Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[LSUmiss]

The pool thing is one of those things I really don’t understand. They always send out emails & letters when the main attraction pool at a resort will be closed. Why can’t they do that now?? That seems like a simple thing to do that could also make ppl cancel or reschedule.

 

[jb405]

Yes! This! I'm 17 days from checking in to DVC room and no official food or pool information. People at Vero and HHI are 10 days from check in. Higher ups know what will and won't open in 10 days. I am going either way, but maybe I would want to move resorts depending on what will be open and as of now there's lots available. In a week idk. Hopefully they release some information soon.

Yep. Rented points at poly and we are stuck with it but it sure would be nice to know so we can make plans for our stay.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What’s kinda silly about the process, is if they would allow ppl to modify no matter they’re booked now, I bet ppl would move trips til later & free up space.

I agree - I wonder if their fear is if they just let everyone do it now it opens the floodgates and they don't have the staff to handle all the calls at once so they want to do it in stages

 

[Disneysoule]

I was wondering that too, since the DVC side has, like, 2/3rds of the rooms of the entire Boardwalk complex. Many fewer lifeguards needed in the feature pool compared to SAB, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was open.

I really want to see that clown

 

[jenjersnap]

It is actually my non-clownphobic kids’ favorite slide at Disney.

And for once Boardwalk would then be favored for the better pool

 

[chicagoshannon]

Need some advice... We are scheduled to stay at Fort Wilderness Campground from June 22nd - July 3rd. This was booked since Dec. So happens opening day of the campground is set for June 22nd. We are AP holders. We go to parks almost every day while staying at the campground. But since the parks will be closed, we see no reason to spend on average $160 a day for a campsite to just sit in our trailer. Yes we can ride bikes, enjoy the outdoors, etc. but we can do this at home or at a state park for way less. Also we still don't know if the pools, movie and singalongs at the campground will be up and running. We would like to reschedule to the end of July. From what I have read so far, we will not be allowed to reschedule since we are in the "non affected window". We will be calling in this weekend to see what can be done. Do we play the parks will be close so you should let us reschedule for July? Do we wait another week to see if they contact us? We were hoping for a chance at a soft opening since they are opening some resorts June 22nd, but I doubt that will happen anytime before July 5th. Would hate to lose a spot in July because we waited and they are all booked up. Just wanted to be prepared for when we make the call. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!

They are taking new reservations for Fort Wilderness. I"d try to book something online or call.

 

[Marionnette]

I don’t even want to contemplate the reaction if the fairly credible rumors of resort cancellations are true while they’re allowing guests to re-book for July. Both these things don’t seem to go together. No one knows the ways of Disney,

I don’t think anyone who has a resort reservation that starts on or after the parks open has been cancelled by Disney. I have only heard of those with arrivals that occur prior to the opening of MK and AK being cancelled. Those with reservations at resorts that Disney does not expect to open when the parks open are being walked to resorts that they intend to have open. Some of those guests have elected to cancel rather than visit Disney at this time. That leaves room to book other guests into those villas.

So they are honoring the 35% they offered? I'm so confused now!

The 35% off is being offered to anyone whose *free* dining has been removed from their package IF their reservation occurs during a time after the parks reopen. The 35% is deducted from the room portion of their package.

Those who booked *free* dining in June or before July 11, on the guest recovery offer, are not being offered the discount on a future booking. I guess that they are SOL. It’s not a good look for Disney.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I really want to see that clown

lf that pool is closed I hope they put a big giant face mask over the clown face

 

[chicagoshannon]

DVC says open resorts will have A pool open, but that doesn’t guarantee it will be the feature pool. We just don’t know yet.

Imagine the optics if/when they open most of the other feature pools but keep SAB closed. I wonder if they'd allow pool hopping at all resorts for the 3 weeks that only DVC is open. That might make it sting a little less.

 

[Eric Smith]

I think the DVC opening alone at first is just to stop the point issue from accumulating further, not because they are preparing in the event they can’t feed guests.

Studio kitchenettes are not much better for actual cooking purposes than regular rooms. After all you can even “cook” in a value room, just ask the DISers who remember talks of grilled cheese made with irons, and hot dogs in coffee makers.

They also can't keep DVC closed unless there is a specific reason for doing so. The way the contracts are written, Disney basically had to open the DVC resorts as soon as it was safe and feasible to do so.

