Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[vinotinto]

Rough morning around here... I find myself missing The Great Mask Debate...

I miss The Great Mask Debate too. I think we will see it become one of those topics with a closed FAQ where you cannot debate and will only have the posted rules, the way the Great Tipping Debate, The Great Pool Hopping Debate, The Great Pet at Resorts Debate and The Great Room Check Debate have gone.

The posts from this morning tell me, it is finally sinking into all of us that there is a real possibility that WDW may either not reopen any time soon, or may reopen with some pretty significant limitations.

 

[Tjddis]

Wow. Looks like the pessimists are “winning today”. I’m just kidding. Need a little levity
So I have some questions for y”all:

way back when this started I stayed it would be better for Disney to set reopening to December or January in order to not engender the backlash they would face from having to cancel summer trips a week at a time. I got roasted pretty good. And I get that would be economically tough for them, but my reasoning was if they somehow got to open earlier the loyal customer would scramble to come back. Do we think that would have been a more satisfying situation?

I do not have an AP or know anything about them.Is there any language in the agreement that accounts for closures out of their control?
For an attraction in an area known for potential violent weather I’m surprised it’s not accounted for

I found the planning to be a welcome distraction and something to look forward to even if I knew it might not happen. But I get that frustration. Problem is the planners ( and I am one) are control freaks. And now we don’t have any

lastly for those upset about their kids aging out I get it. But there’s no good time for this. My kids are 14 and 16 and my daughter was slated to spend her Sweet 16 in WDW which has Been her childhood wish. That’s gone. She will never turn 16 again. We had shirts made and everything. Was a week out when it closed. I know the little ones are too young right now to get it, but for us it was an opportunity to have our kids learn about real world issues and how to deal with disappointment and what they can and can’t control. I was pretty proud how she took it in stride. Better than me I might add

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Maybe a little, just find it comical all the people on here that are living in a fairy land thinking Disney will open up anytime soon. I'm just realistic.

I don’t think you sound pessimistic, pessimistic is Disney isn’t opening until 2021 and that’s if they don’t go bankrupt first! I’m with you, it’s realistic and reality just skews pretty dang negative right now.

I really do think a healthy dose of negativity (or what you and I would call realism) helps cushion the blow with cancelled trips or heavily modified ones.

 

[GusGusTheMouse]

Just so you understand, it's not others like me, I booked before the free dining offer, didn't want the free dining offer. Had I wanted it, I would've booked with or without any more information. My only point is, they could have been specifically clear just like they were a few days ago. They figured it out, because they did it. The problem is, they did it over a month after they put the offer out. Simply saying- Reservations with this offer does not indicate that the resorts will be open. The same thing they said just days ago. Seems really easy and simple to me and avoids the negative reaction many are having now. But it in no way affected me or my choices.

Glad to hear you were not personally impacted by the offer.

 

[chad_1138]

So, some good news as far as Florida heading toward Phase 2. DeSantis is allowing barbershops and salons to reopen in most counties (not the 3 previously excluded). These establishments are not part of phase 1. So this is kind of a phase 1.5!!!

 

[GusGusTheMouse]

I miss The Great Mask Debate too. I think we will see it become one of those topics with a closed FAQ where you cannot debate and will only have the posted rules, the way the Great Tipping Debate, The Great Pool Hopping Debate, The Great Pet at Resorts Debate and The Great Room Check Debate have gone.

The posts from this morning tell me, it is finally sinking into all of us that there is a real possibility that WDW may either not reopen any time soon, or may reopen with some pretty significant limitations.

THE GREAT PET DEBATE!!! I miss that one and it hit a real personal note for me! Wow, if I could go back in time and tell my old self to let that one go, it only gets worse from there!

 

[yulilin3]

Wow. Looks like the pessimists are “winning today”. I’m just kidding. Need a little levity
So I have some questions for y”all:

way back when this started I stayed it would be better for Disney to set reopening to December or January in order to not engender the backlash they would face from having to cancel summer trips a week at a time. I got roasted pretty good. And I get that would be economically tough for them, but my reasoning was if they somehow got to open earlier the loyal customer would scramble to come back. Do we think that would have been a more satisfying situation?

