Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Remy is Up]

Guess it doesn’t even feel like it will be magical. I am AP and DVC and just feeling sad, we aren’t the planners for Disney now since we went so much.

I wouldnt be down. I think it just an adjustment for all of us. We are platinum ap and are just going to roll with it

 

[giget86]

It seems Disney plans to be proactive for the rest of the year. That's great I guess but how many people really will keep going if they keep taking things away. I mean who wants to buy tickets and hope you get into a park every day of your planned stay. Since you have to buy the tickets first. What if you can't get into the park you want during your stay at all? Tons of money to just hope for the best at 30 days out. What happens if you can't get in any park on one day of your stay?

 

[SaintsManiac]

You would be correct. Still magical. Just have to approach the trips in different ways

I am excited to learn something new. I was getting frustrated with the system.

 

[Brianstl]

No but they can expand attendance and still use reservations to plan park staffing and such accordingly. There is a lot going on that is very long term thinking which will benefit the company as well. New fp system, New way of managing hopping, new way of handling ap holders, etc etc. It won't limit capacity. It will help the company plan better.

I am not buying they have a need to manage park hopping post COVID. If they thought they needed to do this they could have easily done it at anytime before by simply ending it or limiting the number ofpark hopper tickets they sell. They have never done that because park hopping is a huge money maker for them. Not only do the tickets cost more, but it keeps people on site spending more money. They limit park hopping they will dramatically hurt their restaurant business. If on my DHS or MK days I don’t have the option with park hopper to head over to EPCOT for dinner, I am going to head off site to drop my money for dinner at a non Disney restaurant more often than not.

 

[Remy is Up]

That’s a shame and if they continue a one park a day reservation system into the future past the reduced capacity time period this would be a deal breaker for me and I would have no interest in renewing my AP and would more than likely look into selling off my DVC.

When you see the rest of what rolls out with it. You won't be unhappy as an ap and dvc member if the plan in place comes to fruition.

 

[LSUmiss]

Yep. Disney is shooting itself in the foot with this. The "new normal" is very quickly going out the window. By the time they open in July a lot of this stuff won't even be going on anymore. They really need to start thinking ahead, not dwelling on last months info etc.

I wonder if this is part of they’re strategy. Announce all these restrictions & get ppl to cancel & then change a lot of them at the last minute or shortly after opening.

 

[Krandor]

It seems Disney plans to be proactive for the rest of the year. That's great I guess but how many people really will keep going if they keep taking things away. I mean who wants to buy tickets and hope you get into a park every day of your planned stay. Since you have to buy the tickets first. What if you can't get into the park you want during your stay at all? Tons of money to just hope for the best at 30 days out. What happens if you can't get in any park on one day of your stay?

And with all these changes lasting as long as it looks like they will it makes me concerned for rundisney. Is Wine and dine even a possibility in this state? Marathon weekend?

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Remy, any idea on the timeline surrounding when those of us with non-DVC resort reservations shortly after the reopening might hear some news on where we might be put?

 

[Remy is Up]

I am not buying they have a need to manage park hopping post COVID. If they thought they needed to do this they could have easily done it at anytime before by simply ending it or limiting the number ofpark hopper tickets they sell. They have never done that because park hopping is a huge money maker for them. Not only do the tickets cost more, but it keeps people on site spending more money. They limit park hopping they will dramatically hurt their restaurant business. If on my DHS or MK days I don’t have the option with park hopper to head over to EPCOT for dinner, I am going to head off site to drop my money for dinner at a non Disney restaurant more often than not.

There is more to it and it works in conjunction with other possible plans. Everything can be modified but the plan taken as a whole makes perfect sense. Platinum and gold ap holders, dvc,and resort guests will be just fine.

 

[Remy is Up]

And with all these changes lasting as long as it looks like they will it makes me concerned for rundisney. Is Wine and dine even a possibility in this state? Marathon weekend?

