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

[mshanson3121]

Not sure if this has been posted, here's a recap of what the task force has come up with so far
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020...om-todays-re-open-florida-task-force-meeting/Today's meeting is at 10am, I'm hoping @Spridell will be listening in?
News from IOA our entire staff for the screenings is getting tested for covid after our shift (not looking forward to it but thankful to have the chance to do it with no wait)
Southwest is shooting a social distancing video right now.
Gloomy rainy morning here in O-town today

So, sounding more likely for the masks.

 

[Jrb1979]

So, sounding more likely for the masks.

Im not surprised. I have a feeling it will be the new normal til this virus dies out or there is a way to treat this.

 

[anthony2k7]

Im not surprised. I have a feeling it will be the new normal til this virus dies out or there is a way to treat this.

Its taking time, but slowly more and more people are accepting that there must be a new normal and it will need to last for longer than a few weeks.

 

[Spridell]

Not sure if this has been posted, here's a recap of what the task force has come up with so far
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020...om-todays-re-open-florida-task-force-meeting/Today's meeting is at 10am, I'm hoping @Spridell will be listening in?
News from IOA our entire staff for the screenings is getting tested for covid after our shift (not looking forward to it but thankful to have the chance to do it with no wait)
Southwest is shooting a social distancing video right now.
Gloomy rainy morning here in O-town today

Conference call about tourism is at 12pm again. From the notes I dont see anything about parks. BUT, they will talk about large gatherings and events.

And YES I will be listening to it!!!

 

[vinotinto]

I can see families that live farther away finding it's not worth flying for an experience that is limited or that requires that they rent a car. I can also see families with little kids may have a difficult time trying to get their kids to adhere to the social distancing guidelines or that may not want to risk the temperature check or deal with masks. And many will compare what a WDW vacation used to include (fireworks, shows, streetsmosphere, bands, character meets, transportation, multiple parks!) before the modifications and not find value for the price paid. Or families that had planned to visit with grandma and grandpa and now it's not wise to bring them on this trip.

But, there are plenty of us that live within driving distance, will have our own onsite transportation, some have APs, some have older children/teens/adults/no seniors that can easily follow social distancing guidelines, step and walk where they are supposed to and put on a mask. For my family, the no fireworks, no shows and closed parks are the main sticking points. But none of the other modifications are a big deal to us. In fact, my 15-year old would love a day at the parks composed only of rides.

For many who have been furloughed, or out of work, taking vacation when things stat to reopen may not be feasible. But, we have the opposite problem. My DH has vacation time that he is supposed to use by August 31st. Our school year is supposed to restart August 3. So, somehow, my DH and I have to use weeks of vacation in June - July that we had originally earmarked for other trips that have had to be shelved because of COVID. I have a 4 night stay booked at Disney at the end of July. If they reopen, we'll evaluate what will be running/showing, and who knows we may even *extend* our stay.

I feel Disney is thinking very thoroughly how to reopen and provide some of the magic, but establish new guidelines and procedures for sanitation and social distancing. It's not an easy balance and some of what had been a part of our previous WDW trips won't be there. But, hopefully there will be enough that it will still feel like Disney.

 

[marinejjh]

That's exactly my point. I probably didnt make it very well. It's just a far diminished experience unless you are a fanatic and can compartmentalize yourself ignoring what's happening around you at the park. I cant see anyway to handle reduced capacity other than increase cost and for all of this I may just head somewhere else till they figure out how to treat this effectively. I honestly wonder if a vaccine is a reality. We've been trying to find one for the common cold for years and corona and rhino are the two causes. This will be a long haul. Good point though

True, I know our family isn't planning to return anytime soon because of this. A nice beach trip to Hawaii for the money.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I am to the point that I would be fine with masks, very few rides, but resorts and parks open. I keep thinking how wonderful it would be to just sit on a bench in Norway, watching the flowers, and maybe eating a kringla. Or resort hopping; I have been hyperventilating with my eyes closed and my Contemporary candle, just imagining being in the lobby, or waiting for a bus. Why? I have DVC points; I am not spending thousands of dollars. I have free flights from refunds that expire, and a companion pass. I just love BEING there. But I am a person who will go on 3 rides and be done, preferring to take in the small things... Which, according to my candle moments, is apparently reaching new levels of simplicity.

Go if you can look for small happinesses, and if it will not break the bank, or risk a family member. If you want the full experience, it is likely you will need to wait two years. What is worth it to you? That's all that matters.

I would love to sit and people watch and eat my popcorn, but I have to spend thousands on a room. If I lived closer I would go first thing, especially since crowds are likely to be very low at first.

I don't know how they will control capacity, but if I got to any of the parks and was told too many people were there I would be very upset. I am guessing they will control it by limiting FPs and ADRs and if you have those you can get in? Who knows. I just know that if $600 a night at Boardwalk doesn't secure my entry I would not be happy.

We just took 6 trips in 2 years, so I am ok waiting, even if it is 2 years. I think I would be more upset about how changed everything is and it would impact my enjoyment of WDW.

