Reopening at reduced capacity

[Disney1fan2002]

I am optimistic that Disney will open by June 1st. It will be with very strict guidelines, I am sure. One of them being reducing the number of people into the parks. I am trying to think of what that number would be? Enough for a profit, but keep people safe at the same time. I am thinking on the lines of the halloween and Christmas party, but not of today. Let's go in the way back machine of 20 years ago, where they capped it and you would be told the event was sold out. If you were lucky enough to get a ticket, there were literally no lines anywhere!! No lines to get on any rides, no lines to meet the characters, and stand anywhere for the parade without having to sit for 3 hours to save a spot. (today's parties are a joke, the park is more full for the party than all day). Does anyone know what the ticket numbers were back then? I am thinking they will only want so many people in the park to keep the lines down, because, I am also sure we will need to keep the 6 ft rule.

I am hoping the resorts will be open by June 1st. I don't care about the parks. I just want to go and enjoy a week in a Disney resort hotel room and smell that Disney air.

 

[conandrob240]

We can hope!

 

[wilkydelts]

All the parties I attend have walk on rides with the exception of a couple choice rides. The only thing super busy at the parties is the party specific themed parade.

 

[conandrob240]

I’ve been at some when it felt more crowded than it should for the price. It’ll be delightful if it’s cut in half

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I went to a Halloween party in August of 2017. I was super excited that they made the party available in August, because prior to that the parties started in September. I thought it would be like a ghost town, because who wants to go to a Halloween party in August? Pretty much everyone that was there that week. It was so crowded, especially around the Castle stage, because of the shows and the parade, it was grid locked! We could not move. Many of the rides had a 40 minute wait. Both my son and I were more than ticked off. Forget about getting any candy. The candy lines were 50 people deep. We decided candy wasn't worth waiting in line for when we could be going on the rides. People were sitting waiting for the parade at 7pm. You spend almost $100/ticket to sit o the parade route for 3 hours? The party is only 4 hours long. We will NEVER attend another party, be it halloween or Christmas. Not worth the extra money IMO. We have the hindsight of knowing what it was like 20 years ago, when they actually capped ticket sales.

 

[TarotFox]

Half capacity doesn't necessarily mean reduced wait times.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Half capacity doesn't necessarily mean reduced wait times.

I have been wondering about this as well. I think the wait times will be shorter, because they are going to limit the amount of people inside the line queues I am sure of it. So, lets take FOP. Say the line holds 700 people full. Creating a 3 hour wait. If Disney holds us to the 6 ft distancing inside the line queues, there might only be 100 people in the line at one time. The line would move quicker. BUT....I also think Disney will sterilize and clean after each ride, so that may slow things down. It is so hard to tell, but I will be happy to come back and give a full report after my June 1-9 trip! LOL

 

[TarotFox]

Yes, the fact that things will potentially need to be sterilized, or they might not allow people to sit on every single link chair, etc., is going to slow things down. How can you socially distance on something like Pirates while maintaining the high capacity the ride is known for (to say nothing of the fact that 6ft isn't a magic barrier considering it can linger in the air).

 

[KMP12]

For us short lines isn't enough. We want characters and hugs and parades and fireworks

 

[gharter]

Half capacity doesn't necessarily mean reduced wait times.

I'm expecting at that point, they will also have less CMs and not running all the vehicles.
Wouldn't be surprised to see slightly shorter wait times, but not expecting drastic changes.

 

[westie55]

I expect wait times to be about the same. There may be half the crowd, but if they are only seating every other row on rides then any advantage to lower crowds in terms of wait times is lost.

 

[Flamingeaux]

Do you think they will make families social distance? I don't see any reason to.

 

[westie55]

Do you think they will make families social distance? I don't see any reason to.

I don't think there is any reason for that. Parties will be distanced from each other. Parents with small children cannot distance from their kids anyway.

 

[kimmar067]

...my DS is a CM and he will be flying back to Florida [from New Jersey] the 15th; they will be going through some extensive training regarding protocol for reopening WDW. From what he understands, it'll be 50% capacity, with not all the parks opening. Just a gut feeling, but he seems to think that Epcot will probably reopen in 2021.

 

[AJA55]

Sure hope you are wrong about Epcot. It's our fav.