News Walt Disney World theme parks increase capacity but see longer waits and less physical distancing

[Chi84]

My wife and I did a 4 day trip without the kids (sorry kids!!) in June 2019. Booked it only a few weeks ahead of time. Stayed at Coronado Springs for the first time and loved it. Was able to secure a bunch of ADRs at favorite places and also new ones we wanted to try. Rolling FastPasses were available pretty easily as well after the first 3. I think we may have only missed out on 1 or 2 attractions we wanted to do but it didn’t matter. It was a great last minute trip.

We went to Toledo on our last trip and loved it! Gran Destino Tower is gorgeous - the Dahlia Lounge is just beautiful.

 

[GoofGoof]

Rope drop seems to be key to a successful trip. Just like the old days. I’ve never tried MaxPass so I can’t really comment on it, but it sounds better than fast pass plus.

MaxPass worked pretty well. I’m not sure it was worth the extra money but since we were at DLR in the summer I figured i‘d get it. It’s really pretty cheap for an AP holder to add. The best part is not having to go to the physical fast pass machines and just reserving on the app. It’s hard to say if it would work at WDW because there are no Flight of Passage type attractions with 3 hour waits at DLR. They didn’t have it up and running for Smuggler’s Run and RoTR wasn’t open yet.

 

[Miss Bella]

MaxPass worked pretty well. I’m not sure it was worth the extra money but since we were at DLR in the summer I figured i‘d get it. It’s really pretty cheap for an AP holder to add. The best part is not having to go to the physical fast pass machines and just reserving on the app. It’s hard to say if it would work at WDW because there are no Flight of Passage type attractions with 3 hour waits at DLR. They didn’t have it up and running for Smuggler’s Run and RoTR wasn’t open yet.

I don't think there would be three hour waits without fast passes.

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't think there would be three hour waits without fast passes.

There probably wouldn’t, but max pass is still fast pass so unless they limit the availability its an issue. I think Universal limits how many express passes they issue in a day. That’s an option.

 

[Miss Bella]

I used to believe all the comments about not being able to have an enjoyable Disney vacation without planning everything months in advance - until we did a quick turnaround trip several years ago. We did our usual early October trip with ADRs 6 months in advance, 60-day FP+, etc.

Then, when we got back we did something wild and crazy - booked another trip for three weeks later. I looked for a few FP+ for our favorite rides and got them, no issue. Same with Cali Grill brunch (used touringplans), which people insisted couldn't be done last minute. The rest of our trip was FP+ on the fly, with additional ones after we used the first three. We were able to get day before or same-day reservations for every place we wanted to eat (caveat: we don't do CRT, Chef Mickey's or BOG). I probably wouldn't do this when we go with our family of 7, but it was great for just two of us.

I've never planned a Disney trip or cruise months in advance. I'm more of a 1 month to 2 months out type person even our Europe trips were not planned well in advance. The one time I did plan everything months in advance was this year. That was for our European cruise and we all know how that went.
I've read for Disneyland in Tokyo you need to book as soon as they open up reservations at six months out or you'll be out of luck. Of course that was pre-covid. I'm not sure if demand will be like that next year. I'm guessing not.

 

[Miss Bella]

There probably wouldn’t, but max pass is still fast pass so unless they limit the availability its an issue. I think Universal limits how many express passes they issue in a day. That’s an option.

They need to do something to make the stand-by lines more reasonable. I don't know what the answer is, but 60 minute wait for Winnie the pooh or peter pan is ridiculous. A three hour wait for any ride is beyond ridiculous.

 

[dreday3]

I hear Disboards is a great site for planning. Most of them live in a pixie bubble and they never talk about the outside world.

Well, you sure are on it enough!

 

[dreday3]

It’s a difference in mission or philosophy. That board allows only discussions about Disney - no politics or “outside world” discussion is allowed because it’s irrelevant to their purpose. It looks like posters live in the Disney bubble because other topics are not appropriate there.

New threads are started all the time over there. It’s difficult to have a thread go on for months because it goes off topic.

The just back and here now thread is a really good thread to read if your planning a trip. It stays on point and has a lot of good info.

Rope drop seems to be key to a successful trip. Just like the old days. I’ve never tried MaxPass so I can’t really comment on it, but it sounds better than fast pass plus.

I find the theme parks/attractions board, resorts board and restaurant boards full of a great information when it comes down to planning.

