Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

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I assumed this too all along but it sounds like @rteetz is implying that BC side may not open for awhile (correct me if I am wrong). That is the part that worries me and that I desperately need clarification on.

We just had a family vote and the nutters in my family refuse to believe that SAB might still be closed six weeks after DVC resorts. I think we should move. As the planner, they are going to be mad at me if SAB doesn’t open. They also don’t believe that we *may* not be able to poolhop to BWV (as DVC owners, it is on the allowed list).

When it comes to the SAB, it being closed is mentioned for the DVC reopening. It really doesn’t make sense to open SAB for just BCV given SAB’s massiveness and BCV’s relatively small size. I wouldn’t assume this means SAB will stay closed when the hotel side of BCV opens.
 
Because July 5th is when park previews start?
Possibly, I hadn’t expected previews to start quite that early. Thinking on it though, it may be they’re opening more resorts by that date.

In the can my luck be any worse, the answer is yes- one of my reservations I made trying to hedge bets started July 5. lol It’s long been cancelled, but just saying, no one should ever pick the dates I pick for any vacation. I’m just glad I can laugh about it.

1) 1st trip started the day they closed.2) 2nd trip was to have ended the day they opened. 3) back up ressie was scheduled the day after free “ upgrade”.


I’m good, very good, at picking the worst dates possible. :)
 
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All feature pools are going to have to be limited because of demand for them among guests is going to be higher when the hotel side opens due to staggered operating hours, no park hoping and guests that can’t get into any park on certain days.

True...but not like SAB...that Is a unique situation.
 


So what do we make of AKL not opening right away but The Mara CMs being called back?

It has outside access, right? Can that be accessed without going through the lodge at all?
 


This is particularly interesting to me. I wonder if this will end up as a one off for whatever reason or as a precedent moving forward...

I do think it’s a good sign that we may see others moved for free, but with no choice of resort, once things moved forward,

Remember, its only free if you change no dates and confirm your stay. If you want to move, then it is a rebook and a charge.
 
Heads up to anyone booked between June 22 - July 4. If you have a reservation during that timeframe, you should decide what you would like to do with your reservation and contact WDW (or your TA). My TA just sent this to me (I'm sorry it's so long - I just copied and pasted what she shared with me):

As part of our plans for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World® Resort, select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen to Guests on June 22, 2020 – ahead of our Theme Parks.

Your Clients may be receiving email communication from us if they have a Resort hotel booking between June 22, 2020, and July 4, 2020, if we have their contact information. We are asking them to contact their Travel Professional, but since we cannot reach all of your Guests, we request that you contact your Guests regarding their reservation adjustments and all of the information in the example Guest email below. We need them to confirm, modify or cancel their Disney Resort hotel reservations or Walt Disney Travel Company packages by June 12 for the travel period above.

Please see below for an example of the email your Clients will be receiving, including links to “Know Before You Go” information. For more information on sharing “Know Before You Go” details with your client, see the Disney Travel News post here.

Also, please note that we have updated our policy regarding change and cancellation fees. Click here for details.

For your Clients wishing to confirm their reservations:
  • Contact the Disney Reservation Center to notify our team of your Guest’s confirmation.
  • As needed, our team will move Guests from closed to open resorts during this time. This move will be at no additional cost to your Guests. Note that they won’t have an option to modify to another resort of their choosing for this reservation.
  • As previously communicated, for Guests who had a dining plan, we will be modifying their package to remove the dining plan.
  • If guests staying in our resorts before park opening on July 11, 2020, want to keep their reservation, they will be downgraded out of the ticket package and the package price will be reduced. Alternately, they can move their reservation to new dates, or cancel.

For Guests wishing to modify their reservations to a future date in 2020:
  • Contact the Disney Reservation Center to modify their booking to a later date in 2020.
  • If your Client would like to modify to a date on or after July 11, 2020, they may only modify to one of the announced opened resorts, based on availability. Guests will be responsible for any higher rates.
  • Travel protection may be moved to a new reservation in 2020. The Guest will be responsible for any difference in price.

