Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[yulilin3]

Which is what I was doing until now. But when Disney themselves say that they expect to sell out whatever capacity they allow in and then go weeks with zero information and do this, I panic a bit. I’m holding int hope, but Shanghai sold out in minutes. WDW is a biiit more popular.

I get that it could end up being much easier, but that’s not what has been communicated to us thus far. On top of that, I see people on here that are fine with it, no matter how hard it is to get reservations. So I get a little heated when I see people letting corporations off the hook that easy. It makes it more likely they’ll screw us over in the future.

From the beginning was 100% confident they would do the right thing. And they may very well still do everything right and everything will be A-Ok with reservations. I’m just getting ahead of the ball and thinking worst case scenario because I don’t like that possibility and the fact that some seem to think it’s fine. They had to know this would get the message board speculators rilled up after weeks and weeks of no communication.

I understand you 100%. The problem is lack of communication. It's honestly getting to a ridiculous place when not even the cm that are supposed to help you get any information.
Im right there with you, and upset that I won't be able to go to whatever park i want, whatever day at whatever time, I not only paid for this, this is my livelihood.
But
I have read the fine print on their terms and policies and rules and ive also been an ap long enough to see the consumer service they were famous for be in decline for a decade. So i had realistic expectations. I only expected from Disney the 4 months that the parks were actually closed, that's all they said they would give us
If they decide to do something more that would be fantastic, but im not counting on it

 

[Mfowler7828]

All I know is after going to the Disney World website so many times, the one ride I am not looking forward to riding if Disney let’s me into a park is Mickey and Minney’s Runaway Railway.

 

[yulilin3]

On hold with Disney dining, cannot remember the last time I had to call at 7am for anything

 

[princesscinderella]

Me too! I’m enjoying the music from soarin right now though.

 

[lovethesun12]

Disney should start thinking about investing heavily in rebuilding customer confidence, this has been a PR disaster. The pandemic will live long in our memories, will i be happy to commit thousands of dollars to Disney again? Im not too sure.

Honestly, I don't think Disney needs to invest heavily, as they have ran maybe the most successful marketing strategy of all time by establishing an intense emotional connection between guests and their brand (I'm including myself here, I'm probably one of the worst, lol). That's why we all spend so much (and maybe why we all feel like we lost so much). The fact covid-19 still exists will be their biggest hurdle with what happens at the parks.

One of my friends posted an article about how we don't need all this "stuff" companies tell us we need. I was onboard while reading (yeah I don't need this, this, this, etc) until I got to WDW and was like uh yeah, sorry, I do need that - don't go there. But why? I don't really *need* it obviously. But the thought of missing out on our BBB/CRT/pirates league/dessert party first Poly stay with my 4 (almost 5 year old) daughter and 7 year old son this year is heart wrenching to me; it's because money isn't the biggest loss for me with missing our trip and I'd imagine that's how many disney regulars feel.

A few commercials of kids playing with Mickey and dressed as princesses or dining with friends at epcot and we might still complain but we'll all forgive and go =).

If they have issues when they reopen it's more likely it's connected to guests concerned about their health, kids health, and covid-19 because that's bigger than the Disney connection. Maybe they need doctor minnie and mickey commercials. I think this is going to be a rough year for them but once they weather the storm they'll be fine. I think coming up with new options like housing the NBA and minimizing the outflow of cash as best they can are things they need to do right now as a business.

 

[SoShiny]

On hold with Disney dining, cannot remember the last time I had to call at 7am for anything

How long do you think we will be on here? I am hoping they have more than 5 CMs standing by.

 

[Princess Merida]

I'm on hold too.

 

[yulilin3]

How long do you think we will be on here? I am hoping they have more than 5 CMs standing by.

just go the message "due to high call volume the wait time is 2 hours" followed by "want to save time, book online it's quick and easy" smh

 

[cakebaker]

In any event, I’m just thrilled they’re going to be open.

And therein lies the problem. When paying customers set the bar this low, that’s the bar they’ll meet. They don’t need to be transparent, they don’t need to be fair- just open the gates and let us in. Any price, any conditions- doesn’t matter.

I’ve been visiting WDW as an out of state AP for decades. They’ve been riding their own coat tails for a long time, and as customers we’ve been letting them get away with it, and now it’s being excused because it’s not their fault, it’s the pandemic that’s to blame. It’s not, the pandemic has just pulled the veil away.

They can do better, but there’s no need to when people will settle for less. But when they can alienate a guest like me- a dedicated on site guest, visiting for decades, buys every up sell they offer and a unapologetic pixie duster- maybe they’ve gone too far. Maybe.

All I know is that by my own choice, I’m not sitting on hold this morning excited to finally get to book something for a trip that was running me upwards of 10k and the only one that cares that I’m not, is me. That says everything.

 

[yulilin3]

Disney should start thinking about investing heavily in rebuilding customer confidence, this has been a PR disaster. The pandemic will live long in our memories, will i be happy to commit thousands of dollars to Disney again? Im not too sure.