This board seems more "adult" in the way that different types of discussions are allowed to take place.

Both sites serve a purpose.

 

[Chi84]

I find the theme parks/attractions board, resorts board and restaurant boards full of a great information when it comes down to planning.

This board seems more "adult" in the way that different types of discussions are allowed to take place.

Both sites serve a purpose.

The restaurant board’s moderator there is hilarious! She doesn’t believe any Disney restaurant should have a dress code over and above what she calls her “personal” code: “don’t stink.” She calls any contrary opinions rude and will close a thread if people recommend following Disney’s own expressly-stated dress codes.

 

[dreday3]

The restaurant board’s moderator there is hilarious! She doesn’t believe any Disney restaurant should have a dress code over and above what she calls her “personal” code: “don’t stink.” She calls any contrary opinions rude and will close a thread if people recommend following Disney’s own expressly-stated dress codes.

Oh! I wasn't on one of those threads! I appreciate the actual posters though. I've gotten some good restaurant reviews/recs.

 

[ParentsOf4]

This forum is definitely slanted to the negative, but mainly by people that haven’t gone to WDW this year. I appreciate good and bad reviews from people that have actually experienced it.

Yup the slant is very obvious, the people that have not been to WDW are the most negative it always seems.

Well then, I must be the most positive since I just finished my fourth onsite stay since the July reopening!

July 2020:

September 2020:

November 2020:

December 2020:

 

[GoofGoof]

They need to do something to make the stand-by lines more reasonable. I don't know what the answer is, but 60 minute wait for Winnie the pooh or peter pan is ridiculous. A three hour wait for any ride is beyond ridiculous.

I‘ve never waited 3 hours for a ride anywhere and I wouldn’t wait an hour for Pooh or Pan. At DLR those rides don’t even have maxpass. I used it for Matterhorn, the mountains and Indy at DL. Nothing else had more than a 20 min wait. We did wait around 45 mins for Smuggler’s Run but that was brand new and wasn’t on FP. I didn’t mind waiting because I wanted time to take in the queue area. I’ve been to the Disney parks enough to not have to do any ride so if the wait is really too long I will just skip.

 

[Jrb1979]

Well, you sure are on it enough!

Yes I am it enough. I have cut back my posting a lot. I mainly stick to the community boards now. Most of the stuff thats talked about right now on the main boards don't interest me. I like discussing new attractions and behind the scenes stuff.

 

[Miss Bella]

That hasn’t been my experience at all. It’s just that they stop threads when they come down to the same handful of people saying the same thing over and over. It’s not necessary for Disney planning to hear the same thing ad nauseam, and it cuts down on arguing. That said, I prefer the posters here and the questions posed and topics discussed are more in line with my interests.

Some of the moderators on the Dis are much too intrusive and will cut off opinions that don’t comport with their own, whether positive or negative. I prefer a site with lighter moderation even though there are some downsides in terms of repetition and arguing.

If a thread goes on for so long that anyone with a dissenting viewpoint is getting bullied by the mob it should be closed down. The Corona virus thread is an echo chamber. Anyone that opposes them has given up.

 

[giantgolfer]

If a thread goes on for so long that anyone with a dissenting viewpoint is getting bullied by the mob it should be closed down. The Corona virus thread is an echo chamber. Anyone that opposes them has given up.

Please make it stop. Your victim cards are exhausting. Use the ignore feature if you can’t handle the debate.

 

[Miss Bella]

Please make it stop. Your victim cards are exhausting. Use the ignore feature if you can’t handle the debate.

I rarely post over there anyway. Its the same posts day after day. You might take your own advice and use the ignore feature if my posts trigger you.

 

[giantgolfer]

I rarely post over there anyway. Its the same posts day after day. You might take your own advice and use the ignore feature if my posts trigger you.

I’m a talker. I like to chat. No thanks.

 

[giantgolfer]

We went to Toledo on our last trip and loved it! Gran Destino Tower is gorgeous - the Dahlia Lounge is just beautiful.

Had nightcaps up there outside in January 2 nights in a row. Incredibly comfortable up there.

 

[Miss Bella]

I’m a talker. I like to chat. No thanks.

Interesting that wasn’t my impression.

 

[giantgolfer]

Interesting that wasn’t my impression.

I’m not really a giant golfer either. I’m only 5’9”.