Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Farro]

Tbh my guess is that Uni has less overall capacity than Disney. WDW has 4 parks to spread people out in.

I've wondered the same thing. My guess is locals but it's just a guess based on nothing.

I'm also wondering if all the cuts around the holidays had something to do with it. It was much discussed, we all know - job cuts, entertainment cuts, Christmas stuff - and while Universal probably made some cuts to entertainment, etc., I sure haven't heard about it very much.

Perhaps people feel Universal has more to offer as far as "holiday" stuff this year?

 

[Leight19]

Oh I didn’t read it that way. The article says members are now eligible to book that, so I assume they can book it. I wouldn’t know as we have APs so even if I went to book a DVC trip right now I wouldn’t even be able to try it.

Just to confirm I called last week to see if I could apply to my upcoming dvc trip and was told they can’t be booked until the 5th.

 

[jlwhitney]

Any thoughts as to why Universal seems to be consistently hitting capacity everyday this week and Disney is not?

Disney has more parks?

Universal seems less strict? (even though they aren't, but their policies aren't focused on as much)

Disney has less offerings in park?

Universal is attracting the locals?

Disney has more people on blackout dates than universal also.

 

[SMRT-1]

Any thoughts as to why Universal seems to be consistently hitting capacity everyday this week and Disney is not?

Disney has more parks?

Universal seems less strict? (even though they aren't, but their policies aren't focused on as much)

Disney has less offerings in park?

Universal is attracting the locals?

One major difference is that Disney requires Park Pass reservations, and Universal does not.

I'm guessing that the crowds right now are still mostly locals, and since Disney is reserving a big chunk of capacity for resort guests and non-AP ticket sales, and Universal isn't, it's much easier for locals to head to Universal. Not to mention no required reservations means Universal APs can just decide to head to the parks day-of, where that's much tougher to do for Disney APs.

 

[gottalovepluto]

No I get why the offers start then. But seems off it can’t be booked now for then.

Could have to do with staffing levels in the call centers?

 

[atricks]

One major difference is that Disney requires Park Pass reservations, and Universal does not.

I'm guessing that the crowds right now are still mostly locals, and since Disney is reserving a big chunk of capacity for resort guests and non-AP ticket sales, and Universal isn't, it's much easier for locals to head to Universal. Not to mention no required reservations means Universal APs can just decide to head to the parks day-of, where that's much tougher to do for Disney APs.

Just by doing the parking garage plate scan, there's way more out of state folks than you would probably think right now. Some considerable distances (Saw 4 California plates, several from AZ, and a bunch from the SE), last time I went (last weekend) it was approaching 40% out of state. Enough long distance ones that it makes me think there's more than a few folks doing a cross country road trips this year that may have not before.

 

[Lewisc]

Aren't guests staying at Universal guaranteed park admission? Is the park open to resort guests when its closed for capacity.

Some of the out if state plates are rental cars.

 

[mattpeto]

I'm also wondering if all the cuts around the holidays had something to do with it. It was much discussed, we all know - job cuts, entertainment cuts, Christmas stuff - and while Universal probably made some cuts to entertainment, etc., I sure haven't heard about it very much.

Perhaps people feel Universal has more to offer as far as "holiday" stuff this year?

Yup. And axing MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional was necessary in it's current form but I bet that really hurt them. Something modified, would have drawn people, especially on the weekdays.

 

[atricks]

Aren't guests staying at Universal guaranteed park admission? Is the park open to resort guests when its closed for capacity.

Some of the out if state plates are rental cars.

Hotel guests have a special line to get in, they just show the key. They still block can them entering, but typically not for very long (30 minutes max and that's only happened a few times).

When scanning plates we also look at the vehicle, it's obvious they weren't rental cars. (Signs of dirt/salt/snow/etc)

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/12/mill...Gsl8xjml3X4aCtT9xRrGLoMlwrfAG-flscEsXwvoAQ0qc

 

[Farro]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/12/mill...Gsl8xjml3X4aCtT9xRrGLoMlwrfAG-flscEsXwvoAQ0qc

I just don't see how that is going to offer anymore protection, but hey, whatever floats everyone's boat! It's done, no need to debate.

I hope people's views aren't obstructed. Would they be?

 

[rteetz]

I just don't see how that is going to offer anymore protection, but hey, whatever floats everyone's boat! It's done, no need to debate.

I hope people's views aren't obstructed. Would they be?

They could be. This ride just doesn’t seem like a good place to do this.

 

[kylenne]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/12/mill...Gsl8xjml3X4aCtT9xRrGLoMlwrfAG-flscEsXwvoAQ0qc

If they haven't been mixing groups, how have they been handling solo guests? I'm curious.

 

[mattpeto]

They could be. This ride just doesn’t seem like a good place to do this.

I guess it will help parties of 2? But I agree, strange spot for it.

 

[rteetz]

If they haven't been mixing groups, how have they been handling solo guests? I'm curious.

Just one person in the cabin. That’s how capacity is problematic for this ride.

 

[kylenne]

Just one person in the cabin. That’s how capacity is problematic for this ride.

That would have been way more fun than the time I did it, getting stuck as Engineer with a family who didn't understand English with a 5 year old at the helm...

Engineer's going to be even lamer with plexiglass. And this is exactly the kind of thing people mean talking about Covid theater imo. That ride is too enclosed for it to make any real difference.

 

[Wreckem]

Universal is hitting capacity because they have less aps blacked out and have they had that Florida resident buy a ticket and go all year through December 24th deal that ended at the end or September but are valid through Xmas Eve.

Universal is far more crowded than any Disney Parks we have been to so far. Their capacity limits are obviously higher than DHS. Today has been far more packed than Sunday. It barely feels like they have capacity restrictions.

8 or so rides were at capacity at 11:00am. Not even express passes get you in those queues. This didn’t happen while we were here on Sunday.

 

[SMRT-1]

Just by doing the parking garage plate scan, there's way more out of state folks than you would probably think right now. Some considerable distances (Saw 4 California plates, several from AZ, and a bunch from the SE), last time I went (last weekend) it was approaching 40% out of state. Enough long distance ones that it makes me think there's more than a few folks doing a cross country road trips this year that may have not before.

Even if your (very rough) estimate is accurate, that would still mean that the majority of guests are local. It also doesn't change my point - that, because there's no reservation requirement, it's easier for people, especially locals, to go to Universal right now.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That would have been way more fun than the time I did it, getting stuck as Engineer with a family who didn't understand English with a 5 year old at the helm...

Engineer's going to be even lamer with plexiglass. And this is exactly the kind of thing people mean talking about Covid theater imo. That ride is too enclosed for it to make any real difference.

yeah, a ride based on putting you in a small capsule and talking with your co-team (who may be strangers to you) and touching a million different buttons, etc. is just not an ideal one to have during a pandemic

 

[skeeter31]

Disney has more people on blackout dates than universal also.

It’s definitely this. Shows how much Disney has been boosted by APs and why they generally have only been hitting capacity on weekends when Florida locals can go to the parks. But with most Florida residents on blackout through the end of the year, the WDW parks aren’t hitting capacity as the resorts are still no where near capacity.