100% agree.
We all know it's a pandemic and unforseen circumstances and a new era, but there's no excuse whatsoever for the lack of communication. If only to come out and say, you're going to need to wait a little longer, also the confusing statements they make like your package can be paid 7 days before but still send people the 30 day email saying "hey you have to pay". And now this. If you are going to say you're opening a reservation system to book dining, only by phone, then be prepared with appropriate staff. I am sure these poor CM receiving calls are still at their houses and most of the call center CM have not been called back. Why then would you do this? you could've just left it as first come first served, or people checking in can book only that day?
It's a big ole mess only made worse by lack of communication not only from Disney to their guest but communications inside the same company
And this 2 hour wait time for dining is just by people arriving on property from the 22nd to July 11, not everyone, imagine once whatever reservation system opens to everyone, for a months worth of reservations

 

[Princess Merida]

just go the message "due to high call volume the wait time is 2 hours" followed by "want to save time, book online it's quick and easy" smh

Yes! Yes! We would love to book online! Make it so we can.

 

[pixieprincess925]

On hold with Disney dining, cannot remember the last time I had to call at 7am for anything

what was the phone number to call for dining this morning?

 

[Princess Merida]

what was the phone number to call for dining this morning?

407-824-1391

 

[woody337]

And therein lies the problem. When paying customers set the bar this low, that’s the bar they’ll meet. They don’t need to be transparent, they don’t need to be fair- just open the gates and let us in. Any price, any conditions- doesn’t matter.

I’ve been visiting WDW as an out of state AP for decades. They’ve been riding their own coat tails for a long time, and as customers we’ve been letting them get away with it, and now it’s being excused because it’s not their fault, it’s the pandemic that’s to blame. It’s not, the pandemic has just pulled the veil away.

They can do better, but there’s no need to when people will settle for less. But when they can alienate a guest like me- a dedicated on site guest, visiting for decades, buys every up sell they offer and a unapologetic pixie duster- maybe they’ve gone too far. Maybe.

All I know is that by my own choice, I’m not sitting on hold this morning excited to finally get to book something for a trip that was running me upwards of 10k and the only one that cares that I’m not, is me. That says everything.

You really put a lot in perspective here. And you are exactly right on everything. To add to it and I know people will say they are different places but Universal is open now and they arent really sacrificing the guest experience at all. Sure there are some things toned down which is to be expected but overall its the same park many love going to. Disney on the other hand is trying their hardest to strip its core dna away and leaving little left at all. Its very disappointing to say the least.

 

[SoShiny]

just go the message "due to high call volume the wait time is 2 hours" followed by "want to save time, book online it's quick and easy" smh

I still have not gotten the "high call volume" message. Not sure if that is good or bad.

 

[yulilin3]

and it's a two hour for people arriving from Monday through July 11th with only DVC and Fort opened. Imagine the mess once more people are trying to book. It's such a disappointing nose dive this company has had

 

[OnceUponATime15]

@DisneyParksNews: Tune in this morning to @gma to watch our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel share an update on our health and safety measures.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1273571160077156353

 

[Sara W]

It's a Small World hold music is just cruel.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Yeah - we're Gold passes, and based on the days someone said for those, with the blockout dates, ours now expire one week before we arrive at the end of November. We also have an August trip, so canceling probably doesn't make sense for the math. Sucks - thought we were at least going to have all this mean we got to save a couple thousand on passes/tickets. I agree that you'd think they'd throw an extra month on or something just as a gesture of good will. Oh well.

So, as an update on this. I ran the numbers based off of someone saying theirs was extended but took off for the April blockout dates. Well, MDE on my phone is now showing ours extended through 12/6 (previous expiration was/is 8/11), so it is NOT reducing for the blockout dates. If accurate, this is actually the bright spot for us in all of this - our December trip ends on . . . 12/6! Now, I say if accurate because the website is not showing any extension yet, so I'm going to be paranoid until it all reflects the change. I think I'll go take screenshots now just in case.

 

[cakebaker]

You really put a lot in perspective here. And you are exactly right on everything. To add to it and I know people will say they are different places but Universal is open now and they arent really sacrificing the guest experience at all. Sure there are some things toned down which is to be expected but overall its the same park many love going to. Disney on the other hand is trying their hardest to strip its core dna away and leaving little left at all. Its very disappointing to say the least.

I have said before, I’m not a huge fan of Universal, I actually have a pretty low opinion of them. But it’s based on 1 single experience more than 5 yrs ago. Up until now, I’ve had no reason to even give them another try.

The only thing that’s stopping me from doing just that is my concern about the rising numbers both in FL and here at home. We seriously considered it, but decided if we were going to do it, it’s better to wait and do it when things relax a bit. But that’s our plan. It’s not easy, honestly it breaks my heart just thinking of being there and not being at WDW, but the WDW I love doesn’t exist and It may never be back.

I think I’m at the acceptance stage. :/