Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[TheMaxRebo]

the loss of the 'perks' we got such as free dining etc will be massive, only the uk forums this was the one big reason that people could 'afford' to go so often. Not such a bit deal to us, we will make do with fast food/quick service for 10-14 days but for many it is

Just out of curiosity, I've seen it mentioned a few times about the loss of the DDP impacting travelers from the UK ... Is it because you get it at a discount in packages available to you or impact of exchange rate if you buy food directly here? Just wondering why it seems to be such a big deal for UK travelers specifically

 

[mshanson3121]

Just out of curiosity, I've seen it mentioned a few times about the loss of the DDP impacting travelers from the UK ... Is it because you get it at a discount in packages available to you or impact of exchange rate if you buy food directly here? Just wondering why it seems to be such a big deal for UK travelers specifically

Also curious. As a Canadian who faces a pretty hefty exchange rate, the free dining plan was never a money saver whenever I priced it.

 

[Sandisw]

Just out of curiosity, I've seen it mentioned a few times about the loss of the DDP impacting travelers from the UK ... Is it because you get it at a discount in packages available to you or impact of exchange rate if you buy food directly here? Just wondering why it seems to be such a big deal for UK travelers specifically

I am not international but many times, the free dining plans for those travelers came with room discounts as well.

Unlike the US, which was rack rate, packages for international travelers allowed both. I can imagine that changes the numbers?

 

[lisa12000]

Just out of curiosity, I've seen it mentioned a few times about the loss of the DDP impacting travelers from the UK ... Is it because you get it at a discount in packages available to you or impact of exchange rate if you buy food directly here? Just wondering why it seems to be such a big deal for UK travelers specifically

We never really get the opportunity for low room rates really like for domestic customers. We didnt get lower room rates to make up for the loss of free dining plan - the price for our package would be the same without or with the free dining plan does that make sense? for us - two weeks onsite with free food is a massive massive saving.

 

[firefly_ris]

We never really get the opportunity for low room rates really like for domestic customers. We didnt get lower room rates to make up for the loss of free dining plan - the price for our package would be the same without or with the free dining plan does that make sense? for us - two weeks onsite with free food is a massive massive saving.

I'm in a couple of Facebook Resort groups page that have a large portion of UK participants -- they frequently mentioned getting free gift cards to go with their booking, was that ever the case for you? It seemed to come up a lot, but perhaps that was if booking with Virgin or something like that. Also I seem to remember people getting a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day ticket.

 

[Leigh L]

HS has had a rough day. Slinky didn’t open for 3 hours and Rock N Roller still hasn’t opened. Hope it’s not the same thing that happened in the beginning of the month but not good for 2 of your headliners to be down multiple hours.

We were there today, I'm not sure RnR ever opened ? Slinky did open, but after the initial surge of 70 minutes and looked it, a little while later the posted wait time was 60 but was actually 30. The line started at the beginning of TSL. (I figured if the line started in the land, the wait couldn't be too bad lol. )

 

[lisa12000]

I'm in a couple of Facebook Resort groups page that have a large portion of UK participants -- they frequently mentioned getting free gift cards to go with their booking, was that ever the case for you? It seemed to come up a lot, but perhaps that was if booking with Virgin or something like that. Also I seem to remember people getting a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day ticket.

Oh yes we would have got 200 dollars alongside our free dining package last year has we been able to use it; the 14 for the price of 7 was a weird one as it really didn’t make the savings it would have in the US - the price differential between a 14 abs 7 day ticket normally is very small anyway

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We never really get the opportunity for low room rates really like for domestic customers. We didnt get lower room rates to make up for the loss of free dining plan - the price for our package would be the same without or with the free dining plan does that make sense? for us - two weeks onsite with free food is a massive massive saving.

Ah, ok, so it was FREE dining in the packages - that makes a ton more sense. I thought I was just the plan itself

Definitely can understand how having your meals covered for two weeks - or not - can be a big factor in making the trip or not

 

[Mit88]

Certainly possible. Was just raising a possibility.

Absolutely. Times are tough, and even though the Super Bowl ads will likely see the first dip in price year over year since 2009, it’ll still be in the 5M for 30 seconds range, but as I said, they gotta spend money to make money.

Pedal to the metal on Disney+, especially with the content coming this year, I’d be absolutely shocked if we don’t get at least 1 full spectrum Disney+ ad showing what’s currently on, and what’s coming to Disney+ this year. It’s a no brained imo.

