Walt Disney World Park Hours cut starting September 8 2020

[ImperfectPixie]

Yes sure everyone needs to keep wearing the mask as needed, and you are correct Disney will not relax anytime soon. I do like the movement as things improvement to no longer mandate but recommend.

We've seen what "recommendations" do. Mandates are what works.

 

[legwand77]

We've seen what "recommendations" do. Mandates are what works.

disagree but no point in arguing that for the 100th time

 

[JohnD]

Smart planning. One of the only complaints I have read about the re-open parks is some people were saying it’s difficult to find an open table at their resorts for a table service meal without an ADR. People were assuming since the crowds are so limited that dining wouldn‘t be an issue but like you said, more people eating at the resorts and also limited restaurant capacity. Good idea to book ahead. I really like Kona Cafe. It usually plays second fiddle to OHana but I prefer it. Never been to the Edison but it looks cool.

I switched up some things. The Kona Cafe dinner menu is limited (I know - COVID). However, there are still skillets on the menu at Wilderness Cafe which sounded awesome. I switched to there. I also added Ale & Compass for breakfast on one my days which the Brickers highly recommend.

 

[JohnD]

I was wondering about that for my trip next month. Are we supposed to wear the stupid mask in our cars?

Sorry, getting off-topic.

No. Without arguing policy or rules, if it's just you or your immediate family there is no reason to wear a mask in the car. If you hop in the car, maybe with someone you know, and haven't been around them in a while, it wouldn't hurt to wear the mask as a courtesy.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Getting back to the topic at hand (again there is another thread for COVID discussion), there is one silver lining to early park closures: you could dine at resort or DS restaurants you always wanted to try but the lure of staying in the parks in the evening kept you from doing it. My 60 days just opened up today. I made an ADR at Kona after MK closes, Sanaa after AK closes, and on my second day at HS, my plans are to spend the evening in DS where I have an ADR for The Edison.

Not sure if it’s just a mistake or not, but it looks like they are still taking reservations for in park dining for times after the Park is closed. It’s so great to exit the restaurant into an empty park; like the park remained open just for you.

 

[JohnD]

Not sure if it’s just a mistake or not, but it looks like they are still taking reservations for in park dining for times after the Park is closed. It’s so great to exit the restaurant into an empty park; like the park remained open just for you.

I don't think it's a mistake at all. I got an ADR for 7:15 for 50s Prime Time with a 7pm close of HS. That's in Echo Lake. All the attractions are outside that hub area. Easy to rope off all the access points and keep guests in the hub area for dining.

 

[Lilofan]

I don't think it's a mistake at all. I got an ADR for 7:15 for 50s Prime Time with a 7pm close of HS. That's in Echo Lake. All the attractions are outside that hub area. Easy to rope off all the access points and keep guests in the hub area for dining.

If you have your own car, that's good. If you have a lonely walk to the bus stops, you might want to check if the buses are still running later in the night.

 

[GoofGoof]

For those that don’t follow the other thread Universal has extended their resort outage of 4 resorts through the rest of 2020. They are now down to just 3 resorts open (Hard Rock, Cabana Bay and Royal Pacific) and less than half of their available rooms. Not a great sign for people hoping for a quicker recovery in the fall. At least Universal doesn’t appear to be confident that an increase in demand is coming this year Tough times ahead for the workers involved.

 

[JohnD]

If you have your own car, that's good. If you have a lonely walk to the bus stops, you might want to check if the buses are still running later in the night.

Or Skyliner. I'm staying at Pop but can't find open/close times for it. However, driving to HS has its own entrance right from Victory Way. It's the return that is tricky. Don't get in the wrong lane on the way out or you'll find yourself going east on Osceola Parkway past I-4 and have to make a U-Turn. You have to go right from HS instead. And keep making three rights around the park until you get back to Victory Way.

 

[JohnD]

Or Skyliner. I'm staying at Pop but can't find open/close times for it. However, driving to HS has its own entrance right from Victory Way. It's the return that is tricky. Don't get in the wrong lane on the way out or you'll find yourself going east on Osceola Parkway past I-4 and have to make a U-Turn. You have to go right from HS instead. And keep making three rights around the park until you get back to Victory Way.

