Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[lilypgirl]

Breitbart sourcing the NYT. These truly are the end times.

Well it’s an article about higher education not politics .

 

[Parker in NYC]

Well it’s an article about higher education not politics .

But at least Breitbart reminds us in their news item that it’s the Chinese virus. It’s like that old saying, you can never go home again (especially when you never lived there in the first place).

 

[icc2515]

I have been seeing people say that when the eventually do open up, there will be pretty steep discounts on rooms and maybe even tickets.

I can tell you from personal experience that there are no steep discounts for July. I paid over $200 per night for a room at the Pop. The cast member I spoke with said that he had been with the company for over 20 years and there has been, as far as he could tell, little to no drop in reservations. He said that this was nothing like post 911 where the reservations dropped significantly.

My opinion is that will not see any discounts except the usual. They haven't even updated the annual pass discounts past July 9th. I can also tell you that DVC availability looks about normal for the summer. I kind of thought that if they were planning on reducing theme park capacity that they would stop taking hotel reservations.

 

[ppete1975]

That was my point. By the time we get to the point that that happens WDW will be open. Just like everyone else the NFL has no idea what will actually happen and is just planning for and projecting what they think is most likely to may happen. In all of their alternate plans for the schedule the latest the season kicks off is 10/15. That doesn’t mean that it will definitely happen. If things go bad they could still end up canceling the season altogether.

everyone is assuming fans being there, most of the nfls plans do not involve fans in attendance.
even though they make millions (and green bay makes almost all of their money from fans), even if you lose the ticket prices, beer, food, merchandise, programs, hotels and restaurants, the Tv contracts, keeping the fandom up (merchandise sales), would be well worth it. NBA, MLB, and NFL can survive with no fans (for a year) and playing to empty stadiums. This cuts down on a lot of the issues, you just have to quarantine players or test them more (easier for nba, then mlb, hardest for football)

 

[Parker in NYC]

I can tell you from personal experience that there are no steep discounts for July. I paid over $200 per night for a room at the Pop. The cast member I spoke with said that he had been with the company for over 20 years and there has been, as far as he could tell, little to no drop in reservations. He said that this was nothing like post 911 where the reservations dropped significantly.

My opinion is that will not see any discounts except the usual. They haven't even updated the annual pass discounts past July 9th. I can also tell you that DVC availability looks about normal for the summer. I kind of thought that if they were planning on reducing theme park capacity that they would stop taking hotel reservations.

The place won't be able to open at all with steep discounts. Why open to hire staff and then operate at a loss, especially if these social distancing measures are attempted.

 

[lewisc]

I can tell you from personal experience that there are no steep discounts for July. I paid over $200 per night for a room at the Pop. The cast member I spoke with said that he had been with the company for over 20 years and there has been, as far as he could tell, little to no drop in reservations. He said that this was nothing like post 911 where the reservations dropped significantly.

My opinion is that will not see any discounts except the usual. They haven't even updated the annual pass discounts past July 9th. I can also tell you that DVC availability looks about normal for the summer. I kind of thought that if they were planning on reducing theme park capacity that they would stop taking hotel reservations.

A lot of people have financial issues. Some won't be called back to work. Others won't be able get time off. Some employees some industries won't have vacations the rest if the year.
Cancellation terms are lenient. I think well see a lot of cancellations. Maybe even more depending on the changes Disney makes.

 

[GoofGoof]

I can tell you from personal experience that there are no steep discounts for July. I paid over $200 per night for a room at the Pop. The cast member I spoke with said that he had been with the company for over 20 years and there has been, as far as he could tell, little to no drop in reservations. He said that this was nothing like post 911 where the reservations dropped significantly.

My opinion is that will not see any discounts except the usual. They haven't even updated the annual pass discounts past July 9th. I can also tell you that DVC availability looks about normal for the summer. I kind of thought that if they were planning on reducing theme park capacity that they would stop taking hotel reservations.

Most DVC rooms for the summer were booked between 7 and 11 months in advance so end of 2019 into January. I booked my August trip in January never imagining things would be like they are right now. I can’t cancel the trip or I lose some 2019 points I had banked into 2020 and some 2021 points I borrowed unless I use them by Feb 2021. If for some reason WDW isn’t open in August then I essentially will get my points all rolled forward a year. I think it’s just a waiting game for most DVC reservations.

