Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[SarahC97]

Except there is a set capacity and you have to have a park reservation, so, one would hope, Disney would prepare to manage the crowd flow they, themselves have set. Because of the park reservation system, even if people are stuck there, Disney knows exactly how many people are showing up at the park based on the reservations. If Disney isn't staffing up to handle the reserved park guests, that's on them. Disney has been in this business long enough to know how many CMs they need on hand to handle the exact number of people who have made reservations for a park on any given day and should expect to reach their set capacity over a holiday weekend. If it's the case that they set park capacity for 35% and then didn't staff accordingly on a holiday weekend, that's just bad management on their part.

There's no question Disney isn't staffing appropriately. They know how many people are going to be in the park but it still seems like they're trying to get by with as few CMs as possible. The poor CMs seem frazzled and overwhelmed. They could do things to make it better, but they're not. My guess is they're just trying to save money on staffing at the cost of *shocked face* guest experience.

 

[kathi]

It's the inability to social distance in some areas of the park that has my husband wanting to cancel our 3/27 trip. We felt comfortable with the measures Disney was implementing, but it seems that when they are operating at close to 35%, it's just not working. I hope they make some adjustments before Easter.

 

[wilkydelts]

Disney is functioning within the parameters they have been given. For some people that is no issue for others it is not enough. If you are not ok with people crowding your space or minimum room to move Disney may not be right for you. Disney will do their best but it is on you to be aware because there will be people there who do not care to your levels.

 

[kathi]

Disney is functioning within the parameters they have been given.

What exactly does that mean? There is supposed to be at least some degree of social distancing and that was our expectation when we booked the trip. I'm seeing photos that clearly show that is not the case.

 

[skeettafic]

It's the inability to social distance in some areas of the park that has my husband wanting to cancel our 3/27 trip. We felt comfortable with the measures Disney was implementing, but it seems that when they are operating at close to 35%, it's just not working. I hope they make some adjustments before Easter.

We're considering the same. On one hand, I don't feel that just walking through a crowd of people who all have masks on is inherently that risky, I worry about what the overall ability to distance in lines, in restaurants, etc when there are that many people there. I've changed my mind a thousand times about whether to go or cancel in March.

 

[SeanWM48]

It's the inability to social distance in some areas of the park that has my husband wanting to cancel our 3/27 trip. We felt comfortable with the measures Disney was implementing, but it seems that when they are operating at close to 35%, it's just not working. I hope they make some adjustments before Easter.

i'm nobody to tell you what you or your husband should feel comfortable with. for what it's worth my girlfriend is very social-distance conscious and was comfortable the entire trip with an exception at the Be Our Guest restaurant and when we stopped at T-Rex for a drink in Springs. otherwise she found everything very well done for safety and distance.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Hey we are planning to hit Hollywood studios tomorrow (hoping to score a boarding group for rise in the morning). Fully plan to arrive well before opening to capitalize on early entry opportunity. We are trying to knock out all of the major headliners (of course working around rise boarding time) and based on the look of the weather tomorrow would try to get on as much as possible before possible rain. What is the first ride we should dart towards once entering the park? I’m guessing to focus on slinky dog, millennium falcon and MMRR. Can someone advise in what order should I do those three and then I plan to do tsmm and the other “major rides (tower of terror and Star Wars). Experiences and advise greatly appreciated

We took the Skyliner, arrived at the park at 8:05 am, and they opened the gates at 8:12 am. This is a significant jump as they hold cars/ride shared until roughly 8:15 am and buses start arriving after that. We did Slinky at 8:27 am. Then MMRR at 8:40 am. We could have easily headed to Smuggler's Run but our son decided he wanted to skip it.

Knowing that, I would do Slinky, Smuggler's Run, then head to the front for MMRR and you could be done with those by 9 am.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Few things we noticed on this trip...

Sooooo many people with Disneyland gear on seemingly coming to WDW to get their fix. Would love to know what they thought of the parks in their current state.

TS menus seem to be expanding. QS menus, while maybe a touch better than last year, are still limited. Dining was very in-demand this weekend. Little to nothing available for last minute TS and there was a steady stream of people with no options trying to get walk-in availability. No walk up availability anywhere we checked. Even Nomad Lounge which was a five minute wait over Christmas was unavailable all day during our AK visit. Many carts and freestanding food stands were closed despite the large crowds. Mobile order was regularly a 30-45 minute wait window.

