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

[LSUmiss]

Sorry, I corrected my post, it was 35% for OKW, Riviera and YC. Still much better than what I could get under the summer fun discount.

Yeah it was weird. We were booked at Poly first under AP & it was better. But when I started pricing villas Kidani & Boulder Ridge were cheaper under the summer discount.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agreed! If you can get past the largely cosmetic issues with the construction, there is A LOT going on at EPCOT. I wonder if they won’t go in a different direction and only open MK and EPCOT. They could add a festival to EPCOT (festival of summer or something), which would give them some extra food choices if any of the WS restaurants can’t open without international CMs. I agree that they’ll have to open MK, but EPCOT is really the best option they have for social distancing, even with the construction walls.

I agree in theory but two things make me think they may delay EPCOT:
- construction: front is a mess. This would give them time to work through the work quicker
- international Came that they sent home, will take longer to get enough back in this country

 

[Sandisw]

My guess.. Parks open 6/15. resorts not until 7/6 to get past july 4th.

That length of time between park and DVC resorts would put them on very shaky legal grounds with DVC owners.

Will be hard to keep those closed much longer given terms of the POS . I could see a few extra days to get resorts but not much more than a week

Less than 12 hours and it should be answered!

 

[Laurabearz]

Tossing out a last minute guess...

Reopening Parks first for cast members, then AP and DVC, with DVC resorts and monorail resorts Opening simultaneously.

Then in a week or two a couple of mods and pop....

 

[ToyStoryManiaMouse]

The most shocking part would be DFB being the first to report something. Is that too mean

The app has said this for like 2 weeks when I look at fast passes....

 

[Morrighan]

To add to the EPCOT later speculation - Disney careers is still running job postings for international CMs (for both Norway & Germany, there were other countries posted back in April) the start dates in the job postings (which were bolded) August through November 2020.

Can they hire locally for maybe 6 weeks.. perhaps, but unlikely. Too short term to do all the training & other job logistics like interviews, screening/vetting, and familiarizing the temporary CMs with the actual representation of which ever country they end up in, only to do it again when the new CMs arrive.
Simpler to just stay closed for the few extra weeks & save the costs and hassle of doing things twice in a short period.

Currently Norwegians are being told that they should prepare themselves for not travelling abroad this year, and that if we choose to go against whatever our government advice is at the point of departure we might loose some of our insurance coverage. I don't think Disney is going to have much luck recruiting over here.

 

[SarahC97]

That length of time between park and DVC resorts would put them on very shaky legal grounds with DVC owners.

Will be hard to keep those closed much longer given terms of the POS . I could see a few extra days to get resorts but not much more than a week

Less than 12 hours and it should be answered!

Will they have to open all DVC resorts at the same time? Or would it be possible to start with a few select DVC resorts amd bring others online later?

 

[jflanderbo1]

I'm guessing they'll have to open them all at once because people have reservations at all of them, though there is availability at all of them currently. I'm booked at OKW from June 6-19 and I keep wondering if they'll cancel some of mine--or all of it and having no clue what will happen with my flights.

 

[tinkerhon]

Of course everyone is going to have different opinions about which parks they like best. Epcot in it's former glory is a favorite park to probably half the die-hard message board fans. But there is no denying it can't compare to the other 3 right now in terms of new things to draw people in. MK is MK. Enough said. Star Wars and MMRR in Studios plus TSL. Avatar in AK. Plus all the construction and possible lack of CMs. We don't even know if all the restaurants will be able to reopen, which is where Epcot makes a lot of their money. This lets them open up the most profitable and least disturbed (and arguably most popular) part of the park, and ramp up construction without guests after being shut down for 2 months and getting behind schedule.

I don't think there is any way they will anything remotely similar to what I proposed, but I think it's a good idea and compromise.

maybe as far as rides/attractions go - but to many (like us), the World Showcase IS Disney - jmho

 

[tinkerhon]

We’ve been talking about this a lot in our house. As much as we all want to go and understand the importance of wearing masks and do at home when we go into a store, etc....I just don’t think I could wear one somewhere like Disney. I can barely make it through the grocery store and am ripping it off the second I’m outside. I don’t know how essential workers are wearing them as long as they are. I just don’t know how on earth I could wear one there. Especially in the heat and humidity. And being a northern gal, I already struggle down there in the summer with no mask on! lol

Took nightly walk with DD14 before here in NYC - believe it was in the upper 50s - after 1 time around the block, she looked at me and asked if we were still going to Florida (mid-july) if masks are required - we felt like we were suffocating, and it was a beautiful night with a nice breeze - can't imagine wearing it in Disney in the summer
I totally understand that it's necessary, but we simply won't be able to go if they are required - i wouldn't even want to wait for a bus (if there are any) while wearing the mask !

 

[ocdb8r1]

I find their plans interesting. Especially the lack of you-know-whats!

The Dutch are being very conservative on the mask front and basically only require them where social distancing is not possible (e.g. public transport). They are trying to keep a very consistent message that where possible you MUST use social distancing as it is the best form of defense in public. Where not possible, you should wear a face covering to protect others (as protection provided to yourself is minimal unless using a medical grade mask). They are very concerned if you require masks where social distancing is possible, people will ignore the distancing rule assuming masks provide sufficient protection.

