Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Llama mama]

without the "extra" days we get for closure?

My July reservation that was cancelled this week by Disney was booked in August 2019. So I don’t think that the age of the reservation is a factor.

May I ask what your dates were and where you were staying?

 

[Marthasor]

I know Disney had been cancelling people's reservations each Thursady, for an additional week Maybe I'm wrong, as I've lost track, but did this happen yesterday? Where did they leave off? They cancelled reservations up to what date- June 20th or 21st???? So now I'm confused by the recording on the phone today, saying you can now modify a reservation with an arrival date between now and June 21st..

1. Does this mean they did an incomplete job and there are still some reservations in their system for arriv during these dates?

2. Wonder if they then open up allowing modifications for those with reservations between June 22 and (?July 11?)

Will be interesting to see what DATES and what RESORTS they allow people to re-book for. And if there is any incentive beyond the 35% off for original Free Dining folks.

GADisneyDad14 reported on the Resorts thread that he got an e-mail yesterday similar to the ones we saw with the rolling cancellations:

"Disney is back to sending generic closure emails again it seems. Received the email below last night. I have a few reservations in June so not sure which one this is tied to, although I think it's probably one I have checking in 6/20. I’m also not sure if I call I can actually re-book as it suggests, or this is just generic leftover text from before the all stop on new reservations last week?

Important: Disney Resort Hotel Closures
In keeping with our focus on the well-being of our Guests and Cast Members during these rapidly changing times, Disney Resort hotels and theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort are currently closed until further notice.

Your upcoming travel dates are impacted by these closures. You have the option to modify or cancel your Disney Resort hotel reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to your original check-in date. If no action is taken, we will process any refund due to your original form of payment if a payment had been made. If you did not book through Disney directly, please contact your Travel Professional. Note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines and rental cars, as well as nonrefundable products like travel protection plans, are deducted from refundable amounts for Walt Disney Travel Company packages.

If you wish to reschedule your vacation for a later time this year, please call 407-939-4251 or your Travel Professional.

Rest assured, we will continue to monitor the situation and make timely decisions based on expert guidance. For the latest information, please visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates.

We thank you for your continued understanding, and we hope to see ya real soon!"

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...k-open-7-11-ep-dhs-open-7-15.3795738/page-260
I reached out to my TA to see if she had any info. She said it was reported by another TA on FB this morning that:

1). You can now modify check-in dates from June 5 - June 21
2). You can only change dates to July 11 - December 31, 2020
3). You can ONLY change to a DVC resort or Ft. Wilderness

Apparently, if you want to modify from a value or moderate (or any other resort for that matter), you have to pay for the price increase. This is all coming second-hand from a TA FB page (or third-hand, I suppose, since I'm the one posting the second-hand info!), so I guess we are still in rumor phase until we get more reports in. My TA said she can't even get into a hold que at the moment.

 

[2letterwords]

I think it'll be hotel reservations that don't have park tickets associated with it. Those will be three first to get canceled.
Disney is trying everything in their power to get people to cancel now as they are overbooked.

I hope they consider split stays if this is the direction they go. We have tickets for 10 days but they are attached to a package with a room for only the first few days of our stay.

 

[Krandor]

Here's what I wonder. If you're staying at X resort and Disney outright cancels on you, I wonder if they would still allow you to book park reservations in the priority window provided you have linked ticket media. Seems like that would be fair guest recovery for that inconvenience; if that's not the case though, that would ultimately be my tipping point.

If they cancel then they likely have too many people on-site for park capacity so then turning around and giving park priority access would defeat the purpose.

 

[New Mouse]

So for those saying EMH and FP may be gone...how do you justify a $1000 room, other than the "magic" of Disney.

 

[Farro]

Someone asked if they are cancelling resort reservations for those without tickets to the end of the year?

That's not happening, right? That would be madness!!! So much can change by then (meaning restrictions loosening).

 

[cakebaker]

Apparently, if you want to modify from a value or moderate, you have to pay for the price increase.

Well, that would settle the issue of being walked, wouldn't it? Of course, this only involves dates up to June 21, but I can sure see that applying to anyone with a reservation at a closed resort. It would certainly help them in reducing resort capacity as well. Just when I thought they couldn't do any worse......I think this is one they're going to have to do for me to believe it.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Currently, phone CM’s packages through June 21 can be modified to new dates through 2020 only at DVC or FW. Phone lines are jammed right now. If you don’t plan on rescheduling within those parameters, I would suggest not calling to help the lines and CM sanity. As a TA with an amazing agency, no mention of resort closures has been shared yet. Something is coming but nothing Disney office yet.
My opinion, I agree that if we could modify into 2021 - even just basic package with room only, they would see many cancellations for 2020 at that point. Most of my August travelers want to move to 2021 - but we can not yet.

