Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Flamingeaux]

I don’t think Super Bowl in Tampa will affect crowds at all with the presumed limited capacity. Even if it was full capacity I don’t think it would impact too much.

When the Pro Bowl was right in Orlando, crowds did increase a bit.

I will say that Super Bowl Sunday is a great day to visit the parks. We did Hollywood Studios last year and crowds were incredibly light for a Sunday.

This is my "doh" moment. I knew we were arriving Super Bowl Sunday but I didn't put this together. I was thinking of going to Disney Springs after we unpacked but was reluctant to go on a weekend night. The crowds might not be as bad as I was thinking. Something to think about I guess... I gots to get me some Gideon's cookies!!!

 

[hereforthechurros]

Perhaps I am fooling myself but I consider the way I do pandemic Disney pretty safe. I drive, I wear a KN95, and I don't eat inside anywhere but my hotel room. This whole pandemic besides my one trip to Disney (another in a week) I stay at home and do not see anyone outside my household, and work 100% virtually. I quarantine from the rest of my household when I get home and I get tested twice in those 14 days. I definitely see a lot of people who don't care about covid going to Disney, but I'm sure there are plenty others like me.

We traveled a good deal from August to December because we found a safe routine to follow. But if people aren’t following state protocols and putting others in danger for a WDW trip or any trip they sort of deserve to be shamed.

 

[Mit88]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349820795103621123

Dr Falls seems like my kind of person

 

[Cfiiitz]

Yeah, as a fellow Canadian it’s wild to hear our provincial government as well as all the local conversations where people were “shamed” for illegally gathering with anyone outside their household at Christmas side by side with the conversations on places like this about travel. It is a big deal right now that they’re allowing NHL play and travel, lots of people are angry.

Different mindsets for sure.

I totally agree with you. I think the messaging on travel has been so different up here.
Even in Alberta, the wild freaking west, the most conservative province, worst by almost all metrics, where we put in rapid testing to shorten quarantine and facilitate travel, the overall message is to stay at home. Politicians have been demoted for leaving the country. We can’t even have outdoor gatherings of 2 people.

To bring this back to Disney - I wonder if there is going to be a huge rush of Canadians at wdw once they “open the borders” or if people will be wary for months, years to come.

 

[yulilin3]

I know not wdw but it might affect us

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349831165532803073

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349832368329113601

 

[BorderTenny]

I know not wdw but it might affect us

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349831165532803073

With all the bad news that's already been coming this week, I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow.

 

[princesscinderella]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349832368329113601

That way Disney can charge 2022 prices and refund at 2019-2020 prices once they reopen instead of time extensions.

 

[The Pho]

I know not wdw but it might affect us

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349831165532803073

Well this is going to be a huge mess for myself. Not looking forward to dealing with this. It’s already been terrible with the park closed.

I’m assuming this is because they don’t want to deal with extending continuously for a closed resort. Then also not having to deal with anybody by day ticket holders will make reopening easier down the line.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Well this is going to be a huge mess for myself. Not looking forward to dealing with this. It’s already been terrible with the park closed.

I’m assuming this is because they don’t want to deal with extending continuously for a closed resort. Then also not having to deal with anybody by day ticket holders will make reopening easier down the line.

That makes total sense but WOW. Sunsetting the program entirely is the more shocking part - I imagine on some level APs are like gym memberships, they make a ton of money off the people who don't use them. So so curious what the new program will be - I'm guessing more like a pass good for x number of days during the year, or "weekends only" or After 4, or even APs by park, something like that, instead of carte blanche ability to attend.

 

[jessiegirl1982]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349832368329113601

So pissed right now! I've been a DL AP since 1993.. I have never purchased a single day ticket, and refuse to do so... I'm so over Disney right now.

 

[andyman8]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349832368329113601

This strikes me as something that they had to do. There just doesn't seem to even be an internal estimate as to when DLR will reopen. Given the dire situation in CA right now and slower-than-anticipated vaccine rollout (combined with the Governor's reluctance/hesitancy re: reopening), there's just no way to know when DLR will actually reopen (and then when it will be able to operate at a "normal" capacity). I'm still confident DLR will reopen this year, but when is anybody's guess and from a financial perspective it's not feasible to extend passes for 16-18 months.

Plus, this will help limit attendance when they do reopen under a restricted capacity threshold; that was going to be a nightmare to manage with so many APs.

I also have no doubt that, as Disney said, some sort of AP-like program will return for DLR when it's feasible.

 

[SMRT-1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1349832368329113601

Seems like they don't know if/when Newsom will let them re-open, so it's now become more of a hassle to figure out extensions than it is to just issue refunds and have everyone start over.

 

[Krandor]

Seems like they don't know if/when Newsom will let them re-open, so it's now become more of a hassle to figure out extensions than it is to just issue refunds and have everyone start over.

Very true. and if you were thinking about making changes to the AP program the restart is the time to do them.

 

[Mit88]

Seems like they don't know if/when Newsom will let them re-open, so it's now become more of a hassle to figure out extensions than it is to just issue refunds and have everyone start over.

Exactly my thoughts, and in hindsight they probably wish they would have done this with WDW instead of the extensions and allowing renewals. Wipe the slate clean and implement a new system of passes. There’s no way that a form of APs isn’t coming back. Disney loves having these “memberships” for their fans. Club 33, D23, etc.They just might not make it as easy for someone like me to immediately buy an AP to come down twice a year

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Plus, this will help limit attendance when they do reopen under a restricted capacity threshold; that was going to be a nightmare to manage with so many APs.

Exactly. With the insane number of APs and such limited space/capacity, there was bound to be disappointment if AP’s couldn’t get reservations for parks. Honoring all those current APs would certainly be a challenge when they Disneyland eventually opens.

 

[xuxa777]

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. We are advised to not travel. It sucks for tourism right now but that's life. Right now getting people vaccinated is more important then some vacation.

The ironic part is there are some people that are traveling to get vaccinated and have a vacation. Anecdotal but I personally know a few Canadian snowbirds that flew down to Florida from Canada and got vaccinated.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

One thing I know, I am very happy to be done with trying to interpret every little nugget of info Disney gave about AP refunds and what we were owed. Seeing that equation all over again is bringing back lovely memories of hours spent on hold . Hope it’s a smoother process for DLR!

I agree that this is just being done out of necessity, and there will be some version of a membership program as soon as they can. Lots of people all over are worried about this being an attempt to only sell day (and multi day) tickets, and applying this to WDW too. I really disagree that this is strategic like that.

 

[Mit88]

Exactly. With the insane number of APs and such limited space/capacity, there was bound to be disappointment if AP’s couldn’t get reservations for parks. Honoring all those APs would certainly be a challenge when they eventually open.

The pent up demand out there is very, very, very real. Having every AP in California vying for reservations when (if) the parks reopen to a limited capacity would have been a nightmare. There’s a good chance that you’d be lucky to score 1 day for the first few months under similar capacity restraints to WDW

 

[StarGirl11]

Well at least their letting Premiers roll into the FL pass. Still sucks though.

I swear if this involves me having to physically be in FL though....Guess I’m hoping for a miracle that they for once use some common sense with the Premiers and out of state APs