WDW COVID-19 Operational Changes- Reservation System-Rope Drop Procedures

[MomOTwins]

Even if you space them out for the show, what happens when it's time to leave? It would be extremely hard to control how people were exiting the area. Plus they are basically having a big expensive production for a limited amount of people.

The same thing that will happen when they close the parks without a fireworks show. Especially now they are apparently closing MK at 7pm--everyone is going to want to leave at the same time.

 

[Nick6300]

Fireworks and parades are not social distancing friendly. I guess the actors in the show would have to wear masks? Meet and greets are just too close, you'd have kids grabbing at the characters.

Good points, but couldn't the CMs help ensure kids don't get too close to characters, maybe even limit characters to the full costume ones? Parades - the floats are far apart so that no masks are required so long as 1 or 2 per float and the dancers were spaced a part or not present at all. I guess there are a lot of scenes in Beauty were actors are grouped together, might be tough to ensure safety of actors with just temp checks. Fireworks: there are no characters.

 

[yulilin3]

I've been kind of replying to things piecemeal, but after taking a step back, I think I've boiled it down to a few questions that Disney will need to answer before I can decide on whether to pull the plug on our August trip:
(1) Water Parks and/or resort pools--will they be open? If both will be closed, that will be tough because we had planned to use pool/water parks days to get a break from the mask-wearing and cool off in the summer heat. I could live if it is just the pool or just the water park that is open though, but not having somewhere to cool off would be awful.
(2) Restaurant reservations--are they going start cancelling people's reservations if they are over capacity? I don't mind halting new reservations, but with our package we have the dining plan plus and that would be a huge waste if we can't keep our reservations.
(3) What will be open in the parks? I think they should be able to provide a list of closed attractions and entertainment. If they are ruling out most of the indoor options, that would make August heat unbearable.

well the MDE page says that masks need to be worn at all times except when eating and swimming, so I guess the pools will be open, not that they have actually said directly

 

[ugagal07]

Oh yikes. It is 7pm closure through August too. That is nuts. I could understand no fireworks but to not have the parks open after dark at all.... there really will be no escape from the heat.

I have FP+ reservations after 7pm... Guess they will be cancelled? I can't go in and update FP+ or ADRs now until they open it back up. Bummed that if they are cancelled, I won't get a chance to move/modify them.

 

[yulilin3]

not that there was any doubt, the Mayor approved the proposal https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...proposal-to-reopen-parks-beginning-july-11th/

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Oh yikes. It is 7pm closure through August too. That is nuts. I could understand no fireworks but to not have the parks open after dark at all.... there really will be no escape from the heat.

Yeah, if I'm not mistaken Universal is doing 6pm.

That will be a big adjustment for some folks depending on touring preferences.

 

[WEDWDW]

The same thing that will happen when they close the parks without a fireworks show. Especially now they are apparently closing MK at 7pm--everyone is going to want to leave at the same time.

That's what the Rocking Chairs on the Porch outside Tony's are for-we will just hang out there and watch the crowd go by.

 

[DavidNYC]

I guess I don't understand why all fireworks, parades, meet and greets, and certain high crowd attractions can't be offered? Which attractions might not make the cut for reopening? If it's the shows like Beauty and the Beast, why can't they tape off every other row, and every few seats?

The re-opening video for SDL showed the taped boxes on the pavement for distancing when viewing a character greet show. Why can't they have cast members direct spectators for fireworks/parades and character shows (from a distance) by having the designated spaces? There would be lower crowds to help allow for the spacing, and there already was a bunch of CMs directing traffic during the fireworks. With how small the viewing areas are (i.e. Main St. USA), it could be more difficult to arrange than I'm thinking, but I hope the real reason isn't a cost saving measure.

It's completely infeasible to do that for fireworks and parades. The entire nature of those events require people in close quarters and there is no way to realistically avoid that. It's not realistic to think that CMs can maintain adequate spacing for that large a number of people spread out of the space used.

 

[brockash]

They may be updating the park calendar at the moment. MK now shows closed through 7/10, and then 7/11+ hours at 9am-7pm.

The other parks haven't been changed/updated at the moment (a lot of times when hours change it takes awhile to roll through)

I was worried about the hours.

Wow...9-7 in the middle of summer...yikes.

