Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SarahC97]

Yeah, this whole pool thing is giving me pause, too. We've been back during holidays where the crowds were large at the parks, but I think I'd flip if there was a wait to use the quiet pool at my resort, which is what sounds like is happening. Is everyone down at Disney right now or what? Because this seems crazy.

 

[Farro]

Someone also reported they had to wait to get into Stormalong Bay. Could you imagine paying over $500 a night at a Deluxe resort specifically because of the themed pools they have, and then being told you couldn't use them when you wanted? I'd be making phone calls as soon as I get home. I totally understand there's a pandemic and there are guidelines that need to be followed, but Disney is doing NOTHING to prep people for this. You go to the website and you know you need to make reservations and you know there's a chance your park might be full and you know there's a chance you won't be able to hop to the park you want. But there's nothing warning people that they might not be able to get into their pool when they want.

We've been talking from the beginning of all of this that there would be limits to people at the pools. It's just happening now because it's finally becoming more crowded.

Everything at Disney has capacity limits, why wouldn't one assume the pool would too? I mean, you have to wait in line at times just to enter the Mexico Pavilion.

I think it will be better by summer.

 

[Princess Merida]

I don't think people expected stormalong bay to be at capacity with the hotel side of Beach Club closed. Hopefully they aren't at capacity long. This does not look good for our August BCV stay. Hotel side will be open then. Hopefully the distancing is gone and capacity is back to normal.

 

[samsonjs]

I don’t have FB account so am unable to see all the comments on the posts...thanks for relaying the highlights (lowlights ) here. I have a May CSR trip planned and this pool situation has me quite concerned.

from what I’m seeing, CSR has had 2-3 hour waits this weekend. Hopefully they do something about it because IMO that should not be happening. But people on Fb groups disagree and say “just don’t go. It’s a pandemic. What do you expect Disney to do?” Umm they should not be booking a hotel this full if they can’t keep the pools open.

 

[Farro]

from what I’m seeing, CSR has had 2-3 hour waits this weekend. Hopefully they do something about it because IMO that should not be happening. But people on Fb groups disagree and say “just don’t go. It’s a pandemic. What do you expect Disney to do?” Umm they should not be booking a hotel this full if they can’t keep the pools open.

If they only allowed the amount of people in the hotel that could be socially distanced in the pool area, the hotels would never open!

They can't do anything until the 6 foot socially distance rule is eased. It stinks, but that's it.

They can open more resorts, but it's not going to happen this week.

 

[samsonjs]

If they only allowed the amount of people in the hotel that could be socially distanced in the pool area, the hotels would never open!

They can't do anything until the 6 foot socially distance rule is eased. It stinks, but that's it.

They can open more resorts, but it's not going to happen this week.

Pools should not have 2-3 hour waits! That’s absolutely terrible. And if people aren’t following Disney forums they would never know. People plan for and know about meal waits and ride waits. Disney has to figure something out. Especially when you have people planning resort only stays, what else would they do? Disney expects them to just sit in their room for $300-500 a night? CSR is booking vacationers that want a pool, they aren’t conference goers like before.

 

[Farro]

Pools should not have 2-3 hour waits! That’s absolutely terrible. And if people aren’t following Disney forums they would never know. People plan for and know about meal waits and ride waits. Disney has to figure something out. Especially when you have people planning resort only stays, what else would they do? Disney expects them to just sit in their room for $300-500 a night? CSR is booking vacationers that want a pool, they aren’t conference goers like before.

I don't know what to tell you. There is literally nothing they can do right now while guidelines are still in place - at least to fix this week.

 

[Funfire240]

The way I look at it is that right now anywhere I travel there is a chance of being blocked out due to restrictions. Unfortunately it's just the way things are and if anyone goes to WDW expecting it to be different there then it's on them. We went in November and I knew things wouldn't be normal. Does it stink waiting for a pool? Sure - but it's a chance you are taking traveling during these times.

 

[Eric Smith]

Yeah, this whole pool thing is giving me pause, too. We've been back during holidays where the crowds were large at the parks, but I think I'd flip if there was a wait to use the quiet pool at my resort, which is what sounds like is happening. Is everyone down at Disney right now or what? Because this seems crazy.

