Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[gottalovepluto]

I think the biggest debate I've seen was the throwaway rooms one. That got heated! Though I can see that popping up again with rumors swirling about needing a resort reservation to enter the parks...

Disney’s gonna have to do campsite bed checks

 

[cakebaker]

I think the biggest debate I've seen was the throwaway rooms one. That got heated! Though I can see that popping up again with rumors swirling about needing a resort reservation to enter the parks...

I may or may not have earned myself a few points over that one.

 

[vinotinto]

This is something I don't understand, either. If it were me I would have bagged on 2020 and moved to next year.

I don't think it's that simple.

Some of us have purchased components that are a sunk cost - airfare, DVC reservations, APs, stand-alone tickets.

Some of us have bounceback offers booked that we cannot move to 2021.

Some of us have vacation time that we either use or lose. (Neither my DH nor I can move 2020 vacation time to next year, nor can we get it "paid" out, and believe me, after spending 2 months in a shelter-at-home, I have no desire for a staycation).

Some of us may not have had a vacation in a while, and really need to do something in 2020.

It is not that easy to simply say, "screw 2020, on to 2021."

 

[cakebaker]

It is not that easy to simply say, "screw 2020....."

If only we could....

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I worry about this if people are going to refuse to wear masks. Wearing a mask for the time being is part of getting better at it and we already see a lot of push back on doing that.

Exactly. In order to facilitate living with the virus, opening things back up, and getting back to as normal as we can, we have to be willing to put the work in.

It’s very telling, yet totally unsurprising, that as soon as it became pretty evident Disney was going to be requiring masks in some fashion at least at the very beginning, people got mad. Not just here, online Disney fans in general. And really outside of Disney too, lots of pushback to anything besides dropping restrictions and letting whatever happens happen. Learning to live with it means learning new habits to keep it at bay. It’s a give and take, there will be some (or lots) of inconveniences. It does not mean learning to tolerate people dying and getting sick while I do what I wanna do, which is what I feel some people would really like to see.

 

[Mit88]

I don't think it's that simple.

Some of us have purchased components that are a sunk cost - airfare, DVC reservations, APs, stand-alone tickets.

Some of us have bounceback offers booked that we cannot move to 2021.

Some of us have vacation time that we either use or lose. (Neither my DH nor I can move 2020 vacation time to next year, nor can we get it "paid" out, and believe me, after spending 2 months in a shelter-at-home, I have no desire for a staycation).

Some of us may not have had a vacation in a while, and really need to do something in 2020.

It is not that easy to simply say, "screw 2020, on to 2021."

Agreed. Not everyone is in the position that they can drop everything and go to Disney whenever they want.

 

[courtney1188]

Disney’s gonna have to do campsite bed checks

I might be in trouble if they do this in July. And that's all ll I'm going to say about that! LOL

 

[jbehr12]

I hate the mask thing for a couple reasons: I’m being judged no matter what I do. When I wasn’t wearing a mask I was getting dirty looks by people who were, now that I have to wear one at work we are getting the dirty looks from non mask wearers. My gripe is that it speaks to the idea this is more politically fueled and perception related and not so much health related.

Secondly, most masks I see are basically scarfs. If it’s not a medical grade mask, microscopic pathogens are a lot smaller than a normal fabric and it’s useless. Again, it goes back to perception over real impact.

With that being said I have a trip in June and will be wearing a mask where required, it’s all just so backwards though.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I don't think it's that simple.

Some of us have purchased components that are a sunk cost - airfare, DVC reservations, APs, stand-alone tickets.

Some of us have bounceback offers booked that we cannot move to 2021.

Some of us have vacation time that we either use or lose. (Neither my DH nor I can move 2020 vacation time to next year, nor can we get it "paid" out, and believe me, after spending 2 months in a shelter-at-home, I have no desire for a staycation).

Some of us may not have had a vacation in a while, and really need to do something in 2020.

It is not that easy to simply say, "screw 2020, on to 2021."

Appreciate the explanation, but it doesn’t change my opinion on if it were me. I just wouldn’t want to be there anytime soon.

ETA: I had to cancel 2 trips this spring that I was really looking forward to, so it's not that I am entirely unsympathetic. I know the kind of planning that goes into this.

 

[MrsSmith07]

My new motto over the past few months: in a pandemic, my expectations are now aspirations. Life in general has not met my expectations lately. I can’t fault Disney for not following through when most everyone else is falling short as well during this unprecedented event. I think we just have to hope that this is a live and learn event for everyone, including Disney.

yup. I have a June 6 trip booked, and booked a July backup trip. I'd love to see them open asap, but I'm not holding my breath. We're lucky enough to live in FL and have flexible schedules, so we're just rolling with it.
edited for spelling

 

[jerry557]

Disney clearly states this under their company rights https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/
they can close, cancel, take away things without the need to give prior notice, refund or liability of compensation

Parks yes.
But DVC could be a big problem if they keep the resorts closed when the government has lifted restrictions.

 

[yankeesfan123]

Appreciate the explanation, but it doesn’t change my opinion on if it were me. I just wouldn’t want to be there anytime soon.

Just to add on to what the other poster said..