 

[ocdb8r1]

Currently Norwegians are being told that they should prepare themselves for not travelling abroad this year, and that if we choose to go against whatever our government advice is at the point of departure we might loose some of our insurance coverage. I don't think Disney is going to have much luck recruiting over here.

The travel advice applies to "non-essential travel" - in every jurisdiction I have read up on, travel for employment purposes is consider essential and not covered by the advisory. I checked both the English and Norwegian language guidance and didn't find anything specific to employment. While I think there will be some difficulty in recruiting given the overall situation, I don't think the Norwegian (or other European) travel advisories are a particular impediment.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Currently Norwegians are being told that they should prepare themselves for not travelling abroad this year, and that if we choose to go against whatever our government advice is at the point of departure we might loose some of our insurance coverage. I don't think Disney is going to have much luck recruiting over here.

Does Norway have a quarantine period for people entering the country, like the U.K. is introducing on 8 June? I am trying to work out the purpose of the U.K. FO advisory against ‘non essential’ travel with a 14 day quarantine on return. Maybe the latter suggests that the former will be lifted. Otherwise, I think the only benefit will be to travel insurers/underwriters who will rely on exclusions to avoid claims.
Does anyone have any news/thoughts on when the US will lift the travel ban?

 

[yulilin3]

May 31st through June 6th schedule posted but no shift.
Whatever happens today remember it's not the front of line cm job to listen to endless calls of people complaining, be kind if you're calling for whatever reason, when you do come, be kind, many cm have yet to see an unemployment or federal check. If masks are mandatory and you still decide to come, abide by the rules. if you're upset or thankful or just want to reach out to Disney
Wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

I'll be live streaming from Disney springs today for the reopening of World of Disney at 10am, my DD wil have orange tv on her phone so we'll get the news live.
And as always...MTFBWY

 

[bookwormde]

I'm guessing they'll have to open them all at once because people have reservations at all of them, though there is availability at all of them currently. I'm booked at OKW from June 6-19 and I keep wondering if they'll cancel some of mine--or all of it and having no clue what will happen with my flights.

from what we can tell the answer is that they can open only some of the resorts, though it could create secondary issues around maintenance fees and point usability. We have seen this for short period of times, but if it is for a long time we are in uncharted waters.

 

[Leigh L]

I just don't understand Epcot being closed. Its more space for spacing everyone out. Even with so much renovation going on

Have you been since they put the walls up? It's really not at all. It's the most claustraphobic park. I know it's huge in space but a lot of that is just the lagoon. WS is a nightmare almost always at nights and on weekends. You can find space outside the Land Pavilion and to a lesser extend Test Track but how often do you really want to be hanging out in those areas. The new walkways are very narrow and crowded.

I was just thinking something similar. When we were at Epcot in January, it was a crowded hot mess. I think it would be hard to socially distance even with lower capacity.
Normally, we end our last night at WDW at the latest park open and, this year, it was a Tuesday with EMH at Epcot. We opted to end our night at Galaxy's Edge hours earlier to finish our trip on a high note. My family isn't one to complain but exiting Epcot after Epcot Forever was truly awful the night we did go there - enough where no one wanted to go back, lol.

 

[Leigh L]

I have to disagree with your assessment that Epcot has very little draw to “most guests” outside of F& W. You may not see much attraction there, but that doesn’t mean most guests don’t.

I agree. Epcot is awesome (just not right now with the walls everywhere)

What I would love to see is WDW close Epcot through summer or September (and I have an August trip) and use that time to get some things done construction and maintenance wise. Disney wouldn't have to worry about staffing and it would give them opportunity to finish the things already funded or that can't remain walled indefinitely, especially with social distancing requirements. Open up in September when it's lower crowds. more space, more time to bring CMs back, and easier to finish off some construction.

 

[yankeesfan123]

Last minute crazy predictions:

- parks open sans Epcot on 6/1 to CM, 6/8 to othersNo resorts. You must have a reservation to attend, which are only available on a per-day basis and parks could have limited hours to allow for extensive overnight cleaning. This stays in effect until 7/6 (I chose 6/1 to give @WebmasterPete some respect)

- hotels open 7/6 with parks open only to hotel guests, including DVC. AP remains suspended unless you have a hotel stay. Some hotels may be closed or blocked off due to MLS and NBA.

- parks open back up to everyone on 9/7, after Labor Day and after school restarts. Still some degree of limited capacity but the hopes of getting over the summer crowds will help limit that capacity on its own. We also get beyond the MLS/NBA issue here.

Now with that, I guarantee I am incorrect on every single aspect.

 

[yankeesfan123]

I agree. Epcot is awesome (just not right now with the walls everywhere)

What I would love to see is WDW close Epcot through summer or September (and I have an August trip) and use that time to get some things done construction and maintenance wise. Disney wouldn't have to worry about staffing and it would give them opportunity to finish the things already funded or that can't remain walled indefinitely, especially with social distancing requirements. Open up in September when it's lower crowds. more space, more time to bring CMs back, and easier to finish off some construction.

Open the WS entrance only and block off all of future world. You have two major attractions and all the restaurants and booze. Limit capacity.

 

[Leigh L]

Open the WS entrance only and block off all of future world. You have two major attractions and all the restaurants and booze. Limit capacity.

That would be a great idea. The only drawback I see is parking?