Worried wait times will be high

[julietcf14]

Hey I just wanted to get some opinions. I have been looking at the wait times at Shanghai Disney (on their app and watching a few you tube videos). They are only at 30% capacity, but because of the social distancing measures such as not using fast pass, under filling rides, and cleaning rides, the wait times actually are pretty high. Most of the wait times have been around an hour for every ride with even the best lines being 30min.

One of my main optimistic points about keeping our trip is that capacity would be low. Do you think that with the safety measures, even with Only 20-30% capacity the lines will be super long. I have 2 little kids and we can usually make anything work but without short lines or a fast pass system then I’m worried it would be a disaster So I am hoping for everyone’s thoughts!

The pictures are the Shanghai Disney app wait times at 11:30 am shanghai time

 

[mmackeymouse]

Yeah, that is definitely frustrating.

Shanghai Disney is not using any sort of virtual queues system, though, so hopefully the establishment of that at WDW would have some sort of effect. I am sure the main question is how many virtual queues you can have at any one time.

Unfortunately, we won't really know how it will all shake out until July-August when this all starts back up again. So it's hard for us to make a decision on our vacations without knowing.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I too am a little worried about high wait times. It will be so interesting to see how this all plays out over the next few months.

 

[yulilin3]

Im just going to put out a blunt, blanket comment out there.
If anything about your trip worries you, honestly, reschedule.
Nobody knows what is going to happen. The queues might be short due to low capacity but then the workforce will also be low due to Disney not recalling everyone back. The vq, if they use it, might crash. Nothing will be like it was before for a while and it's no one's fault.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I’m surprised by those Shanghai times. You really don’t want people standing together for 90 minutes at a time. Even 6 feet apart.

 

[yankeesfan123]

Also, wouldn’t virtual queues just mean more time standing outside, especially if shops have limited capacity and so many rides have virtual queues? Where would you spend all that time on a hot Florida day? Personally, I use standing in queues as a respite from the heat at times.

 

[cakebaker]

Anyone going in the first few weeks should be willing to accept that you have no clue what conditions will be like and you're willing to accept whatever those conditions are. Yes, lines might be long, they could be very long. Or, they could be short. If it's virtual queue, it might fill up fast and you won't get to ride at all or if you do, it could easily be many, many hours before you are able to ride. Think ROTR wait times. You aren't going to know and if you can't accept that, you're probably going to have a very unhappy trip.

I don't roll with the punches well when I've spent a lot of money to do something. I'm not going. I don't know when we'll go back. It's a hard choice, but the lesser of two evils for us.

 

[upbeatred]

I too am worried about wait times, especially for stores and restaurants. It is one thing to have to wait a while, but if you can't even go into a store without a wait, I'm just not sure what there is to do. What are they going to do when it starts pouring rain and people are all trying to get under cover? Also if the park experience is so diluted what is going to happen at the resorts? Are you going to have to line up to get in the pool? Can you even walk in the lobby? They really need to give us more information about the experience.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

If you have little ones I would wait and see how things will work out. Also, wait times might be the least of your worries. With the social distancing, wearing masks, reduced hours,etc. It won't make for a that usual fun vacation at WDW.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

I agree with what the others are saying. This is so new for everyone, it's impossible to predict. I would say, picture the worst-case scenario for the first few weeks. Still want to go? Then go and have fun. If the worst-case scenario makes it not worth it to go for your family, wait a month or so so that you have a better idea of what it's like at the parks.

 

[cakebaker]

They really need to give us more information about the experience.

I’m not sure they even know many of those things right now. Their lack of communication with guests didn’t start when they closed. I wouldn’t expect any improvement on that front. Most of the answers to your questions are going to come with the first wave of guests that are on the ground.

But your questions are exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about. If you can’t handle not knowing what will happen and be willing to accept whatever does, you might want to reconsider going. You aren’t going to get Disney to lay out details like what are they going to do when it rains.

 

[yulilin3]

I too am worried about wait times, especially for stores and restaurants. It is one thing to have to wait a while, but if you can't even go into a store without a wait, I'm just not sure what there is to do. What are they going to do when it starts pouring rain and people are all trying to get under cover? Also if the park experience is so diluted what is going to happen at the resorts? Are you going to have to line up to get in the pool? Can you even walk in the lobby? They really need to give us more information about the experience.

I have reposted this same thing in 3 threads now, I posted this originally yesterday in the main operational changes thread.

