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

[mrsap]

gonna be some funny tan lines

Don’t be silly! I bet no one would even notice!!

 

[sailored]

My boss loves to share good news on Friday. I hope Disney feels the same way and releases some good news today!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is there any possibility Disney is rethinking it's opening dates due to the large increases in cases in FL over the past couple of weeks? While I love to think of myself being in the Disney bubble, sadly the CMs are not within that bubble. My heart is breaking for the increasing numbers in FL.

 

[cakebaker]

Not sure what you Want them to do?? The water parks have been closed and no reopening dates have been announced. Closed is closed.

Can you imagine the flack they’d take if they publicized, ‘0h and our closed water parks are...closed.’
Until they announce an official opening date, i Plan on them being closed.

Because precise information is important. The default shouldn't be everything is closed. By now, they know exactly what is open and what isn't and they should specifically say so.

 

[puffkin]

My thoughts are, keeping Food and Wine Marketplace booths makes sense. They are mostly in place from Flower and Garden. They are staffed by regular Disney employees mostly, rather than country specific employees (which aren't coming back at this time). It adds a lot of food options that are quick service, with low contact and easy to promote social distancing (spaced out lines, order/pay, pick up). Adds a little "something" to Epcot given all the construction. While they are billing this as Food and Wine Festival, it does not really seem to have the true essence of the Food and Wine Festival, but I am happy to see they kept what made sense. Good business strategy on their part.

Makes you wonder though.....will there be some type of park hopping? Food and Wine is really popular for people to hop to Epcot in the evening to partake. I don't really expect hopping early on, but by early fall, it seems like it could be a possibility, at least for AP holders.

 

[cakebaker]

Is there any possibility Disney is rethinking it's opening dates due to the large increases in cases in FL over the past couple of weeks? While I love to think of myself being in the Disney bubble, sadly the CMs are not within that bubble. My heart is breaking for the increasing numbers in FL.

I'm quite sure they are watching the numbers as closely as anyone. Putting the brakes on would be difficult, but realistically, one has to assume that if things continue on this track, they just might- at least the full opening. It's still nearly a month before the actual park openings and who knows what will happen, but the numbers can't continue on this trajectory and them ignore it. I feel for anyone who has to work in what is less than safe conditions.

 

[yulilin3]

A list of closed special adds. Most were already pretty obvious
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/events-tours-extras/

 

[yulilin3]

Is there any possibility Disney is rethinking it's opening dates due to the large increases in cases in FL over the past couple of weeks? While I love to think of myself being in the Disney bubble, sadly the CMs are not within that bubble. My heart is breaking for the increasing numbers in FL.

I have to chuckle, because every thread on planning has this same post every day, multiple times a day, by different folks.
(not laughing at yoou, just at the situation cause what's the alternative right)
No, I don't think Disneywill push anything back unless the States says so. They have been calling back CM for almost 2 weeks now, they would've stopped doing that if they thought it would be a possibility
Also if not now when? how do we know later the numbers will be better?
The CM and guests know the risks, and CM can chose not to go back to work if they have a preexisting condition or anyone in their family has one, they will be left in furloughed until the end of the year

My thoughts are, keeping Food and Wine Marketplace booths makes sense. They are mostly in place from Flower and Garden. They are staffed by regular Disney employees mostly, rather than country specific employees (which aren't coming back at this time). It adds a lot of food options that are quick service, with low contact and easy to promote social distancing (spaced out lines, order/pay, pick up). Adds a little "something" to Epcot given all the construction. While they are billing this as Food and Wine Festival, it does not really seem to have the true essence of the Food and Wine Festival, but I am happy to see they kept what made sense. Good business strategy on their part.

Makes you wonder though.....will there be some type of park hopping? Food and Wine is really popular for people to hop to Epcot in the evening to partake. I don't really expect hopping early on, but by early fall, it seems like it could be a possibility, at least for AP holders.

you forgot Festival of the Arts
It's really strange walking around world showcase without these food booths everywhere. I think we have like 2 weeks of that a year

 

[osufeth24]

I have to chuckle, because every thread on planning has this same post every day, multiple times a day, by different folks.
(not laughing at yoou, just at the situation cause what's the alternative right)
No, I don't think Disneywill push anything back unless the States says so. They have been calling back CM for almost 2 weeks now, they would've stopped doing that if they thought it would be a possibility
Also if not now when? how do we know later the numbers will be better?
The CM and guests know the risks, and CM can chose not to go back to work if they have a preexisting condition or anyone in their family has one, they will be left in furloughed until the end of the year


you forgot Festival of the Arts
It's really strange walking around world showcase without these food booths everywhere. I think we have like 2 weeks of that a year

Not going to dive too much cause I know it'll be deleted if so lol

But I also don't think they would have announced their F&W starting July 15 if they thought they'd be pushing back

 

[puffkin]

