Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

I am planning to.. not be able to plan. I am assuming that I will eat at QS. Usually I do TS only, and snacks-- and a LOT of BoG lunches to use the DP credits the best. I have made a list of every item that I would want to eat, and its location, from QS at every park. If I get a TS rezzie, I will be surprised and happy, then.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

With so many closed restaurants and limited menus at those that are open, we are seriously considering cooking some nights. All DVC resorts have grills, all but the studios have full kitchens. My sister is an amazing cook. I’m better than average and Mom did our sisters-in-law a huge favor and made sure that our brothers can do a better than passable job. Just give me a glass of wine and a sharp knife! This upcoming trip was always more about getting together with family and less about the parks.

 

[babydoll65]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

My trip is not till mid September so hopefully more restaurants will be available but I have no problem grabbing a Lyft to areas offsite. I'm not exactly a diehard Disney foodie lol. As long as the service is good, the food is good and I'm full, then I'm happy ☺

 

[Flamingeaux]

Another day and we wait.... But to help me get through another day of no news I get my Haunted Mansion Stretching Room poster today. I'm stealing Pete's idea from his room where he recorded some of the early Stay at Home videos. I need to order the two duelists next.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I’m not sure what’s confusing here. If they release details or push the cancellation date back, I’m satisfied and I take the credit. If they don’t, I get a refund. It very simple. HTH’s with your confusion.

I’m glad you’re happy with your results. I would assume if you’ve already gotten a credit, your cruise was in that group who got cancellation or pif dates extended.

I mean, my DCL Med cruise was cancelled 38 days before we were supposed to sail, so it definitely wasn't the greatest situation considering that brings into play international flights and a whole additional set of issues. However, since the world is in the middle of a pandemic and at that time things were moving extremely quickly, there really wasn't much that could have been done about it. Many, many people have been impacted. Lots of us multiple times.

I hope you get what you are looking for.

 

[LSUmiss]

My trip is in 32 days (July 17th) and I've had at least 3 trips cancelled/moved since March. I'm fine with it. Better to wait and give us the final, correct info. I'm tired of moving flights & hotels, and honestly I'm just tired in general. If it happens, awesome. If not, I'll find something else to do in Orlando.

I agree with this except I still find it frustrating that it’s taking them this long to have correct info to give. The hotel thing shouldn’t affect me b/c I’m already booked in a DVC resort. But why play games & only tell a handful of TAs & not just make a general announcement? My personal opinion is b/c they don’t have the space to do that & are waiting ppl out to get them to cancel.

 

[wombat_5606]

You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort.

Initially, are there going to be 50,000 people there though?

 

[LSUmiss]

Went to Disney springs yesterday. Bandanas on the face were not let in. Gaiters were accepted. We saw 2 people turned away.

Makes sense except back to communication. They need to be much more explicit with what is acceptable.

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/full...le-at-disney-world-resorts-opening-next-week/

 

[yulilin3]

Initially, are there going to be 50,000 people there though?

50k divided into the 4 parks sounds amazing

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/06/full...le-at-disney-world-resorts-opening-next-week/

I got so excited thinking this was the news

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

I think Disney must be keeping this in mind with the number of people at resorts. They know roughly how many people are coming. It would be a bit of a disaster for them to allow a certain number of people to stay at a hotel but only allow 1/10th of those people into restaurants to eat. So I'm just trusting them to remember that people need to eat, and to keep those numbers in mind. I don't know about Florida (and I'm not saying I agree at all with this), but in GA our governor says restaurants can open at 100% capacity. Again, not saying I agree, but if Disney is allowing X number of people on property, they will have to also prepare for where those people will be eating or visiting when the parks close at the end of the day.

I think it would be really cool if Disney stepped up their takeout/delivery game. I'd be much happier staying in my room in the evening (maybe they'll have free Disney+ on the resort TVs?) watching a Disney movie if I can do it with takeout from the restaurant of my choice. I don't know if they could/would do that, but it would be nice!

I'm looking forward to doing a monorail & skyliner crawl. Normally I don't do those because I end up spending all of my time in the parks. Now with no fireworks & limited park hours, I might actually be able to do some exploring.

 

[vinotinto]

Initially, are there going to be 50,000 people there though?

KtP was estimating initial capacity at 25%. We've seen average capacity, between all 4 parks, as high as 320,000. So, that would put us at 80,000 between all 4 parks. 50,000 is a less extreme figure. But, yes, we're not talking 20,000 people here.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Did I imagine reading that room service wouldn’t be available? Seems like a huge miss in trying to keep people distanced if so.

 

[coolbrook]

For the ppl who think Disney’s current lack of communication is acceptable, do you have trips booked within the next 30 days? Genuinely curious. Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but it feels like those of us who are the most frustrated are the ones who are being most affected by it.

Our trip starts July 13 and I'm ok with the level of communication, because I think they are doing everything they can to put in place the best systems and procedures they can. When they have something concrete to communicate, they will. I'm content to wait and look forward to a new and surprising Disney World.

 

[Hoodie]

With so many closed restaurants and limited menus at those that are open, we are seriously considering cooking some nights. All DVC resorts have grills, all but the studios have full kitchens. My sister is an amazing cook. I’m better than average and Mom did our sisters-in-law a huge favor and made sure that our brothers can do a better than passable job. Just give me a glass of wine and a sharp knife! This upcoming trip was always more about getting together with family and less about the parks.

My first thought when I heard it was going to be DVC and the cabins was the kitchen. Even the DVC studios have at least a microwave in the room - and eliminates the need for 100 people wanting the central food court microwave. Easier to keep QS and even some table service closed if you give people an option for heating/cooking in their room.

 

[apinknightmare]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

I rarely plan for anything when I go apart from buying a ticket for an after hours event and occasionally booking dinner at Jiko. I just do whatever I feel like and choose from the options available to me like I would when I'm at home. Sometimes I wind up finding a reservation, sometimes I choose the best of bad QS, sometimes I just snack. If I were going now I'd rent a car so I could go off property easily if I couldn't find anything that could accommodate me/anything I wanted. I know the prospect of going without plans is kinda scary when you've been conditioned to book everything out months in advance, but flying by the seat of your pants is fun and makes things a lot less stressful, so long as you go in knowing that you can't be super particular about anything.

 

[Tahoegal]

Interesting to see the process of letting people into the pool at Vero beach. Happy to see that face masks aren’t required in the pool area or the beach. Families/groups of people are lined up outside of the pool till they can sit them together and distanced from others. Once full you have to wait till someone leaves.

 

[CastAStone]

KtP was estimating initial capacity at 25%. We've seen average capacity, between all 4 parks, as high as 320,000. So, that would put us at 80,000 between all 4 parks. 50,000 is a less extreme figure. But, yes, we're not talking 20,000 people here.

Len Testa who owns Touring Plans was estimating 10-15%.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I'm noticing how many of you are looking forward to trying a more laid back, no commando planning style trip. That sounds enticing on a lot of levels and I can get onboard. Here's my issue with that though. What happens if they keep a bunch of restaurants closed during your visit? You're now at WDW with 50,000 of your new best friends (I'm assuming you will have plenty of time to meet and greet at the pool, movies under the stars, and the arts and crafts), there is one sit down restaurant available at each open resort. DS has limited capacity and by the time you arrived on a Saturday evening you were frozen out. You can't just hop over to EPCOT any longer, and let's face it, not all park restaurants are created equal. What then? Drive elsewhere, rely on limited QS options, COOK ? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

These are the times I am so glad to have a camper at Ft Wilderness. Little more self sufficient.