Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[tinkerhon]

I'm astounded that anyone who frequents these boards would be taken aback by the restrictions that were announced. All of them have been discussed at length in this thread. The only real surprise for me was the opening date being in July and the fact that Epcot is opening at basically the same time as the other parks. The lack of parades, fireworks and M&G's were pretty much a given as were the distancing protocols and mandatory masks.

I agree that if people don't want to comply with the rules, they should not go to the parks.

I think some of the problems/concerns/displeasure (however it can be phrased) came from the lack of certainty , concrete info (that people might have WANTED, even knowing that it was not to be EXPECTED)
I think people totally understand (at least they should ) that Disney is taking all necessary precautions -
The only thing (and it can certainly change) that I think was a little much was the use of masks at the pool deck/lounge areas. (If that was even confirmed)
Honorable mention to park hours - for the summer, opening early and closing early doesn't sit well with many - (JMHO)

As far as other issues - (and these are extremely important)
Which hotels are going to be open?
Transportation/busses/DME- how are those going to work ?
FPS ? are they still a thing ?
ADRS - same - how will they work going forward
Park reservations ? How will they work ? Who gets priority ?

I think these are justified concerns when booking a Disney trip, especially because everyone, by now, is used to planning ahead, because that's basically what ppl are lead to do, due to the system that (before yesterday) was in place -

Just my .02

There are definitely two sides to the frustration coin -

 

[hereforthechurros]

What I don’t get is ppl who are on message boards for discussions about Disney who come here to say things like your post. I can see if this was a board to discuss Covid or any other serious topics & ppl were complaining about their Disney trip. But it’s a board to discuss Disney & thread to discuss park reopening so we get it, the world sucks & some ppl are luckier than others, but that doesn’t mean ppl can’t complain about their current Disney-related situation here.

Complaining is totally fine. Wanting something to look forward to is too, we all need that. Entitlement gets thrown around a lot but that's been the biggest issue. It's clear many people don't go anywhere else but WDW and it being closed has brought out some bad behavior/desperate feelings that are a turn off. It's okay to chill, especially if you're lucky enough to go a lot. Like everything in life, it's okay handle it with some grace

 

[cakebaker]

I hadn't yet cancelled the one of many reservations I had that we were scheduled to check out on the 11th. It's the YC for just 2 nights and I can modify it to another resort, but only FW or a DVC resort. The other one I did not cancel yet, we checked out on the 8th and I cannot modify it. Don't plan on modifying, but it's interesting that you can actually do it now. I had lots of reservations, just hadn't gotten around to these 2 yet.

 

[Krandor]

To each their own. Go run a marathon and tell me how you feel at the end of it. Sometimes fun and a “vacation” are not the same thing. If I have to put in extra effort to have fun, so be it!

Agreed which is one reason almost alll my disney trips are rundisney events. Tons of fun but also after doing something like a 10k and a half marathon, I feel I've earned my park time.

 

[cakebaker]

What I don’t get is ppl who are on message boards for discussions about Disney who come here to say things like your post. I can see if this was a board to discuss Covid or any other serious topics & ppl were complaining about their Disney trip. But it’s a board to discuss Disney & thread to discuss park reopening so we get it, the world sucks & some ppl are luckier than others, but that doesn’t mean ppl can’t complain about their current Disney-related situation here.

Exactly. If I went to a forum that was for grieving parents and starting complaining about things I think Disney did wrong or how my vacation was ruined, that would be a horrible thing to do. But that's not what this forum is and it's perfectly appropriate to voice your concerns and express you disappointment. It would be nice if you weren't torn apart when you did and told how superficial and uncaring you were because of it. I sometimes think those that love Disney the most are the ones who come off as haters.

 

[Krandor]

Word I heard was it is locked until the governor "officially" approves..
But that again is just the word I heard

I would think it is also because they need to update inventory to account for what resorts will be closed and move people around before allowing new/modified reservations.

 

[abnihon]

It will be ironic if only DVC is open when I canceled my DVC room for July 11-19 this week and kept my cash room. Lol. It was the right call though... I should get over $3,800 back which is a lot and if I didn’t cancel this week I wouldn’t have gotten that much back. And likely we won’t go...

 

[dreamit]

I had a number of placeholder resort reservations for this summer with one at Pop for 7/11-7/19. This morning I went in to see if I can change the resort. When doing so, the only resorts showing availability (along with pricing) are the DVC resorts. I don‘t know if it’d allow me to complete the change, but I found this interesting.

 

[abnihon]

I had a number of placeholder resort reservations for this summer with one at Pop for 7/11-7/19. This morning I went in to see if I can change the resort. When doing so, the only resorts showing availability (along with pricing) are the DVC resorts. I don‘t know if it’d allow me to complete the change, but I found this interesting.

very interesting... can you change to a regular room at DVC resorts?