As for the parks, I think with a huge audience this is when they start their ad campaign for the 50th. Gotta start at some point, and I’m sure they’re hurting for reservations that time of year (even if the MK is “booked up” for Oct 1st), so what better way to kickstart the ad campaign than The most watched event of the year. I say there’s a 50% chance we see a Disney Parks commercial, and a 35% chance it’s an ad for the 50th

 

[rosieposie3]

We are international travels from the EU and we certainly have no qualms about going to WDW once we are allowed. Our trip is booked for April/May but we probably won't get there because of the current travel ban. I'm hoping to move it to December. Honestly the masks and distancing and all the other measures don't bother me too much. I'll just be glad to go like my US friends already have been.

 

[osufeth24]

I wonder when things are normal (whether that's a year, 3 years , 10 years whatever) if we'll hear the phrase "please fill in all the available spaces" again

 

[kylenne]

I have a lot of friends in the UK who really are eager to travel, and especially here, but they do know why they can't (it's just really, really hard on them because they want to plan so badly bud they have zero clue how long out is long enough). My canadian friends, and friends with family in Canada are only eager for boarders to open so they can see loved ones again. A friend of mine has a mom in Canada with breast cancer, husband passed a few years ago so she's all alone, and my friend hasn't seen her in almost a year. I'd say going on vacation would be the last of any of their worries right now all things considered. Now, speaking of Disney, they would probably LOVE some international traffic back, but IMO that's probably a bad idea for a while to come.

I haven’t seen my gf since last Valentine’s Day weekend. She came down and we saw Lion King on Broadway. It’s been absolutely the worst thing about this pandemic. Toronto and NYC are so close but might as well be on different planets right now, and that hurts. I could give a flying f about Disney by comparison, except to the extent that it’s our happy place.

 

[mshanson3121]

I haven’t seen my gf since last Valentine’s Day weekend. She came down and we saw Lion King on Broadway. It’s been absolutely the worst thing about this pandemic. Toronto and NYC are so close but might as well be on different planets right now, and that hurts. I could give a flying f about Disney by comparison, except to the extent that it’s our happy place.

We live in a border town, which also has a decent-sized Mennonite community on both sides of it. Obviously, family members are on both sides of the border. They are literally separated by a only few miles and yet haven't been able to see each other since March.

Now, I do know that on the Canadian side at least, some people are now able to get permission to go visit family members state-side who are in dire situations. A woman from our church, her father lives in New Hampshire and was not doing well at all. She was granted permission to go see him. She had to do a 14-day quarantine when she came back, but at least she was able to cross the border and see him.

I think Covid has been a real eye-opener for all of us, as to how much we all took for granted our ability to cross freely between our two countries. It was pretty much unfathomable that anything would ever stop that.

 

[Funfire240]

I wonder when things are normal (whether that's a year, 3 years , 10 years whatever) if we'll hear the phrase "please fill in all the available spaces" again

We talked about this when we were there over Thanksgiving. This was one phrase I did not miss at all!

 

[kylenne]

I think Covid has been a real eye-opener for all of us, as to how much we all took for granted our ability to cross freely between our two countries. It was pretty much unfathomable that anything would ever stop that.

This has been absolutely true for me. Travel in general...I did not realize just how privileged I was to just be able to get a last minute flash deal and fly off for a weekend, either there or Disney or elsewhere. I will never, ever take it for granted again.

We talked about this when we were there over Thanksgiving. This was one phrase I did not miss at all!

I like to say I was socially distant before it was cool so I am 100% with you on this one. I hope that one never comes back lol

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I did not realize just how privileged I was to just be able to get a last minute flash deal and fly off for a weekend, either there or Disney or elsewhere

having kids already taught me that ... I don't think we have flown anywhere without at least 6 months notice since having kids

actually, part of that is the planner in me ... I don't think I have ever flown anywhere (not work related) with less than 6 months notice

 

[birostick]

Managed to get BG 1 this morning. Doesnt feel that busy here. 35 min wait for MMRR. I really wish the park hopping started at noon. Ive done most things at DHS already

 

[osufeth24]

Managed to get BG 1 this morning. Doesnt feel that busy here. 35 min wait for MMRR. I really wish the park hopping started at noon. Ive done most things at DHS already

I know they said eventually theyd have it where some parks you could hop to earlier (or some later time if busy). But ya I agree. It's been hard for me to wait til 2

 

[birostick]

I know they said eventually theyd have it where some parks you could hop to earlier (or some later time if busy). But ya I agree. It's been hard for me to wait til 2

I was just so use to doing 2-3 FPs then hopping by noon at the latest

 

[Tigger's ally]

Managed to get BG 1 this morning. Doesnt feel that busy here. 35 min wait for MMRR. I really wish the park hopping started at noon. Ive done most things at DHS already

go ride MMRR again and again just to make all of us at home jealous!