Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mmackeymouse]

The decisions being made are not really about fairness but are purely business-minded (i.e. what can the business handle and how we can maximize what we've got). That's something I think most of us can agree on. Believe it or not, that's also something of a departure for Disney. We (myself included) hound them for things like the cabana tents in Tomorrowland, but at the same time, most other amusement/theme park operators with the sort of lines WDW sees would have started charging for a queue bypass option years ago. With Disney, it's always been this delicate balance between business and what guests perceive as fairness. Due this severe interruption, that balance has shifted for the moment. They're not trying to upset guests; they're trying to make the logistical needs meet with the business needs meet with the Guest Experience. That's going to mean disappointment, but if you go in with an open mind (understanding you may not stay at the resort you want or even your second choice, you may not go a park everyday, you may not dine where, when, or how you want, you may not have everything offered you want and what is offered might cost more etc...), it is my understanding you'll be fine. That's all I feel comfortable saying at the moment.

See, this is where they/you lose me.

The people that will be going the next few months, for the most part, are the lifers. The die hards.

These people love Disney SO much that they are willing to sacrifice the experience. And, rather than thank them. Rather than some sort of gesture to honor them for their loyalty, Disney would actually choose to stick it to them? That bugs me. That, I am not sure I could ever forget.

A poster in the resorts forum was charged to involuntarily move from BWI to OKW.

Wow, I would certainly be unhappy about this.

And I love Old Key West, don't get me wrong.

For some perspective.....

Kennedy Space Center is open everyday from 10am-4pm. Their ticket system has entry times from 10am until 12pm in increments of every half hour.

I guess Disney will do something like this. But missing 3 or 4 hours and still paying full price wont sit well with people.

As it shouldn't.

Me! Me! I'm people!

How could it be possibly be fair that someone who gets in there for 6 hours pays the same or more as someone who gets in there for 9 hours? If it's voluntary, if it's optional, that's one thing.

It's already hard to return to the parks with 6pm (AK) or 7pm (MK) closings. If now, you can't arrive until 10:30-11, you really won't get much done before your afternoon break.

Afternoon break? That's cute.

With those hours...that's a big fat nope from me, dawg.

Some conclusions turn out to be right in the end. Case and point, the NBA players being able to go to the theme parks. That was never even a rumor and people got worked up. Then it was said that it definitely wont happen. And now Disney is saying its up to the NBA

Exactly....that's the thing that is frustrating about it. It's up in the air, subject to change, and seemingly on the whim of the NBA.

If we knew that A, B, C and them's the rules.....well okay. At least we know.

But, the fact that it's "Wellll........it's up to the NBA," basically gives people no clarity at all.

Don't take an afternoon break in July is equal to please take me directly to the hospital due to heat stroke. It may more for some people but not all.

Well, maybe Disney should have thought of that. Maybe they should have opened 8-12 and 6-10. Same number of hours, but at least out of the harsh mid-day heat.

But, they made their bed by shortening the hours, and shortening them to the worst possible hours. So...guess they'll have to lie in it.

 

[Devil13]

So has anyone had an out of state platinum AP extended yet?

Not me

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Hopefully tomorrow is resort news day.

I say just tear down TRex altogether. Just out of precaution. If they accidentally also drive down towards Rainforest cafe and bulldoze that, it wouldnt be the worst thing

I agree. This is the only logical solution and I completely support it. I also think the I-4 eyesore is infected. We should probably knock it down as a precaution.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But in the during COVID time, a deadly virus, your kitchen manager has tested positive, and continues to work, and the business tells you that you will need to continue to work or you’re refusing to work and thus ineligible for unemployment.

Sounds like a threat to me.

Ok. Fine “a threat”. But it’s still staying a fact. They literally cannot collect unemployment in that case.

Absurd Landry’s isn’t doing paid time off for those folks but that’s another discussion I guess for elsewhere.

 

[wareagle57]

I got 3 months, 25 days. My original expiration was 6/4/21, and it’s now 9/29/21.

That is absolute garbage if it’s not changed.

 

[wareagle57]

How long do people expect APs to be extended?

If it's good a year from activation say you only had 4 months left before Covid happened, closed for 4 months, AP extended 4 months - doesn't that make it right? Why would you be expecting free months?
Or are they not giving enough time back?

Ummm no. Not even close. You paid for 365 days of access including park hopper. IF the reservation system is such that you can’t go every day, that is a huge devaluation of the pass. And if there is no park hopping it is devalued even further. Shanghai has still not started the clock on APs since they are still in the reservation period and that’s what I expected from WDW as well.

