Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[GoofGoof]

Ronnie will blink in a game of chicken if the cruise lines decide to pull out of Florida because of his idiocy. He will not want to lose the amount of revenue the cruise line brings to the Florida economy.

I agree. Pre-pandemic = $9B and 160,000 jobs. That’s a lot to risk on a political stunt.

At the exact time the government should be laser focused on encouraging as many additional people as possible to be vaccinated they are instead doubling down on nonsense like this. Really pretty tragic to see.

 

[wutisgood]

We are going to be at a point petty soon where everyone who wants to be vaccinated is vaccinated and there is really no pressure from workers or clientele anymore for restrictions. Parks and other places will prob have enough demand that they could block unvaccinated adults in the near term with a passport system. There needs to be some incentive that gets a portion of the rest of the crappy people holding out at least until we get broader child approval. I wouldn't be opposed to people getting paid a small amount. Some supermarket pharmacies gave a percent off the total grocery order which was prob significant.

Florida ron wants to downplay the virus instead of being smart about what will actually get tourism money back to florida.

 

[Starcrane]

And fastpasses

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

 

[Archie123]

I agree. Pre-pandemic = $9B and 160,000 jobs. That’s a lot to risk on a political stunt.

At the exact time the government should be laser focused on encouraging as many additional people as possible to be vaccinated they are instead doubling down on nonsense like this. Really pretty tragic to see.

Me thinks Ronnie has aspirations to be the next President. He knows what sells these days.

 

[GoofGoof]

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

Here’s my take on this list. I have no actual inside information, just my semi-educated guesses, so basically just some idiot on a message board saying stupid stuff . Since the beginning of Covid I've been wrong on more things than I’ve been right. In baseball terms I’d be close to a hall of fame hitter, but that just means 6.5 out of 10 times I’ve been wrong. So with that huge grain of salt, here goes:

1. My gut says outdoor masks are gone by July 4 or sooner, definitely by August. That one and the next I’m pretty confident on
2. Fireworks will be back by August. Maybe at multiple parks. My guess is fireworks at MK and EPCOT as well as Fantasmic are all back.
3. Dining plan is tricky to say. It’s very possible but I think it depends on the distancing and capacity limits being gone at restaurants. They will need to reopen some of the people eating buffet locations. Most likely not as self serve buffets but they need the space.
4. FP could be back but I have no strong feeling either way. I’d like to say yes, but that may be just wishful thinking. Also dependent on distancing being gone but I think that won’t be an issue by August.
5. No clue on this one. They are opening more resorts which they need to fill so it’s definitely possible.

Based on the above I am guessing I’ll see you there in August

 

[havoc315]

Here’s my take on this list. I have no actual inside information, just my semi-educated guesses, so basically just some idiot on a message board saying stupid stuff . Since the beginning of Covid I've been wrong on more things than I’ve been right. In baseball terms I’d be close to a hall of fame hitter, but that just means 6.5 out of 10 times I’ve been wrong. So with that huge grain of salt, here goes:

1. My gut says outdoor masks are gone by July 4 or sooner, definitely by August. That one and the next I’m pretty confident on
2. Fireworks will be back by August. Maybe at multiple parks. My guess is fireworks at MK and EPCOT as well as Fantasmic are all back.
3. Dining plan is tricky to say. It’s very possible but I think it depends on the distancing and capacity limits being gone at restaurants. They will need to reopen some of the people eating buffet locations. Most likely not as self serve buffets but they need the space.
4. FP could be back but I have no strong feeling either way. I’d like to say yes, but that may be just wishful thinking. Also dependent on distancing being gone but I think that won’t be an issue by August.
5. No clue on this one. They are opening more resorts which they need to fill so it’s definitely possible.

Based on the above I am guessing I’ll see you there in August

Covid restrictions won’t be the reason any of that does or doesn’t happen.

The ongoing construction and repairs at Fantasmic makes any near return hard... but suppose August is possible if they finish the repair work soon.

FP isn’t coming back... almost nothing to do with Covid. They can’t “turn it on” unless they dump the park pass system, and they are on the record as liking the park pass system. Therefore, a whole new FP system will need to be designed.

