Without Restaurants, How Do Guests Eat While Vacationing?

[Deb & Bill]

My Resort reservation is 60-days from yesterday.

Disney cancelled some of dining plans today.

I have no idea what Disney will do and/or change in the coming days.

I can get no refund for my prepaid DVC points; I cannot reschedule in the current calendar year.

FWIW, my expectation is a RESORT vacation, not a day at Six Flags (without the roller coasters).

To extract any value from a Disney vacation, a family must go to a Park, eat whatever Disney decides they can make available, and return back to your hotel with nothing but some yet to be determined Park experiences available - all subject-to-change at any moment based on the whims of Disney.....and after folks have committed $1,000's.

You may say, "You don't have to go to the Parks."

But Disney has given us no idea what else may be open to enjoy; and they have shown they are willing to take away our food (reservations).

So enjoy Universal or Sea World. If there was ever an opportunity to try the other parks, it's now. You could even go to Tampa and enjoy Busch Garden. See if you can book Vero Beach for a night or two.

 

[MarkS2112]

These are going to be the conditions for now as Disney tries to adjust. We were lucky as we went in January and I cannot imagine paying what we did and getting way less. Unfortunately this is the way it’s going to be as this virus is no joke. It’s a tough choice to make. Get less for full price or wait. Can you sell your points? If so I would do so. Once Disney sees what is working things may change but it will be a work in progress. You just can’t expect things to go back to what they were a few months ago just like that as it’s a new time for a while.

 

[lady danger]

The people I really feel bad for are those who were planning to take Make-a-Wish trips to WDW. I would be interested in knowing how they are handling that unfortunate situation.

I have a feeling that this Is a moot point right now. If someone’s health is poor enough that they’d qualify for the Make-A-Wish program, their doctor is likely still strongly discouraging any serious travel. While there are a lot of people are questioning how dangerous it really is out there, it seems generally accepted that the sick are still at even higher risk than normal. I think Disney will start relaxing its proposed precautions well before doctors start giving their sickest patients medical clearance to travel.

 

[soniam]

I have a feeling that this Is a moot point right now. If someone’s health is poor enough that they’d qualify for the Make-A-Wish program, their doctor is likely still strongly discouraging any serious travel. While there are a lot of people are questioning how dangerous it really is out there, it seems generally accepted that the sick are still at even higher risk than normal. I think Disney will start relaxing its proposed precautions well before doctors start giving their sickest patients medical clearance to travel.

Plus, I don't think Give Kids the World is taking people right now, because of the health risks.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

That may be harder if you are in the parks or not really wanting to eat at the same quick service restaurant for multiple days of a trip. I am at the Contemporary and I like Contempo Café but after a few days of it, I am really no longer looking forward to the same sandwich.

I would hop over to Poly or GF or the monorail. I'm staying at Pop, but, I plan to resort hop even if it is just over to AoA.

 

[Tissa]

It would be different if they also reduced ticket and resort prices to go along with the reduced experiences. I'm afraid some people are going with the expectations that things will be like normal, then they will come back and rant on here that they couldn't eat anywhere but counter service, or they couldn't ride their favorite ride. I think at least in the beginning, it is not going to be as fun as we think it is going to be. I'm ready to cancel and switch to my plan b or c, but my TA friend is telling me to hold on a little longer. Everyday I'm less and less excited.

 

[jsmla]

I have always self-catered a bit-breakfasts and some dinners in the room and brown bagging in the parks-and will probably do so even more on my August trip.

 

[Eastern]

I would hop over to Poly or GF or the monorail. I'm staying at Pop, but, I plan to resort hop even if it is just over to AoA.

If they let you.

 

[Disneylover99]

If they let you.

Yeah. I was thinking that too. I wonder if they’ll have restrictions on that.

 

[upbeatred]

I am also concerned about resort hopping. On the one hand if you are staying there you might want them to limit it only to resort guests if all the services, shops, and restaurants are operating with social distancing. On the other hand with limited attractions in the parks, resort hopping is a great alternative.