 

[Eric Smith]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1268931919443566593

I would love to know how many people actually showed up. I wonder if the demand really isn't there for theme parks right now.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Those who booked *free* dining in June or before July 11, on the guest recovery offer, are not being offered the discount on a future booking. I guess that they are SOL. It’s not a good look for Disney.

Errrr , family's not going to want to be around me this weekend....

 

[chicagoshannon]

Errrr , family's not going to want to be around me this weekend....

I did see someone in the hotel thread earlier today say he rescheduled his trip to July in a 2 bedroom DCV and they gave him the 35% off.

 

[Dis5150]

Confirming. This is what I saw in a private FB group:

Any June travelers? Our agents have been busy trying to make some modifications this morning.
Here is what we learned:

• Only DVC resorts and the Ft. Wilderness Cabins are available until the end of the year at this time. If more resorts open modifications can be made later.
• Only rack room rates..if you had FD the 35% offer applies otherwise modifications are at the standard rate.
• If you have a ticketless reservation that must be modified with guest services so once you are through the phone line you are placed on hold once more.
• They have no data on the reservations with check in dates after 6/21.

We hoped this saved you a phone call if you are trying to modify your reservation today.

The 35% off is being offered to anyone whose *free* dining has been removed from their package IF their reservation occurs during a time after the parks reopen. The 35% is deducted from the room portion of their package.

Those who booked *free* dining in June or before July 11, on the guest recovery offer, are not being offered the discount on a future booking. I guess that they are SOL. It’s not a good look for Disney.

These two posts contradict each other so I will just wait and see what Disney says, unless someone here actually talks to a CM who can verify one way or the other.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

I did see someone in the hotel thread earlier today say he rescheduled his trip to July in a 2 bedroom DCV and they gave him the 35% off.

Umm, then me would be happy !

 

[SaintsManiac]

These two posts contradict each other so I will just wait and see what Disney says, unless someone here actually talks to a CM who can verify one way or the other.

Mine was from a TA manager. I will ask if anyone was able to use the 35% for real.

It makes no sense to NOT apply it since FD was offered to everyone who rebooked in June.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Umm, then me would be happy !

go check out that thread in the hotel section of this site. His post was a little confusing but I read it as he was supposed to be at Disney now and called this morning and switched and got teh 35% off. Thats the only report I've seen of that happening so far.

 

[cakebaker]

I don’t think anyone who has a resort reservation that starts on or after the parks open has been cancelled by Disney. I have only heard of those with arrivals that occur prior to the opening of MK and AK being cancelled. Those with reservations at resorts that Disney does not expect to open when the parks open are being walked to resorts that they intend to have open. Some of those guests have elected to cancel rather than visit Disney at this time. That leaves room to book other guests into those villas.

Yes, nothing has happened so far and I wouldn’t expect to see it for a while. I don’t think we have confirmation of how they’re handling closed resort and those guests yet. So it’s all up in the air.

 

[Krandor]

The pool thing is one of those things I really don’t understand. They always send out emails & letters when the main attraction pool at a resort will be closed. Why can’t they do that now?? That seems like a simple thing to do that could also make ppl cancel or reschedule.

I don't think pools are high on the priority list right now. This still isn't the same as a pool that has been open but they are taking out of service on August 15-Sep 15 for work.

 

[chasgoose]

I'm not sure where you're finding a $1,000 room on property unless its a grand villa, the cabins at Wilderness Lodge or the Bungalows at the Poly.

EMH never was a draw for us. It really didn't seem to reduce crowd levels all that much when we went to them and it seemed to increase crowd levels in that park for the rest of the day. The FP perk is nice, but it's not a reason that we ever stayed on property either. We stay on property so that we're in the Disney bubble. We don't need to bother with renting a car or worrying about paying for parking. We can go wherever we want whenever we want using the Disney provided transportation and if that doesn't make sense at the time we can use an Uber or Lyft pretty cheap. It's a nice way to stay somewhat isolated from the outside world and normal life for a trip.

The rack rates for some of the Deluxes for preferred view rooms (not even CL rooms or suites, just regular water/theme park view rooms) can break $1000 during the busier weeks and hover around that for a good chunk of the year. Given that the times when rates are highest are also the times when it's harder to get a discount, there is a good chance a lot of people are paying rack rate or close to it, which would mean a lot of those rooms are booked for $1000 per night or more.