Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mhautz]

From DTA regarding e-mail going out to guests who have dining plans:

UPDATE - MAY 29, 2020: Notifications for Guests with dining plans

As you know, as part of our plans for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World® Resort, we have made the difficult decision to cancel existing dining and experience bookings through the end of the year. For your awareness, Guests with these bookings are receiving notifications from Disney that their reservations will be impacted.

Today notifications are going to Guests with promotional or paid dine plans. Please see below for examples of the letters your Clients are receiving.


SAMPLE DINE PLAN LETTER - Resort hotel Guests who purchased Dining Plan, have a Dine/Experience Reservation

Resort hotel Guests who purchased Dining Plan, have a Dine/Experience Reservation and tickets

As we plan for the reopening of our Disney Resort Hotels and Theme Parks, we are keeping the wellbeing of our Guests and Cast in mind. And we’re here to help you as we introduce new measures focused on delivering an enjoyable and magical experience for everyone who visits.

Unfortunately, these new measures have also required us to cancel any dining reservations, experience reservations and FastPass+ selections you may have made.

As a result of physical distancing, capacity in restaurants and availability of dining experiences is very limited and certain experiences such as Character dining cannot be provided.

Because of this, we have also made the difficult decision to cancel and temporarily no longer offer Disney dining plans.

We recognize the inconvenience this poses and we’re deeply sorry. We will be modifying your package to remove the dining plan. The price of the package will be adjusted accordingly and your modified package and price will be provided in a new confirmation. You will receive a refund of the difference in the package price if you have already paid in full or a reduction in amount due if you have not yet made final payment.

There’s nothing you need to do at this time. We will be contacting you shortly with more details about the process to secure new reservations, including our new dining and experience reservation window which will accommodate selections up to 60 days prior to arrival to allow for planning closer to your visit.

At this time, while systems update, we are temporarily suspending all modifications. However, you have the option of canceling your entire reservation at any time.

We’re putting a great deal of thought into helping you return to the magic and appreciate your patience.

For more information, please visit disneyworld.com, call 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639), or contact your travel professional or Member Services.

Select third party operated restaurants and certain other experiences may not be cancelled.



SAMPLE FREE DINE PLAN LETTER - Resort hotel Guests who are booked on a Free Dining package

Resort hotel guests who are booked on a Free Dining package w/ ticket

As we plan for the reopening of our Disney Resort Hotels and Theme Parks, we are keeping the wellbeing of our Guests and Cast in mind. And we’re here to help you as we introduce new measures focused on delivering an enjoyable and magical experience for everyone who visits.

Unfortunately, these new measures have also required us to cancel any dining reservations, experience reservations and FastPass+ selections you may have made.

As a result of physical distancing, capacity in restaurants and availability of dining experiences is very limited and certain experiences such as Character dining cannot be provided.

Because of this, we have also made the difficult decision to cancel and temporarily no longer offer Disney dining plans.

We recognize the inconvenience this poses and we’re deeply sorry. We will be modifying your package to remove the dining plan. As an accommodation, the price of the package will be adjusted to reflect a 35% savings on the room portion. This modified package and price will be provided in a new confirmation. You will receive a refund of the difference in the package price if you have already paid in full or a reduction in amount due if you have not yet made final payment.

There’s nothing you need to do at this time. We will be contacting you shortly with more details about the process to secure new reservations, including our new dining and experience reservation window which will accommodate selections up to 60 days prior to arrival to allow for planning closer to your visit.

At this time, while systems update, we are temporarily suspending all modifications. However, you have the option of canceling your entire reservation at any time.

We’re putting a great deal of thought into helping you return to the magic and appreciate your patience.

For more information, please visit disneyworld.com, call 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639), or contact your travel professional or Member Services.

Select third party operated restaurants and certain other experiences may not be cancelled.

Does this mean the 35% is on the current reservation? Previous communications suggested it would be in the future.

 

[skeeter31]

Curious if anyone who recently had their ADRs and FPs disappear from MDE also received an email about the changes?

