Long lines, lots of kids, and plenty to touch: How does Disney reopen its parks?

[elaine]

about to bag it myself! I have a DVC reservation, tickets, and park reservations for mid-Aug., but I'm planning on canceling in 2 weeks. I'll likely lose my 150 DVC points that expire end of Nov., as I have college kids on who get no breaks in the Fall. I can put points into RCI, yippee. Or maybe I'll try renting for my annual fee costs. I'm really hoping that WDW pushes back opening for the safety of Orlando. With NY NJ CT having a quarantine and the southern states having Covid spikes, it's a hot mess for July/Aug-literally.

 

[blondietink]

Seems to me like Disney is giving DVC members the short shift. We do not have any reservations currently, but as DVC, we usually don't get our tickets until close to 60 days out so we can make FP reservations. Plus, they are letting non-DVC people rent at the resorts, which will cut into DVC inventory. I can't believe that Disney holds much inventory for cash sales at DVC resorts. I just wonder what will be available for DVC at 11 months/7 months out with all of the cash reservations they are allowing. Plus, they aren't allowing any new ticket sales, so if you have a reservation for DVC or hotel and don't have tickets, you are out of luck. For the current problem, a lot of people are reporting that for reservations in July, people are automatically getting upgraded into DVC resorts from value and moderates due to DVC being the only thing open. I don't know, I just don't like what is going on with DVC.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Seems to me like Disney is giving DVC members the short shift. We do not have any reservations currently, but as DVC, we usually don't get our tickets until close to 60 days out so we can make FP reservations. Plus, they are letting non-DVC people rent at the resorts, which will cut into DVC inventory. I can't believe that Disney holds much inventory for cash sales at DVC resorts. I just wonder what will be available for DVC at 11 months/7 months out with all of the cash reservations they are allowing. Plus, they aren't allowing any new ticket sales, so if you have a reservation for DVC or hotel and don't have tickets, you are out of luck. For the current problem, a lot of people are reporting that for reservations in July, people are automatically getting upgraded into DVC resorts from value and moderates due to DVC being the only thing open. I don't know, I just don't like what is going on with DVC.

Considering how wide open the DVC resorts are for the next 60 days, I think Disney has a surfeit of breakage inventory to book cash guests. For the later dates, Disney has access not only to their own points (the 2% they’re required by law to own, plus points returned via foreclosure and exercise of ROFR) but to the unusually large number of points deposited to RCI by members in recent months. And as the values and moderates reopen over the next few months on the schedule Disney published, cash guests with reservations during that time period are being moved to similar-level resorts - All Stars to Pop, Coronado Springs to Port Orleans, etc. - not to DVC.

I have seen reports of owners having difficulty booking, but given the number of owners who report canceling 2020 reservations to rebook in 2021, I’m not surprised about that either. I think that with the number of points returned to the system for owners who lost reservations during the closure and the number of owners who don’t want to return to WDW until 2021 or later, it will be important to book at the opening of the 11 month window for a couple of years.

We’re in the same boat as far as tickets and park passes for our big family trip in December. DD and DSiL have hoppers purchased early; DH and I have Gold passes that are blocked out for our dates and need to be upgraded; and DS and DDiL don’t have any tickets yet. So no park passes for us until they let us buy tickets, and I’m disappointed that it seems they’ll let people without resort reservations but with tickets make park pass reservations before us.

 

[dioxide45]

but to the unusually large number of points deposited to RCI by members in recent months.

Doesn't DVC have to offer up inventory to RCI for those deposited points. RCI can't just give their members something from inventory without something in return going back in.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Doesn't DVC have to offer up inventory to RCI for those deposited points. RCI can't just give their members something from inventory without something in return going back in.

Yes, that’s right, but I have no idea what restrictions Disney has on giving villas to RCI. Once deposited to RCI, DVC points are good for two years, so maybe Disney has two years to give RCI a villa for those points? Based on the DVC exchanges I’ve seen offered via RCI, it seems Disney has a certain amount of flexibility in what it deposits to RCI and when. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a way for Disney to stretch out availability - leaving more for DVC owners in the coming months/years.

 

[elaine]

College is starting back earlier. Will rent at cost or deposit with RCI. So no big WDW hurrah in Aug. for us!

 

[frank808]

This is island of adventure a couple minutes ago. Everyone wearing facemasks unless eating or drinking. Universal employees enforcing social distancing and wearing of face masks.

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[bbodb1]

Wow.

Never thought I'd see these streets so open while the park was open.

 

[frank808]

Leaving Universal studios to go back to Hard Rock. It is hot and HUMID today...back to the pool!

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[bendadin]

We just went to Dollywood yesterday, wearing masks, social distancing, etc.

It. Was. Miserable.

I made a reservation for the day. Temp check, masks worn correctly, and mandatory hand sanitizer. Rows on the tram were blocked off. Tables in restaurants are blocked off for social distancing. They only loaded rides skipping every other row. When the passengers decorated, they sanitized the ride and sent it out empty to dry. I think in five hours the kids went on five rides. All shows are cancelled hence virtually impossible to find an air conditioned respite. There were people whose job it was to tell people to wear their masks correctly. Somewhere between 50-75% looked to be in compliance.

