The Dawn of a Temporary Disney Era
The changes and health safety protocol implemented during phased reopening of Walt Disney World’s parks and resorts–no nighttime spectaculars, parades, or meet & greets, reduced hours, advance reservation system for attendance, and more–will transform the guest experience this summer and beyond. You could even say it’s the dawn of a new Disney era.
We wouldn’t say that, but you could. For us, it feels more like the “dawn of a temporary abnormal season at Walt Disney World that is a necessary prerequisite to resuming a permanent sense of normalcy.” But that doesn’t roll off the tongue or evoke positive feelings of nostalgia quite the same way as “dawn of a new Disney era.”
There’s a lot of uncertainty on the near-term horizon at Walt Disney World. Fans have many questions to which they want answers and there’s a lot of apprehension about what the future holds for the parks. In thinking about this, I wanted to contextualize what lies ahead with a look back at another ‘era’ in Walt Disney World history. As it turns out, I didn’t have to look too far…
Last spring, Walt Disney World surprised everyone with the August 29 opening date of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. At the time, it was widely believed that the land would open in late fall (because Disney said so!), with rumors pointing to a December debut in time for the holiday season.
Many diehard Walt Disney World fans who feared a “crowdpocalypse” situation upon the debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge had already booked fall vacations to experience the calm before the storm. Some had taken advantage of the Free Dining promo and had little choice in modifying their travel dates. A lot of fans were worried about being denied access to the parks because capacity would be limited and by lottery. The chorus of comments we received was almost exclusively complaints. Over 95% of readers were unhappy with this. Many threatened to cancel their trips, and a lot actually followed through on that.
Sound familiar?
For our part, we encouraged optimism back then. We advised guests that school schedules and weather were limiting factors on demand for early fall, and that crowds likely wouldn’t be nearly as bad as everyone feared. Our revised Walt Disney World crowd calendar (released well before the land opened at Disneyland or Walt Disney World) ranked September as the best month to visit for the remainder of the year.
When Extra, Extra Magic Hours were subsequently announced, we gushed about this offering. Not only would it be a fun opportunity to be in the parks before sunrise, but it was likely to feature low attendance because the vast majority of guests cannot or will not get up that early on vacation.
When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened and Extra, Extra Magic Hours debuted to some of the lowest crowds at Walt Disney World in years, we repeatedly encouraged readers to take a last-minute trip before the offering ended if at all possible. We booked several last-minute DVC nights to take full advantage.
To be clear and transparent (lest it seems like I’m straining a shoulder patting myself on the back), I’ve gotten a lot of predictions wrong over the years, including some with the reopening already (I did not expect Epcot to open before fall, and anticipated hotels reopening after the parks). However, I was dead-on with these predictions that bear more than a passing similarity to present circumstances.
Since the closure started, I’ve been going through unedited photos during my free time, and recently stumbled upon those from the last morning of Extra, Extra Magic Hours. (All of the dawn photos in this post are from that final November day of ExEMH. A totally empty Fantasyland is pictured above–that photo was shot about 30 minutes after park opening.)
That was one of our all-time best mornings in the parks, and those few months were a glorious run of great days at Walt Disney World. What lies ahead is obviously very different. Yet I cannot shake the feeling that it presents a similar opportunity.
Before I get all “embrace the silver lining” on you, I want to “get real” with you. Even though I’m looking on the bright side here, this most definitely is not all sunshine and rainbows.
If I were planning my family’s once in a lifetime trip to Walt Disney World, there’s no way I’d book it for July through October 2020. Even November and December are highly questionable. (If you’re trying to plan a summer vacation and Disney doesn’t work for you this year, check out my post: Why This Year Is Perfect for a National Parks Trip.)
If it were our first trip or even if we visited every few years, we’d likely be rescheduling for 2021. There’s the obvious hope for fewer rules/restrictions, plus entertainment and nighttime spectaculars resuming. It’s also a simple call because of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. (In fairness, we would’ve chosen 2021 over 2020 even before all of this.)
As an annual visitor, I’d have pause depending upon the circumstances. Even with the inevitable discounts, Walt Disney World is an expensive vacation destination, and a lot of compromises and concessions are going to be required of visitors in the near-term. I’m not sure I’d be up for those, especially if I had small children or older family members.
Now that we’ve ruled out…pretty much everyone?…let’s get to the upside!
Crowds, or lack thereof. That’s the big advantage. While Walt Disney World has declined to offer official capacity limits, several comments from CEO Bob Chapek and others have suggested the cap will be around 20-30% of normal attendance.
With cuts to park capacity, there will also be reductions in ride capacity to accommodate physical distancing. This means that, at least in theory, the capacity reductions could cancel each other out, resulting in wait times comparable to normal numbers.
There are also worries that Disney will further reduce attraction throughput to save labor and operating costs. This is a legitimate concern given both past precedent and the fact that park hours are already being cut.
However, this is not what has been observed thus far at Shanghai Disneyland, even with significant cuts to ride capacity and park hours. There, wait times are less than half of their normal levels, and many attractions are veritable walk-ons.
Per the official app, posted wait times for headliner attractions such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure are all frequently in the 10-40 minute range. Even Soaring, perpetually the park’s most popular ride, is usually under an hour. (Less than half its normal wait time.)
Equally as important, “crowds” in Shanghai Disneyland are non-existent. We’ve seen photos of Mickey Avenue (that park’s version of Main Street) totally devoid of people, and other areas of the park are sparse.
The idea of visiting Walt Disney World without crowds and congestion sounds fantastic to us. We love themed design and simply being there, and frequently stay late to savor the atmosphere. Being able to enjoy the ambiance for the entire day–even in the heat and humidity–really appeals to us. I’ve also been salivating at the idea of pristine park photography during the middle of the day, which is normally impossible.
