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

[tlmadden73]

My thought in all this discussion. Is that if Disney HAS to (or feels they "need" to) open with "reduced experiences" or "required testing/masks" .. they may not even bother opening yet. Going to a Disney Park without some of its big draws that make it unique to guests (characters, dining, parades, fireworks) just will mean a lot of people won't go .. so why bother opening up until they can have those things? Requiring things like masks or tests just may not make it worth for people to go.

So .. Disney can impose all sorts of reduced experiences and restrictions, they just have to realize that demand will be even lower from that .. so it may just not be worth opening until they feel they can open up "normally".

I mean .. all this talk of reopening the states -- the demand for a LOT of the goods and services from February will be gone even after restaurants, salons and such open back up. So some businesses may choose to stay closed (or try and reopen and have to close) simply because people are still not going out and about.

 

[Jrb1979]

yeah, I think we may take some time off travel as well.

I think hoping for a positive situation and looking forward to something makes sense, but just realistic that this might not be "back to normal" for a long time

Guess a "hope for the best, plan for the worst" scenarios

I think a lot of people are having a hard time dealing with it being a long time til normal returns.

 

[Spridell]

One thing that was just mentioned again on the conference call that I forgot to mention this morning:

- The use of cashless and contactless food ordering.

QS (maybe even table service) restaurants can use something like the MDE app to order and pay for food.

So basically what DIsney started implementing last year but now it would be done for EVERYONE and at more restaurants.

Edited: This is also mentioned on page 1

 

[jerry557]

My thought in all this discussion. Is that if Disney HAS to (or feels they "need" to) open with "reduced experiences" or "required testing/masks" .. they may not even bother opening yet. Going to a Disney Park without some of its big draws that make it unique to guests (characters, dining, parades, fireworks) just will mean a lot of people won't go .. so why bother opening up until they can have those things? Requiring things like masks or tests just may not make it worth for people to go.

So .. Disney can impose all sorts of reduced experiences and restrictions, they just have to realize that demand will be even lower from that .. so it may just not be worth opening until they feel they can open up "normally".

I mean .. all this talk of reopening the states -- the demand for a LOT of the goods and services from February will be gone even after restaurants, salons and such open back up. So some businesses may choose to stay closed (or try and reopen and have to close) simply because people are still not going out and about.

Chances are that "normal" won't return until a vaccine is developed and distributed. That may be quite some time. So they will obviously need to reopen before then. And there will have to be changes.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think a lot of people are having a hard time dealing with it being a long time til normal returns.

honestly, I think it might be best to think that we will never go "back to normal" but rather "move foward to a new normal". I mean, some things with plane travel have never changed back after 9/11 and I think some things might be forever changed going forward. Just something we will have to adapt to

 

[jerry557]

One thing that was just mentioned again on the conference call that I forgot to mention this morning:

- The use of cashless and contactless food ordering.

QS (maybe even table service) restaurants can use something like the MDE app to order and pay for food.

So basically what DIsney started implementing last year but now it would be done for EVERYONE and at more restaurants.

I wonder how they handle buffets...maybe a CM gets the food for you now?

And what about the refillable mug stations at the resorts?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

One thing that was just mentioned again on the conference call that I forgot to mention this morning:

- The use of cashless and contactless food ordering.

QS (maybe even table service) restaurants can use something like the MDE app to order and pay for food.

So basically what DIsney started implementing last year but now it would be done for EVERYONE and at more restaurants.

I did see it discussed in at least one rumor of thought of that everyone will have to have a MagicBand when the parks reopen (at least at first) - so that is one way to do it (though I guess have to turn off the pin code to enter?)

I think at this point a lot of people (absolutely not all, so will ahve to deal with how to address that) have a way to pay contactless now. I know when I go to the grocery store I just tap my credit card on the machine and don't have to have contact with anything to pay

Big thing will getting people who aren't used to that sort of thing up to speed and comfortable with doing that .

 

[xuxa777]

One thing that was just mentioned again on the conference call that I forgot to mention this morning:

- The use of cashless and contactless food ordering.

QS (maybe even table service) restaurants can use something like the MDE app to order and pay for food.

So basically what DIsney started implementing last year but now it would be done for EVERYONE and at more restaurants.

Honestly that would be a great move regardless of the pandemic

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I wonder how they handle buffets...maybe a CM gets the food for you now?

And what about the refillable mug stations at the resorts?

buffets are a really intersting situation- and they are big $ makers for Disney. Maybe it becomes more family style? Or, like where you just point to what you want and a CM puts it on your plate?

Or maybe they have things preserved in small dishes and you just take a dish vs having to take a spoonful, touching a spoon (or tongs or whatever) that many other people have already touched

So many elements to consider - it isn't just getting to "openign the gates to the parks"

 

[LSUmiss]

I just wish they would state the policy in masks now! Trying to plan for fall and if masks are required means we will look for other things to do for fun.

But even with or with out masks I’m not sure how fun it is to be always worrying about if I’m standing in the right spot let alone keeping kids to do it.

