WDW COVID-19 Operational Changes- Reservation System-Rope Drop Procedures

[Jroceagles]

I agree. This is an attempt to get people to cancel voluntarily. If enough don’t, they’ll be forced to start cancelling resort reservations. I don’t think it will get to that point. There can’t be that many people willing to lose discounts and pay rack rate for a vastly reduced experience during the midst of a pandemic.....can there?

yes. What experience is reduced? other then masks, fireworks, parades, and meet and greets? If you did not have a discount then that does not hurt you either. Am i missing something else?

 

[hertamaniac]

My last conversation with a CM on an AP partial refund was left with them calling me back once the re-opening date was announced. I asked why and they told me it was to confirm my decision.

Part of me thinks they were/are on a probing mission to quantify the number of AP's selecting the partial refund option. The other part of me thinks they are aligning (or already have aligned) an incentive to not get the refund and is beyond the extension for the number of days closed.

 

[Rash]

Just got off the phone with AP customer service - they are in the process of extending expired APs. It has to be done manually so it will take some time, but it should be done before the reservation system open up. She also said the system will be based on having a valid theme park ticket - it has nothing to do with having a hotel reservation.

 

[Chef Dion]

We received the following email this morning.


Sent: Fri, May 29, 2020 at 1:15 AM
Subject: News regarding your upcoming Disney visit

VIEW in your browser ‌​ An Important Walt Disney World Update​ As we plan for the reopening of our Disney Resort Hotels and Theme Parks, we are keeping the wellbeing of our Guests and Cast in mind. And we’re here to help you as we introduce new procedures focused on delivering an enjoyable and magical experience for everyone who visits. ‌ To manage attendance and foster physical distancing during this unprecedented time, we will be changing and suspending some Park experiences. In addition, we will also be introducing a new Theme Park reservation system. ‌ Unfortunately, these new measures have required us to cancel any dining reservations, experience reservations and FastPass+ selections you may have made. We recognize the inconvenience this poses and we’re deeply sorry. ‌ However, because you have valid Theme Park admission, you will have access to the Theme Park reservation system before new tickets are sold to other Guests. There’s nothing you need to do at this time. We’ll be contacting you soon with details on this new system as well as the process of making new dining and experience reservations. If you have previously booked experiences, you’ll also be provided with first access to make new reservations. ‌ At this time, while systems update, we are temporarily suspending all modifications. However, you have the option of canceling your entire reservation. ‌ We’re putting great thought into helping you return to the magic and appreciate your patience. ‌ For more information, please visit disneyworld.com, call 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639), or contact your travel professional or Member Services. ‌ Select third party operated restaurants and certain other experiences may not be cancelled. ‌ ​ ‌​

 

[cakebaker]

yes. What experience is reduced? other then masks, fireworks, parades, and meet and greets? If you did not have a discount then that does not hurt you either. Am i missing something else?

Well I had a discount so....Let’s see, greatly reduced park hours, no character buffets, possibly no water parks, no EMH’s, no FP, no dessert parties, no after hours, no magic mornings, most likely some rides, no shows- Fantasmic, ROL, FOTLK etc..I’m most likely missing something, that’s just off the top of my head.

 

[Chef Dion]

Here is another help information link.
https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/p...nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/disney.png

According to this link. They will be cancelling all dining plans and adjusting the cost of current reservation packages accordingly.

I forsee a lot of rebookings getting cancelled because the free dining that was offered as a concession for COVID cancellations in March and April will no longer be valid.

 

[java]

I have not received an email yet. July 11-18

 

[tzeitel]

We're having a discussion with the rest of our group this weekend to see if we should cancel. As it stands, we'll be paying $250 a night for a standard room at Pop with no food included. I'm sorry but that's an absurd amount to be paying for Pop Century. I'm leaning towards canceling and rebooking once this is all over, but I have a feeling the rest of the group won't want to.

When are you going? We will (maybe) go in August, CBR pool view 5th sleeper I got for $248 with the Sun and Fun promo, so I would not pay $250 for Pop (I do love Pop but not at that price). But if you cancel now you might be locked out of booking a new reservation. I might wait and see if in a few days you can call and ask about moving the reservation or what kind of new promo might be available as compensation. Wonder if when they say adjust he package price it means they will subtract the dining package price from the room rate.

 

[peaceluv&mickeymouse]

This is a good point - I think we'll have to turn it into a team effort where husband handles dining while I handle Fastpass, but it's not ideal.

I doubt there will be fast passes. But not positive.

 

[brockash]

I have bounce back free dining booked for August. I completely understand the new restrictions- limiting park hours, no parades, etc. Even cancelling existing ADRs makes sense and I'm not surprised by it. But now paying rack rate for the room plus the $1000 for the food while there...I can't see why they had to cancel ALL dining plans. At least give us free quick service because we have to eat while we are there! They would be honoring free dining and give us the option to not be out any money for food this way.

Can someone explain the reason they did not do this? I don't mean to be so negative (and we are not even cancelling our reservation as of yet!) but I truly cannot think of any other reason than to get more people to cancel on their own and make sure they can get as much money as possible from those that are going.

$$$ and because they can. Honestly,they only want guests that will pay the upmost for less. They dont3want anyone else there.

 

[HokieRaven5]

They've changed the mask requirement from ages 3 and up to 2 and up.

 

[lilypgirl]

I have a split stay part with DVC and then a resort one through a TA. I have heard from TA but nothing from Disney.

 

[wilkydelts]

They've changed the mask requirement from ages 3 and up to 2 and up.

I guess my kid is 2

 

[Chef Dion]

I have not received an email yet. July 11-18

See above. This is the email i received this morning our booking aug 10 - 14

 

[GADisneyDad14]

They've changed the mask requirement from ages 3 and up to 2 and up.

I was reading that last night and was wondering the same thing - I thought that page originally said 3 but it said 2 last night. So it was originally 3?

 

[brockash]

yes. What experience is reduced? other then masks, fireworks, parades, and meet and greets? If you did not have a discount then that does not hurt you either. Am i missing something else?

You're miss a lot.

 

[winnieofpooh]

When are you going? We will (maybe) go in August, CBR pool view 5th sleeper I got for $248 with the Sun and Fun promo, so I would not pay $250 for Pop (I do love Pop but not at that price). But if you cancel now you might be locked out of booking a new reservation. I might wait and see if in a few days you can call and ask about moving the reservation or what kind of new promo might be available as compensation. Wonder if when they say adjust he package price it means they will subtract the dining package price from the room rate.

We're going Dec 13-19. So I expect higher prices obviously since we're so close to Christmas, but before I was getting free food with that rate and now I get nothing, so it's a drastic change. We'll likely hold onto the actual reservation until a lot closer, just to see how things change and fluctuate, but I have my expectations set for a cancelled trip.

 

[tsme]

I literally my morning cup of tea when I read the latest update from Disney.

 

[Katrina Y]

yes. What experience is reduced? other then masks, fireworks, parades, and meet and greets? If you did not have a discount then that does not hurt you either. Am i missing something else?

I think maybe the shorten park hours and the loss of Extra Magic hours.

 

[tzeitel]

We're going Dec 13-19. So I expect higher prices obviously since we're so close to Christmas, but before I was getting free food with that rate and now I get nothing, so it's a drastic change. We'll likely hold onto the actual reservation until a lot closer, just to see how things change and fluctuate, but I have my expectations set for a cancelled trip.

Last year they had fd and 10-20% promos for your dates - hopefully they will offer those again.