I do not have an AP or know anything about them.Is there any language in the agreement that accounts for closures out of their control?
For an attraction in an area known for potential violent weather I’m surprised it’s not accounted for

I found the planning to be a welcome distraction and something to look forward to even if I knew it might not happen. But I get that frustration. Problem is the planners ( and I am one) are control freaks. And now we don’t have any

lastly for those upset about their kids aging out I get it. But there’s no good time for this. My kids are 14 and 16 and my daughter was slated to spend her Sweet 16 in WDW which has Been her childhood wish. That’s gone. She will never turn 16 again. We had shirts made and everything. Was a week out when it closed. I know the little ones are too young right now to get it, but for us it was an opportunity to have our kids learn about real world issues and how to deal with disappointment and what they can and can’t control. I was pretty proud how she took it in stride. Better than me I might add

Disney clearly states this under their company rights https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/
they can close, cancel, take away things without the need to give prior notice, refund or liability of compensation

As to it being better to have said they wouldn't reopen until December that would've been met with another set of issues, because they are clearly hoping to reopen as soon as possible, people would've gone and planned something else, then when Disney reopened earlier people would be upset because they already had planned something else.
It doesn't matter what Disney does at this point, you will have angry people either way

 

[vinotinto]

So how has it been working lately with cancellations? Does anyone know? Are they just cancelling or allowing you to move your booked trip as in keep the current price? If I cancel June on my own & reschedule toJuly it’ll cost me $200-$400 more for the same trip (depending on the week I pick). So are they allowing you to just move your dates but keep your price?

Yes & I also find it disappointing that they won’t honor the price you were booked under the first time. That makes it more frustrating to give ppl an offer you have no intention of fulfilling. And I get things are fluid, blah blah, but then honor the price ppl were booked under no matter when you have to reschedule them to.

If they just simply "honor the price," and you move your reservation to mid-September, you would be paying more, since the rates in mid-September are cheaper than the rates in June. It works both ways.

And, I don't think "honoring the price" is a common occurrence in the travel industry. I had a cruise cancelled, and I could rebook, but obviously the rates varied depending on the timing of the future cruise I would choose. Some were more expensive (like if I wanted to go Christmas or Spring Break next year) and some were cheaper (if I wanted to go mid-September). Same with our flight credits. We can use them on a future flight, but I have to pay the airfare rate for that future flight. My mom had a flight to come visit us that was only $178. That same flight is now going for future dates, anywhere from $350 through $600. She can still use the $178, but the airline is not letting her have $475 flight for $178, even though it's the same route and fare class.

 

[marinejjh]

College football is my biggest concern right now. I have thousands locked up in season tickets. LSU has my money and I know they will make it difficult to get it back.




Every situation has its problems. I would be on the phone with Disney asking for a partial refund or extension on APs.

I agree. I coach a track club and AAU still has 2 meets scheduled for the first 10 days of July. With all the uncertainty, we as a staff made the decision to not go either way, just so parents can plan. I think many of these businesses are just doing this to get some kind of money. If you put a $200 deposit, either way Disney has some money and a bunch of $200 adds up.

 

[cakebaker]

I miss The Great Mask Debate too. I think we will see it become one of those topics with a closed FAQ where you cannot debate and will only have the posted rules, the way the Great Tipping Debate, The Great Pool Hopping Debate, The Great Pet at Resorts Debate and The Great Room Check Debate have gone.

I don't think anything will ever beat the cooking in your room debates. I learned how to grill cheese with an iron and make soup from the coffee pot! Then you got to the "discussion" over bringing in a crock pot (would have to be insta pot these days) and it was legendary. Good times.....

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Oh what about topping sandwiches?? Making a meal out of the toppings bar and just ordering a plain bun .