 

[Oldnewfan]

I think the real issue is not how the die hard visitors on this forum adjust to social distancing and reduced experience. Some folks here would show up in hazmat gear and sit on a bench all day. The reality is how does a Park business model based on ultra high attendance maintain what makes it desirable as a destination to a large segment of the global population and turn a profit with reduced guests and extra staffing it will require. It's not Disney hoping your okay with it, which a large segment of this forum would be...not me... but a large segment. Disney can only raise prices to make this business model work as the ONLY GOAL at the end of the day is to protect their shareholders.... not Walts dream. I personally think it will take a creative genius in leadership to reinvent the Parks if this isnt mitigated soon.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Unfortunately most of the DVC resorts are at full capacity thru the end of the year. Everyone who had vacations cancelled March - May re-booked and filled the resorts. By Disney allowing this they have put themselves in quite the predicament

Oh they definitely screwed this up. People are about to be incredibly angry and I don't blame them, but I just hope they don't take it out on TAs or phone CMs.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I think the real issue is not how the die hard visitors on this forum adjust to social distancing and reduced experience. Some folks here would show up in hazmat gear and dit on a bench all day. The reality is how does a Park business model based on ultra high attendance maintain what makes it desirable as a destination to a large segment of the global population and turn a profit with reduced guests and extra staffing it will require. It's not Disney hoping your okay with it which a large segment of this forum would be...not me... but a large segment. Disney can only raise prices to make this business model work as the ONLY GOAL at the end of the day is to protect their shareholders.... not Walts dream. I personally think it will take a creative genius in leadership to reinvent the Parks if this isnt mitigated soon.

I said it a while back in one of these threads: There is always someone that doesn't know the policies and that person will throw a tantrum at the gates. It will happen multiple times a day for a long time.

 

[mshanson3121]

Oh they definitely screwed this up. People are about to be incredibly angry and I don't blame them, but I just hope they don't take it out on TAs or phone CMs.

This. I would NOT want to be a phone CM when the announcement is finally made.

 

[cakebaker]

Oh they definitely screwed this up. People are about to be incredibly angry and I don't blame them, but I just hope they don't take it out on TAs or phone CMs.

Unless they actually open by June 1 and that is not out of the realm of possibility. We didn't re-book our cancelled trip, but we did adjust to lengthen our trip that is scheduled for late June after we got cancelled.

 

[SaintsManiac]

This. I would NOT want to be a phone CM when the announcement is finally made.

I worked in a call center for years. It's going to be ugly.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Unless they actually open by June 1 and that is not out of the realm of possibility.

But they cannot possibly allow everyone in all of the resorts in at the same time. They just can't. If they are that booked up it will be a nightmare.

 

[Helvetica]

Anyone who thinks that wearing masks are a great idea in the Florida heat and humidity is seriously mistaken.
I wear an N95 mask at work (inside mind you) and after an hour, my face is hot and sweaty. My wife's best friend is a nurse, and they're told to hydrate with lots of electrolytes before starting their shift because of the heat and perspiration caused by constantly wearing the masks.

The types of masks that the general public are wearing are a little different than the N95 masks, but I hear what you’re saying. Going to the grocery store and going to work in a mask right now is very uncomfortable, but I think it’s necessary. I’m getting my first fabric masks next week, so hopefully they’re more comfortable than the ones I’ve been using.

People not wanting to go because of the masks would actually be a good thing in the short term to keep crowds down. They need to mitigate their losses to below the $30 million a day that they’re losing right now more so than they need to be super profitable.

One possible solution is a different set of hours. So instead of the 9 am - 9 pm, they could do 9 pm - 9 am or something to that effect. I know it would be kind of weird to be at Disney at 3 am or whatever, but it would make the heat related issues much more bearable.

Whatever they do, it’s going to be very different than what we’ve all grown accustomed to. I think eventually everything will settle down to a new normal. I personally don’t think everything is ever going back to 100% of what it was pre-COVID. I guess we’ll see.

 

[cakebaker]

But they cannot possibly allow everyone in all of the resorts in at the same time. They just can't. If they are that booked up it will be a nightmare.

It's entirely possible they limited the number of reservations they allowed to book. I'm not DVC, booked through Disney.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It's entirely possible they limited the number of reservations they allowed to book. I'm not DVC, booked through Disney.

Unless they limited it starting last June I don't see how. There will be a ton of people who can't go or won't go now, so maybe that will help keep the numbers down.

 

[TwoMisfits]

So, sounding more likely for the masks.

Yeah, in the "request" stage only, though...also taking temps at home, so they don't get in the medical business...

 

[yankeesfan123]

Common theme here. Very few seem to be thinking of the safety of the CMs.

Many of whom may be housed in dorm like facilities.

 

[marinejjh]

The types of masks that the general public are wearing are a little different than the N95 masks, but I hear what you’re saying. Going to the grocery store and going to work in a mask right now is very uncomfortable, but I think it’s necessary. I’m getting my first fabric masks next week, so hopefully they’re more comfortable than the ones I’ve been using.

People not wanting to go because of the masks would actually be a good thing in the short term to keep crowds down. They need to mitigate their losses to below the $30 million a day that they’re losing right now more so than they need to be super profitable.

One possible solution is a different set of hours. So instead of the 9 am - 9 pm, they could do 9 pm - 9 am or something to that effect. I know it would be kind of weird to be at Disney at 3 am or whatever, but it would make the heat related issues much more bearable.

Whatever they do, it’s going to be very different than what we’ve all grown accustomed to. I think eventually everything will settle down to a new normal. I personally don’t think everything is ever going back to 100% of what it was pre-COVID. I guess we’ll see.

I agree that Disney needs to mitigate the losses. It's much better for then to stay closed right now for the simple fact of protecting the employees. You can have a guest sign a waiver and be covered, but a CM didn't sign up for a pandemic and if a huge group gets sick because of guest, then Disney would be liable and a class action suite would be more than 30 million. Just my 2 cents from a legal side.