 

[cakebaker]

very interesting... can you change to a regular room at DVC resorts?

Not sure what you mean by a regular room at a DVC resort?

 

[abnihon]

Not sure what you mean by a regular room at a DVC resort?

Like a non DVC room at Wilderness Lodge?
Or is it only Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek?

 

[GusGusTheMouse]

Question - to those cancelling trips this summer due to the mandatory mask rule, where are you coming from? I’m from Massachusetts where the expectation is you don’t leave your house to walk your dog without wearing a mask. So this whole mandatory mask thing literally is no different than what we are dealing with right now, plus the uncomfortable Florida heat added to it. But I get that and am prepared for that extra element.

I’m interested in understanding if people cancelling due to this are from states where mask use is more flexible or not as vastly used.

 

[Krandor]

It’s disappointing to officially lose the vacation you wanted, instead of it just being a rumoured possibility, so I feel for those who are upset. I am admittedly a little taken aback by those who are beyond disappointed or upset and are angry at Disney for the decisions they made, especially people who don’t have a trip planned at all.

I've said this before and I still believe it to be true. To many Disney is an escape from the real world and is even marketed as such as being a magical land "where dreams come true".

While I agree with the decisions WDW is making and am actually impressed with how seriously they are taking this and how it looks like they have thought things through, in the end though with all these changes especially the M-word, it does make it harder to go to Disney and "escape the real world" because with seeing M's and tables socially distanced and all the signs and everything it is going to be a reminder of what is going on in the real world that people want to escape for a few days. So I totally get people being disappointed and maybe even a bit upset that their vacation if not cancelled is not and cannot be a complete "escape from the covid world" and it's unfortunate. It will change the experience.

 

[abnihon]

Question - to those cancelling trips this summer due to the mandatory mask rule, where are you coming from? I’m from Massachusetts where the expectation is you don’t leave your house to walk your dog without wearing a mask. So this whole mandatory mask thing literally is no different than what we are dealing with right now, plus the uncomfortable Florida heat added to it. But I get that and am prepared for that extra element.

I’m interested in understanding if people cancelling due to this are from states where mask use is more flexible or not as vastly used.

we’re in SC so not mandatory. I wear at work. (Nurse) and in stores. But my son never wears one and I don’t think it would go well...

 

[cakebaker]

I had a number of placeholder resort reservations for this summer with one at Pop for 7/11-7/19. This morning I went in to see if I can change the resort. When doing so, the only resorts showing availability (along with pricing) are the DVC resorts. I don‘t know if it’d allow me to complete the change, but I found this interesting.

Apparently if you have a check out date of the 11th and beyond, you can modify to another available DVC or FW cabins for me. I didn't try and complete either, but someone posted that they did and could finalize the change.

 

[cakebaker]

Like a non DVC room at Wilderness Lodge?
Or is it only Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek?

No. The only resorts available that I see are DVC and FW.

 

[dreamit]

very interesting... can you change to a regular room at DVC resorts?

No, it’s only showing villas. I see BRV, BWV, BLT, OKW, SSR, Copper Creek, and Kidani. But, I now notice that the one non-DVC resort available is Fort Wilderness (cabins).

 

[abnihon]

No, it’s only showing villas. I see BRV, BWV, BLT, OKW, SSR, Copper Creek, and Kidani. But, I now notice that the one non-DVC resort available is Fort Wilderness (cabins).

And they did announce that will open. Interesting...

 

[woody337]

I have reservations for the week(with park tickets) of July 18th. Do we know for certain if someones resort wont open, they will be moved to another resort? And if they do that, who is responsible for the price difference if there is one? Also I have my FP's selected, I assume that wont have any influence on park reservations? Will the FP's even be utilized?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I've said this before and I still believe it to be true. To many Disney is an escape from the real world and is even marketed as such as being a magical land "where dreams come true".

While I agree with the decisions WDW is making and am actually impressed with how seriously they are taking this and how it looks like they have thought things through, in the end though with all these changes especially the M-word, it does make it harder to go to Disney and "escape the real world" because with seeing M's and tables socially distanced and all the signs and everything it is going to be a reminder of what is going on in the real world that people want to escape for a few days. So I totally get people being disappointed and maybe even a bit upset that their vacation if not cancelled is not and cannot be a complete "escape from the covid world" and it's unfortunate. It will change the experience.

Yes I totally get being upset over the official loss of the vacation, and also the lack of desire to go under these circumstances. I know we won’t be going.

It’s the anger and the ridiculous accusations for example that they’re only doing it this way for money (even though they’d certainly make more operating normally), that I shake my head at.