What is DVC waiting for re: May cancellations?

[squirk]

I have a trip scheduled for 5/23-5/30 that is still sitting pretty on my DVC dashboard. Same on MDE: all FP+ reservations, dining reservations, Savi's Workshop, etc. - all lights are still "green". And the DVC booking tool is still showing partial availability that week (though I admit I didn't click through and try to book - it may have stopped me at some point).

I know the official word is that DVC cancellations come on a rolling "week-by-week" basis, but given the status quo (4/19), I'm trying to figure out why WDW hasn't cancelled this 5/23 trip yet. Widespread testing is non-existent; some treatments are on the horizon, but nothing expected to be approved and widely available in the next six weeks; etc.

Is it just a case where the trip is probably cancelled on DVC's end, but it's a matter of back-office efficiency to *not* notify all May bookings in one fell swoop (i.e., and not be flooded with a massive amount of calls about rescheduling or putting points back)? If that were the case, why are they still showing availabilty on the booking tool?

Or is there some plausible set of circumstances (fever screenings, rapid tests, reduced capacity, etc.) whereby DVC and Parks & Resorts thinks this trip could still safely happen? I will hate sitting in limbo until 5/16 before I know for sure either way.

Please and thank you!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Gets back into the "right" versus "legal" thing again. All the stuff you list seems right, but they maybe allowed to reopen without any of those things in place, and may choose to do so.

 

[squirk]

Gets back into the "right" versus "legal" thing again. All the stuff you list seems right, but they maybe allowed to reopen without any of those things in place, and may choose to do so.

Thanks. I’m not even sure if it’s a morality or ethics question from my perspective. More pragmatic.

I cannot believe DVC or P&R would allow this trip to happen unless there was some passable way do so without looking like they care more about money than guests’ health and welfare.

So if this 5/23 trip is still on the books, how could it happen without “bad optics”?

 

[Sandisw]

Until there is an opening date announced, they can’t really cAncel it on you.

Say they did and then all of a sudden Disney announces they are going to open. Members could have a grip.

So it’s best to leave, and let the member decide if they want to cancel early. If you are approaching a banking window, be sure to take that into consideration.

if you pass it and then Disney cancels, they won’t allow late banking

 

[disneygrandma]

Same for us.... May 23 - May 30. Part of our points do have an April 30th deadline. (We already missed a March 31st deadline on some of the points.) To complicate things, part of our group of 12 wants to stay the course with airlines, Disney, etc, while the other group thinks we should cancel. With talk of the country opening up, there's a slim chance that WDW could be open.

Here's the problem though: It turns out that the points that were used for the "GO" group's reservations were either current or borrowed points. The points used for the "Cancel" group's reservations consisted of a lot of banked points. So realistically, I would like to switch the reservations. That way the borrowed points would return to their original UY, and I could bank the current points. However, I don't want to jeopardize the existing FP's for the "GO" group.

Does anyone know if I modified the "Cancel" group's reservation, taking off the existing names, and then adding the "GO" group's names instead, will that retain their FP's? After that modification was done, I could then cancel the reservation that had initially been for the "GO" group, and proceed with banking the points.

We also had a Universal stay starting on May 30th, but Universal canceled it. It would be so much easier if Disney would let us know if they were intending to be closed before June 1st. Disney might not know if they would be open or not, but I would think that they would know if they would be closed. "Indefinitely" is not much help to plan with.

 

[Sandisw]

Same for us.... May 23 - May 30. Part of our points do have an April 30th deadline. (We already missed a March 31st deadline on some of the points.) To complicate things, part of our group of 12 wants to stay the course with airlines, Disney, etc, while the other group thinks we should cancel. With talk of the country opening up, there's a slim chance that WDW could be open.

Here's the problem though: It turns out that the points that were used for the "GO" group's reservations were either current or borrowed points. The points used for the "Cancel" group's reservations consisted of a lot of banked points. So realistically, I would like to switch the reservations. That way the borrowed points would return to their original UY, and I could bank the current points. However, I don't want to jeopardize the existing FP's for the "GO" group.

Does anyone know if I modified the "Cancel" group's reservation, taking off the existing names, and then adding the "GO" group's names instead, will that retain their FP's? After that modification was done, I could then cancel the reservation that had initially been for the "GO" group, and proceed with banking the points.

We also had a Universal stay starting on May 30th, but Universal canceled it. It would be so much easier if Disney would let us know if they were intending to be closed before June 1st. Disney might not know if they would be open or not, but I would think that they would know if they would be closed. "Indefinitely" is not much help to plan with.

If they are on the same membership, once you cancel the one, you just need to modify the reservations, don’t change a thing, and when it rebooks, it will pick up the banked points.