I have to chuckle, because every thread on planning has this same post every day, multiple times a day, by different folks.
(not laughing at yoou, just at the situation cause what's the alternative right)
No, I don't think Disneywill push anything back unless the States says so. They have been calling back CM for almost 2 weeks now, they would've stopped doing that if they thought it would be a possibility
Also if not now when? how do we know later the numbers will be better?
The CM and guests know the risks, and CM can chose not to go back to work if they have a preexisting condition or anyone in their family has one, they will be left in furloughed until the end of the year

Agreed. I view this like an avalanche, the snowball is rolling down the hill and it will be hard to put the breaks on it. Not saying they may change some plans/openings, etc and adjust to extra or changing guidelines, but it's going to be very hard for them to stop. The difference between now and 3 months ago is that they had time to plan and get policies/procedures in place. Also, I listened in on the reopening taskforce sessions for both Universal and Seaworld/Disney and pretty much the whole first hour of those meetings was talking about this exact scenario (increasing cases as things reopen). I don't think any of this is unexpected and was in fact part of their plans to remain agile as conditions shift. I think everyone just has to remain informed, cautious and flexible during these unprecedented times, but life does have to resume. Travelers and workers have to understand the risks and make decisions for what is best for their own situation. While it is JUST a vacation for many of us, it is the livelihood for many.

 

[DebbieB]

So glad to see Pop Century added to the list of opening Resorts.

Can't wait to take Skyliner from POP to Epcot on Epcot's opening day(hopefully we get a ressie for that day!).

I read they are housing NBA staff.

 

[WEDWDW]

I read they are housing NBA staff.

BOO!

Grand Floridian is till a possibility then!lol

Are they taking up all 10 buildings?

Thanks.

 

[puffkin]

A list of closed special adds. Most were already pretty obvious
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/events-tours-extras/

Agreed, most of these are pretty obvious. The only one that seems strange is the mini golf. That seems to be a no brainer to reopen. Even here in PA, where we have some of the most strict restrictions in place, mini golf is open. They hardly have any staff, and with the parks closing early, seems like it would be a good alternate activity.

 

[tinkerhon]

A list of closed special adds. Most were already pretty obvious
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/events-tours-extras/

probably could have saved a lot of time by listing what IS available

 

[WEDWDW]

I read they are housing NBA staff.

We are scheduled at POP July 11-17.

Could they open POP on July 11 and let "regular" Guests stay there until the NBA arrives?

Thanks.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

School starts here <50 days away (we start very early) - just received an e-mail from the school that reads nearly identical in wording, tone, and uncertainty to Disney's various announcements. Unprecedented, we all need to be flexible, it will be different but we can find new ways to create magic / we can find new ways to learn/educate, we don't know all the details yet, we will have more info soon, etc, etc. You could take some of the exact same DPB posts and replace Disney with the school name and that would describe the e-mail I just received.

While we all have our different takes on the situation at hand, I continue to not be all that mad/upset with Disney. What they are doing is nothing different than anything else in my life at the moment (professional, personal, etc), so just add it to the laughable uncertainty that is 2020.

 

[Zeus'Headache]

We are scheduled at POP July 11-17.

Could they open POP on July 11 and let "regular" Guests stay there until the NBA arrives?

Thanks.

Technically, POP isn’t listed as opened/will be opened for opening days. And I highly doubt it just thinking about cleaning and such. If POP is the resort for the NBA staff, then I have a feeling that it will be solely for NBA staff from now till their arrival.

 

[kylenne]

Looks like they started updating Platinum APs overnight. A few people reported finally seeing their extensions in the other thread so I checked mine just now. Originally it was expiring on 8/7/20, now it's showing as 12/2/20 on the website. If you've been waiting on yours go check it.

 

[MomOTwins]

Not sure what you Want them to do?? The water parks have been closed and no reopening dates have been announced. Closed is closed.

Can you imagine the flack they’d take if they publicized, ‘0h and our closed water parks are...closed.’
Until they announce an official opening date, i Plan on them being closed.

By that logic, why would they bother announcing that H20 Glow was cancelled if we should assume they are closed?

Others beat me to it by explaining that Disney has really been equivocating on water parks. There are still park hours showing for the water parks on the Disney website. Also, I have the water park ticket add ons for our August stay and when I called about them, and unlike the theme park tickets, there has been no extension or refund information posted on the website (and the phone CMs say they don't know anything). So I would really appreciate if they would just confirm already that the water parks are closed and give info on how they plan to handle extensions/refunds for water parks, just like they are doing for H2O Glow, MNSSHP, EMM and anything else they've cancelled.

 

[WEDWDW]

Technically, POP isn’t listed as opened/will be opened for opening days. And I highly doubt it just thinking about cleaning and such. If POP is the resort for the NBA staff, then I have a feeling that it will be solely for NBA staff from now till their arrival.

Thanks.

Will our July 11-17 POP reservation most likely be cancelled or is there a chance we will be moved to another resort for those dates?

It is getting to the point where we need to make definitive plans for that week.

Thanks.