Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[woody337]

I’m booked in a non DVC WL room July 11th and haven’t been switched yet. Have they started with July 11th arrivals yet?

Not that i'm seeing, we check in on July 18th and I have no idea if I even need to bother to get park reservations Monday.

 

[cakebaker]

It’s easier when you don’t have enough demand to need to put a system in place.

It would only be a problem for WDW right now if their resort demand is greater than their park capacity. If it's greater, there are going to be some very unhappy resort guests. With this system, if it is even close, good luck to local AP's and regular ticket holders in getting into the parks. Disney can't continually run with the we're too big to be good excuse.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Not if you need 2 real beds & you get stuck in a studio with one bed & a sleeper sofa. As much as I can’t stand the values (sorry just my opinion), I need 2 beds.

Me too! DH has been known to clock me in the mouth on more than one occasion thrashing about while sleeping. There's no way we're sharing a queen bed, LOL!

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

It would only be a problem for WDW right now if their resort demand is greater than their park capacity. If it's greater, there are going to be some very unhappy resort guests. With this system, if it is even close, good luck to local AP's and regular ticket holders in getting into the parks. Disney can't continually run with the we're too big to be good excuse.

Yep.. I have friends with annual passes who have an Airbnb booked. They don't usually stay on property. I think they're going to ask for the refund.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Well, I may be a peasant, but a tent is a hard no for me

The tent would have to be around a king sized bed at the Ritz Carlton.

 

[giget86]

Does anybody know if we can book a package on the 28th and then pay for ticket part and cancel later but keep the tickets? We are booked DVC in March but I don't want to just buy tickets yet since we won't go back ever if things don't change. I also don't want to wait to see how things go and then not be able to get into a park.

 

[Disneysoule]

Well still no email about making reservations. I have AP that doesn't expire till Nov and reservations for July 25th. I know it shouldn't matter as long as everything is linked on MDE but I still want to know why I don't get the emails! If I wasn't on here I would be in big trouble!

 

[cakebaker]

It amazes me how many people who have reservations for value resorts are disparaging OKW and SSR as if they are not massive upgrades to what they booked. Disney, if they actually move you, are giving you a room that is far superior, in a resort that actually feels like a resort. As a DVC owner, who had stayed in values, moderate, and deluxes, I speak from experience; you should be excited to stay at SSR or OKW as they are really nice upgrades.

We stay at DVC properties a lot on the cash side.

The studios at DVC are little more than a room without 2 beds in most cases. The food options are considerably less and it's not as much fun for kids. Both OKW and SS are remote and the transportation is just awful, imo. The pool at OKW is lackluster at best. Just because a resort costs more doesn't mean it's a better resort for everyone.

That said, I love OKW, it's one my favorites. We don't stay in studios and when we do stay there, we UBER exclusively.

 

[CastAStone]

I would encourage anyone who Disney might move to make a back up reservation at the Swan or Dolphin for your dates in case you don’t like the room they assign you to. Their rates are unusually low for much of the late summer and fall right now.

 

[abnihon]

Not that i'm seeing, we check in on July 18th and I have no idea if I even need to bother to get park reservations Monday.

I mean we’re probably going to cancel anyway but I have morbid curiosity about where they’ll move me...
If I was planning on going I’d be freaking out right now.
They should tell us before Monday in case we cancel.
Or are they thinking Monday may be the deciding factor - that not getting a reservation will cause people to cancel?
Then less people to move?

 

[CaLuCa]

Anyone can book Swan, Dolphin, Four Seasons, or the 7 Disney Springs hotels and get the same benefits as on site. So there’s an option.

I did 100+ days at Disney last year (live about 2 hours away), and have stayed at most of these. I stayed for the much lower rates (PLEASE remember a lot of these have resort and parking fees that do not make them end up being a good price so check). They are not magical as the bubble, but if it ups your chances of making a Park Pass reservation, by all means stay at one! Especially if you have a car. I did use the bus a couple of times, so it's doable.

Have to say, I have never had the privilege of staying at the Four Seasons, though! I do wish I could add that to my list!