 

[tfiga]

When I read that it looks like June may be a no go I wanted to cry. Personally I have a trip for September but if it is canceled, I will survive. My 18 year old son has a trip from 6/28 to 7/5 and if it is canceled that will break my heart. As a senior he left school one day and will never go back, he lost his basketball playoffs when there was a good chance at a state championship, lost his senior year of baseball, prom, graduation, all night grad party, has not seen in friends in 7 weeks and he is not starting college in August as planned because the school has already announced online classes and with our broadband width and me working from home he is worried about not getting the instruction he needs. He has worked so hard to save for this trip and booked the day 2020 packages were available. Everyday he does not work he watches you tube videos of Disney. In addition rebooking may not be an option as his employer does not allow vacation time in August and his friend going with him starts school the end of August. So sad!

 

[Geomom]

Wow. Looks like the pessimists are “winning today”. I’m just kidding. Need a little levity
So I have some questions for y”all:

way back when this started I stayed it would be better for Disney to set reopening to December or January in order to not engender the backlash they would face from having to cancel summer trips a week at a time. I got roasted pretty good. And I get that would be economically tough for them, but my reasoning was if they somehow got to open earlier the loyal customer would scramble to come back. Do we think that would have been a more satisfying situation?

I do not have an AP or know anything about them.Is there any language in the agreement that accounts for closures out of their control?
For an attraction in an area known for potential violent weather I’m surprised it’s not accounted for

I found the planning to be a welcome distraction and something to look forward to even if I knew it might not happen. But I get that frustration. Problem is the planners ( and I am one) are control freaks. And now we don’t have any

lastly for those upset about their kids aging out I get it. But there’s no good time for this. My kids are 14 and 16 and my daughter was slated to spend her Sweet 16 in WDW which has Been her childhood wish. That’s gone. She will never turn 16 again. We had shirts made and everything. Was a week out when it closed. I know the little ones are too young right now to get it, but for us it was an opportunity to have our kids learn about real world issues and how to deal with disappointment and what they can and can’t control. I was pretty proud how she took it in stride. Better than me I might add

I empathize. My youngest was supposed to be on a school trip to Japan during her 16th birthday. That got pushed out a year. So we added her to our adult only trip this April. Made all kinds of fun plans with her...booked the luau for her actual birthday. We were all looking forward to the flower and garden festival. DD loves the frushi. And... that trip got cancelled. 16th birthday spent at home. She took it well...but I felt bad that 2 sets of plans for her birthday got cancelled.

 

[Mit88]

The longer they’re closed, the better chances that you won’t have to wear a mask in the parks. Glass half full. Not opening in June sucks, and not just for the people that are losing out on their trips.

Disney isn’t going to stop losing money each day. Even If it’s a July 1st reopening, thats the entire Q3 without the parks open, no cruises, nothing big on D+ to reel in a big number of new subscribers (though they’re already outpacing their expectations on subscribers), possibly no sports, and nothing in the movie theater. They may have said good plans in the past are still good plans now during the Q2 report, but that is almost assuredly going to change if they’re operating at an almost full loss in Q3.

And if Disney isn’t doing well, the state of Florida itself isn’t doing well. Airlines aren’t doing well. Disney isn’t just a place for their guests to escape reality, they’re very much apart of a lot of other things that are, and will continue to be impacted throughout their closure.

But, they’re making sure everything is as safe as can be when they eventually reopen, and it’s hard to argue about that

 

[ScubaCat]

When I read that it looks like June may be a no go I wanted to cry. Personally I have a trip for September but if it is canceled, I will survive. My 18 year old son has a trip from 6/28 to 7/5 and if it is canceled that will break my heart. As a senior he left school one day and will never go back, he lost his basketball playoffs when there was a good chance at a state championship, lost his senior year of baseball, prom, graduation, all night grad party, has not seen in friends in 7 weeks and he is not starting college in August as planned because the school has already announced online classes and with our broadband width and me working from home he is worried about not getting the instruction he needs. He has worked so hard to save for this trip and booked the day 2020 packages were available. Everyday he does not work he watches you tube videos of Disney. In addition rebooking may not be an option as his employer does not allow vacation time in August and his friend going with him starts school the end of August. So sad!

