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

[CuteAsMinnie]

Especially since the travel ban is still in effect for an undetermined amount of time time...

(Sorry, quote disappeared! )

 

[thingaboutarsenal]

Especially since the travel ban is still in effect for an undetermined amount of time time...

Didn't someone say they have full time international CMs? IDK if I read that here. I do know I've had a hibachi chef at Teppan Edo who was Japanese but raised in Jacksonville. I'm pretty sure Mariachi Cobre is local too. Maybe they'll be dialed back, but WS could be open? Just speculation on my part, but I remember hearing they have some full time WS CM.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

True it is going to be hard for the International CM's to get back here, along with all the construction going on , it does make sense to keep it closed ( Crossing fingers for not ) but on the flip side with F&W from Aug-Nov, That's going to be a lot of $$$ that they will not be generating from that .

Well, no need speculating anymore, we will all know in about 12.5 hours for sure

Especially since the travel ban is still in effect for an undetermined amount of time time...

 

[Spridell]

True it is going to be hard for the International CM's to get back here, along with all the construction going on , it does make sense to keep it closed ( Crossing fingers for not ) but on the flip side with F&W from Aug-Nov, That's going to be a lot of $$$ that they will not be generating from that .

Well, no need speculating anymore, we will all know in about 12.5 hours for sure

This is my thinking too. They will lose a lot of money not having food and wine. 2 hotels are ALWAYS booked solid for October and November. Plus all the money from the festival itself.

Unless...Disney is thinking many people still won't be traveling by then and not being able to back the international CM's, it's not worth opening epcot.

I would guess at that point a lot of people will cancel their October and November stays at boardwalk and beach club.

 

[shoegal9]

Didn't someone say they have full time international CMs? IDK if I read that here. I do know I've had a hibachi chef at Teppan Edo who was Japanese but raised in Jacksonville. I'm pretty sure Mariachi Cobre is local too. Maybe they'll be dialed back, but WS could be open? Just speculation on my part, but I remember hearing they have some full time WS CM.

Yes, you’re correct. EPCOT does have full time regular international CMs.

 

[wareagle57]

This is my thinking too. They will lose a lot of money not having food and wine. 2 hotels are ALWAYS booked solid for October and November. Plus all the money from the festival itself.

Unless...Disney is thinking many people still won't be traveling by then and not being able to back the international CM's, it's not worth opening epcot.

I would guess at that point a lot of people will cancel their October and November stays at boardwalk and beach club.

Here is an idea. Open WS only and only during Food and Wine and make it a hard ticket event (including credits applied to your magic band to purchase X number of items for touchless payments and the ability to purchase additional credits) and require guests attending to be staying at one of the Epcot Resorts or to walk from DHS.

Rooms - BOOKED
Extra revenue from hard ticket event - CHA CHING
Allow construction to remain 24/7 in FW - Yep
Unique experience - check

Reduced operation expenses compared to other parks, and everyone coming in would be doing nothing but spending money. I don't see the cons. It might make people a little mad, but if the price was right I would totally do it, and F&W isn't even my thing. We rarely eat in the parks other than the cheapest QS food we can find or a snack.

You could even sell tickets for different times of the day. 11-2, 12-4, 4-8, 6-10. Spread it out enough to where you don't have to force guests from previous groups much like Galaxy's Edge's opening.

 

[vinotinto]

I’ll be surprised if anyone following the rumors is surprised by anything tomorrow. We’ve heard and considered just about every possibility.

I guess we finally get to find out how much of the original “Secure Circuit” rumor (which Sven/Flynn/Finn basically repeated almost verbatim) will actually take place. You can read that rumor in the April 17 update of the first post in this thread.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a date tomorrow on resorts reopening and that all parks are announced to reopen.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Here is an idea. Open WS only and only during Food and Wine and make it a hard ticket event (including credits applied to your magic band to purchase X number of items for touchless payments and the ability to purchase additional credits) and require guests attending to be staying at one of the Epcot Resorts or to walk from DHS.

The precedent that one could set scares me, not gonna lie.

 

[Spridell]

Here is an idea. Open WS only and only during Food and Wine and make it a hard ticket event (including credits applied to your magic band to purchase X number of items for touchless payments and the ability to purchase additional credits) and require guests attending to be staying at one of the Epcot Resorts or to walk from DHS.