I'm wondering what the heck is going on now as I have always had no problem getting emails from Disney and now I'm not getting any email updates or cancellation notifications (for the last week). I still haven't gotten my 2nd week of June cancellation email. All my ADRs for August are still there. My Toppolino's ADR disappeared for July 4 but my Yacht club lunch at Ale & Compass for July 4 is still there. My June 10 res still intact.

Just got the general email from Disney that FPs and ADRs will be getting cancelled. They’re not emailing for each individual cancellation like they were doing with earlier reservations.

 

[rteetz]

Disney is cancelling VIP tours through the end of 2020.

 

[WonderlandisReality]

Please FOR THE LOVE of mercy keep Splash!
It’s chlorinated water...it.will.be.fineeeeeee!

 

[WDWFan0813]

Curious if anyone who recently had their ADRs and FPs disappear from MDE also received an email about the changes?

I'm wondering what the heck is going on now as I have always had no problem getting emails from Disney and now I'm not getting any email updates or cancellation notifications (for the last week). I still haven't gotten my 2nd week of June cancellation email. All my ADRs for August are still there. My Toppolino's ADR disappeared for July 4 but my Yacht club lunch at Ale & Compass for July 4 is still there. My June 10 res still intact.

I got the email around 11:38, my FP's disappeared this morning, I'm not sure if the chicken or the egg came first as I was working and not watching my personal email / MDE close enough.

One of only two ADR's just disappeared moments ago. I think they did a mass wipe of FP's but are doing ADR's restaurant by restaurant.

 

[skeeter31]

Disney is cancelling VIP tours through the end of 2020.

Makes sense. I’m thinking all tours will be cancelled. Can’t socially distance when you’re following the tour guide or stopping in the middle of Main Street to be told about the names in the windows.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Disney is cancelling VIP tours through the end of 2020.

Oh my. I'm a little surprised by that one.

 

[Funfire240]

no email yet for me
Everything for my September trip is still there including the boutique and barber shop so far. We have 4 day tickets - 3/4 have been extended to 9/2021
We also have one day tickets that were for 6/1 - those were all extended to 12/2020 previously and now 2/4 have been extended to 9/2021
Considering not all tickets in a famil

 

[Taylor'sMom]

My mind was just wandering. Under normal circumstances, the people on these boards, and other similar fan groups, are uber Disney fans. Planners. Researchers.

But MANY that go to Disney are not. I'm sure we've all heard stories about the family that booked their once in a lifetime trip and just SHOWED UP and had no idea about magic bands or ADRs or fastpasses (regardless of the fact that Disney emailed them all this info)

I now wonder how many of those people that have a reservation for after opening will still just SHOW UP and have no clue they were expected to have a daily park reservation, and their experiences will be limited. Will they even see the news of no fireworks, limited park hours, closed resorts, etc.

I mean, my social media feed is filled with all this info. But for the non-planner, non-uber fans, who don't belong to these groups or stalk their email.... yikes!

 

[OKWFan88]

Disney is cancelling VIP tours through the end of 2020.

Does that include tours like Ultimate Day of Thrills?

 

[rteetz]

Does that include tours like Ultimate Day of Thrills?

I would assume. I know for sure it’s the plaids you book for front of line access.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

My mind was just wandering. Under normal circumstances, the people on these boards, and other similar fan groups, are uber Disney fans. Planners. Researchers.

But MANY that go to Disney are not. I'm sure we've all heard stories about the family that booked their once in a lifetime trip and just SHOWED UP and had no idea about magic bands or ADRs or fastpasses (regardless of the fact that Disney emailed them all this info)

I now wonder how many of those people that have a reservation for after opening will still just SHOW UP and have no clue they were expected to have a daily park reservation, and their experiences will be limited. Will they even see the news of no fireworks, limited park hours, closed resorts, etc.

I mean, my social media feed is filled with all this info. But for the non-planner, non-uber fans, who don't belong to these groups or stalk their email.... yikes!