Maybe I’m wrong but it has always seemed like from blogs and reviews that there aren’t as many kids at the Asian parks, or at least younger kids.

Me too. A lot of my plans will depend on what the modifications will be. If it’s masks &/or tests, we won’t go. If there is no transportation, I’ll change to Contemporary & drive vs fly. I suspect they haven’t said b/c they really don’t know yet.

 

[mshanson3121]

honestly, I think it might be best to think that we will never go "back to normal" but rather "move foward to a new normal". I mean, some things with plane travel have never changed back after 9/11 and I think some things might be forever changed going forward. Just something we will have to adapt to

Oh don't be so negative!

Haha, sorry, couldn't resist.

But yes, this is literally what all the experts have been saying around the globe - life as we knew it is GONE, at least until a vaccine (or some other Mass, readily available, reliable treatment) is available. It only stands to reason this applies to Disney as well. Changes ARE coming - restrictions, requirements, cut backs etc... Yes, Disney can and will enforce whatever they want. It will then be up to you (generally speaking) to decide whether you're willing to comply with them or not.

 

[mshanson3121]

I wonder how they handle buffets...maybe a CM gets the food for you now?

And what about the refillable mug stations at the resorts?

Secure Circuit proposal on post 1 says no buffets.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Oh don't be so negative!

Haha, sorry, couldn't resist.

But yes, this is literally what all the experts have been saying around the globe - life as we knew it is GONE, at least until a vaccine (or some other Mass, readily available, reliable treatment) is available. It only stands to reason this applies to Disney as well. Changes ARE coming - restrictions, requirements, cut backs etc... Yes, Disney can and will enforce whatever they want. It will then be up to you (generally speaking) to decide whether you're willing to comply with them or not.

well, not necessarily negative ... I mean, not like we were living in a perfect utopia - "new normal" might be better than "old normal"... great big beautiful tomorrow and all that jazz

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Secure Circuit proposal on post 1 says no buffets.

I may need a break but my first mental picture when reading this was of the robot from Short Circuit making decrees like "no buffets!" "yes, mobile ordering!"

 

[tlmadden73]

Chances are that "normal" won't return until a vaccine is developed and distributed. That may be quite some time. So they will obviously need to reopen before then. And there will have to be changes.

Or .. more data comes out just how deadly the virus truly is .. how exactly it is transmitted, whether temperature kills it, how many people already had it (and never knew it), if you are "immune" to it after you have it. Too much conflicting data out there and right now we are taking the "better safe than sorry" approach without all that data, but that doesn't mean that is going to be forever or "until there is a vaccine".

I am sure things WILL change due to this (especially at WDW) (no finger print scanning, spreading out queues, less tables in restaurants, maybe no more buffets, required Magic Band payments) .
The reality is somewhere in the middle of "Things will be back to normal in June" and "We'll never be back to normal until there is a vaccine (which isn't a guarantee there will be one .. or if it will work safely) .. I mean we don't have a 100% reliable vaccine for the flu.

And to put more of a debbie downer on this .. we'll be struggling with all sorts of economic ramifications (massive debt, job losses, changing marketplace, inflation) that will probably make a "new normal" more than the virus does.

 

[SaintsManiac]

At some point life will return to what it was before. Hopefully people are more hygienic in the future, though.

 

[Krandor]

Yes on reasonable middle ground. My opinion, if I am wrong, I will be wrong no harm no foul as it is just speculation. Make sure you check back with us come July, I will happily say I am wrong if so.

I think July is a good target. A lot is going to depend on what happens when states like mine start opening things back up over the next week or so and what happens to cases. If things start open up soon and cases stay level or drop some then it would make it easier for places like disney to open. If cases go up then it will make things more difficult for disney. We're just gooing to have to watch things as states start opening up before we really can know what dates look most reasonable.

 

[LSUmiss]

I wonder how they handle buffets...maybe a CM gets the food for you now?

And what about the refillable mug stations at the resorts?

I think a lot of those self serve things like open utensils, napkins, refillable stations, etc. will go away. I’m ok with this. I always thought they were disgusting anyway.

 

[vinotinto]

Also notice even in China masks are not on everyone. Masks being mandatory will be a stretch in the US

Masks are not required while dining. Lots of people are wearing masks in those dining videos, even though it's not required while dining.

Here are the modifications in place at Disney Shanghai, from their own webpage:
"In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures and present their Shanghai QR Code. Only guests with a green Shanghai QR Code will be allowed to enter the resort. Guests must wear a mask during their entire visit (except when dining), and will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants."

 

[anthony2k7]

Masks are not required while dining. Lots of people are wearing masks in those dining videos, even though it's not required while dining.

Here are the modifications in place at Disney Shanghai, from their own webpage:
"In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures and present their Shanghai QR Code. Only guests with a green Shanghai QR Code will be allowed to enter the resort. Guests must wear a mask during their entire visit (except when dining), and will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants."

But eating with a mask on is so easy so why wouldn't they be wearing one?!