For Guests wishing to cancel their reservations:
  • Contact the Disney Reservation Center to notify our team of your Guest’s cancellation.

SAMPLE GUEST COMMUNICATION

Returning to a World of Magic


Though some of our experiences have changed, the magic never fades. It never wavers. And it’s still waiting for you to come and experience it. That’s why we are excited about your upcoming stay at a Disney Resort hotel.

But to help you confirm if now is still the right time for your visit, please review the following operational updates and contact your Travel Professional to confirm, modify or cancel your upcoming visit.

Here are a few of the changes:

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES

While visiting Walt Disney World Resort, all Guests ages 2 and older—along with all Cast Members—will be required to wear face coverings. To learn more about this and other measures we have put in place, visit here.

THEME PARKS & EXPERIENCES

Our Theme Parks and Water Parks will still be closed during your travel dates. We will begin a phased re-opening on July 11. However, Disney Springs is currently in a phased re-opening with many retail and dining locations ready to welcome you. For more information on locations open at Disney Springs, please visit here.

RESORTS

Many Disney Resort benefits and amenities may be temporarily unavailable. Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be open during your travel dates but other Disney Resort hotels will remain closed. Check here for the latest details.

If you have a reservation at a Disney Resort hotel that won’t be open during your travel dates or if you have a room and theme park ticket package, you can choose to modify your plans by contacting your Travel Professional.

DINING

During your stay, dining locations and experiences may be limited to manage capacity and foster physical distancing. To learn more about available dining options, visit here.
TRANSPORTATION

Resort transportation around property will be available in limited capacity to allow for physical distancing. Also, if you are arriving via Orlando International Airport, you may still take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express Service. Details here.
We know a stay here during this time will be different. But the world needs magic now more than ever. And we can’t wait to have you here with us. Hope to see you real soon!

Contact your Travel Professional to learn more about your reservation options and next steps.

Response requested by June 12, 2020.
I got this email from Disney an hour ago to confirm my trip since the park’s will not be open during our dvc stay on the 4th of July weekend. So it’s already going out. It links to a webpage where you have to confirm if you are coming, want to modify or cancel.
 
Does that mean the other DVC resort feature pools will be opened? What about splash pads?

According to the update that Disney posted today, the feature pools will be open (except for SAB) with possibly reduced hours & reduced capacity, while the leisure pools will be open 24 hours a day.
 
I do think it’s a good sign that we may see others moved for free, but with no choice of resort, once things moved forward,

Remember, its only free if you change no dates and confirm your stay. If you want to move, then it is a rebook and a charge.

I think a free move (for the same dates) even with no choice would be a pretty good deal for most people. I would certainly prefer that to being canceled.
 
So, does the resort reservations doesn’t guarantee park entrance mean they aren’t giving resort guests first dibs on reservations, or just that even though you have first dibs, there’s still no guarantee?

I have long forgotten whether the first dibs was official or rumor!
 
So, does the resort reservations doesn’t guarantee park entrance mean they aren’t giving resort guests first dibs on reservations, or just that even though you have first dibs, there’s still no guarantee?

I have long forgotten whether the first dibs was official or rumor!

I think first dibs is real, but doesn’t guarantee due to capacity restrictions.
 
So, does the resort reservations doesn’t guarantee park entrance mean they aren’t giving resort guests first dibs on reservations, or just that even though you have first dibs, there’s still no guarantee?

I have long forgotten whether the first dibs was official or rumor!

No guarantee whenever your turn is that every day you will get in. I think they are managing expectations,

Once a resort opens, they can no longer...nor would they cancel someone, They just don’t want people thinking because they opened, that there are not more guests than spots to visit parks.
 
I'm hoping the airport check-in service will become available by mid September. I purposely do the latest flight out so I can spend my last day at a park before we have to head back home. I love having my boarding pass and luggage squared away then use private transportation to pick us up at the park to head to the airport.
 
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