I watched a zoom meeting today from the hotel and restaurant union where they explained how cm will be recalled and I am now convinced we won't get a clear answer on reservations or any other operational updates until all the cast has been set and that will take weeks. I don't think we'll get answers until maybe last week of June
They're going to start recalling full timers by seniority tomorrow, if they can't reach them, they will send letters. Then the cm has to decide if they are comfortable in returning to work or have any health issues that prevent them from doing so.
They go down the list of ft to fill positions as needed, then they will move to part timers, same process. Since CP won't be returning until probably next year they're going to need to get cm to agree to temporarily fill those positions, some cm will have to switch positions, like from attractions to quick service. Then obviously everyone will need 1 week of training.
All to say, Disney needs to know what is covered, and what might not be able to reopen. It's a human resource and scheduling madness.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I've been wondering what capacity is during the slower times. If they only come close to capacity at New Years and only at MK then I would bet that 30% capacity is not that much lower than Sept or May. Half an hour to hour waits are in line with waits during May and that's when they're running at full efficiency (but not full ride capacity). I would not expect lines to be shorter than that as a going in position since they will be operating in a new way. If they are shorter, great, but prepare for worse (or cancel if that's not a situation you want to be in) and be pleasantly surprised if it's better than that.

 

[borgthe]

[/QUOTE]

I too am worried about wait times, especially for stores and restaurants. It is one thing to have to wait a while, but if you can't even go into a store without a wait, I'm just not sure what there is to do. What are they going to do when it starts pouring rain and people are all trying to get under cover? Also if the park experience is so diluted what is going to happen at the resorts? Are you going to have to line up to get in the pool? Can you even walk in the lobby? They really need to give us more information about the experience.

I didn't even think about the rain!!! Those downpours happen often in summer!

 

[Bruni]

Disney is not telling the public that with no shows, no parades, no fireworks and no meet & greets, all the people normally occupied with those activities will be going to rides (because what else is there to do besides eat & shop). This fact combined with underfilled rides will make the wait times even longer than pre-virus wait times. As a DVC owner and passholder it grieves me to say it may not be worth the ticket cost for families anymore. What are you getting for your money? Long wait times and the ability to walk around and wave at characters.

 

[wilkydelts]

If wait times were going to be a concern they wouldn’t of done away with FP+. I believe it will look like an After Hours/ Special Event. They do not use FP+ for those, staff accordingly, and let the event organically manage it self regarding wait times. The longest wait time at these events is around 35ish minutes and most times you can come back and it isn’t that long anymore. Those events don’t always have parades/shows/etc to draw crowds to either because it is unnecessary

They will be reduced staff and it will be different but as frustrated as we are with Disney and don’t think they know what they are doing, they can not afford to screw this up. They need great reviews and positive PR especially since they are opening a month later that others.

 

[brockash]

Hey I just wanted to get some opinions. I have been looking at the wait times at Shanghai Disney (on their app and watching a few you tube videos). They are only at 30% capacity, but because of the social distancing measures such as not using fast pass, under filling rides, and cleaning rides, the wait times actually are pretty high. Most of the wait times have been around an hour for every ride with even the best lines being 30min.

One of my main optimistic points about keeping our trip is that capacity would be low. Do you think that with the safety measures, even with Only 20-30% capacity the lines will be super long. I have 2 little kids and we can usually make anything work but without short lines or a fast pass system then I’m worried it would be a disaster So I am hoping for everyone’s thoughts!

The pictures are the Shanghai Disney app wait times at 11:30 am shanghai time

Walkways should be better. Ride times on the other hand I'm sure will be higher...I expect much higher than normal for this time of year. They're not going to fully staff and then add on top of that many things will not be operational (won't be able to take on crowds), the parks hrs being VERY much reduced and then how slow the lines/loading process will be with social distancing...there's no way they'll be anything but higher, even if they did fully staff which they definitely will not.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Im just going to put out a blunt, blanket comment out there.
If anything about your trip worries you, honestly, reschedule.
Nobody knows what is going to happen. The queues might be short due to low capacity but then the workforce will also be low due to Disney not recalling everyone back. The vq, if they use it, might crash. Nothing will be like it was before for a while and it's no one's fault.

I understand your point, but I think it's unfortunately a little simplistic for a number of reasons.

But mainly...we don't know what we don't know. The alternative could be worse; and that is where my family and I are. We are worried about our upcoming trip, yes. But, even IF we re-schedule....there is no guarantee that things will be changed by 2021 or 2022. There may still be restrictions in place. AND the crowds will be much higher by then. (maybe, probably, no one really knows)

If we knew, for a fact that fireworks and character meets and fastpass would be back this date, March 2021 as an example, then it makes it much easier to make that decision to re-schedule.

But right now, a lot of us are in a position where it's the lesser of two evils. Do we keep what we have, knowing that the trip is not going to be the trip we wanted or planned for? Or do we roll the dice, reschedule, and still have a less than ideal trip, and maybe even the conditions are even worse than they would have been?

 

[luckytobeme88]

We are DVC members and will be there on the first day July 11th, 9am sharp in MK. It will be different but we are extremely flexible since we usually go at least twice a year.

 

[wilkydelts]

Also most blogs are predicting very low crowds after the first couple weeks. They are expecting the majority of people to cancel and/or reschedule especially after the recent removal of free dining. Many of these blogs are also predicting Disney is actually going to be hurting for business after the first couple of weeks.