weeks out cancelation instead of the usual mass email on Thursday afternoon. Disney knows they need two weeks to get the cast members back, but they are hopeful they can make an announcement once the State gives the green light. Still my opinion, but if the state follows the guidelines they have done with other sectors it is very likely we will see different “levels” of how open the parks can be. For comparison:

Museums and Aquariums: Purple: Outdoors Only. Red: Indoor activity 25% Capacity, Orange Indoor Activity 50% Capacity, Yellow can open indoor with modifications. So it may be that if Orange County has two rough weeks for case counts and ends up back in Purple Disneyland could remain open but only outdoor rides, outdoor dining, etc. and then when things improve indoor rides could reopen again at 25%. Or maybe decisions like this add to the difficulty and negotiations of finding what works best for the State and for the Theme Park sector as a whole.

Good summary!

I also noticed that the quote from the Governor about the Theme Park guidelines actually sounds like they have ALREADY worked things out with "the larger theme parks" and that meeting last Friday was about how to accommodate for the smaller outdoor amusement activities so that there could be industry wide guidelines that work for everyone.

 

[Gaugersaurus]

Right, I read that but it doesn't say anywhere something like:
"if your pass is expiring before the park reopens, it will be extended from the date of reopening for how ever many months of the closure, regardless of your expiration date"

My premier pass expired on 3/16 and my expiration date was extended to 7/13 when WDW opened. Essentially it's expiration date + # days closed = new expiration date or reopening date + # calendar days remaining on pass = new expiration date. Both formulas should give the same date (+/- 1 day).

 

[crystal1313]

@azdisneylover five fires posted another horse on MSUSA on his Instagram today! They were walking the horse with a vest on. I’m taking this as a good sign.

 

[Dr. G]

Saying the same thing a slightly different way: unless Disney opts to add 30 bonus days, no one should expect their pass to be valid for more than about 365 days total when the park was open (subject to pass type blackouts). So if a pass expires during the closure, you don't get the entire length of the closure added to your pass; just adds the number of days you missed out on while your pass was unusable before it expired. If someone had 3 months left on their pass, they only get 3 months added. They don't get the full 6+ months Disneyland has been closed added on. Hope that makes sense.