All respect to you, as I don't question the truth you are experiencing, but I spoke with a Disney CM this morning on the reservation line and asked if there were restrictions on when people could re-book for and she said no, up to 500 days out. I asked if there were RESORT restrictions and she said not that she has seen. Granted, I did not re-book as my dates still aren't allowed. Her info seems suspicious based on what we know about resort closures... and it was barely after 7:00am. I just sharing this to say TRY AGAIN, as ypu may get a different answer and allow the 2021 dates??? Who knows!? Worth a try...

 

[gottalovepluto]

They also do sweeps every Thursday. That is how the system works.

Skipped last Thurs for WDW. I think that’s what gave people hope Disney meant it when they said call to rebook this time.

At this point I’ll be surprised with Disney if they release anything and don’t majorly change it within 24 hours.... Maybe it’s time to update our IT vs Operational Change game to Guest Relations Screw Up vs Operational Change ???

 

[gottalovepluto]

No, just that it is odd that my July reservation was cancelled, when people still seem to be waiting for June reservations to be cancelled and no one else seems to have reported a July cancellation. And I would have appreciated an e mail from WDW to inform me that the reservation was cancelled, even if it was only a generic ‘round robin’. I am intrigued as to why I am ‘ the odd man out’.

Did you book a special rate with your TA? TA group bookings for June appeared to get cancelled weeks before others.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I mean, okay, but if there’s no onsite resort benefits besides “the bubble” I’m probably staying at the Doubletree for every trip from here until eternity, and DVC is out the window entirely. The 60 day FP is SUCH a huge on property carrot.

Not sure when Disney is going to stop it, but DoubleTree has had the 60 FP and extra magic hours for the past few years.

Only big difference is no 180+10 dining reservations and no magic bands.

 

[yulilin3]

For what time period do you think they are planning to do this - through end of year?

I hope they consider split stays if this is the direction they go. We have tickets for 10 days but they are attached to a package with a room for only the first few days of our stay.

As they say in Batuu "only the ancient know" no clue

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Did you book a special rate with your TA? TA group bookings for June appeared to get cancelled weeks before others.

No, an ordinary cash reservation in August, Bounceback applied in December.

 

[CastAStone]

Not sure when Disney is going to stop it, but DoubleTree has had the 60 FP and extra magic hours for the past few years.

Only big difference is no 180+10 dining reservations and no magic bands.

Fair enough. I was using Doubletree as generic hotel X and not the literal Doubletree. We’d probably actually rent a non-DVC timeshare close to property.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

May I ask what your dates were and where you were staying?

1 to 12 July YC which was cancelled by WDW, then 12 to 19 YC CL which is still active.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It's really impossible to know, but deposits could easily run into the millions. Regardless of the reason, they should not have been actively taking reservations when they knew they would not be open. Obviously this is true- look at the bind they're in now. The very idea that they're having to make their business look so unappealing that guests don't want to come is just insane, but true.

I think it’s less holding our cash & more holding our booking. The CEO literally used hotel bookings for the rest of the year as a point for how great demand still is for Disney World when he was trotted out to interview post-opening announcement. By locking down all but cancellations Disney has preserved that “demand“ for 2020.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I admit, I may have missed a few pages then week since I was visiting my Mom. Are they allowing park hopping for AP holders? I saw the posts about only allowing one park per day via tickets but I missed the part about AP holders were not part of that.

Our trip is not until September 26. We are staying DVC Poly/AKV split stay. I know things could change many times before we arrive.

Back in April, When I posted what the CM (Sven) said about my daughter's reservation in June that he said she should make it much later and the other stuff about no fast passes etc were pretty much accurate. He had mentioned about MK being open first and so that obviously changed, which is great but that was Phase one anyway.

Only thing we know is during phased opening some benefits for APs won’t be active and APs will be limited in park visits. No details.

 

[chad_1138]

I think it’s less holding our cash & more holding our booking. The CEO literally used hotel bookings for the rest of the year as a point for how great demand still is for Disney World when he was trotted out to interview post-opening announcement. By locking down all but cancellations Disney has preserved that “demand“ for 2020.

Sounds just like a Lex Luthor scheme...

 

[DGsAtBLT]

So for those saying EMH and FP may be gone...how do you justify a $1000 room, other than the "magic" of Disney.

How in the world did ever shrinking EMH and FP ever justify $1000 rack rates? Those choosing to stay at some of the most expensive rooms on property were likely not doing so just to get onsite benefits that can be had for the price of an All Star Resort.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So for those saying EMH and FP may be gone...how do you justify a $1000 room, other than the "magic" of Disney.

First shot at a Park Reservation. A room is now not your ticket to a better WDW experience, it’s your ticket to having a WDW experience at all.