Resorts seemed busier than last visit. We stayed at CBR, but also visited Riviera and Polynesian. Even before the visit there were hardly any reservations to be found. This was interesting because I don't believe they're spacing rooms or anything so does that signify a full house? So at CBR for example the pool was packed and the two QS locations were jammed 24/7. So what seemed like a full house but only 1/2 of the dining available.

Spacing wasn't as strict as it has been on the DME to the resorts. Same with attractions. Some were completely spaced, some weren't. Not sure if that's by design or just whoever is loading at the time.

Disney Springs is still the Wild West right now in terms of spacing and safety. We tried for hours to get a reservation elsewhere to avoid going there, but nothing popped up.

I figured Disney would go into coast mode for a while and it seems like they are. Let things pick up, try to profit as much as possible in that time, then start ramping up additional offerings as needed/able.

Like someone else mentioned, the collision of V Day, President's Day and Mardi Gras was known. But WDW not ramping up the staffing and offering when they have hard resort and park attendance numbers is not cool.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Has anybody had problems hopping to your park of choice the past few days?

I called the hotline at different times yesterday and Sunday, and all parks were open for hopping. (Watching for my March trip )

 

[hereforthechurros]

I called the hotline at different times yesterday and Sunday, and all parks were open for hopping. (Watching for my March trip )

Yeah no issues this past weekend despite MK and HS being unavailable on the park reservation calendar.

 

[EyeofDTiger75]

We were at Magic Kingdom this morning. Early on Crowd wasn’t too bad. Minimal wait for amine Train, and walked in Peter Pan, Small World, and Little Mermaid. Then things got crazy. Line for Mine Train nearly wrapped all around the ride.

Nearly a 30 minute wait to get into Gaston’s Tavern because they only had ONE register of three operating.

Haunted Mansion line was past the Liberty Bell’s entrance but moved quickly. As well as Tea Cups that wrapped around the bride completely but only waited maybe 20 mins.

crowds may be at 35% but with not princess greetings or restaurants like Chef Mickey’s servings lunch or dinner, crowds are all on the rides.

Now dining is a joke in my opinion. We are staying at the Contemporary and it’s a ghost town on the 4th floor. Chef Mickey’s could still be operating. Also, Crystal Palace is not worth it without the buffet. Way too expensive. It’s all you can eat, but only the entree you order.

don’t get me started on the mobile ordering.

we are going back to MK this evening. Animal Kigdom tomorrow and HS Thursday with a return to MK Friday.

We did Epcot yesterday. At 12pm the line for Frozen was through China and 100 mins.

 

[TinkSassy]

I’m a rope dropper and looking to avoid common pinch points - MK is my primary concern as I get a little agitated in FL when it is not COVID so my thought is to go there first and knock out my faves - PP, Pooh, SDMT, LM and Philharmagic. Which of these will open before the park (just based on recent experience- I know there are no guarantees)? I would normally circle back for Philharmagic (to not waste valuable early morning minutes) and may still as I can get there from the Liberty Square side. Thinking maybe SDMT, Pooh, PP, HM, BTMRR, Pirates, and then Jungle Cruise. I will be solo so can move quickly - clear the PP
Walkway and the Adventureland squish early then fill back in with Tiki, Country Bears and Philharmagic? Then swap sides of the park -
Splash is a no go as I hate getting wet and Space is off the list as it messes
my back up these days (if that helps with suggestions).

**should be a slower week as it is after this holiday and before Spring Breaks start.

 

[SarahC97]

What exactly does that mean? There is supposed to be at least some degree of social distancing and that was our expectation when we booked the trip. I'm seeing photos that clearly show that is not the case.

Based on my interactions with guest services and letting them know that I did not feel safe with distancing measures in the parks, I think that Disney has had their engineers plot out how many people can be let into the park to maintain a 6-foot distance in theory, but are leaving the practice totally up to the crowds in the park. So, in theory, there's room with available offerings for everyone being let into the park to distance. In practice, not so much. On paper, Disney says everything is fine and dandy.

