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

[WishesQueen]

Thank you everyone for all the help.

I just got off the phone with Disney Travel Company and she assured me that I would be entitled of any discounts that come out...if any for people that have their trip cancelled. Especially that I rebooked and the reservation number is the same.

Also, the cast member that made me cancel was incorrect and I could have held on to the reservation. Now I have to hope that this cast member had the correct information. Now all there is to do is wait!!!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

They changed it to that last Thursday or Friday, I can’t recall exactly. I call that the “you've been warned” disclaimer.

lol! perfect... thanks for clarifying - it was new to me since I have no trip booked (cancelled June/waiting to rebook) I’ve been avoiding MDE - it makes me sad to have nothing there right now

 

[thedarksyde]

Are your tickets part of a package booking, or do you have a room only resort reservation with separately purchased tickets? Different answers for different situations.

I have the resort and tickets booked separately.

 

[sponica]

I have the resort and tickets booked separately.

The resort will be refunded. If you have tickets for a date where they are closed, they are extended to 12/15 I believe.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have the resort and tickets booked separately.

So with room only reservations, if your arrival is during the closure period Disney will automatically cancel your reservation within 7 days of the original check-in date. You can always cancel yourself now as well, if inclined to do so. The refund of your deposit (or whatever else you may have paid) usually takes a few days.

For tickets you have purchased directly, the use date will be extended to 12/15/2020. If you don’t use them by that date, you can apply the value of the unused tickets towards the purchase of other tickets at a later time. There are isolated reports of Disney refunding separately purchased tickets in specific situations, but that would be more of an exception than standard operating procedure.

Dining, shows, etc will all be refunded if they fall in the closure period.

Disney’s operational update page on their website has a lot of good info if needed: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/travel-information/

Hope that helps.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I just saw an MSNBC video and the lady said in Shanghai they have changed the social distance measurement to 3ft

Several pages back, someone posted a link to a document from a theme park organization detailing some of the measures that could be taken to open back up. While Disney was not one of the participants (IIRC), one of the points was that the use of masks could allow the social distancing requirement to shrink from 6ft to 3ft.

While I'm not debating mask use here, I think it's fair to acknowledge that the relationship between social distancing requirements and mask use is likely going to be a big part of the equation in terms of when Disney can reopen and what park capacity numbers will be when it does.

 

[Spridell]

Several pages back, someone posted a link to a document from a theme park organization detailing some of the measures that could be taken to open back up. While Disney was not one of the participants (IIRC), one of the points was that the use of masks could allow the social distancing requirement to shrink from 6ft to 3ft.

While I'm not debating mask use here, I think it's fair to acknowledge that the relationship between social distancing requirements and mask use is likely going to be a big part of the equation in terms of when Disney can reopen and what park capacity numbers will be when it does.

Remember 6 feet is NOT set in stone. Disney very well could ask for 3 feet WITH masks and Florida can approve that.

 

[Sarahslay]

The map is gone on MDE on my android. Anyone else?

It's been gone on my iphone for over a week, maybe two, all days are running together so who knows but it's been at least a week.

 

[CastAStone]

I thought this was worth sharing

https://twitter.com/x/status/1259884421592776705

 

[hereforthechurros]

I thought this was worth sharing

https://twitter.com/x/status/1259884421592776705

This has a lot of good information. Main takeaway, they aren't in a rush about any of this. Shanghai is the guinea pig.

 

[Sandiz08]

Sure looks like Shanghai is the test subject, and he says it took them one month to open park from the time their downtown Disney area opened.Chapek says he hopes it will go well here as well as Disney springs reopens and guests follow the rules.

 

[dachsie]

I am curious about this too. I have a late June trip and am waiting to see if Disney cancels or shares info about a discount for June.
This is nice to hear.

Oh, I did not realize that. That means I can keep my trip live a little while longer to watch and wait and see what Disney does. My regular 45 day final payment deadline would be coming up soon and I have been waiting to see what will happen for June trips before I made payments.

I would send an email telling them of your concerns about paying final payment when they still don't know when they are opening and see if you get a response. My guess is, if you do and they say wait til a week before and you have it in writing, you will be ok.

 

[ratfam]

Just noting again that while as noted below it may still not technically be policy I did receive a full refund of my ticket purchase price from Disney by just making a phone call, and even though I had an August reservation with DVC points that I had cancelled simultaneously. DVC CM said that I would have a credit, but when I called Disney they really did not even push back--in fact they went above and beyond because I couldn't find the confirmation number and they found it. And while the CM who assisted me with the cancellation said it could take a few weeks I received a note of a credit from my credit card company the next day. We are not comfortable visiting currently even if the parks reopen and I very much appreciated that Disney seems to be recognizing that some will feel this way and be accommodating. Just want people to know, obviously I can't confirm that every CM would take the same approach but I can confirm that I did not do anything special, didn't threaten, etc. And they did not check anything on my DVC to confirm that I was a member so I don't think that made a difference.

 

[baggs32]

This is still the official word from WDW. It has not, yet, been retracted or updated:

"Effective March 15, 2020, until further notice, we’re making a temporary adjustment to our final payment policy for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort packages booked through Walt Disney Travel Company. For existing bookings, final payment to WDTC will now be due 7 days prior to Guest arrival. Payment may be made online or by phone. For new package reservations made through DTA, with arrival in less than 30 days, payments will be due in full."

Is this statement still available on the WDW site somewhere? I looked everywhere and can't seem to find it.

 

[Jroceagles]

Sure looks like Shanghai is the test subject, and he says it took them one month to open park from the time their downtown Disney area opened.Chapek says he hopes it will go well here as well as Disney springs reopens and guests follow the rules.

falls in line with a July opening..... pretty optimistic after hearing this

 

[wonderchica]

This might be topic for another thread but after watching the live stream, videos and pictures of SDL I think Disney has a pretty good handle on what to do and how to implement procedures. The square areas to stand while shows go on is very smart and I wish they were here to stay
As far as social distancing, i saw too many reporters and media completely ignoring the rule, but the guests seemed to be adhering to most of it. Wearing masks obviously helps.
If they reopen WDW with capacity restrictions, even at 30 or 40% I think it could work if guests are mindful and aware.

I watched some posts on Instagram from a park guest, and she said the distance thing isn’t really being widely used in the rest of Shanghai- just Disney. She thought it was good Disney was trying but said a lot of people seemed to be ignoring it, since they aren’t doing it in other shops, restaurants, etc.

 

[chad_1138]

falls in line with a July opening..... pretty optimistic after hearing this

I am hoping from this a soft park opening in mid June, then resort open in July. Of course, I am biased, we arrive at POP on July 5

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is this statement still available on the WDW site somewhere? I looked everywhere and can't seem to find it.

FYI, they haven’t provided this particular note on any public announcement to date, just to TAs.

 

[Sandiz08]

falls in line with a July opening..... pretty optimistic after hearing this

I think it was a little more than a month but he said one month.

 

[baggs32]

FYI, they haven’t provided this particular note on any public announcement to date, just to TAs.

Ah, that makes more sense. I was going crazy trying to find it! Thanks for clearing that up.