If they are different memberships, then it won’t work. I think if you just change names, it should not have any effect on FPs, as long s you link the new reservation to MDE before you cancel the other one,

 

[squirk]

Until there is an opening date announced, they can’t really cAncel it on you.

Say they did and then all of a sudden Disney announces they are going to open. Members could have a grip.

So it’s best to leave, and let the member decide if they want to cancel early. If you are approaching a banking window, be sure to take that into consideration.

if you pass it and then Disney cancels, they won’t allow late banking

My thought is that, by now, they probably have a pretty good idea as to whether or not they’ll be open in any capacity before June 1.

If they just went ahead and announced today that all reservations through May 30 are auto-cancelled, I am wondering what could possibly happen in the next 5-6 weeks that would make them change their mind and open sooner. There’s not going to be a game-changer - a miracle cure, treatment or vaccine - magically becoming widely available by that date.

If reliable quick-tests were widely available by then (both for current infections and for antibodies), I could totally see them administering said tests to guests as they arrive at their resort before they are allowed to enter a park. But other than that? I’m not sure that fever-screenings and half-occupancy restaurants will cut the mustard.

Obviously, there are experts at Disney who have given this way more, and way more educated, thought than me. I just wish I could be a fly on the wall during those discussions.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

<snip>

Obviously, there are experts at Disney who have given this way more, and way more educated, thought than me. I just wish I could be a fly on the wall during those discussions.

</snip>

I seriously have my doubts on that a lot of the time.

 

[Sandisw]

My thought is that, by now, they probably have a pretty good idea as to whether or not they’ll be open in any capacity before June 1.

If they just went ahead and announced today that all reservations through May 30 are auto-cancelled, I am wondering what could possibly happen in the next 5-6 weeks that would make them change their mind and open sooner. There’s not going to be a game-changer - a miracle cure, treatment or vaccine - magically becoming widely available by that date.

If reliable quick-tests were widely available by then (both for current infections and for antibodies), I could totally see them administering said tests to guests as they arrive at their resort before they are allowed to enter a park. But other than that? I’m not sure that fever-screenings and half-occupancy restaurants will cut the mustard.

Obviously, there are experts at Disney who have given this way more, and way more educated, thought than me. I just wish I could be a fly on the wall during those discussions.

Right now though, Disney has not yet communicated an open date and DVCM may not have the authority to override that by indirectry canceling ahead of time,

I don’t think they have the legal right to cancel a reservation that far in advance, without an official declaration the resort will be closed. I agree it is unlikely May reservations will go, but doing it that early could cause issues

Again, they are closed until further notice and have said it’s week by week. I am sure internal conversations are discussing June 1st. At one point May was pretty much all gone and wait list only. But I think as people cancel, things are showing back up.

I canceled my May reservation just before the end of March and Disney has not removed any of the FPs I booked...which normally happens.

If someone knows they aren’t going, they can cancel it on their own. If they are holding out hope, leaving it does no harm,

Really, no reason for DVC to cancel more than a week at a time.

 

[squirk]

Right now though, Disney has not yet communicated an open date and DVCM may not have the authority to override that by indirectry canceling ahead of time,

I don’t think they have the legal right to cancel a reservation that far in advance, without an official declaration the resort will be closed. I agree it is unlikely May reservations will go, but doing it that early could cause issues

Again, they are closed until further notice and have said it’s week by week. I am sure internal conversations are discussing June 1st. At one point May was pretty much all gone and wait list only. But I think as people cancel, things are showing back up.

I canceled my May reservation just before the end of March and Disney has not removed any of the FPs I booked...which normally happens.

If someone knows they aren’t going, they can cancel it on their own. If they are holding out hope, leaving it does no harm,

Really, no reason for DVC to cancel more than a week at a time.

They don't need to announce an open date prior to cancelling reservations, though. They've already been auto-cancelling for many weeks now, even though there is no new open date announced, haven't they?

Also, the entire resort (including DVC properties) is officially closed "until further notice," right?

My point is that they have decided, internally, that they either a.) won't open before June 1st; or b.) may open before June 1st.

If it's "a," just let guests know now rather than keeping them hanging until one week out. If nothing else, make it 15-20 days so guests can make air travel preparations (of course, fares are dirt-cheap right now, so maybe booking inside the usual two-week window won't be a problem, price-wise).

If it's "b," I am idly wondering (which is what prompted my OP) what would have to fall into place to make a pre-June 1st opening happen.

 

[Sandisw]

They don't need to announce an open date prior to cancelling reservations, though. They've already been auto-cancelling for many weeks now, even though there is no new open date announced.

Also, the resorts are officially closed "until further notice," right?

My point is that they have decided, internally, that they either a.) won't open before June 1st; or b.) may open before June 1st.

If it's "a," just let guests know now rather than keeping them hanging until one week out. If nothing else, make it 15-20 days so guests can make air travel preparations (of course, fares are dirt-cheap right now, so maybe booking inside the usual two-week window won't be a problem, price-wise).

