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

[DGsAtBLT]

Woke up this morning not much happier than when I went to bed last night. Breaking it to my grandson was rough, really rough. We were so close to leaving - driving down Sunday.

We’re tossing around the idea of going and just doing a resort only stay. We’ve never got to do that before, the parks were always too tempting. But we bounce between we can do this and that’s insanity. We have until Tuesday to decide.

The problem, outside of the obvious, is we don’t know what conditions will be. Are they just staying open because of the difficulties in clearing out the resorts or are they wanting guests there? Are they going to do anything outside of the ordinary? Are the typical resort activities, like the pirate cruise at the YC still going on? Would they wave the pool hopping policy? Golf - is it open? These and a million other questions are popping into my head.

We are scheduled at the Riviera. We were so thrilled to get the Visa rate, and excited to get to stay there. I don’t think we’ll ever get a discount that puts it in our budget again so it makes it double hard.

If you’ve stuck with my ramblings to this point, thank you! We just need to decide so we stop torturing ourselves.

I am going to sound crazy, or maybe just right for those of us who love Disney enough to be here, but waking up this morning felt like waking up as a teenager after a break up. It’s sinking in I think. This was such a big trip for us.

Anyways, how close are you to WDW? If it isn‘t too bad of a drive, what about middle ground, keep a night or two to try Riviera at that rate. I would worry an extended resort only stay at this time could wind up really depressing when it fully sinks in that WDW around you is closed. But you know yourself and your party on that regard. And of course be fully prepared to leave either if things close or if things escalate and you are no longer comfortable. We could wake up any day and find an outbreak at WDW or a WDW resort, heck we could find that out at any minute of the day.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Does anyone know what is happening with the Canadian resident tickets? The wording seems to imply that regular tickets will be extended (is this an automatic process by the way?) but I’m not sure that includes ours.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Thanks yulilin3!

 

[mckennarose]

The problem, outside of the obvious, is we don’t know what conditions will be. Are they just staying open because of the difficulties in clearing out the resorts or are they wanting guests there? Are they going to do anything outside of the ordinary? Are the typical resort activities, like the pirate cruise at the YC still going on? Would they wave the pool hopping policy? Golf - is it open? These and a million other questions are popping into my head.

Just a thought. Will Disney pull the rug out from under when you get to Rivera. Close the resort after a day or two. No activities. Too many unknowns for me to risk a trip.

My opinion is that they will continue operating as best they can UNTIL the first cases in Orange County. Then you will see a lot of changes very quickly. Do you want to be there if those changes happen while you're there? Or traveling while those changes are happening in other areas or back home?

A few days ago we had a few cases in one particular county near me, now as of last night everything is closed in that county, except for grocery stores and pharmacies. The governor ordered all public venues, retail businesses, movie theaters, schools, child care facilities closed. The governor called it "significant and decisive" social distancing to try to control and stop spread. Mind you, it's only one week since our first case.

Things are changing very rapidly here. I'm sure it will be the same in other areas that have active cases and it's only a matter of time for Orlando.

 

[BrerMama]

We are supposed to check in tomorrow. I have no cancel button on MDE app or on my phone using the website and can't even get the website to load on my computer. No luck calling. All circuits busy. I have a timer going on my phone and try every 5 minutes. The website says if your check in date is between March 15-30 and you don't check in, they'll automatically refund you. My check in date was March 14. This is a complete mess and although Disney has released an official statement, there is a gap for people scheduled to check in today or tomorrow.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

The scariest part for those who are considering still going is the time it takes for symptoms to show and then again for things to get really bad and people to go to hospitals. That combined with the serious lack of testing means things are fine one day and can get very scary the next, and by that point you may already have increased your chance of exposure.

Continuing on with a resort only stay is a personal decision. I can’t say I’m not jealous of those who are close enough to still consider it an option. But please make it an informed decision. And if you do happen to show any sort of symptoms while there, please protect the CMs and guests around you and take appropriate and immediate actions. I feel for those CMs. I remember the scary reports coming from either Shanghai or HK CMs in the days following the park closures.

 

[yulilin3]

We are supposed to check in tomorrow. I have no cancel button on MDE app or on my phone using the website and can't even get the website to load on my computer. No luck calling. All circuits busy. I have a timer going on my phone and try every 5 minutes. The website says if your check in date is between March 15-30 and you don't check in, they'll automatically refund you. My check in date was March 14. This is a complete mess and although Disney has released an official statement, there is a gap for people scheduled to check in today or tomorrow.

they can't add more phone CM in one day, just be patient and know that they will most likely refund your trip.

 

[lionkingzimba]

We are supposed to check in tomorrow. I have no cancel button on MDE app or on my phone using the website and can't even get the website to load on my computer. No luck calling. All circuits busy. I have a timer going on my phone and try every 5 minutes. The website says if your check in date is between March 15-30 and you don't check in, they'll automatically refund you. My check in date was March 14. This is a complete mess and although Disney has released an official statement, there is a gap for people scheduled to check in today or tomorrow.

Although it sounds not working, maybe try emailing them? I tried many times to process my package refund on phone but no one answers, and I did send an email out to them around 5 hours ago and got a reply already that the package can be refunded and processed.