Rooms - BOOKED
Extra revenue from hard ticket event - CHA CHING
Allow construction to remain 24/7 in FW - Yep
Unique experience - check

Reduced operation expenses compared to other parks, and everyone coming in would be doing nothing but spending money. I don't see the cons. It might make people a little mad, but if the price was right I would totally do it, and F&W isn't even my thing. We rarely eat in the parks other than the cheapest QS food we can find or a snack.

You could even sell tickets for different times of the day. 11-2, 12-4, 4-8, 6-10. Spread it out enough to where you don't have to force guests from previous groups much like Galaxy's Edge's opening.

I like it

 

[wareagle57]

The precedent that one could set scares me, not gonna lie.

I don't think we should look at any creative ways to make the best of things during this once in a lifetime situation as setting a precedent. I get what you are saying, but they are in a very unique situation with half a park under construction with very little draw to most guests outside of F&W.

My only reasoning for making it hard ticket vs just allowing anyone was the food credits, ensuring people that were coming were actually coming for the festival and not just to hang out. Also I like the idea of everyone having touchless payment but that's a minor thing. You could do the same thing, open only WS and have guests walk (with accommodations for those that need it)from DHS or be a guest at the Epcot hotels. But you have to book a time to enter.

 

[focusondisney]

I for one certainly hope Epcot is open. Even with construction, there is still a lot we like to do there. Actually, probably more there for us than the Studios. Even without a festival. And I have said it before, they certainly can run the WS rides & restaurants without international CMs. I personally don’t care if my wait person at Chefs is from France or not. And we rarely go to AK. Now there is a park that gets crowded walkways!

 

[tlmadden73]

Well .. looking forward to the surprise.
The surprise to me would be .. "we are opening with no restrictions!"

But even if they said they are opening tomorrow, it probably will be too modified to vacation there for a while (but would be interesting to check out for a day or so if you lived closed).

 

[Spaceguy55]

Fireworks have all but been completely ruled out..so I'm going with HEA

 

[focusondisney]

I get what you are saying, but they are in a very unique situation with half a park under construction with very little draw to most guests outside of F&W.

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.

 

[chad_1138]

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.

Totally agree. If they can open Epcot, I would think it would be a smart money making play, considering the sheer amount of dining experiences available.

 

[Anna H]

I for one certainly hope Epcot is open. Even with construction, there is still a lot we like to do there. Actually, probably more there for us than the Studios. Even without a festival. And I have said it before, they certainly can run the WS rides & restaurants without international CMs. I personally don’t care if my wait person at Chefs is from France or not. And we rarely go to AK. Now there is a park that gets crowded walkways!

I really love Epcot so closing it would be a dealbreaker. I understand how it could be too hard to open *if* they couldn't hire enough replacement staff but Disney has never seemed like a "can't do" business. Didn't the governor say Disney was ahead of the game in preparedness? None of that prep included working around the lack of international staff?

 

[cakebaker]

I’ll be surprised if anyone following the rumors is surprised by anything tomorrow. We’ve heard and considered just about every possibility

We’ve heard so many rumors and all using phrases and wording that can be so broadly interpreted that they’ll be able to crow that they were right and predicted whatever the news was. It reminds me of visiting a fortune teller...just enough detail to make you perk your head up, but when picked apart, really says nothing. In the end, I don’t think any of them know much of anything, they’re just trying to say enough that makes us think they do, without actually saying enough that they can be called on it.

Take Sven and his opening date prediction, June 15? He’s right! They open Jan 2021, he’s right too!

 

[Jroceagles]

I won't be heartbroken nor will it be a dealbreaker for my trip if Epcot is closed.

I would be. Love Epcot. We've stay at Beach Club so we can be closer to Epcot and the WS

 

[SarahC97]

I would be. Love Epcot. We've stay at Beach Club so we can be closer to Epcot and the WS

Admittedly, we're booked at Boardwalk, so I'd prefer for it to be open (along with the restaurants - we love those too). If it's not, I may need to reconsider where we're staying. It's that whole "walk to DHS" things that really reeled me into BWI.

 

[rteetz]

For those wanting to follow news updates in a thread without chatter.

Walt Disney World Reopening Updates (News Only)