Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[anthony2k7]

I imagine for the Holidays they will probably extend the park hours until at least 8 or 9, especially if they plan on having decorations up.

I wouldnt bet on that.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I wouldnt bet on that.

I would... Especially for NYE

 

[anthony2k7]

I would... Especially for NYE

I cant see that being any different to everything else that has been cancelled.

 

[mmackeymouse]

I have a couple of thoughts:

The thing that really, really bugs me about this is....those of us who have tickets purchased past Sept 8th...we paid the same amount as people who go before Sept 8th...and are getting less for the money.

Also...if there is a mid-day storm, and some rides are down for 1-2-3 hours....it's really, really going to be a huge waste of a day/money.

Now, if they were lowering the ticket prices and/or refunding people a prorated amount....I would be fine with this.

Also, I just don't think Disney Springs is equipped for this. Nor are the resort restaurants to a lesser extent. I do think the resort restaurants will at least TRY to maintain some semblance of capacity and distancing. But...someone is really going to need to come into DS and create some sort of discipline there.

I would even be in favor of resort/AP passholder guests ONLY allowed at Disney Springs after let's say 3 pm.

 

[skeeter31]

I would... Especially for NYE

I doubt there will be any fireworks for NYE at Disney. Disney will be among the last to return to big mass gatherings. I wouldn’t even put money on NYC having their NYE festivities. Obviously a lot can change between now and then, but I wouldn’t hold out hope of increased hours or fireworks until mid 2021.

 

[Farro]

I don't see how this is going to "bring back the customers"....people booking through to early next year are going to see these hours, the prices and say get lost!

 

[skeeter31]

I have a couple of thoughts:

The thing that really, really bugs me about this is....those of us who have tickets purchased past Sept 8th...we paid the same amount as people who go before Sept 8th...and are getting less for the money.

Also...if there is a mid-day storm, and some rides are down for 1-2-3 hours....it's really, really going to be a huge waste of a day/money.

Now, if they were lowering the ticket prices and/or refunding people a prorated amount....I would be fine with this.

Also, I just don't think Disney Springs is equipped for this. Nor are the resort restaurants to a lesser extent. I do think the resort restaurants will at least TRY to maintain some semblance of capacity and distancing. But...someone is really going to need to come into DS and create some sort of discipline there.

I would even be in favor of resort/AP passholder guests ONLY allowed at Disney Springs after let's say 3 pm.

What about people that purchased tickets prior to March 2020? The product now is very contracted compared to prior to shutdown, and there isn’t a refund being issued (other than extra month on AP and PH refund). There won’t be any refund for post 9/8. Since the shutdown everything has been getting less for the same money.

 

[anthony2k7]

I doubt there will be any fireworks for NYE at Disney. Disney will be among the last to return to big mass gatherings. I wouldn’t even put money on NYC having their NYE festivities. Obviously a lot can change between now and then, but I wouldn’t hold out hope of increased hours or fireworks until mid 2021.

By NYE much of the western world will be in peak flu season on top of covid. More restrictions will likely be needed by then for hospitals to cope.

 

[rteetz]

I don't see how this is going to "bring back the customers"....people booking through to early next year are going to see these hours, the prices and say get lost!

I wouldn’t count on these hours for next year. I also never rely on hours a year out anyways because they constantly change. Closing a park or two a few days a week isn’t going to bring back people either.

 

[anthony2k7]

well its been a while since we had a late Friday bad news dump hasn't it!

 

[yulilin3]

I wouldn’t count on these hours for next year. I also never rely on hours a year out anyways because they constantly change. Closing a park or two a few days a week isn’t going to bring back people either.

The official hours are only posted through end of October so they can change

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/08/72-of-americans-uncomfortable-visiting-a-theme-park-right-now/

 

[anthony2k7]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/08/72-of-americans-uncomfortable-visiting-a-theme-park-right-now/

Would be interesting to see how that number changes each month.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I wish they would though. I'm sure each night would be a sell out.

I don't know. I don't know. If by chance hrs stay like this through next spring, I'm not sure I want to pay as much as I'm paying to go on our trip. Those hours are terrible.

Honestly, I was somewhat worried about the already-reduced hours for end of July/early Aug. But DH and I were able to do a lot, including sit-down meals. We weren't impeded by kids this trip, so that helped, but I also have a hurt foot that really slowed me down. Still, we flew in on our EPCOT day, dropped our bags at the room, and were in EPCOT by around 1 pm. We rode Gran Fiesta, TT, LWTL, Soarin', SE, walked the full WS loop (plus some), watched Canada Far anand ate dinner at Le Cellier, all before park close.