It might not be the best way, but there is no harm to try.

The CM on phone did tell me to add "URGENT" in the title line if your arrival is within the next few days so that they can be prioritised.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Due to the the closure and everyone trying to modify their trips is the online ticketing system down? I've been trying to buy a park hopper all morning (tomorrow is our fastpass choosing day for May) and it won't process the payment. I've tried using different cards. It just keeps telling me "invalid"
Also, since Disney is allowing changes for trip between now and June 30th does that mean it would be pointless to pay for the flexible option?

Thanks!

 

[BrerMama]

they can't add more phone CM in one day, just be patient and know that they will most likely refund your trip.

I’m being patient. I just keep trying. If they would give me a cancel button, I’d be happy to use it. We were going to visit my 20 year old daughter who is doing her college program. I’m way more upset about not getting to see her and having her half way across the country. But she is fine.

 

[12kizuna]

Such a bummer. Our trip is for the first week of May and if the parks are open, we'll be going (3 adults). If we get quarantined somewhere, then we get quarantined somewhere- think of me what you will.

 

[yulilin3]

I’m being patient. I just keep trying. If they would give me a cancel button, I’d be happy to use it. We were going to visit my 20 year old daughter who is doing her college program. I’m way more upset about not getting to see her and having her half way across the country. But she is fine.

I understand that, this is an ongoing situation that no one was prepared for. Like you there are tens of thousands trying to contact Disney, it'll work out. Sorry you can't see her. I was talking to CP at MK yesterday and they were excited to get a week off with pay

 

[StacyStrong]

There's no silence from Disney, they have said that the resorts, Disney Springs and transportation to DS will be open. Mini Golf, regular golf, water parks and theme parks will be closed
If they didn't want people checking in they would not be offering rates for the next 2 weeks, they are, you can book a hotel. With the hotel comes everything, recreation, dining, they will have the resorts staffed why wouldn't they want people coming?

Personally, I think this is the wrong way to look at this.
They were selling park tickets through theEnd March until... they weren’t.
Just because you can book a resort at a discount right this second, doesn’t mean that an hour from now they will stop.
Yes, they WANT people coming and they want the parks open, but it can change in a second.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Great advice! But this is what I do on any day in Disney or anywhere else. Staying clean is not new to me. Clean off carts before I use them, sanitize as soon as I get in the car, wash hands as soon as I get home. Never touch my face, ever. I also clean every inch of where my family will be sitting on the plane and I never let them touch anything in the hotel until I clean it with Clorox wipes and spray the bed and pillows with Lysol. But again, I have always done this my entire adult life anyway.I think if everyone just did this all the time, we would not be in this situation right now. The sad part is, some people are not doing what is best for their families and ignoring this. It puts other at risk. And please, if you are sick, STAY HOME.

you can be glad I was not one of your kids because as soon as you sprayed the Lysol on bed you would be calling for an EMT as I would not be able to breath. not minor either like ER as soon as they can get me there so this is not possible for me as an adult

 

[Victoria Hall]

Does anyone know if hotel reservations will automatically be cancelled if you did online check in?

 

[yulilin3]

just tried every phone number out there for Disney, general line, CM line, ap line, Club level line for each resort, all are down.

 

[mckennarose]

I feel like vacationers and cms have gotten more subdued during the week, but it could be just me. I will be glad to leave wdw for the first time ever.

I know that feeling. I had it when we left WDW as Hurricane Dorian was approaching. Even though it wound up not hitting Orlando, there were days of stress watching it grow, twist and turn direction. I was relieved when we finally left Florida.

It's very different to be experiencing a natural disaster (or pandemic in this case) at home compared to on vacation, where you don't have the same access to basic food, necessities and resources.

I'm not sure when we'll make our final decisions for May. Although that decision could be made for us down the road, like it did for everyone going in the next two weeks. I would expect the closure to extend into April, at least.

 

[yulilin3]

Does anyone know if hotel reservations will automatically be cancelled if you did online check in?

if you don't show up it probably will, if not same day, the next when housekeeping goes to check the room

 

[hultrain]

We were scheduled to be at UOR and WDW April 9-12, and we ended up moving our dates to October just a few hours prior to the announcement. I realize those dates aren’t in the current shut-down but I’m glad we moved it. Wouldn’t want to be worrying the whole time about them extending the shut down. But I see a lot of people who are moving their trips from March/April to October. Should be interesting to see if the already crazy crowds in October get even worse because all the folks with March/April trips move over to October.

 

[ram2016]

We were scheduled to be at UOR and WDW April 9-12, and we ended up moving our dates to October just a few hours prior to the announcement. I realize those dates aren’t in the current shut-down but I’m glad we moved it. Wouldn’t want to be worrying the whole time about them extending the shut down. But I see a lot of people who are moving their trips from March/April to October. Should be interesting to see if the already crazy crowds in October get even worse because all the folks with March/April trips move over to October.

We are scheduled to arrive April 25th. Waiting to see what happens. We will still go if parks reopen. I am thinking that October will be a madhouse. If we have to reschedule, it will have to be for next year it’s going to be a long 15 days waiting to see what they do come April 1st.