 

[kathi]

Based on my interactions with guest services and letting them know that I did not feel safe with distancing measures in the parks, I think that Disney has had their engineers plot out how many people can be let into the park and maintain a 6-foot distance in theory, but are leaving the practice totally up to the crowds in the park. So, in theory, there's room with available offerings for everyone being let into the park to distance. In practice, not so much. On paper, Disney says everything is fine and dandy.

How often did you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with people? Can it be avoided? Tickets are crazy expensive (we usually have APs) and lines are long. The social distancing thing may be the final straw that makes us cancel (which I really don't want to do).

 

[SarahC97]

How often did you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with people? Can it be avoided? Tickets are crazy expensive (we usually have APs) and lines are long. The social distancing thing may be the final straw that makes us cancel (which I really don't want to do).

This is my opinion, but when you go during a busy time like a holiday week, you're going to find yourself very close to people as you try to traverse the parks. We were there at Thanksgiving and we ended up only going on rides that we could use my DAS for and finding a place to hide from people while we waited just so we weren't put in the position to be in a mass of people and feel unsafe. I've been back since when it wasn't as crowded and distancing was pretty easy except for at reliable choke points in the park, which could be avoided if you wanted. I guess it all just depends on what the crowds are like when you're there.

 

[Gentry2004]

How often did you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with people? Can it be avoided? Tickets are crazy expensive (we usually have APs) and lines are long. The social distancing thing may be the final straw that makes us cancel (which I really don't want to do).

Following along. We are in the exact same boat, same week, same concerns.

 

[ckb_nc]

We're considering the same. On one hand, I don't feel that just walking through a crowd of people who all have masks on is inherently that risky, I worry about what the overall ability to distance in lines, in restaurants, etc when there are that many people there. I've changed my mind a thousand times about whether to go or cancel in March.

I had 3 places that were concerns in our trip:

1) Fantasyland around Small World/Peter Pan - it is a traffic jam always - so much so that I purposely walked around the castle from Mine Train a couple of times
2) Hollywood Studios - heading into Galaxy's Edge by Star Tours - it was really crowded when we went this way - Galaxy's Edge is just crowded period at times.
3) AKL - Pandora - not horrible but not great.

Frankly number 1 was the ONLY time I felt like social distancing was impossible. But at the same time masks were never an issue. Disney Springs was far worse than any park for social distancing

 

[SarahC97]

I had 3 places that were concerns in our trip:

1) Fantasyland around Small World/Peter Pan - it is a traffic jam always - so much so that I purposely walked around the castle from Mine Train a couple of times
2) Hollywood Studios - heading into Galaxy's Edge by Star Tours - it was really crowded when we went this way - Galaxy's Edge is just crowded period at times.
3) AKL - Pandora - not horrible but not great.

Frankly number 1 was the ONLY time I felt like social distancing was impossible. But at the same time masks were never an issue. Disney Springs was far worse than any park for social distancing

I have felt the same. Even when I went in early January when the park was relatively calm, Galaxy's Edge was very difficult to distance in at many points. The worst places seem to be around the entrance to the rides there, IMO.

 

[ckb_nc]

I have felt the same. Even when I went in early January when the park was relatively calm, Galaxy's Edge was very difficult to distance in at many points. The worst places seem to be around the entrance to the rides there, IMO.

Agree on entrances which is why Small World/Peter Pan was so tight. Heck finding the end of lines becomes a whole new game now - the line for Haunted Mansion was into Frontier Land one day.

We went in December with lower crowd numbers. Everyone make their own decision, based upon their own risk factors. But I encountered more unmasked people in a convenience store one evening here in NC than I did at WDW in a week.

 

[SarahC97]

Agree on entrances which is why Small World/Peter Pan was so tight. Heck finding the end of lines becomes a whole new game now - the line for Haunted Mansion was into Frontier Land one day.

We went in December with lower crowd numbers. Everyone make their own decision, based upon their own risk factors. But I encountered more unmasked people in a convenience store one evening here in NC than I did at WDW in a week.

Really true about the masks. I've been 6 times since reopening and honestly, the mask compliance seems to get better and better. Maybe it's because the weather is cooler, too, but I do see CMs enforcing the masks and I'm grateful for it.