Dining will expand significantly. Maybe not buffets. But the limiting factor will be finding enough staff. Patina is having to offer $300-$500 bonuses to find line cooks and bussers.

As to masks... I’d agree. Outdoor masks gone by June or July. Indoor masks... best case scenario, gone by June or July, worst case, gone by October.

 

[TTA94]

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

Probably a good chance outdoor masks will be gone by Aug. as long as things continue to stay on track and keep improving. As far as fireworks, Supposedly there is a window for fireworks to return, but those that know are not commenting further.

 

[WDWTrojan]

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

Will never understand why people want to force themselves into losing money if they skip a meal or stand in lines that don't move, but to cancel a trip because of it is just even more baffling to me.

 

[pixie225]

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

1. I have a feeling they will get rid of outdoor masks by then.
2. My husband and I have a terrible memory of the last time we were at MK during fireworks. It was soooo crowded my dh actually picked my kids up and literally threw them inside a small fenced area that was around a tree at the end of Main Street as the crowds were so thick and pushing. Thought they would be trampled. I am sure they will add fireworks - we won't be in MK to watch them!
3. Never did dining plan, so can't comment.
4. Would love fast passes back
5. Might put a resort deal in. Right now Disney wants $$, people want Disney, so they might not need to discount rooms like they used to.

 

[GhostHost1000]

They won’t reach close to that capacity if they don’t bring back those essentials. I’ve got my finger on the cancel button for an Aug. trip if 1)Outdoor masking still exists
2)No fireworks
3)No dining plan (yes we like the all inclusive feel)
4)no fast passes
5)no resort deal for late summer
…and I know I’m not alone.

Other than waiting for a resort deal I am the same way about an October trip and I’m a DVC member who typically goes multiple times a year. I just don’t see paying the same for half

 

[Incomudro]

Other than waiting for a resort deal I am the same way about an October trip and I’m a DVC member who typically goes multiple times a year. I just don’t see paying the same for half

I'm thinking about a November trip based on no more outdoor masks, and hopefully the return of fireworks.

 

[Kevin_W]

We are going to be at a point petty soon where everyone who wants to be vaccinated is vaccinated and there is really no pressure from workers or clientele anymore for restrictions.

An important caveat to that is "everyone who wants to be vaccinated" is "everyone over age 16 who wants to be vaccinated".

 

[Bob Harlem]

Speaking of cruises:

US cruises could restart soon with 'passenger voyages by mid-July,' CDC says

Cruising could restart in mid-summer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a letter to the cruise industry.

www.usatoday.com

 

[GoofGoof]

Covid restrictions won’t be the reason any of that does or doesn’t happen.

The ongoing construction and repairs at Fantasmic makes any near return hard... but suppose August is possible if they finish the repair work soon.

FP isn’t coming back... almost nothing to do with Covid. They can’t “turn it on” unless they dump the park pass system, and they are on the record as liking the park pass system. Therefore, a whole new FP system will need to be designed.

Dining will expand significantly. Maybe not buffets. But the limiting factor will be finding enough staff. Patina is having to offer $300-$500 bonuses to find line cooks and bussers.

As to masks... I’d agree. Outdoor masks gone by June or July. Indoor masks... best case scenario, gone by June or July, worst case, gone by October.

I have no idea what the construction timeline for Fantasmic is. If they expect the repairs to take another 3-4 months than I guess that would exclude it. I was under the impression the repairs started a while back and were close to finishing up. I know your opinion on FP and I certainly am not saying it will be back, but the issue with the park pass system seems unlikely to be the reason. If Disney wanted to bring FP back by July 1 they could overcome any IT issues in less than 2 months. Again, not saying it will be back by July 1st but it won’t be because of IT issues. There’s still a very real limitation with spacing in the queues.

Last I checked the unemployment level in FL is still pretty high so I don’t think there’s an issue with finding workers. Offering a signing bonus is a way to poach some workers from competitors. If there is a major issue finding workers that stuff will attract people in from other parts of the country too. Thousands of restaurants closed and will never reopen. We have no shortage of restaurant workers in the US.