 

[bluejasmine]

You'll be able to book restaurants at 60 days. Maybe not everything will be open but there will be plenty to eat I feel.
I wish they would release what will be open so I can budget accordingly we are so use for the dining plan but we will take what we were going to pay for 2 ppl for 9 days on ddp and use that to eat.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I think they may allow it if they can keep the social distancing rules. If the Contempo cafe only has a few people in it they may allow guests from other resorts ear there, who knows.
If they stop resort hopping then I will cancel as that's a bit part of my vacation, trying all the different goodies each place has. I'd miss that more than parades

 

[Jake]

With new capacity??? 20 to 50%. If they are not using every other seat on rides. Ride capacity will be down 40 to 50%. They may not horror all hotel reservations. Can’t having you staying at a hotel with out park admission..
cant have you paying for DDP. You may be able to make restaurant reservations once you have your hotel reservations. All might go for fast passes

 

[bluejasmine]

With new capacity??? 20 to 50%. If they are not using every other seat on rides. Ride capacity will be down 40 to 50%. They may not horror all hotel reservations. Can’t having you staying at a hotel with out park admission..
cant have you paying for DDP. You may be able to make restaurant reservations once you have your hotel reservations. All might go for fast passes

DDP is canceled and you can make restaurant reservations at 60 days out in the new system once you have park reservations

 

[JZCubed]

So enjoy Universal or Sea World. If there was ever an opportunity to try the other parks, it's now. You could even go to Tampa and enjoy Busch Garden. See if you can book Vero Beach for a night or two.

Or, I can go someplace that honors reservations (Disney cancelled everyones well-planned reservations) & without the hassle of airline travel (which was abusive before COVID-19).

 

[JZCubed]

DDP is canceled and you can make restaurant reservations at 60 days out in the new system once you have park reservations

In other words, despite planning and making reservations already - do it again.

And subject to Disney deciding to change the rules without notice.....because that's why they did.

Disney cancelled reservations before an announcement; reservations that coincided with the Parks & Resorts scheduled to be opened.

 

[Dulcee]

We are waiting and watching. Disney is well aware people need to eat and they will figure things out to work with whatever capacity they've capped things at. I wonder if we can go back to the old days of booking an epcot dinner ADR while walking around future world via those video phones. Anyone remember them?

 

[jennyq87]

If you're planning to keep your trip at this point, I think you just need to be prepared to go with the flow as this all gets figured out. If that doesn't sound like the kind of Disney trip you want, I would consider postponing. It's not ideal, but I'm not really sure what other choice they had. I'm still planning on going in August as long as most restaurants are open and they don't downgrade our room if they have to bump us (we're supposed to be at Coronado).

 

[krisp66]

In other words, despite planning and making reservations already - do it again.

And subject to Disney deciding to change the rules without notice.....because that's why they did.

Disney cancelled reservations before an announcement; reservations that coincided with the Parks & Resorts scheduled to be opened.

Yes, our plans fell through and now we have to make new ones. Too bad for us. We're the lucky ones who still have the vacation time and money to even consider going to Disney World. Given that there are 100,000 dead and 15% unemployment, if the only toll a worldwide pandemic takes on me is that I have to make new reservations, I can't complain.

Yes, Disney cancelled our carefully planned ADRs, the ones we got up at 7am to make 180 days out. Disney is hamstrung by the reality of COVID-19, just like the rest of the real world. If the state of FL says they have to operate at 50% capacity, then that's what they have to do. If they have pre-existing reservations that take up more than 50% of a given restaurant, then the only way to bring it down to the legal limit is to discard all the of reservations and start over. And they DID announce it first.

And yes, Disney will continue to change the rules without notice, again because they have to. As we get new info about the virus, and as Florida implements new rules for its businesses, Disney will adapt. And so will we. Take a deep breath, friends, and maintain perspective.

 

[nkereina]

My understanding is that ADRs will be available again prior to opening for people to book. While it will be less than 60 days out for the people going soon after opening, it eventually will be a 60 day booking window. Is this no longer accurate? Its been my impression that while some TS restaurants may close completely, most will be open with reduced capacity. However, I don't think that necessarily equates to being impossible to book because park/resort capacity will be lower as well.