Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

The rumor mill is in full effect

On a rumors and news board?

 

[Eric Smith]

Again they got themselves into the capacity problem by allowing ppl to continue to book so they could use ppls money as a source of revenue even though they knew they weren’t going to open. They could easily make the rule 3 & up like they did at first. When they first announced 3 & up, I thought they were being reasonable. But now this & other things make it clear that they’re trying to weed ppl out.

They aren't "using people's money as a source of revenue", that's another lazy talking point.

 

[cakebaker]

Nope, nothing official, but two different people reporting a TA notified them friends client got moved, and one who has a friend who got moved. They were CBR and CSR moved to AKL.

I know I read one report of moves from Pop and CBR to AKL, but he clarified he was referring to moves make prior to the shutdown.

 

[mattpeto]

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.

This will be fine for now, but first dibs on a park reservation doesn’t sound like a good experience unless Disney plans to permanently reduce crowds at the parks. This doesn’t help revenue guys...

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1268898529088614400

 

[Eric Smith]

Sometimes insiders can't see things objectively.

What is being said isn't "seeing things objectively" by any stretch of the imagination. Without being inside the Disney organization, it's impossible to know everything that is actually going on. You're making assumptions based on small amounts of information and it is colored by frustration with the situation.

 

[Marthasor]

Unpopular opinion apparently, I think it makes total sense to require people to pay the difference to move their reservation to different dates from the time before parks are open. Sounds like they would be giving those people the courtesy of moving from closed dates to open dates. They aren’t walking them from a closed resort to an open one on the same dates.

There are tons and tons of people who have been cancelled on from mid March until now. Why would they start upgrading people for free just because they’re at the tail end of the closure?

Apparently those with the free dining promo who choose to modify are not being offered any discount like the 35%. I think that's a little sad, but if you are trying to control capacity, I get it.

 

[cakebaker]

What is being said isn't "seeing things objectively" by any stretch of the imagination. Without being inside the Disney organization, it's impossible to know everything that is actually going on. You're making assumptions based on small amounts of information and it is colored by frustration with the situation.

I don't know anyone whose opinion isn't colored by something. We don't agree, we won't agree and I'm not going to continue the argument about it.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

My TA is reporting the same thing. As of this morning, guests with check-ins from June 5 - June 21 can modify, but only to dates from July 11 - December 31, 2020 and only DVC or Ft. W. No 2021 reservations at this time.

I am confused by this move. Does it mean WDW is not at capacity then for July-capacity limits? Are they going to then turn around and cancel ppl after these potential moves?
I was booked for June 9, but moved it to Aug 3 after my week was axed.
I've been nervous about being canceled since I booked so late. But reading this I am really confused.
So many rumors...

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Apparently those with the free dining promo who choose to modify are not being offered any discount like the 35%. I think that's a little sad, but if you are trying to control capacity, I get it.

Its sucks and it’s frustrating when you have an impacted stay, but they have to draw the line somewhere IMO.

There are lots of people during the closure who lost out on amongst other Disney related things, discounts and deals they were booked with. Maybe they’ll eventually go back and do something for all those people. I think its understandable that for now the only people getting that 35% are ones who had a free dining trip booked during the period they are open, where they are removing dining plans entirely.

 

[Krandor]

I am confused by this move. Does it mean WDW is not at capacity then for July-capacity limits? Are they going to then turn around and cancel ppl after these potential moves?
I was booked for June 9, but moved it to Aug 3 after my week was axed.
I've been nervous about being canceled since I booked so late. But reading this I am really confused.
So many rumors...

If they are only doing DVC and FW that is their capacity. If there are rooms available you should be fine. If they are out of rooms no go.

 

[jlwhitney]

I see Disney doing a lot of things as permanent changes during this. If anything -- just to simply save money until they can get back to full capacity .. and then when they are full capacity help maximize their profits. Honestly, having cast members take pictures for you slows down the line. If the choice is either this or the photo boxes, I think we'd all take the photo pass people NOT taking photos with personal phones.

I agree they do make it take forever. I do fully expect this change to stay permanent.

I can assure you, not everyone agrees with you (being one who personally disagrees and seeing disagreement in other places online re: this). For us, we scrape and scrounge to be able to afford a Disney vacation as it is, and already take all cost cutting measures possible. As a Canadian MM costs almost $300, which is a big chunk of change to our and many budgets. So we had no intentions of getting it, since CMs would take the photos. So between the two, I'd take the photo boxes, with CMs still being able to take your photos, hands down.