For regular hotel guests a lot of people who had spring break cancelled rebooked for the summer. I know 3 people from work that were in this situation (1 rescheduled for June and 2 for August). When last I talked to them 2 of the 3 had no intention of actually going but still haven’t cancelled. The 3rd guy is still hoping that he can go in August. Completely anecdotal, but I think depending on the restrictions and the case load as the summer goes on a lot of those hotel reservations could be cancelled. Flights may also be an issue. I booked my flight in March with Southwest but there’s no guarantee they don’t cancel my flight.

Unlike post 9/11 Disney may actually be OK with less crowds at first. They may not discount because they don’t want huge crowds and the constant bad press. You can’t turn on the TV today without seeing video or pictures of beaches that were re-opened. A huge crowd at the front gate of MK would be even more sensational for the news media.

 

[Horizons '83]

Most DVC rooms for the summer were booked between 7 and 11 months in advance so end of 2019 into January. I booked my August trip in January never imagining things would be like they are right now. I can’t cancel the trip or I lose some 2019 points I had banked into 2020 and some 2021 points I borrowed unless I use them by Feb 2021. If for some reason WDW isn’t open in August then I essentially will get my points all rolled forward a year. I think it’s just a waiting game for most DVC reservations.

For regular hotel guests a lot of people who had spring break cancelled rebooked for the summer. I know 3 people from work that were in this situation (1 rescheduled for June and 2 for August). When last I talked to them 2 of the 3 had no intention of actually going but still haven’t cancelled. The 3rd guy is still hoping that he can go in August. Completely anecdotal, but I think depending on the restrictions and the case load as the summer goes on a lot of those hotel reservations could be cancelled. Flights may also be an issue. I booked my flight in March with Southwest but there’s no guarantee they don’t cancel my flight.

Unlike post 9/11 Disney may actually be OK with less crowds at first. They may not discount because they don’t want huge crowds and the constant bad press. You can’t turn on the TV today without seeing video or pictures of beaches that were re-opened. A huge crowd at the front gate of MK would be even more sensational for the news media.

That is really one of the larger concerns I think they have is entry to the park. Will they have Boarding Groups with times in which you can enter the park with 6 ft spaced queues? So that they don't have thousands coming in at one time.

 

[GoofGoof]

everyone is assuming fans being there, most of the nfls plans do not involve fans in attendance.
even though they make millions (and green bay makes almost all of their money from fans), even if you lose the ticket prices, beer, food, merchandise, programs, hotels and restaurants, the Tv contracts, keeping the fandom up (merchandise sales), would be well worth it. NBA, MLB, and NFL can survive with no fans (for a year) and playing to empty stadiums. This cuts down on a lot of the issues, you just have to quarantine players or test them more (easier for nba, then mlb, hardest for football)

I had heard NBA, NHL and MLB had various plans involving playing games with no fans. I haven’t seen anywhere that the NFL was considering that. The article I posted said they had many alternative plans for when the season would start, eliminating weeks and moving the super bowl back but none of those plans involved playing without fans. I’m not saying they aren’t considering it, but I haven’t seen that reported anywhere.

 

[GoofGoof]

That is really one of the larger concerns I think they have is entry to the park. Will they have Boarding Groups with times in which you can enter the park with 6 ft spaced queues? So that they don't have thousands coming in at one time.

If they really do boarding groups at least for the big rides and they work anything like the BGs for Rise then almost everyone will be arriving at open or they won’t get any boarding groups for the day. It’s definitely a concern. Maybe they do the equivalent of EMHs every day where resort guests go in earlier, then AP holders not staying on property, then general ticket holders. That at least spreads the crowds a little.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I had heard NBA, NHL and MLB had various plans involving playing games with no fans. I haven’t seen anywhere that the NFL was considering that. The article I posted said they had many alternative plans for when the season would start, eliminating weeks and moving the super bowl back but none of those plans involved playing without fans. I’m not saying they aren’t considering it, but I haven’t seen that reported anywhere.

On the bright side -if they did that -being a Dolphin fan - at least we won't be outnumbered at home games anymore.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

A lot of people have financial issues. Some won't be called back to work. Others won't be able get time off. Some employees some industries won't have vacations the rest if the year.
Cancellation terms are lenient. I think well see a lot of cancellations. Maybe even more depending on the changes Disney makes.

My wife is getting cancellations for September and one last night for October. Seems like many families are just giving up on this year and waiting until next. Guess having no idea what anything will look like, just saving the money and wait and see.

