Rumor about “modified experiences” when Disney reopens (read 1st post for potential modifications being considered)

[tlmadden73]

I don't know how much of this will cause people with current reservations to cancel. Those with job or money issues, or who are nervous about going out during a pandemic, have probably already cancelled.

A lot of those people (who are nervous or may have economic reasons) may still be hanging onto to the reservations -- just no reason to cancel right now without more information unless they need they desperately need their deposit back. Plus .. Disney has shown that they will give a promotional discount to anyone's reservations that are forcibly cancelled. (I'm not sure, but you may not be valid for any future discounts if you voluntarily cancel your reservation).

Personally I am just waiting to see what the plans are and what things look like (virus-wise) come June. Also seeing if Disney will offer some "please don't cancel" discount (though I doubt they will need to do that if they want to severely limit capaicty) or some sort of "please come back later" discount.

 

[Eric Smith]

There’s over 9000 rooms on site not including good neighbor hotels. If they’re allowing 30% in, potentially less, I think they’re stretching the limit if all resorts and rooms are open, and theyre all guaranteed a park entry. And thats just Disney resorts, which would mean no one without a resort reservation, and EPCOT being open along with the other 3 parks. Maybe not all resorts are full, and there’s probably people waiting for Disney to release the news before they cancel because I believe you can only cancel airfare with no fees if/when your accommodations are cancelled. And not every resort guest will go to the parks on every day of their stay, some will have a resort day, some will venture off property, or go to DS. Either way, it’s going to be interesting how they go about the capacity and who’s allowed in

I don't think the hotels are going to be close to full when they open. I just checked availability for June 1-3 and the only hotels that don't have rooms are Coronado Springs and the Poly Villas/Bungalows. They're going to allow all guests with a resort reservation in to at least one park on a given day.

 

[Spridell]

The 6 foot guideline from the CDC that says 6 feet EXPIRED last week.

It is now up to the local Governors to make their own rules in regarding social distancing.

Technically, FL Governor could make special rules for Disney World. He has that authority. OR, Disney makes up their rules and the Governor signs off on it.

But the CDC 6 foot mandate is no longer in effect. Yes people are still using it (and should).

 

[Mit88]

I don't think the hotels are going to be close to full when they open. I just checked availability for June 1-3 and the only hotels that don't have rooms are Coronado Springs and the Poly Villas/Bungalows. They're going to allow all guests with a resort reservation in to at least one park on a given day.

Let’s say they’re at 75% capacity on property (might be higher than the actual current reservations) and say the average room has 4 people staying in it, we’re talking around 30,000 people. If they open all 4 parks, theres plenty of room to fit everyone staying in the resorts into the parks, even at 25%. Almost all resort guests could fit into either MK or EPCOT at 25% capacity (if they’re both truly 100k full capacity). Based on rumored capacity for the parks, you’re talking about 50k between EPCOT and MK, another 18k at DHS and 15k at AK. About 80k people could be fit between the 4 parks. Granted thats assuming the capacity numbers are what’s rumored when you google them, and that they’re using those numbers as opposed to 25% of average day capacity

 

[Mit88]

Im hearing rumors that if you wear a mask in the parks for the full day (sans eating and drinking) Disney will give those that do so the opportunity to ride Rise of Resistance two times in a single day without having to join a boarding group.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I think it's going to closer to July if not later. While it may take a short time to train CM's and implement social distancing measures this biggest thing people overlook is getting all the attractions up and running again. They all have been shutdown this whole time as well as some have had their hydraulic fluid drained. I look at the same as a seasonal park when they reopen. It takes them a good month to get the rides up to speed from being closed.

even more than a month

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I don't know but either way it's going to take time to get attractions up and running. I would imagine they would have to run so many cycles to pass inspection

all is true and something that doesn't happen after a day or 2 closure like for a storm. this is going to be something that hasn't had to be done at either Disney park

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

NM

 

[RamblingMad]

I’m hoping the CM masks go with their costumes. For instance in GE have masks that look like they would be used for sandstorms.

If Mickey wore a mask, I’m sure more kids would be cool with it.

 

[anthony2k7]

all is true and something that doesn't happen after a day or 2 closure like for a storm. this is going to be something that hasn't had to be done at either Disney park

Exactly, and even when they do bring back all the maintenance staff that is only enough guys that usually have maybe one or two attractions with issues to deal with at a time. They have got to work their way through every attraction at every park. I'm betting nearly every single one will have issues of some sort.