They either need to:

1. Do like Shanghai

2. exempt APs from the reservations (impractical as they couldn’t actually control capacity that way)

Or 3. Only take off individual days people actually visit the parks with their APs, which would be far too complicated.

it seems for now they went with option 4,a giant middle finger to APs in hopes we will cancel.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Personally ,I think it's irresponsible to tell people to come or not come. I like to give people my views and show what's happening and share my experience, especially with the mask wearing but then I always say, it's up to you, it's your money and you know the risks, so in the end im not going to tell you what to do either way
That's why i also come to these threads and share my experience

you are talking about what I have enjoyed about your trips that I have enjoyed. you seem to be telling what you are feeling not what people should be doing.

 

[Anna_Sh]

That is absolute garbage if it’s not changed.

I certainly wouldn’t complain if they gave me more, but this is about what I expected when I decided to renew.

 

[Krandor]

Joking aside I am really impressed with the bloggers, twitter Disney people, whatever you want to call them, who are talking about the risks of going to the parks during a pandemic and aren’t just pretending it’s all good cause it’s opening.

My twitter feed has become the opposite of the attitudes expressed in this thread which is kind of refreshing.

If you go to a theme park right now you are taking a risk. SFoG is open now and I have park reservations (for a specific time) on saturday and plan to go but I'm going with the knowledge I may not stay long. If I'm not happy with what I see or the crowds are more then I'm comfortable with I'm leaving. I may only stay an a hour or so. I'm going in with eyes wide open and will only stay as long as I feel safe. Luckily I got the very first entrance time for saturday so hopefully I can get a lot done early.

 

[Krandor]

Hopefully tomorrow is resort news day.

Unlikely. They don't want ADR pre-July 10th calls and resort change calls on the same day. I think Fri-Sun is when we'll get resort news.

 

[FatBambi]

Hopefully tomorrow is resort news day.

 

[figmentfinesse]

See, this is where they/you lose me.

The people that will be going the next few months, for the most part, are the lifers. The die hards.

These people love Disney SO much that they are willing to sacrifice the experience. And, rather than thank them. Rather than some sort of gesture to honor them for their loyalty, Disney would actually choose to stick it to them? That bugs me. That, I am not sure I could ever forget.






Wow, I would certainly be unhappy about this.

And I love Old Key West, don't get me wrong.




As it shouldn't.

Me! Me! I'm people!

How could it be possibly be fair that someone who gets in there for 6 hours pays the same or more as someone who gets in there for 9 hours? If it's voluntary, if it's optional, that's one thing.






Afternoon break? That's cute.

With those hours...that's a big fat nope from me, dawg.






Exactly....that's the thing that is frustrating about it. It's up in the air, subject to change, and seemingly on the whim of the NBA.

If we knew that A, B, C and them's the rules.....well okay. At least we know.

But, the fact that it's "Wellll........it's up to the NBA," basically gives people no clarity at all.





Well, maybe Disney should have thought of that. Maybe they should have opened 8-12 and 6-10. Same number of hours, but at least out of the harsh mid-day heat.

But, they made their bed by shortening the hours, and shortening them to the worst possible hours. So...guess they'll have to lie in it.

Maybe the hours shortening was a way of encouraging people to cancel. Honestly, it got my hand hovering over the cancel button. However, I’m weak and really want my summer Disney fix. Oh well. At least I know I’m weak! One could dream it’s just a tactic and might see slight closing extensions...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hopefully tomorrow is resort news day.

Hope so!! Could be late afternoon but it certainly seems like it’s time to get the ball rolling on the cross over folks. Although they REALLY should get ticket info rolling as well. Crazy people are having to make decisions without knowing if they can get in the park!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Unlikely. They don't want ADR pre-July 10th calls and resort change calls on the same day. I think Fri-Sun is when we'll get resort news.

Why not? Disney Dining is not Disney Reservations.

 

[Mit88]

Ummm no. Not even close. You paid for 365 days of access including park hopper. IF the reservation system is such that you can’t go every day, that is a huge devaluation of the pass. And if there is no park hopping it is devalued even further. Shanghai has still not started the clock on APs since they are still in the reservation period and that’s what I expected from WDW as well.

They either need to:

1. Do like Shanghai

2. exempt APs from the reservations (impractical as they couldn’t actually control capacity that way)

Or 3. Only take off individual days people actually visit the parks with their APs, which would be far too complicated.

it seems for now they went with option 4,a giant middle finger to APs in hopes we will cancel.

Someone said earlier that the extensions made today may have only been so expired pass members can make reservations if they have a trip planned in July.