 

[GoofGoof]

My wife is getting cancellations for September and one last night for October. Seems like many families are just giving up on this year and waiting until next. Guess having no idea what anything will look like, just saving the money and wait and see.

Aside from the uncertainty with the disease and safety, the money factor is huge too. If people own a business or work somewhere that was impacted they may not have the money to fork over. Others may decide that now isn‘t a good time to go into credit card debt for a vacation.

 

[Parker in NYC]

What if these temperature and what-not measures are put into place. Will people be willing to risk the dough to visit only to be told they can't enter the parks? Think of how many "late" FP+ arrivals are let through. Think of how many "I spent $5,000 on this trip and now I can't get in? I'll sue!" are inevitable.

Or is it just me?

 

[DCBaker]

Shanghai testing fireworks today - getting closer to opening?

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I can tell you from personal experience that there are no steep discounts for July. I paid over $200 per night for a room at the Pop. The cast member I spoke with said that he had been with the company for over 20 years and there has been, as far as he could tell, little to no drop in reservations. He said that this was nothing like post 911 where the reservations dropped significantly.

My opinion is that will not see any discounts except the usual. They haven't even updated the annual pass discounts past July 9th. I can also tell you that DVC availability looks about normal for the summer. I kind of thought that if they were planning on reducing theme park capacity that they would stop taking hotel reservations.

I suspect though, in this case, many people moved reservations, with the idea they could cancel them.

 

[hopemax]

I have been seeing people say that when the eventually do open up, there will be pretty steep discounts on rooms and maybe even tickets. @lentesta have you heard anything in this regard? What have they done in the past during recessions, etc.? understanding that this is a totally unique situation.

If WDW re-opens while, we are still managing the health crisis, I don't expect discounts. I don't see WDW wanting to encourage interstate travel, air travel, etc. They will likely make do with whatever natural volume of customers is willing to take on that risk. However, once we are past the crisis, either by herd immunity, vaccine, or the virus mutating itself out of existence. When there is no longer any good reason for people not to travel, that's when I expect to see the discounts. So discounts in 2023, not in 2020-first half of 2021.

In the past, the discounts seemed more tied to packages, while a la carte prices were just held at the levels they were the year before. So even then, I don't expect it to seem "cheap."

 

[wdisney9000]

We see that some restaurants are not opening because they deem it irresponsible even while their neighbors have their doors wide open. So yes different businesses can look at the same situation and come to the conclusion that they shouldn't open.

Watching the local news here in Atlanta, it seems they keep interviewing the same 3 or 4 business who feel it's "irresponsible" to open. A hair salon, a gym owner and a small restaurant owner. They spoke with the same owners there's days in a row and they repeated the same narrative each day.

I spoke with a few restaurant owners where I live (north of Atlanta), who are not opening right away, but they gave me a different (and much more valid) reason. They said they simply wanted to wait another week or two to allow the initial anxiety of people to calm down. Anxiety created by the news and social media of promoting far more stories of "danger" from businesses opening, lest they face backlash from yoga fueled soccer moms (credit that term to PhotoDave) on Facebook for being "irresponsible".

and please note that I am in no way saying that there aren't business owners who want to remain closed for their own reasons. I'm sure there are many. But it's clearly evident watching the news that they are indeed pushing an extremely selective viewpoint on this issue.

 

[Patcheslee]

Aside from the uncertainty with the disease and safety, the money factor is huge too. If people own a business or work somewhere that was impacted they may not have the money to fork over. Others may decide that now isn‘t a good time to go into credit card debt for a vacation.

We're on hold for even a non-Disney July vacation. It has already been paid but it will definitely come down to if DD11 still wants to go, if I have vacation time left, and if I'll be allowed to vacation come July. It's not worth canceling right now just because the room view was hard to get even in January NOT a Disney resort.
DD is old enough to understand why people are being made to stay home and wearing masks in public. The 1 time she's been out her anxiety went up because hearing what we should do and actually seeing people wearing masks is a bit of a reality check I don't think she was expecting.

 

[DCBaker]

The Prime Minister of France has banned all sporting events until September.

"Big sporting events will not be able to take place before September. The 2019-20 season, notably for football, will not be able to resume”

Ligue 1 season canceled; France bans sporting events

Prime Minister of France, Edouard Philippe, banned all sporting events and announced that the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 campaigns will not resume.

soccer.nbcsports.com