Was being discussed this past week. Haven't heard the plans yet

 

[Wubeachbum]

My family bought out of state AP based on the logic we would have a Disney year. We put a lot of money and effort into planning these trips, and Disney’s greed and indecision has made the process anything but magical. They no longer deserve their customer service reputation. They are trading months where my kids are in school for spring break and summer, that is not an equal trade for my family. They should also not be ”restarting” the AP clock without giving us what we paid for, park access for 365 days. I will wait to see the final details, but the shine is gone for our family.

 

[LSUmiss]

Emails were sent out to all AP shortly after the closure and the AP page on Disney's site has said from the closure period that there was a time that AP needed to call and opt in for specific options depending on paid in full AP or payment plans. You may want to call them about this.

I don’t think this was for out of state platinum. I’m pretty sure I remember my email said if I wanted the extension I didn’t need to do anything. I only needed to call if I wanted a refund.

 

[Arym]

It all feels so sad. I, and I'm sure others, were eager to get back to feeling some sort of normal. Now it seems like everything is changing at Disney and they don't even want us. With no tickets and no resort reservation, I don't know that we will even be able to go at all anytime soon. We so wanted to get back to our happy place and now who knows when they will even let us come. Sorry to be so melodramatic but I have tears in my eyes as I type this. I know that a Disney trip isn't all that important in the whole scheme of life but to us it means being with our favorite people in our favorite place and after a long few months, we were really looking forward to that happening.

 

[Remy is Up]

Remy, any idea on the timeline surrounding when those of us with non-DVC resort reservations shortly after the reopening might hear some news on where we might be put?

No announcement at of yet. I'd say be patient as there has been no information or decisions on non dvc resorts other than campground.

 

[Krandor]

Was being discussed this past week. Haven't heard the plans yet

hope they find a way to make them happen Since I love doing the races but gee things are in flux right now And that’s likely down the list.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It all feels so sad. I, and I'm sure others, were eager to get back to feeling some sort of normal. Now it seems like everything is changing at Disney and they don't even want us. With no tickets and no resort reservation, I don't know that we will even be able to go at all anytime soon. We so wanted to get back to our happy place and now who knows when they will even let us come. Sorry to be so melodramatic but I have tears in my eyes as I type this. I know that a Disney trip isn't all that important in the whole scheme of life but to us it means being with our favorite people in our favorite place and after a long few months, we were really looking forward to that happening.

I understand and empathize. I am booked for summer 2021. I feel things will be much calmer and we will know much more by then.

 

[Remy is Up]

There has been no decision on restarting the clock.
This is not disney being greedy
Disney didn't create covid.
They are doing the best they can in a situation noone was prepared for.

 

[Remy is Up]

It all feels so sad. I, and I'm sure others, were eager to get back to feeling some sort of normal. Now it seems like everything is changing at Disney and they don't even want us. With no tickets and no resort reservation, I don't know that we will even be able to go at all anytime soon. We so wanted to get back to our happy place and now who knows when they will even let us come. Sorry to be so melodramatic but I have tears in my eyes as I type this. I know that a Disney trip isn't all that important in the whole scheme of life but to us it means being with our favorite people in our favorite place and after a long few months, we were really looking forward to that happening.

They do want us all back. But they are trying to adjust to a new world and putting new systems in place to prevent future closures and protect guests and cms.

 

[cakebaker]

. I know that a Disney trip isn't all that important in the whole scheme of life but to us it means being with our favorite people in our favorite place and after a long few months, we were really looking forward to that happening.

You aren’t alone in your feelings. We’ve been going for decades and the last few years being able to introduce my grandson to everything has been amazing.

I’m willing to wait and watch, but I just don’t see why the sudden need for permanent changes. Short term, sure. I hope it is still a place for us when it’s all said and done.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I don’t think this was for out of state platinum. I’m pretty sure I remember my email said if I wanted the extension I didn’t need to do anything. I only needed to call if I wanted a refund.

I called not too long after that email to see what the refund amount would be. The CM told me they weren't doing refunds yet and I had to wait for more details. Not sure if this is still the case now that an opening day is set.