We checked in on March 6th and ended up leaving a few days early on March 20th. The first week was relatively normal but by March 12th, Disney has announced they were shutting down the parks on Sunday. The resorts were staying open with Disney Springs. We still enjoyed our trip until St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. With NO PRIOR WARNING at all, we woke up to a letter under the door that amenities would be closed except for breakfast that morning at one of the restaurants and the merchandise store inside the Main Building.
What was particularly ridiculous was they locked the paths to walk around the resort from the pool areas. So, you couldn’t go from building 5 to building 4 via around the lake via the walkway. Instead you had to exit the front of the buildings.
Most people were social distancing. In fact, we setup in the area where the stage is and let kids get up and sing/dance. Most if not all were making an effort to stay 10 ft away from each other. Vistana (which we also own) down the street still had their pools open.
At the time we left, Publix was still delivering groceries to your room. Lots of people were leaving early including us. We did not ask for a refund as we only left a couple of days early. But, I heard from others they were returning some points.
Other than the beautiful weather, with the pools closed there just wasn’t much to do. By that time Disney Springs was also announcing plans to shut down all Disney owned restaurants/stores.
I will also tell you that it was more than a little frustrating to see they still were bringing people in for sales tours. I mean shutting down the amenities but sales tours were still going on. At least Disney gave their customers a few days notice. Bonnet did not. They shoved a letter under our door around 5 am to say everything had been shut down effective immediately
I did not find it crowded with people. In fact , we go to Bonnet often and I’ve never ever seen it like that. On the Sunday prior to leaving, I asked what the occupancy rate was and was told the hotel was at 15% and the resort was at 70%. I commented to many it did not seem like 70%. I would say by March 19, the occupancy rate looked like 25% or lower at the resort.
Building 5 no longer was having employees in the checkin area by March 16. But the sales people were still working tours. There were several restaurants in the immediate area still open for inside dining (not at Bonnet). But you had to be seated 10ft from the table on the side of you.
Walmart on Vineland was wiping down baskets as you entered. It also was completely dead considering it’s the busiest Walmart in the country.
One thing that continues to bother me is why don’t you have the big Coronavirus outbreaks from people who had been to Disney? I’m from New Orleans originally and can tell you most are blaming the huge numbers on Mardi Gras. So, why when we were all enclosed in tight areas at Disney do you not see huge stories of people infected who had been at Disney? I mean I was drowning my young children in hand sanitizer and Disney had done a great job of leaving portable hand washing stations out. But no one I saw were wearing face mask. So, if the virus is as contagious as people are saying, I feel like we should be huge stories of “oh they were at Disney during the spreading time”. But you aren’t seeing it? Why?
Other than the guy from CA who died (which appears he brought the virus to Disney World), there doesn’t appear to be any stories related to Coronavirus/Disney and spread?
I would love to hear why any of you think that is?