I rented DVC points for August. Nonrefundable. Honestly, my family probably won’t go even if Disney is open. $3500 down the drain.

I’d definitely move my trip to 2021 if I could.

 

[Krandor]

Exactly. In order to facilitate living with the virus, opening things back up, and getting back to as normal as we can, we have to be willing to put the work in.

It’s very telling, yet totally unsurprising, that as soon as it became pretty evident Disney was going to be requiring masks in some fashion at least at the very beginning, people got mad. Not just here, online Disney fans in general. And really outside of Disney too, lots of pushback to anything besides dropping restrictions and letting whatever happens happen. Learning to live with it means learning new habits to keep it at bay. It’s a give and take, there will be some (or lots) of inconveniences. It does not mean learning to tolerate people dying and getting sick while I do what I wanna do, which is what I feel some people would really like to see.

I think part of it with Disney is paticular is it is often billed as a place to get away from the regular world and enter the Disney bubble and forget the worries of the real world and especially right now everybody wants that escape. Things like masks and stuff are a reminder the pandemic is still going on and does break some of that illusion.

the unfortunate reality though is that for a while there are going to be reminders of the real world at Disney.With or without masks there is going to be social distancing and other measures implemented that will still be reminders of the pandemic And it does suck.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just to add on to what the other poster said..

I rented DVC points for August. Nonrefundable. Honestly, my family probably won’t go even if Disney is open. $3500 down the drain.

I’d definitely move my trip to 2021 if I could.

I really feel for people who rented points. We did it last July and came close to having to cancel it. I was stressing out.

We loved the experience of staying DVC, but I would never rent points again after all this.

 

[FCDub]

I don't think it's that simple.

Some of us have purchased components that are a sunk cost - airfare, DVC reservations, APs, stand-alone tickets.

Some of us have bounceback offers booked that we cannot move to 2021.

Some of us have vacation time that we either use or lose. (Neither my DH nor I can move 2020 vacation time to next year, nor can we get it "paid" out, and believe me, after spending 2 months in a shelter-at-home, I have no desire for a staycation).

Some of us may not have had a vacation in a while, and really need to do something in 2020.

It is not that easy to simply say, "screw 2020, on to 2021."

Literally every single human being on the face of the earth has been impacted and disrupted by this. There are millions upon millions of Americans who, like you, won’t be able to use their vacation days in the exact preferred way that they like. Myself included. In the middle of unprecedented times, sometimes we can’t get what we want.

While that’s unfortunate to have to cancel plans that I was looking forward to, including multiple booked vacations, I understand that a little bit of sacrifice on my part won’t kill me. Especially as it pertains to visiting a theme park. I can’t fathom wanting to rush back to perhaps the second most germ-infested place in the country in the middle of this pandemic, but that’s just me. Others have more tolerance for risk.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Literally every single human being on the face of the earth has been impacted and disrupted by this. There are millions upon millions of Americans who, like you, won’t be able to use their vacation days in the exact preferred way that they like. Myself included. In the middle of unprecedented times, sometimes we can’t get what we want.

While that’s unfortunate to have to cancel plans that I was looking forward to, including multiple booked vacations, I understand that a little bit of sacrifice on my part won’t kill me. Especially as it pertains to visiting a theme park. I can’t fathom wanting to rush back to perhaps the second most germ-infested place in the country in the middle of this pandemic, but that’s just me. Others have more tolerance for risk.

This is the first year my husband has 4 weeks of vacation. Perfect timing.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We loved the experience of staying DVC, but I would never rent points again after all this.

We have rented many times and would do it again in a heartbeat. Key thing is to get trip insurance. You can still save a ton of money after paying for the insurance. Davids has links to all the insurance companies that insure trips right on his sight.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Renting points during this pandemic has been awful and a headache. Do not do it unless you’re prepared to lose your money, worst case.

Without getting too OT, the short of it is lots of insurance isn’t covering this (mine personally was made complicated by David’s backing off the no refund policy), and lots of people are being forced into chargebacks if his voucher and new contracts are not to their liking.

Proceed with big time caution. Disney’s flexible policies aren’t replicated by insurance.

 

[cakebaker]

I can’t fathom wanting to rush back to perhaps the second most germ-infested place in the country in the middle of this pandemic,

I couldn’t either, but then that’s not what I think WDW will be. You're entitled to do what you want, but being judgemental isn't neccessary.

 

[courtney1188]

Appreciate the explanation, but it doesn’t change my opinion on if it were me. I just wouldn’t want to be there anytime soon.

ETA: I had to cancel 2 trips this spring that I was really looking forward to, so it's not that I am entirely unsympathetic. I know the kind of planning that goes into this.

It’s not just about the planning though - for many of us, it’s about the financial aspect. I can’t afford to buy brand new tickets for next year, and our AP will be expired. I realize I’m making some assumptions here, but if you had two trips planned this spring, I suspect you’re either more local or are in a financial situation where losing money to push your trip out isn’t a big deal. My husband and I saved for a long time to be able to buy APs. I’m a second year teacher in a low income area — we cannot afford to just lose all that money and plan a trip next year instead. If we don’t go this year or get offered something significant by Disney, this is likely it for us for the next few years at least.