Answer to my own question about Skyliner:

Hi, I was wondering what times the sky liner ... | planDisney

The Disney Skyliner operating hours fluctuate with theme park hours, generally beginning 30 minutes to an hour prior to park opening, and ending approximately...

plandisney.disney.go.com

The Disney Skyliner operating hours fluctuate with theme park hours, generally beginning 30 minutes to an hour prior to park opening, and ending approximately 90 minutes after park close. Hours may change week to week or even day by day, and the individual lines may have different operating hours. For example, last week the line to Disney's Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts was operating from 9:00 am to 10:30 pm, Disney's Hollywood Studios line from 9:00 am to 9:30 pm, and the EPCOT International Gateway line from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. You can check with the Front Desk at your hotel for current operating hours during your visit, or check the signs at the Skyliner stations.​

 

[JoeCamel]

Answer to my own question about Skyliner:

Hi, I was wondering what times the sky liner ... | planDisney

The Disney Skyliner operating hours fluctuate with theme park hours, generally beginning 30 minutes to an hour prior to park opening, and ending approximately...

plandisney.disney.go.com

The Disney Skyliner operating hours fluctuate with theme park hours, generally beginning 30 minutes to an hour prior to park opening, and ending approximately 90 minutes after park close. Hours may change week to week or even day by day, and the individual lines may have different operating hours. For example, last week the line to Disney's Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts was operating from 9:00 am to 10:30 pm, Disney's Hollywood Studios line from 9:00 am to 9:30 pm, and the EPCOT International Gateway line from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. You can check with the Front Desk at your hotel for current operating hours during your visit, or check the signs at the Skyliner stations.​

Maybe you should get an ECV in case you need to go overland

 

[Lilofan]

Maybe you should get an ECV in case you need to go overland

If you try to remove a shopping cart at a local Wal Mart the cart wheels lock out if the cart crosses into the other store parking lot. ECV does the same?

 

[HauntedPirate]

I switched up some things. The Kona Cafe dinner menu is limited (I know - COVID). However, there are still skillets on the menu at Wilderness Cafe which sounded awesome. I switched to there. I also added Ale & Compass for breakfast on one my days which the Brickers highly recommend.

The breakfast skillets are good. Not great, but worth it from what I was told. I hear the biscuits in particular are quite yummy.

 

[JoeCamel]

If you try to remove a shopping cart at a local Wal Mart the cart wheels lock out if the cart crosses into the other store parking lot. ECV does the same?

I don't think they geofence an ECV. Maybe a lojack type device but maybe nothing.

 

[BlackCauldron]

For those that don’t follow the other thread Universal has extended their resort outage of 4 resorts through the rest of 2020. They are now down to just 3 resorts open (Hard Rock, Cabana Bay and Royal Pacific) and less than half of their available rooms. Not a great sign for people hoping for a quicker recovery in the fall. At least Universal doesn’t appear to be confident that an increase in demand is coming this year Tough times ahead for the workers involved.

I had a feeling at least Portofino wasn't going to open this year. Supposed to stay there in September. Still haven't been contacted by Universal to tell me where they are moving me to. I suspect it will be Hard Rock. Wonder if they will refund me the different (ha - fat chance).

 

[JoeCamel]

I had a feeling at least Portofino wasn't going to open this year. Supposed to stay there in September. Still haven't been contacted by Universal to tell me where they are moving me to. I suspect it will be Hard Rock. Wonder if they will refund me the different (ha - fat chance).

I would contact them and firm it up. You may realize significant savings and Hard Rock is a nice place to stay. If I had a choice I would see if RPR was in play, last I heard they only have one tower occupied right now. Just my preference

 

[GoofGoof]

I had a feeling at least Portofino wasn't going to open this year. Supposed to stay there in September. Still haven't been contacted by Universal to tell me where they are moving me to. I suspect it will be Hard Rock. Wonder if they will refund me the different (ha - fat chance).

If Hard Rock is cheaper I would expect a refund. For anyone getting moved to a more expensive resort they should get a free upgrade. That’s the way it should work anyway.

 

[BlackCauldron]

If Hard Rock is cheaper I would expect a refund. For anyone getting moved to a more expensive resort they should get a free upgrade. That’s the way it should work anyway.

I would contact them and firm it up. You may realize significant savings and Hard Rock is a nice place to stay. If I had a choice I would see if RPR was in play, last I heard they only have one tower occupied right now. Just my preference

That's my thinking as well. We were staying club level at Portofino, so moving us anywhere else is a cost downgrade. I suppose I will need to call to see what's up. My preference is for RPR, but they seem to always book up the fastest and didn't have an availability when we booked pre-covid. I suspect that is a bit different now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

On some threads, the mods have been extremely biased in their enforcement. So the "we're all gonna die" crowd has been emboldened.

What are we having? I’ll buy you another...

No , not now, and definitely not in a month. Cities in Florida are already beginning to somewhat relax the mask rules

Well they have no clue...so who wants to volunteer to follow them?
(You first)

disagree but no point in arguing that for the 100th time

But you’re wrong...I explained this upthread and your reading comprehension failed you.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

No. Without arguing policy or rules, if it's just you or your immediate family there is no reason to wear a mask in the car. If you hop in the car, maybe with someone you know, and haven't been around them in a while, it wouldn't hurt to wear the mask as a courtesy.

Except perhaps when approaching the toll booth to pay/have your band/card scanned at the parks, or perhaps in some cases at the resorts.

At least, I gather WDW still charges for parking and/or requires a band scan (or card scan) to park.