 

[peter11435]

Covid restrictions won’t be the reason any of that does or doesn’t happen.

The ongoing construction and repairs at Fantasmic makes any near return hard... but suppose August is possible if they finish the repair work soon.

FP isn’t coming back... almost nothing to do with Covid. They can’t “turn it on” unless they dump the park pass system, and they are on the record as liking the park pass system. Therefore, a whole new FP system will need to be designed.

Dining will expand significantly. Maybe not buffets. But the limiting factor will be finding enough staff. Patina is having to offer $300-$500 bonuses to find line cooks and bussers.

As to masks... I’d agree. Outdoor masks gone by June or July. Indoor masks... best case scenario, gone by June or July, worst case, gone by October.

There are many reasons FP (in its previous form) may not return. However the park pass system is not an obstacle that prevents FP+ from functioning.

 

[Bob Harlem]

Last I checked the unemployment level in FL is still pretty high so I don’t think there’s an issue with finding workers. Offering a signing bonus is a way to poach some workers from competitors. If there is a major issue finding workers that stuff will attract people in from other parts of the country too. Thousands of restaurants closed and will never reopen. We have no shortage of restaurant workers in the US.

Many are remaining on the extended unemployment instead of going back to work too. Some of the economic fallout is starting to pop up in general inflation though. Some of the alarming ones, like cost of lumber has more than doubled since last year, which is going to cause home insurance costs to explode, and a lot of general supply chain shortages, even things like typical hurricane supplies are short. (Please no bad storms this year, because the inventory doesn't exist to handle even a moderate rush). So I think it'll change quickly. I think we're in for a bout of inflation we haven't seen since the 70s.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

There are many reasons FP (in its previous form) may not return. However the park pass system is not an obstacle that prevents FP+ from functioning.

FP+, if it were to return in its prior form, makes Park Pass obsolete outside of maybe Christmas week or the initial opening for major new attractions.

If you have FastPasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, and Space Mountain, Disney doesn't get any additional information by forcing you to ALSO have a Park Pass for the Magic Kingdom.

Park Pass only matters if 1) parks are expected to hit capacity, whether that means COVID restrictions or what would have normally been phase closing, or 2) FastPass 3.0 looks significantly different from FastPass+.

 

[GoofGoof]

It appears that Disney has opened up additional park pass reservations for May. No clue if this is related to normal operations, the new policy that reservations not properly linked to a park ticket will be cancelled, or the first signs of a potential expansion of capacity due to a possible change in distancing rules. I assume it’s likely more 1 and 2 than 3 but who knows.

 

[Kevin_W]

FP+, if it were to return in its prior form, makes Park Pass obsolete outside of maybe Christmas week or the initial opening for major new attractions.

If you have FastPasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, and Space Mountain, Disney doesn't get any additional information by forcing you to ALSO have a Park Pass for the Magic Kingdom.

Park Pass only matters if 1) parks are expected to hit capacity, whether that means COVID restrictions or what would have normally been phase closing, or 2) FastPass 3.0 looks significantly different from FastPass+.

Agreed. Park hopping can happen (FP reservations are for, say, 9:30 - 12:30 and then you hop to another park), but that is probably a minority of customers. If you combine in-park ADR's and FP+ data, for 95% of people that is the same thing as a park pass.

 

[GoofGoof]

FP+, if it were to return in its prior form, makes Park Pass obsolete outside of maybe Christmas week or the initial opening for major new attractions.

If you have FastPasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, and Space Mountain, Disney doesn't get any additional information by forcing you to ALSO have a Park Pass for the Magic Kingdom.

Park Pass only matters if 1) parks are expected to hit capacity, whether that means COVID restrictions or what would have normally been phase closing, or 2) FastPass 3.0 looks significantly different from FastPass+.

True, but it does keep the hopping restricted which can be an operational and staffing benefit. You know how many people will be in each park from rope drop until the afternoon on park reservations. It’s also possible that a percent of guests were not booking FP reservations in advance of arriving at the parks or using it at all.