It was SO DIFFICULT.

I am going to retroactively cancel my annual passes. Tennessee was ridiculous. I can't even fathom how this will play out in Florida.

 

[AnnaS]

Well - now with the EO still in place until September 5, my son is not waiting anymore and just asked me to cancel his reservation. We were both going end of October. We each have our own studios booked. If it gets extended again y son and dil can't quarantine two weeks when they come back. One less thing to stress over.

Not sure if I should rent it, cancel it or deposit into RCI. I need to call MS - not looking forward to being on hold for hours. I would hate to call now and then cancel myself in a week or so only to be on hold again. This has become work. Decisions, decisions.

 

[sfwilshire]

We just went to Dollywood yesterday, wearing masks, social distancing, etc.

It. Was. Miserable.

I made a reservation for the day. Temp check, masks worn correctly, and mandatory hand sanitizer. Rows on the tram were blocked off. Tables in restaurants are blocked off for social distancing. They only loaded rides skipping every other row. When the passengers decorated, they sanitized the ride and sent it out empty to dry. I think in five hours the kids went on five rides. All shows are cancelled hence virtually impossible to find an air conditioned respite. There were people whose job it was to tell people to wear their masks correctly. Somewhere between 50-75% looked to be in compliance.

It was SO DIFFICULT.

I am going to retroactively cancel my annual passes. Tennessee was ridiculous. I can't even fathom how this will play out in Florida.

We've been Dollywood season pass holders for decades, but we never visit the park in the heat of the summer. Even without masks and other COVID alterations, it's too darn hot for me. I was fortunate that I hadn't purchased our passes for this year. If things are back to normal, we'll go back for Christmas. My extended family already had passes, but I think they plan to cancel them for this year and try again next year.

Sheila

 

[Cornell]

From Fujiyama to Tokyo DisneySea’s Tower of Terror, Japan’s campaign against the coronavirus is targeting thrill-seekers who might expel a burst of virus-carrying droplets with a mid-ride utterance. Enjoy the ride, say theme-park operators—just don’t let your voice show it.

“Please scream inside your heart.”

Reopened Theme Parks Ban Screaming on Roller Coasters. Riders Are Howling.

Japan’s amusement parks ask visitors to suppress their screams to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, but it isn’t always easy. ‘That’s the idea of a roller coaster—you scream.’

www.wsj.com

 

[jmhpsu93]

From Fujiyama to Tokyo DisneySea’s Tower of Terror, Japan’s campaign against the coronavirus is targeting thrill-seekers who might expel a burst of virus-carrying droplets with a mid-ride utterance. Enjoy the ride, say theme-park operators—just don’t let your voice show it.

“Please scream inside your heart.”

Reopened Theme Parks Ban Screaming on Roller Coasters. Riders Are Howling.

Japan’s amusement parks ask visitors to suppress their screams to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, but it isn’t always easy. ‘That’s the idea of a roller coaster—you scream.’

www.wsj.com

That's hilarious. The last time I rode The Hulk roller coaster at Universal I screamed like my 17 YO daughter at a Harry Styles concert.

 

[bbodb1]

That's hilarious. The last time I rode The Hulk roller coaster at Universal I screamed like my 17 YO daughter at a Harry Styles concert.

The first time you get to ride that coaster is a complete trip - you don't really know what is coming until you experience it. You can see it happening to people in line in front of you, but the first time you feel that takeoff is memorable (to say the least).

 

[pedro47]

Frank808, it must be hot and humid in Florida. I have never seen the amusement park not crowded. Thanks for the photos.

 

[CPNY]

Frank808, it must be hot and humid in Florida. I have never seen the amusement park not crowded. Thanks for the photos.

some days better than others. But mostly EMPTY!! I don’t want to leave.

 

[frank808]

Frank808, it must be hot and humid in Florida. I have never seen the amusement park not crowded. Thanks for the photos.

Definitely hot and humid but leaving by 1pm sure helped. After 2 weeks at Lakeshore we moved to Hard Rock for 3 nights. It was good to get in early and ride Hagrids a few times. Hit Hulk, Kong, Doom, Spider man and some water rides
on the way out before noon.

Didnt even need express pass those 4 days we where on site. Slowest I have ever been to Universal or Islands of Adventure in 20 years.

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[Monykalyn]

That's hilarious. The last time I rode The Hulk roller coaster at Universal I screamed like my 17 YO daughter at a Harry Styles concert.

We’ll be careful screaming on Hulk now with a mask! I love Hulk but only did it once when we were there in June- only ride I felt the mask could be dangerous as it REALLY is pushed against your face. I’m not claustrophobic in any way but I almost passed out from feeling like I couldn’t breathe.
And Japan- can’t have normal social interaction, park looks like an OR due to masks, can’t get near anyone else and now can’t even express enjoyment verbally Sounds oh so fun to be at Disney! Why bother opening?

 

[elaine]

friends went to AK and said rides even FOP were minimal wait.