It makes sense, and my optimistic side wants to believe it. But if I believe it, and that didnt turn out to be true, I think I’d be a little more upset with the current returned compensation. And I hate saying that because I dont see my self as an entitled “pass****”, but expecting more than what is currently on the table isnt much to ask for, especially since one of the options (partial refund) doesnt even have any information base. Like ive said before, they could send you any amount, whether its a dollar, or 1/3 of the money back. Theres nothing in writing how much the partial refund is. So you’re basically going in on that option in the dark. But if you choose the extension, and have no reason or desire to go down in those 4 months that you’ve been extended, then you lose out.

I’m hoping the extensions were only an indication that reservations are starting soon and it was for the expired pass members to be able to get reservations in July

 

[skeeter31]

Why not? Disney Dining is not Disney Reservations.

It’s all in the same building (which they’re not even in right now as they’re all still working from home mainly). I also guarantee they have a good portion of resort reservation staff assisting with the enhancements side (dining, etc).

 

[Krandor]

Ummm no. Not even close. You paid for 365 days of access including park hopper. IF the reservation system is such that you can’t go every day, that is a huge devaluation of the pass. And if there is no park hopping it is devalued even further. Shanghai has still not started the clock on APs since they are still in the reservation period and that’s what I expected from WDW as well.

They either need to:

1. Do like Shanghai

2. exempt APs from the reservations (impractical as they couldn’t actually control capacity that way)

Or 3. Only take off individual days people actually visit the parks with their APs, which would be far too complicated.

it seems for now they went with option 4,a giant middle finger to APs in hopes we will cancel.

They are doing nothing differnet then many other parks. I'm a six flags diamond elite member and I'm getting very little and in fact even worse then what disney is doing. They are doing reservations and members have to do reservations. They actually never actually stopped the clock but I get one or two extra perks like one extra skip the line pass. I actually only get the extra months when I cancel... then they will tack on the extra months for the closure.

1) they could do but for how long? no hopping and reservations look to be around for a while
2) not a possibility
3) not happening either. Very few AP holders visited 365 days even though they could so to make it 365 visit days would never work.

Now if park hopping is not allowed (which looks likely), there should be some refund to AP members to account for that benefit being removed or an extra extention to the passes.

APs are tough for every park right now.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Someone said earlier that the extensions made today may have only been so expired pass members can make reservations if they have a trip planned in July.

It makes sense, and my optimistic side wants to believe it. But if I believe it, and that didnt turn out to be true, I think I’d be a little more upset with the current returned compensation. And I hate saying that because I dont see my self as an entitled “pass****”, but expecting more than what is currently on the table isnt much to ask for, especially since one of the options (partial refund) doesnt even have any information base. Like ive said before, they could send you any amount, whether its a dollar, or 1/3 of the money back. Theres nothing in writing how much the partial refund is. So you’re basically going in on that option in the dark. But if you choose the extension, and have no reason or desire to go down in those 4 months that you’ve been extended, then you lose out.

I’m hoping the extensions were only an indication that reservations are starting soon and it was for the expired pass members to be able to get reservations in July

There are people with original expiry dates as late as 2021 who got extended about 4 months. Possibly limited to certain pass types so far (or they’re just being done first) but not expired ones.

 

[VH103428]

Sure. But it’s the truth. You literally cannot collect unemployment.

As a District Manager for a chain similar to Landry's, I can say that even if you have been to T-Rex, you are probably safe. The thing with being the KM in these establishments is that you are behind the scene. The chef, line cooks, prep cooks, and other kitchen team members are directly moving things along in the kitchen. A KM is making sure that all the wheels turn properly by scheduling, maintenance, inventory, and being the the liaison for the kitchen team to the General Manager. Managers are very well trained for food borne illnesses, allergies, and more. I am sure that this KM did not knowingly put anyone in danger. You can have NO symptoms and still test positive and that test may take a few days for the positive result.
And believe me I have taken more calls from team members saying that they did not feel safe and wanted to go home because they make more money at home which puts companies in a bad position. I can tell you that yes it sucks for this restaurant, but every restaurant is trying to stay afloat.

 

[Mit88]

There are people with original expiry dates as late as 2021 who got extended about 4 months. Possibly limited to certain pass types so far (or they’re just being done first) but not expired ones.

I think they’d have to extend everyone right now. They can’t assume every passmember would be staying on Disney property, so they cant really look at ones that are expired and staying at a Disney resort and take a head count. So they just extend everyone now so theres no issues when the reservations in July start, and then that buys them a little extra time to figure out the compensation.

Thats what I’m hoping to be the case.