I assume there will be a good deal of email communication going out. Now what people choose to do with that communication is up to them. You're probably right though, it is bound to happen to somebody. Probably hundreds of somebodies.

 

[AmberMV]

My mind was just wandering. Under normal circumstances, the people on these boards, and other similar fan groups, are uber Disney fans. Planners. Researchers.

But MANY that go to Disney are not. I'm sure we've all heard stories about the family that booked their once in a lifetime trip and just SHOWED UP and had no idea about magic bands or ADRs or fastpasses (regardless of the fact that Disney emailed them all this info)

I now wonder how many of those people that have a reservation for after opening will still just SHOW UP and have no clue they were expected to have a daily park reservation, and their experiences will be limited. Will they even see the news of no fireworks, limited park hours, closed resorts, etc.

I mean, my social media feed is filled with all this info. But for the non-planner, non-uber fans, who don't belong to these groups or stalk their email.... yikes!

Yeah I mean, if people aren't reading their emails or reading a newspaper or their phones, or watching TV or reading the internet and literally just show up at Disney thinking they will walk into the park they really only have themselves to blame. That's quite ignorant of them. But you're right, there will be a lot of people like that.

 

[cakebaker]

Please FOR THE LOVE of mercy keep Splash!
It’s chlorinated water...it.will.be.fineeeeeee!

Wet masks are the issue.

 

[mhautz]

My mind was just wandering. Under normal circumstances, the people on these boards, and other similar fan groups, are uber Disney fans. Planners. Researchers.

But MANY that go to Disney are not. I'm sure we've all heard stories about the family that booked their once in a lifetime trip and just SHOWED UP and had no idea about magic bands or ADRs or fastpasses (regardless of the fact that Disney emailed them all this info)

I now wonder how many of those people that have a reservation for after opening will still just SHOW UP and have no clue they were expected to have a daily park reservation, and their experiences will be limited. Will they even see the news of no fireworks, limited park hours, closed resorts, etc.

I mean, my social media feed is filled with all this info. But for the non-planner, non-uber fans, who don't belong to these groups or stalk their email.... yikes!

You'd have to be in a pretty strong vacuum to not have a hunch that any major endeavor is going to have serious limitations right now. I understand people can be surprisingly oblivious, I just don't know how you get to the gates of WDW without any number of clear hurdles.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Yeah I mean, if people aren't reading their emails or reading a newspaper or their phones, or watching TV or reading the internet and literally just show up at Disney thinking they will walk into the park they really only have themselves to blame. That's quite ignorant of them. But you're right, there will be a lot of people like that.

Oh, I agree. The info is out there. Everywhere, including their own email. And in this current COVID world, you'd have to be kinda naive to not research your travel plans before going. But it will happen!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Does this mean the 35% is on the current reservation? Previous communications suggested it would be in the future.

That is what it reads like - that if you booked a package with the free dining, THAT package will be adjusted to have the dining plan removed and the price of the room portions reduced by 35%

Not clear what happens to people who had one booked during a time they are now closed - I assume that rolls over to their replacement booking

 

[CastAStone]

Any speculation on where DVC rentals will land in all of this? We didn't buy trip protection, so we are stuck going or losing our money. Hopefully we would be treated like DVC members for park entry (kind of like how DVC rental gets free resort parking)?

Typically DVC rental guests are treated the same as DVC guests for the duration of their stay (save for exclusives like the lounge at Epcot), as Disney has no way of knowing that you are rental guests and not the owners kids.

But no information has been communicated specifically.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

You'd have to be in a pretty strong vacuum to not have a hunch that any major endeavor is going to have serious limitations right now. I understand people can be surprisingly oblivious, I just don't know how you get to the gates of WDW without any number of clear hurdles.

I'm just picturing these people at home, going "Honey, you should make sure Disney is open for our trip in August" and they see a July re-opening date and "Yep, they're open!" and not give it further research.

Anyway... it was an off-topic rambling. I'm done rambling!

 

[Hummingbird]

A bright spot for me