 

[Jrb1979]

Exactly, and even when they do bring back all the maintenance staff that is only enough guys that usually have maybe one or two attractions with issues to deal with at a time. They have got to work their way through every attraction at every pack. I'm betting nearly every single one will have issues of some sort.

People overlook that part for some reason.

 

[DisLiss]

I don't even know if I want to go to Disney on June 15th if they are open with "modified" experiences .. (no shows, no fireworks, "socially distant" M&Gs, etc.).

I think a great many people feel the same. They feel that there are certain modifications they are willing to deal with and certain ones they are not. I agree with everyone who feels that when the opening date and modifications are announced that people will self-cancel.
I have one child on the cusp of not being a "little-ish" kid much longer. So for us, who do not go to WDW regularly, we have to decide if we want our last trip with the youngest still fairly young to be a modified trip or if we want to go in 2021 when they will be one year older, but with no modifications. Because if we go in 2020 and we have to miss things, then by the time we return the youngest won't be little at all any more.

I'm leaning heavily towards waiting, which will have us being one of the self-cancelling families when the time comes.

 

[Mit88]

all is true and something that doesn't happen after a day or 2 closure like for a storm. this is going to be something that hasn't had to be done at either Disney park

This length of closure has never happened for Disney. Most seasonal parks deal with cold winters affecting the outdoor rides (mostly coasters). I don’t think anyone really knows how long it’ll take for Disney to get their rides back up and running. If it takes a month to get Dumbo going around in circles again, we might have bigger issues

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Exactly, and even when they do bring back all the maintenance staff that is only enough guys that usually have maybe one or two attractions with issues to deal with at a time. They have got to work their way through every attraction at every pack. I'm betting nearly every single one will have issues of some sort.

I agree as this has never had to be done before or than opening day. I would be looking at the reopening of the park as a park opening day with all that goes into getting rides open. not just the "flip" the switch like a day or 2 for a storm that has happened before

 

[Betty Rohrer]

This length of closure has never happened for Disney. Most seasonal parks deal with cold winters affecting the outdoor rides (mostly coasters). I don’t think anyone really knows how long it’ll take for Disney to get their rides back up and running. If it takes a month to get Dumbo going around in circles again, we might have bigger issues

I am saying what I am based on what has to happen each year at the park I work at. and that includes all the rides at my park as none are indoors. and right now no one and that includes Disney knows what is going to happen when they have to reopen all rides at once as it has never happened for this long before

 

[gottalovepluto]

I don't know how much of this will cause people with current reservations to cancel. Those with job or money issues, or who are nervous about going out during a pandemic, have probably already cancelled.

If they come out with rules/procedures that will noticeably impact the experience then yes, they will see cancellations. I'm still holding on and am close to die hard fan but mandatory masks and I'm peacing out. They also might see new bookings once a date is out- but that's going to be a hard sell due to the reasons you stated + whatever the new rules are.

 

[yulilin3]

There are maintenance and custodial and security cm in the parks right now. No one, other than those there, know what they are doing, they might be running the attractions every once in a while, they might have turned them off all together. What I do know is that after lengthy refurbishments they run the attractions about 3 to 4 days before opening them for guests. It's not like these are brand new rides that need stress testing, they've done that already.

 

[J-BOY]

This length of closure has never happened for Disney. Most seasonal parks deal with cold winters affecting the outdoor rides (mostly coasters). I don’t think anyone really knows how long it’ll take for Disney to get their rides back up and running. If it takes a month to get Dumbo going around in circles again, we might have bigger issues

It's not just Dumbo, though. Think of all of the coasters that rely on brakes, etc. Those will require a lot of testing. Think of all of the animatronics in it's a small world or Pirates as well - those have all likely been fully turned off and drained. Every single one will need to be re-activated, tested thoroughly and deemed safe.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I do not understand why Disney won’t release what their plans are for reopening regardless of WHEN they reopen.

imho because Disney hasn't completely settled on their plans yet.

 

[anthony2k7]

There are maintenance and custodial and security cm in the parks right now. No one, other than those there, know what they are doing, they might be running the attractions every once in a while, they might have turned them off all together. What I do know is that after lengthy refurbishments they run the attractions about 3 to 4 days before opening them for guests. It's not like these are brand new rides that need stress testing, they've done that already.

That crew doing that for 3 to 4 days has got to do that for every attractions. It's not something they can likely do more than one at the same time.

Which raises another question, once they get one running, it might be another 2 weeks before they get the rest done - what do they do with the first one in the mean time, does it need running X hours a day?