 

[Nick6300]

Even if you space them out for the show, what happens when it's time to leave? It would be extremely hard to control how people were exiting the area. Plus they are basically having a big expensive production for a limited amount of people.

good thought on the exiting. I guess by that notion, Fantasmic would be out. There are a lot of smaller scale events that have the same crowding issue with exiting at the same time like monorail/ferry rides.

 

[mrsap]

For those of you that are DVC members, I just received this in my email...

 

[Sandiz08]

If they are closing so early , assumably for cleaning and due to staffing, then the hard ticket events are probably not happening.

 

[yulilin3]

It's completely infeasible to do that for fireworks and parades. The entire nature of those events require people in close quarters and there is no way to realistically avoid that. It's not realistic to think that CMs can maintain adequate spacing for that large a number of people spread out of the space used.

I was looking forward to the reserved square a la Shanghai

 

[DavidNYC]

Well, some of the nighttime spectaculars are social distancing friendly. Epcot's World Showcase is HUGE, so markers could easily placed for families to stand apart from one another around the lake, assuming lower attendance/capacity than usual. Fantasmic and Rivers of Light both have massive seating areas, so if park capacity is very limited, spacing out guests shouldn't be too hard.

I'm sorry but none of the evening shows will work. Yes - it's huge - but I've been there at low attendance times and you're still very close to other people and the nature of the activity gives you a major incentive to get close to other people. You can't run events that encourage people to bunch up. It's not like a queue where it doesn't matter if you leave space - you still have the same number of people in front of you. When it's a matter of a view - it's completely different. I would not be surprised to see things like Philharmagic and similar shows not open either.

 

[TommyJK]

It'll be interesting to see how things shake out over the next few weeks. They must have a TON of logistical things to sort out.

My guess is that based on current reservations they very well could be over their planned capacity already so they will have to figure out what to do (who gets to keep their reservation, who do they have to cancel). Layer on top of that all of the other reservations (FP+'s, ADRs etc.) that could very well be over planned capacity (or during times after park hours that have now changed).

I don't envy the people at Disney who would have to make those tough decisions.

 

[BrerMama]

I wanted to check something on the WDW website about an existing reservation later this year, and I have encountered the Millennium Falcon waiting screen. Anyone else currently having this issue?

I can't get into "my plans" on the website at all. I can see everything on the app on my phone though. I have a fireworks dessert party I'd like to cancel and get my money back on.

 

[MomOTwins]

well the MDE page says that masks need to be worn at all times except when eating and swimming, so I guess the pools will be open, not that they have actually said directly

Oooh, I missed the "swimming" part. Thanks! That gives me hope.

 

[brockash]

well the MDE page says that masks need to be worn at all times except when eating and swimming, so I guess the pools will be open, not that they have actually said directly

I just can't imagine why they wouldn't have them open. All other places have there's open and water parks.

I sure hope Disney doesn't take this opportunity to enhance cost cutting measures...I have no idea why they'd reduce park hours (def. doesnt vibe with social distancing) and while I get no parades/fireworks...there's no reason to not have shows (B&B, Frozen, Philarmagic, CoP, even Fantasmic) - all of those have very easily seating/spacing control. If these extreme reduced hrs., pools not being open, next to no shows in any combination stand to be true; I really think we'll bow out of this years big family trip in Sept.

There's things I'm bummed about...having to wear masks for example, but I'll live with it (at least once lol) but if Disney isn't trying or just into cost cutting I think we'll skip it for the first time in almost 2 decades.

I just can't imagine many of these "rumors" being true, but then I see things like those park hours and yikes.

 

[elgerber]

I can't get into "my plans" on the website at all. I can see everything on the app on my phone though. I have a fireworks dessert party I'd like to cancel and get my money back on.

I have a dessert party and an EMM. Do you think they will eventually auto cancel and refund?

 

[brockash]

I'm sorry but none of the evening shows will work. Yes - it's huge - but I've been there at low attendance times and you're still very close to other people and the nature of the activity gives you a major incentive to get close to other people. You can't run events that encourage people to bunch up. It's not like a queue where it doesn't matter if you leave space - you still have the same number of people in front of you. When it's a matter of a view - it's completely different. I would not be surprised to see things like Philharmagic and similar shows not open either.

I think it'd be pretty easy and have seen Disney do it many times (generally for a paid premium spot) to block off every other row or to easily space out parties or even just have a set open/closed space throughout the seating etc. It really isn't that hard...they could easily do it with any seating area if they want.