On our AK day, we arrived just before 11 am. Rode FOP, had a leisurely lunch at Nomad Lounge, then Kali, EE (x2), Dinosaur!, Safari, then FOP 3 more times (entered the queue about 10 min before closing on the last ride. They actually miscounted how many ppl they put in each room, so our showing was just DH, me, and a single woman in the entire theatre.) Then took a bus to DS for shopping and dinner at Morimoto.

On our DHS day, we showed up to the CBR Skyliner station around 8:20 am I think. There were 2 groups ahead of us. We were in the park around 9:15, went straight to MMRR, got on the 4th train of the day. Grabbed coffee, got onto MDE and nabbed a BP for ROTR (group 8). By the time we walked over to ROTR, our BP was called. It was our second time riding ROTR (first was in March), and this time was a much better experience. The preshow rooms weren't crowded like they were the first time, no jockeying to see or hear. We shopped, rode TSMM, had lunch at the Brown Derby, then RnRC, TOT (x 6), TSMM 3 more times, MF:SR, then dinner at Sci Fi. Then back to CBR for drinks at Banana Cabana.

On our first MK day, we arrived around 10:30 am. Rode Splash, lunch at Pecos, BTMRR, explored Tom Sawyer Island, HM, 7DMT, Space, Buzz, Pirates, JC, Tiki Room, early light dinner (/snack) at Skipper Canteen, HM 3 more times. We left the park a little before closing and went to DS for more shopping, drinks at Jock Lindsey's, and late dinner at the Boathouse.

Second MK day, we arrived around 10, shopped, rode Splash, BTMRR, lunch at Pecos, HM x4, Space, Pirates, Buzz, had dole whips. And left around 3:45 to get back for DME.

Aside from our DHS day, we arrived to the parks late; we did sit down meals every day; never felt like we were racing between attractions; and repeated favorite rides. We were on the fence about our early Nov trip (we also have Thanksgiving week booked), but our experience helped us decide to keep all our bookings.

 

[mattpeto]

I think the change in hours is due to demand.

But, I also think this could be opening a slight possibility that the Christmas Party will be happening.

Cutting the hours in all the parks and specifically at 6 pm in MK allows them to budget the same labor costs for an upcharge event.

 

[rteetz]

I think the change in hours is due to demand.

But, I also think this could be opening a slight possibility that the Christmas Party will be happening.

Cutting the hours in all the parks and at 6 pm at MK allows them to budget for paid event with the same labor costs.

This is directly due to demand. I don’t see Christmas parties happening though.

 

[Dentam]

Leaving 4 weeks from tomorrow. Not thrilled with the new shortened park hours but we haven't been since the skyliner and Riviera resort opened so I figure we can spend one evening on those and the other evenings doing some other low key things that we never normally have time to do. It will be a more relaxing trip than normal I think.

Going to start tweaking plans and possibly switching up some park reservations. We'll make the best of things.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I doubt there will be any fireworks for NYE at Disney. Disney will be among the last to return to big mass gatherings. I wouldn’t even put money on NYC having their NYE festivities. Obviously a lot can change between now and then, but I wouldn’t hold out hope of increased hours or fireworks until mid 2021.

I didn't say there would be fireworks..?

 

[Farro]

Leaving 4 weeks from tomorrow. Not thrilled with the new shortened park hours but we haven't been since the skyliner and Riviera resort opened so I figure we can spend one evening on those and the other evenings doing some other low key things that we never normally have time to do. It will be a more relaxing trip than normal I think.

Going to start tweaking plans and possibly switching up some park reservations. We'll make the best of things.

We only go every 4 years, so we stay 9 nights. How the heck are we going to fill up 9 nights of parks closing at 7 is my train of thought. Obviously we go in May so things could be totally different.

But just thinking aloud....I would hope more restaurant options would be available at all open resorts and resort hopping would be allowed. I can't spend every night in Disney Springs.
I also can't go to bed at 9!

I guess we would be spending a LOT of money in our hotel bar....

I'm just bristling at the audacity of charging the same prices for such a lesser experience. Especially for next year as they raised prices! Ha ha! I purchased hoppers for next year!

 

[mattpeto]

This is directly due to demand. I don’t see Christmas parties happening though.

The truth is the demand is likely not there for the Christmas Party as well. It still could change by November.