Sorry for the bad news. I hope you're able to reschedule that for a time when things settle down.

 

[Tbella]

The fact remains the country is split how to handle this. A LOT of the country wants to move on with their lives and treat this like the flu not the bubonic plague. (In other words go about life but be extra safe and careful. Hope you don’t get it but know if you do odds are you’ll be fine). That is pretty obvious that more and more traffic in my local county each weekend despite all the same general restrictions in place. (We finally have non essential retail open. That is only difference).

And a lot of the country (the vulnerable, the ones able to work from home, health care people), want everyone to stay home, stay away from each other until “it is safe” (whenever that is).

whatever Disney does there will be angry and upset people.

We are going to have to get back out there and face this thing head on sooner than later but until then the businesses will make the best decisions they can that make them money AND make their customers feel safe.

I barely post on these boards but have been a member for many years, and come and visit often. I have many opinions and value most other's opinions (hence, why I visit often), but this....sums it all up, at least for me. You just said exactly what I feel. I don't have much hope left that this virus will go away soon or not leave much destruction in its path. I do believe people will learn to live with it, at least for a while, and we will get better at doing it.

 

[courtney1188]

I don't think anything will ever beat the cooking in your room debates. I learned how to grill cheese with an iron and make soup from the coffee pot! Then you got to the "discussion" over bringing in a crock pot (would have to be insta pot these days) and it was legendary. Good times.....

I think the biggest debate I've seen was the throwaway rooms one. That got heated! Though I can see that popping up again with rumors swirling about needing a resort reservation to enter the parks...

 

[vinotinto]

By not yet announcing a hard closure for the month of June, that says to me June is still on the table in some way shape or form. If they knew with certainty I think they would make it known. If they said they are trying to open, people are going to read way into that and take it as a guarantee. I can see why they may be remaining tight lipped and vague until they can guarantee an opening.

If I’m not mistaken they called this an indefinite closure way back in March. I get why people have hung their hats on June 1st, and I don’t blame them for that, but they are doing with June what they have been doing with April and May.

They said just because they’re taking reservations for June doesn’t mean they will necessarily be opening in June. They made that statement last week.

FWIW, I still think a June opening might be the plan but it could be severely limited.

This is what I believe as well. I think they are still very much considering a June opening, but if they open in June, they are looking at some significant limits. If they make any further announcement than what they have already said, everyone will read too much into it. And if they make an announcement without specifying what parks will be open / not open and what attractions and entertainment is taking place / not taking place, they will also be criticized.

When they make their opening announcement, they will also announce what parks/experiences/attractions/entertainment may be limited or closed and what the reopening procedure will be.

 

[tinkerhon]

When I read that it looks like June may be a no go I wanted to cry. Personally I have a trip for September but if it is canceled, I will survive. My 18 year old son has a trip from 6/28 to 7/5 and if it is canceled that will break my heart. As a senior he left school one day and will never go back, he lost his basketball playoffs when there was a good chance at a state championship, lost his senior year of baseball, prom, graduation, all night grad party, has not seen in friends in 7 weeks and he is not starting college in August as planned because the school has already announced online classes and with our broadband width and me working from home he is worried about not getting the instruction he needs. He has worked so hard to save for this trip and booked the day 2020 packages were available. Everyday he does not work he watches you tube videos of Disney. In addition rebooking may not be an option as his employer does not allow vacation time in August and his friend going with him starts school the end of August. So sad!

Feel your pain ! DD was graduating from a pretty tough middle school this year in NYC

She missed out on EVERYTHING and now only thing she was looking forward to was our annual July Wdw trip - even if they are open, it won't be the same, and we have have already decided that if masks are mandatory, we are not going to go - DS9 won't even walk around the block one time with the mask on

 

[MaC410]

I do believe people will learn to live with it, at least for a while, and we will get better at doing it.

I worry about this if people are going to refuse to wear masks. Wearing a mask for the time being is part of getting better at it and we already see a lot of push back on doing that.