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

[dachsie]

I posted the following in another post - but most of it works here.

The fallout of this closure will affect EVERYONE who currently has plans or is only only thinking about going to WDW in the near future.

First off, when WDW does reopen - I have a feeling it will be a limited opening with just 1 or possibly 2 parks, and not all resorts and restaurants open. The staffing levels needed to reopen everything is just not there anymore. It would take a while to ramp up to a point where all 4 parks, restaurants and resorts, as well as places in Disney Springs, are open. However, unless there's a miracle, any place that reopens this year while we are still (1) waiting for a working vaccine and (2) have actually enough vaccine to inoculate everyone and (3) people have actually been vaccinated - I think there will be mandatory measures in place that somehow restrict access to rides and crowding in general. That means no parades and nighttime fireworks and standing in lines for rides - you would be required to have a FP+ to get on a ride. Current crowds levels in the parks would need to be handled, so the levels needed to cause the various stages of parks closures in the past could be drastically reduced. They could also totally restrict the parks to ONLY resort guests.

Now on the opposite end of such draconian measures, say none of the above happens. Anyone with current plans for WDW are still affected by the closures because there are many folks that are now planning to go to WDW during your trip that weren't before.

They are not going to wait for a vaccine before they open. That could take over a year, even tho they started trials yesterday.Life is going to be tough for a few months but slowly things will go back to normal - look at China - they are reopening now

 

[TwoMisfits]

Is it the general consensus that closures will keep getting extended and as many things as possible will be closed until a vaccine is made?

Probably til there is a reliable treatment - that's much likelier in the short term...

 

[abnihon]

I have 9 day tickets. But unlikely my rescheduled trip this summer will be 9 days.
Maybe 5 days.
Can I use the remaining 4 days in 2021?

 

[Mattsmom17]

A friend just informed me she had a resort only reservation for April 18-21. She got a message from Disney that they are canceling reservations. She said the CM on the phone when she called them seemed very sad.

 

[abnihon]

A friend just informed me she had a resort only reservation for April 18-21. She got a message from Disney that they are canceling reservations. She said the CM on the phone when she called them seemed very sad.

Sad....

 

[rteetz]

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2020/03/walt-disney-world-transportation-to.html

 

[mckennarose]

A friend just informed me she had a resort only reservation for April 18-21. She got a message from Disney that they are canceling reservations. She said the CM on the phone when she called them seemed very sad.

I would like to hear more about this. Anyone else get a cancellation for an April stay?
Easter Sunday is April 12, and I fully expected a lot of places will be closed until after Easter week to slow spread. But April 18th check in is 6 days later. ???

 

[lovethattink]

My dh volunteered for the Star Wars Run. He got his acceptance email, but hasn’t received any type of cancellation email at this time.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Now on the opposite end of such draconian measures, say none of the above happens. Anyone with current plans for WDW are still affected by the closures because there are many folks that are now planning to go to WDW during your trip that weren't before.

I think this is certainly true for DVC members, though maybe not for the general public. There is going to be some reluctance for people to travel, especially Internationally. To that end, I am optimistic that Disney will do the right thing and release unused inventory, even in the non-DVC resorts if needed, to that the DVC members who are already invested and, more importantly, ARE willing to travel. That would be so much better than having to close whole resorts as has been done in the past. After all, DVC members with March-April-May reservations may be willing to re-book to Summer, but the DVC resorts were booked for those dates back in July-August-September when they entered the 7-11 month window.

 

[mckennarose]

My dh volunteered for the Star Wars Run. He got his acceptance email, but hasn’t received any type of cancellation email at this time.

That starts Thursday April 16th, right?

 

[erc]

I would like to hear more about this. Anyone else get a cancellation for an April stay?
Easter Sunday is April 12, and I fully expected a lot of places will be closed until after Easter week to slow spread. But April 18th check in is 6 days later. ???

Not yet?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

This may be a helpful ticketing bit of info, I have 10 day hoppers on my account that were set to begin March 21. I can now use them to make FP in April after they would have expired before. Seems to me that when it comes time to plan a future trip, those of us with tickets from this period will not have to pick a new date? Looks like they’ll act like old tickets did.

 

[Robo]

Looks like they’ll act like old tickets did.

We still don't know, but...
wouldn't THAT be nice?!

 

[DGsAtBLT]

We still don't know, but...
wouldn't THAT be nice?!

Mine are currently behaving like my AP when it comes to FP. Remains to be seen what happens once parks open and everything starts returning to the new normal.

 

[lanejudy]

Seems to me that when it comes time to plan a future trip, those of us with tickets from this period will not have to pick a new date?

I believe WDW was automatically extending them until 12/15/2020 -- and I'd assume with regards to dates they work much like the "flex" option tickets, which do not have specific dates. Folks should be able to make new FP+ anytime between now (?) and Dec. 15th within their new booking window (30 days/60 days).

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[tex1989]

I believe WDW was automatically extending them until 12/15/2020 -- and I'd assume with regards to dates they work much like the "flex" option tickets, which do not have specific dates. Folks should be able to make new FP+ anytime between now (?) and Dec. 15th.

Enjoy your vacation!

I don't know, but I don't think they will work that way. They should probably be like AP's in that you can book 30 days out at any point but cannot book 60 days out without a resort reservation. The idea you could book FP's anytime between now and December 15th because they extended your ticket's valid dates would be a nightmare.

 

[Ermise]

I would like to hear more about this. Anyone else get a cancellation for an April stay?
Easter Sunday is April 12, and I fully expected a lot of places will be closed until after Easter week to slow spread. But April 18th check in is 6 days later. ???

We have reservations beginning April 17th and have not received any cancellation notices. When I spoke to a castmember yesterday about our 30 day payment deadline, they said an updated policy was announced allowing final payment up until 7 days before check-in. It seems like most organizations plan to abide by the CDC recommendation of no gatherings of over 50 people for the next 8 weeks so I would imagine WDW extending closures through April. We booked a back-up for late August hoping things are improving by then.

 

[erc]

We have reservations beginning April 17th and have not received any cancellation notices. When I spoke to a castmember yesterday about our 30 day payment deadline, they said an updated policy was announced allowing final payment up until 7 days before check-in. It seems like most organizations plan to abide by the CDC recommendation of no gatherings of over 50 poeple for the next 8 weeks so I would imagine WDW extending closures through April. We booked a back-up for late August hoping things are improving by then.

So if we don't pay the balance at 30 days our reservation is still held?

 

[Ermise]

So if we don't pay the balance at 30 days our reservation is still held?

That's what I was told. They said disregard the automated reminders to pay at 30 days.

 

[lanejudy]

I don't know, but I don't think they will work that way. They should probably be like AP's in that you can book 30 days out at any point but cannot book 60 days out without a resort reservation. The idea you could book FP's anytime between now and December 15th because they extended your ticket's valid dates would be a nightmare.

Well, yeah, sorry. I must have virus brain. That didn't come out clearly. What I meant is there should be need to pick specific dates. The ticket is open and will be valid when you are ready to book FP.