But they could still do photo boxe and not allow CM's to take pics with peoples phones. And those photo boxes are awful no one wants them.

Again they got themselves into the capacity problem by allowing ppl to continue to book so they could use ppls money as a source of revenue even though they knew they weren’t going to open. They could easily make the rule 3 & up like they did at first. When they first announced 3 & up, I thought they were being reasonable. But now this & other things make it clear that they’re trying to weed ppl out.

I think they are trying to make guests choose not to go on their own vs complaining they can't get a spot in the park they want.

 

[marx]

Location advantage (and the ease and feel of staying on property) is the primary reason we pay a premium to stay where we stay. And not $1000 a night even at the deluxes lol.

The FP window was a relatively recent incentive to stay onsite. EMH less recent (and also a shell of what it once was), but still people act like there’s no reason to stay onsite without them. I don’t think eliminating FP+ and EMH as we know them (and likely adding some other perk in their place) is going to impact onsite booking.

I agree We were staying onsite pre FP, EMH and even pre Value Resorts (when CBR was the only moderate), mostly on AP discounts and off season. (AP discounts were great then, some stays at $100/night at Deluxe).

Yes and I saw the firsthand report on Facebook. CSR to AKL (I'm assuming the DVC part?) Their travel agent alerted them first.

Any news on if this Kidani or Jambo? I have a reservation late in the year at Jambo and the DVC site shows no availability in all room category's through the end of the year. Wondering if guests are being relocated to Jambo (and therefore my reservation is safe), or if they are being relocated to Kidani.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I really can't imagine anyone staying in a value being willing to rebook at DVC (although I really think it means the deluxe resort attached) at rack rate. Most studios aren't even available for those dates and I just can't imagine someone willing to book a 1 bedroom or higher if they were booked in a discounted value.

 

[cakebaker]

There are lots of people during the closure who lost out on amongst other Disney related things, discounts and deals they were booked with.

I feel like you're talking about me.

 

[cakebaker]

If they are only doing DVC and FW that is their capacity. If there are rooms available you should be fine. If they are out of rooms no go.

Surely they are not planning on keeping all the resorts closed except DVC and FW until next year?

 

[Marionnette]

I am confused by this move. Does it mean WDW is not at capacity then for July-capacity limits? Are they going to then turn around and cancel ppl after these potential moves?
I was booked for June 9, but moved it to Aug 3 after my week was axed.
I've been nervous about being canceled since I booked so late. But reading this I am really confused.
So many rumors...

Well, they can book for any date up to Dec 31, 2020. There will still be capacity limits in the initial weeks. Not everyone who wants to reschedule to July or August is going to be able to. I think that Disney ran the numbers and realized that they had the ability to open up some villas for cash reservations and still keep the number of onsite guests within their projected limits.

 

[cakebaker]

I really can't imagine anyone staying in a value being willing to rebook at DVC (although I really think it means the deluxe resort attached) at rack rate. Most studios aren't even available for those dates and I just can't imagine someone willing to book a 1 bedroom or higher if they were booked in a discounted value.

FW wouldn't be such a killer, but DVC at rack rate is insanity. We stay at DVC's all the time, but only with an AP discount.

 

[DougLovesYou]

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.

As a cash package at a moderate, this makes me nervous. I continue to think since our trip isn't until week after Labor Day that things can still change. But the fact that these latest June cancellations can only modify to DVC or FW through the end of the year?! And for an upcharge no less? Oh boy. I've seen various secondhand info under the "Resort Changes By Disney" thread (one of the latest being a late July res being walked from CBR to a DVC not of their choice...told to them by their TA...post #238 on that thread). But it's truly a guessing game until Disney officially lets everyone know what's going on. Feeling for everyone who is uncertain and just hoping for a little light at the end of the tunnel after this dumpster fire of a year! ☹

 

[Krandor]

I really can't imagine anyone staying in a value being willing to rebook at DVC (although I really think it means the deluxe resort attached) at rack rate. Most studios aren't even available for those dates and I just can't imagine someone willing to book a 1 bedroom or higher if they were booked in a discounted value.

II agree that when they say DVC in this context they mean DVC+attached cash resort. There are too many extra DVC points compared to inventory so I doubt any actual sold DVC rooms will be open. Now the attached resorts you have decent inventory most likely.