 

[Mit88]

While I do 100% believe SSR and OKW are nicer resorts than any value or moderate, people have their preferences. Theres no reason to look down on people that prefer a resort like POR/FQ (I used to stay at Riverside and loved it) or any of the value resorts. Everyone loves what they love. Its all about comfort. Staying at AoA for several trips, preparing to stay there for an upcoming trip and then moving to a resort that you don’t know as well as a resort your used to, its absolutely validated to be concerned or unhappy to have to move to SSR or OKW. I’m one of the few that loves SSR, but I also enjoy walking around the property, so its not really a hassle to get to point A to point B for me.

 

[WonderlandisReality]

It amazes me how many people who have reservations for value resorts are disparaging OKW and SSR as if they are not massive upgrades to what they booked. Disney, if they actually move you, are giving you a room that is far superior, in a resort that actually feels like a resort. As a DVC owner, who had stayed in values, moderate, and deluxes, I speak from experience; you should be excited to stay at SSR or OKW as they are really nice upgrades.

My concerns are beyond cosmetic. OKW has only 3 buildings with elevators and we have a wheelchair and a wheelchair accessible room currently booked. SSR is massive on google maps. It’s a heck of a hike for me to push a wheelchair from some of these rooms for meals/main pool.
A room that we cannot access parts of or in parts of resorts extremely difficult to access is NOT superior for us or really anyone else in a similar situation. And for the record, I like the look of the OKR studios and the new SSR studios but the target audience for our trip is 2 little kids. They and most people of that age think over the top theming in the room tops just about anything.

 

[CastAStone]

I did 100+ days at Disney last year (live about 2 hours away), and have stayed at most of these. I stayed for the much lower rates (PLEASE remember a lot of these have resort and parking fees that do not make them end up being a good price so check). They are not magical as the bubble, but if it ups your chances of making a Park Pass reservation, by all means stay at one! Especially if you have a car. I did use the bus a couple of times, so it's doable.

Have to say, I have never had the privilege of staying at the Four Seasons, though! I do wish I could add that to my list!

Four Seasons is cheaper than some of the Deluxes for some dates this summer! This is probably the best chance you’ll ever have!

 

[nfischer]

We stay at DVC properties a lot on the cash side.

The studios at DVC are little more than a room without 2 beds in most cases. The food options are considerably less and it's not as much fun for kids. Both OKW and SS are remote and the transportation is just awful, imo. The pool at OKW is lackluster at best. Just because a resort costs more doesn't mean it's a better resort for everyone.

That said, I love OKW, it's one my favorites. We don't stay in studios and when we do stay there, we UBER exclusively.

I'm new to all this lingo when you say "on the cash side" what does that mean?

 

[cakebaker]

I'm new to all this lingo when you say "on the cash side" what does that mean?

I mean I reserved through Disney and am not a DVC owner.

 

[AnnTiquity]

Does anybody know if we can book a package on the 28th and then pay for ticket part and cancel later but keep the tickets? We are booked DVC in March but I don't want to just buy tickets yet since we won't go back ever if things don't change. I also don't want to wait to see how things go and then not be able to get into a park.

I believe it was suggested yesterday that making a park reservation and not using it could result in a penalty. Not being able to make more reservations? It was in Pete's 38 minute video. Things may have changed by now.

 

[Ariel 1715]

Each Resort has pros and cons but given the option of they just cancel because your resort will be closed or moving to another resort, If you really want to go you take the other resort. If you dont you cancel. I would rather be at Disney in a different resort then not.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe I missed it but have we gotten a definitive answer that the entire calendar from July 11th, 2020 to September 26th, 2021 will be open on Monday or will it be rolling. I saw some confusion on that yesterday but wasn’t sure if we got a clear answer.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Maybe I missed it but have we gotten a definitive answer that the entire calendar from July 11th, 2020 to September 26th, 2021 will be open on Monday or will it be rolling. I saw some confusion on that yesterday but wasn’t sure if we got a clear answer.

It's about as clear as mud right now. I don't think we will know until it actually goes live.