If it's "b," I am idly wondering (which is what prompted my OP) what would have to fall into place to make a pre-June 1st opening happen.

My point is that by canceling reservations a month in advance, vs. week by week, DVC would be implying the resort won’t open until at least June 1st,

Right now, they are only going week by week to ensure it is 100% given the resort is still closed,

To be honest, there is no benefit whatsoever for waiting for DVC to cancel or for them to even doing it other than they were trying to limit the phone calls,

I personally just dont see any reason for canceling them more than weekly as they are doing now,

Even Disney is only canceling cash reservation and things like this too, even though they have stopped accepting new reservations prior to June 1st.

 

[squirk]

My point is that by canceling reservations a month in advance, vs. week by week, DVC would be implying the resort won’t open until at least June 1st,

Right now, they are only going week by week to ensure it is 100% given the resort is still closed,

I think we're kind of saying the same thing, maybe?

Is the fact that they haven't just gone ahead and announced "We don't know when we will re-open, but we know it won't be before June 1st" indicative that a pre-June 1st opening isn't off the table?

If so, then I wonder what needs to happen, and when, in order for Disney to feel comfortable exercising that option.

 

[Sandisw]

I think we're kind of saying the same thing, maybe?

Is the fact that they haven't just gone ahead and announced "We don't know when we will re-open, but we know it won't be before June 1st" indicative that a pre-June 1st opening isn't off the table?

If so, then I wonder what needs to happen, and when, in order for Disney to feel comfortable exercising that option.

Yes, maybe we were! I think the first thing is the government orders being lifted, and then they can plan.

I do believe that since Disney has DVC, it has to balance what it does and says for park and resorts and for DVC In comparison to Universal that just made it closed until May 31st.

If the Florida governor doesn’t renew state of emergency..,which seems like he won’t...they may decide to open DVC resorts rather quickly while the prepare the other resorts and parks to open,

I do not see parks opening prior to June 1st, but I could see the resorts open back up. How many people would come? I don’t know but once DVC resorts are open, no more loss of rooms, which means the number of lost points is finite.

 

[squirk]

I do not see parks opening prior to June 1st, but I could see the resorts open back up. How many people would come? I don’t know but once DVC resorts are open, no more loss of rooms, which means the number of lost points is finite.

Yes, I was wondering the same thing. Will people come just for the resorts and nothing else? I highly doubt it. At least, not enough people in large enough numbers to justify the time and expense of reopening resorts with even minimal staffing.

To the extent that folks can get their points back, I'd bet that 90% of them will reschedule until a time when they know they can enter the parks.

Or is it possible that the people who had mid-to-late May reservations on the books prior to March 12th and didn't subsequently cancel are a small enough (yet still a large enough) group to allow for a soft reopening of the parks before June 1 with several safeguards in place (face masks, disposable menus, fever checks, etc.) and limited attractions open?

 

[nagshead]

Yup, May 22 here. Just waiting for them to cancel us I’m sure it’s coming

 

[squirk]

Yup, May 22 here. Just waiting for them to cancel us I’m sure it’s coming

Yeah, I'm, like, 95% certain they're going to cancel us, too. And even on that 5% chance that the trip could still happen, would I even want to go if there are a bunch of restrictions in place?

I guess it would depend on the nature of the restrictions (e.g., do I want to have to wear a face mask at all times in +90° weather?), but maybe I'll just opt to reschedule for a time when things are a little bit closer to normal.

 

[MMSM]

Yes, maybe we were! I think the first thing is the government orders being lifted, and then they can plan.

I do believe that since Disney has DVC, it has to balance what it does and says for park and resorts and for DVC In comparison to Universal that just made it closed until May 31st.

If the Florida governor doesn’t renew state of emergency..,which seems like he won’t...they may decide to open DVC resorts rather quickly while the prepare the other resorts and parks to open,

I do not see parks opening prior to June 1st, but I could see the resorts open back up. How many people would come? I don’t know but once DVC resorts are open, no more loss of rooms, which means the number of lost points is finite.

Would the pools and restaurants at the resorts open too?

 

[Sandisw]

I rescheduled March for August, and May for October, I will go for my June trip but it will only be for the resort, regardless of the park being open.

I still believe by the first week in May we will know about that June 1st assumed opening.

 

[Sandisw]

Would the pools and restaurants at the resorts open too?

I think you’d see at least the pools open, but the problem with the restaurants is that those are not in the control of DVC.

It could be the same with the pool too, I could also see that QS would be open for mobile ordering and take out only,

Again, once they have the green light from the government to reopen, I would think they would have to have a plan to open Quickly.

 

[kmc33]

They haven’t cancelled my April 28th reservation yet. I figure it's coming this week.