The parks are full and the resorts are probably at the highest occupancy since the reopening. It's spring break and some people are more comfortable with traveling now than they were in the fall.

 

[Eric Smith]

Pools should not have 2-3 hour waits! That’s absolutely terrible. And if people aren’t following Disney forums they would never know. People plan for and know about meal waits and ride waits. Disney has to figure something out. Especially when you have people planning resort only stays, what else would they do? Disney expects them to just sit in their room for $300-500 a night? CSR is booking vacationers that want a pool, they aren’t conference goers like before.

What do you expect Disney to do? They obviously can't build new pools all of the sudden. They're not going to cut down on distancing because there would be pictures and videos on all major news outlets showing how reckless Disney is being by crowding unmasked people in and around pools.

 

[SarahC97]

The parks are full and the resorts are probably at the highest occupancy since the reopening. It's spring break and some people are more comfortable with traveling now than they were in the fall.

I wonder if this is what can be expected from holidays at resorts going forward while physical distancing is in place and capacity is limited?

 

[samsonjs]

What do you expect Disney to do? They obviously can't build new pools all of the sudden. They're not going to cut down on distancing because there would be pictures and videos on all major news outlets showing how reckless Disney is being by crowding unmasked people in and around pools.

Yes I obviously expect them to build a pool overnight. I’m honestly surprised so many people are Ok with hours long pool waits, that’s all.

 

[Farro]

Yes I obviously expect them to build a pool overnight. I’m honestly surprised so many people are Ok with hours long pool waits, that’s all.

I don't think anyone likes it! But just saying, it is what it is. What's the point of calling and yelling at Disney about it?

 

[samsonjs]

I don't think anyone likes it! But just saying, it is what it is. What's the point of calling and yelling at Disney about it?

Well I’m not calling. Usually I’m very Disney apologetic but this is a line too far for me.

 

[Farro]

Well I’m not calling. Usually I’m very Disney apologetic but this is a line too far for me.

I'm not apologizing for them either. I think six feet apart outside is overkill at this point and CDC very well may change to 3 feet. But Disney follows CDC so kind of up to them.

Now if CDC changes guidance to 3ft and Disney still chooses to follow 6 feet, then I will start to be annoyed at Disney!

 

[Eric Smith]

Yes I obviously expect them to build a pool overnight. I’m honestly surprised so many people are Ok with hours long pool waits, that’s all.

There's a difference between being ok with it and accepting that it's a result of COVID restrictions. There's not much that can be done here aside from ticketing pool access. I don't think that would be too popular.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I don't know what to tell you. There is literally nothing they can do right now while guidelines are still in place - at least to fix this week.

There's a difference between being ok with it and accepting that it's a result of COVID restrictions. There's not much that can be done here aside from ticketing pool access. I don't think that would be too popular.

Maybe nothing can be done directly in the pool areas, but certainly they could do some things to alleviate crowds. For starters they could open more up at the resorts to pull people out of the pools...arcades, resort activities, dining locations, etc.

 

[samsonjs]

My other question would be how many people are staying at resorts without going to the parks or doing minimal park days? Is it an unexpectedly high number? That could be causing the pool to be more popular with longer periods of time spent at the pool.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

My other question would be how many people are staying at resorts without going to the parks or doing minimal park days? Is it an unexpectedly high number? That could be causing the pool to be more popular with longer periods of time spent at the pool.

Probably because the weather is becoming more reliably hot now, plus the spring break crowd in general escaping winter climates dying to swim.

ETA: even when the weather is cooler, the spring break crowd swims. The pools are always super active during spring break season.

 

[zacharyleo34]

Here's the thing y'all, Disney's precaution (imho) is because they cannot afford the parks to close due to some massive outbreak at one of the resorts/parks. They are currently pushing their self imposed boundaries where they can, and are slowly creeping to 100%. Like everyone/everything else we are playing catchup with COVID (vaccines/etc.), and a miscalculation/misstep could be absolutely disastrous for them. I would rather what we have now than them being closed.

EDIT: However I think they really do need to do a better job to temper expectations for those going to the parks/resorts, yeah its a pandemic... but I feel like without watching vloggers/my girlfriend being super on top of getting info from this board someone wouldn't know. Just call it what it is and let people know!