How long do you think the quiet will last?

[Spazz2k]

Just curious as to how long everyone thinks the parks and resorts will be this level of people. I just read that Disney has offered 60% off hotel stays for cast members thru September, which indicates to me that Disney is seeing very light bookings currently. I personally don't have anymore scheduled trips till September, but we stayed last week at RR and loved the small crowds. I am happy to see how well it appears the opening went yesterday and I wonder when they open the other 2 parks if it will spread the crowds out even more. I can't help but get excited to go in September and see short wait times and less people, it has been a long time since we have really been able to enjoy a park without feeling overcrowded.

What are your thoughts?

 

[JM23457]

Just curious as to how long everyone thinks the parks and resorts will be this level of people. I just read that Disney has offered 60% off hotel stays for cast members thru September, which indicates to me that Disney is seeing very light bookings currently. I personally don't have anymore scheduled trips till September, but we stayed last week at RR and loved the small crowds. I am happy to see how well it appears the opening went yesterday and I wonder when they open the other 2 parks if it will spread the crowds out even more. I can't help but get excited to go in September and see short wait times and less people, it has been a long time since we have really been able to enjoy a park without feeling overcrowded.

What are your thoughts?

I think low numbers are here to stay until Covid hysteria dies down.

 

[Chrisizzle]

Canadian border closures means visiting isn‘t even an option if I wanted it. I have no idea what the USA to other countries restrictions are. However, I’d guess you won’t see any major increase in crowds as long as Disney is effectively only open to US residents.

 

[westie55]

I think numbers will continue to be low until covid resolves, and especially low while cases surge in FL.

 

[Tonberry]

We had to cancel our August resort reservation due to the travel restrictions of both CT and FL. We rescheduled to December, and had nearly any pick of any open resort we wanted, even more than half of DVC resorts have availability, which is unheard of for December.

There's a lot of reasons why it's slow and will stay slow:

Travel restrictions to and from FL from other states, positive cases that were projected to go down but are now going up, FL cases that are out of control right now, threat and worry about a re surge of the virus, no international travel, no tour groups, no conventions, no sporting events (Pop Warner), no competitions, reduced hours, no fireworks, parades, or meet and greets, few, if any special events, mask requirements, and I could go on.

I think it'll be low and quiet for at least the end of the year. And possibly through the winter months, depending on how things go.

 

[CastAStone]

Spring?

About 1 in 4 guests are international normally. So that’s out.

Then In the US you just have a generally bad situation. Best case vaccine timelines are end of this year, but that’s just for approval. Then you need dissemination. So that’s one avenue to increasing attendance, another is that people stop caring but I don’t think that’s likely, another is that one way or another the lethality rate drops considerably. That’s possible, and could really happen at any time, either through a treatment development or viral mutation. But if it does happen it’s going to take months to recognize that it did happen.

The fact that people stayed away from reopening day, that they couldn’t sell out reopening day, I think it’s an indication that most people simply don’t want to go spend that much money to have this experience with this level of risk.

Walt Disney World 2020: A regional amusement park.

 

[buzznina]

With our state (FL) setting daily records of cases, I would say through most or all of this year. I definitely do not think it's hysteria, that's so dumb!

 

[Marthasor]

Until international and domestic travel restrictions are dropped, I would expect what you see now is what levels will continue to be. In fact, once school starts, I think crowds will drop precipitously until we hit school holiday weeks.

 

[tuckymom]

I would expect they reevaluate every 2-4 weeks to see where they are for rides, lines, COVID-19, cost/benefit for restaurants, health concerns in the Orlando area, publicity, etc. I still think the numbers stay low through the end of the year.

I don't expect fireworks or parades until 2021 but I could see some more things being added back like a few more restaurants in Epcot before the end of the year.

 

[AllieBoo]

If they are seeing light bookings, then I'm curious why there aren't more discounts available to non cast members/non passholders right now?

 

[CastAStone]

If they are seeing light bookings, then I'm curious why there aren't more discounts available to non cast members/non passholders right now?

I am guessing they’re rolling out the discounts one at a time to see the reaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney Visa cardholders were next.

 

[VandVsmama]

I am guessing they’re rolling out the discounts one at a time to see the reaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney Visa cardholders were next.

I agree. Then after that, there will be discounts to the general population.

 

[brockash]

Just curious as to how long everyone thinks the parks and resorts will be this level of people. I just read that Disney has offered 60% off hotel stays for cast members thru September, which indicates to me that Disney is seeing very light bookings currently. I personally don't have anymore scheduled trips till September, but we stayed last week at RR and loved the small crowds. I am happy to see how well it appears the opening went yesterday and I wonder when they open the other 2 parks if it will spread the crowds out even more. I can't help but get excited to go in September and see short wait times and less people, it has been a long time since we have really been able to enjoy a park without feeling overcrowded.

What are your thoughts?

I'm hoping at least through our trip in September, but I'm getting pretty antsy about it. Realistically I just dont know how they can financially justify staying at this level. I'm pretty concerned that they'll be a good amount of cuts, a much higher attendance or absolute worst another shut down before we can get there (after our first 3 trips for the year have been canceled.) I really hope I'm just preparing myself and that things stay relatively the same, but man it's hard.

 

[Spazz2k]

It does seem to really change the dynamic of how to approach the parks. Seems from everything I have seen that the parks are pretty much empty by the middle of the day. Between the heat, and the ease at which you can make it thru all the rides, people are done by 2:00....if I were to go currently, I would skip the crazy at park opening and arrive later in the morning.

 

[tuckymom]

Disney is making money with the NBA and other sports teams. Whatever deal that is, it is worth millions.

Disney is also losing much less money now that they are reopen. They can charge AP again. They are getting packages again. They are selling food and merchandise. They are selling tickets. They are having cash flow again.

 

[Sakiki]

Canadian border closures means visiting isn‘t even an option if I wanted it. I have no idea what the USA to other countries restrictions are. However, I’d guess you won’t see any major increase in crowds as long as Disney is effectively only open to US residents.

Well, all visitors from Europe including the UK and Ireland are currently not allowed to enter the USA so that cuts down a lot of potential visitors. Basically I believe WDW is only available to US residents - though how long the parks and hotels can survive on ‘local’ traffic only is anyone’s guess...

 

[Miffy]

A lot of us WDW regulars are in the NY/NJ/CT area and right now it's just impossible, with a 14-day quarantine on both ends of the trip. So I agree that until the travel restrictions are lifted and probably until there's a vaccine, the attendance at WDW is going to be much lower than we're used to seeing. I only wish I could take advantage of it!

 

[DSLRuser]

I bet it all magically goes back to normal mid November after the election. Regardless of the outcome in November, the narrative will have been played out and the media will come up with something else to scare everyone with.

 

[denecarter]

Southwest is our goto flying choice when driving isn’t practical (2 days each way). This morning, I was able to get 12/5-12/13 Dallas to Orlando for 10 for $90 each... roundtrip with taxes. Yes, they are early morning going and late evening returning, but there were other options within $4 of that available. That’s less than half of what we paid in February.

Also, there isn’t a single day in December that all 4 parks aren’t available for all three pass groups. I had been worried because 6 members of the group still haven’t bought their Military Salute tickets (waiting for payday). Doesn’t look like it will be a problem.

 

[dd316]

Disney is making money with the NBA and other sports teams. Whatever deal that is, it is worth millions.

Disney is also losing much less money now that they are reopen. They can charge AP again. They are getting packages again. They are selling food and merchandise. They are selling tickets. They are having cash flow again.

Whatever cash flow they're generating likely isn't covering operating costs, at least not yet. I think they'll be operating in the red for some time.