Of course, there are obvious differences between Shanghai Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
For one, Florida has Disney Vacation Club resorts, and those are likely to hit a high occupancy rate even if the hotels don’t. Walt Disney World also has a passionate fanbase and ardent Annual Passholder population. By contrast, Shanghai only has a couple of hotels and Disney’s brand affinity is in its nascent stages.
The other side of the coin is that Shanghai only has one park to “soak up” guest demand, guests there are accustomed to wearing masks (so there’s little resistance), and 300 million people live within three hours of the park by car or train.
By contrast, Walt Disney World has 4 parks to absorb guests, people are already cancelling trips due to health safety requirements, and aside from a modest local population, the vast majority of visitors will need to book and take flights to visit Florida.
These are all significant hurdles for Walt Disney World that Shanghai Disneyland simply does not face. On balance, this all suggests to me that Walt Disney World’s crowds during the initial months of reopening will resemble those in Shanghai–with Walt Disney World potentially having lower crowd levels.
Then there’s what has been observed at Disney Springs thus far. Aside from the World of Disney store’s opening day, when eBay pirates docked their ships and stormed the store, Disney Springs has been totally devoid of crowds. Read Our “Ghost Town” Experience at Disney Springs for an idea of how it has looked.
Of course, just as there are differences with a theme park halfway around the world and Walt Disney World, so too are there between theme parks and an outdoor mall. Nevertheless, this is all instructive, and the best “data points” that we have.
Perhaps the best recent data points for Walt Disney World’s reopening come from California, and the months leading up to Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration several years ago. (We could look further back and see the same with Disney California Adventure during its massive overhaul and reimagining.) This is probably a more apt domestic comparison than Disney Springs or Extra, Extra Magic Hours because visiting pre-Diamond Celebration or during DCA’s transformation entailed a similar compromise.
In the ~5 months leading up to the Diamond Celebration, entertainment at Disneyland was incredibly limited (the blink and you’ll miss it fireworks show was a joke that disappointed virtually everyone who waited more than 5 minutes for it), Sleeping Beauty Castle was behind a giant scrim, and way more attractions than normal were down for refurbishment. It was a rough stretch and, at the time, we discouraged tourists from visiting.
However, it was also absolutely glorious. In retrospect, I’d gladly take that stretch of months over the chaos that followed for the next few years (I loved Paint the Night, but not that much). Disneyland’s popularity exploded thanks to all of the new entertainment and offerings and the park became uncomfortably crowded.
Prior to the Diamond Celebration, crowds were incredibly low, wait times were minimal, it was easy to dine wherever, and there was a sense of optimism in the air about the future. This last element should not be dismissed, and I’d expect the same to be true at Walt Disney World the next few months.
After months of misery being stuck at home, those guests who do choose to accept the limitations and visit Walt Disney World anyway will be enthusiastic just to be there. Rather than sporting “Most Expensive Day Ever” shirts, people will be less cynical and ready to have some fun again.
Many others think there will be disputes or grumbling about new rules–I empathically disagree. That’s happening online now. In park, it will filter itself out via self-selection of attendees. The vast majority of those who proceed with vacation plans will be doing so not with the intent of breaking rules for a week–they’ll be doing so because they really need a vacation, and will be happy to escape the real world.
Admittedly, we also come at this from a different perspective than many people. Paradoxically, we are not huge planners even though we offer a wealth of resources for that. We welcome the return of more spontaneity to Walt Disney World with open arms and hope some of these changes are permanent. (See our Being Spontaneous at Walt Disney World post for more on the importance of this.)
We also think it’s absurd to be expected to know where we want to eat 6 months ahead of time (see our post: The Case for Sleeping on Advance Dining Reservations), prefer making day-of FastPass selections, and are not particularly keen on the Disney Dining Plan (save for certain circumstances). Basically, all of the cancellations announced the other day bring Walt Disney World’s planning process in line with that of Disneyland, and we far prefer the latter’s approach.
Many readers have remarked that there’s nothing magical about all of the new rules or changes Disney is implementing. This is a fair point (to a degree), but it’s also the temporary abnormal–a necessary compromise if you want to enjoy some aspects of public life for the next year or so while the country is still in the midst of a pandemic. Your entire life is going to be full of compromises; while Disney offers a “bubble” and feelings of reassurance removed from daily life, it is still very much located within the real world.
In any case, we think there’s nothing magical about planning a weeklong vacation down to the minute months in advance; many fans have just been conditioned by Disney to view that as normal. For the first time in ages, a Walt Disney World trip should now feel like an actual vacation, with spontaneity and the freedom to relax. (That’s true even with the temporary protocol in place.) For many, this will be a very different way of doing Disney and will require an adjustment. You might just end up liking this laid back approach more!
We embrace new ways of experiencing Walt Disney World. Prior to becoming locals, we would try to find a new “angle” for each trip to keep things fresh. It was a fun challenge, and we’d create artificial impediments or themes to force ourselves to try new things.
Even more recently, we’ve done things like this (see our “SS Harbor Beach Club Strategy“). The upcoming changes present new obstacles to navigate and I am, perhaps weirdly, looking forward to making lemonade out of lemons and finding fresh ways to do Disney during this unprecedented time. Among other things, I’m really looking forward to more resort time and ways to make the most of those pricey places to stay.
It should go without saying, but that’s not going to be everyone’s approach–nor is it even normal. Many frequent Walt Disney World visitors go for the sense of familiarity, to relive past experiences, or with certain-must dos in mind. The next several months–maybe the next couple of years–are going to alter a lot of that.
If certain components of the Walt Disney World experience being absent (or the addition of new requirements) make it a non-starter for you, nothing written here is going to change your mind–nor should it.
Rather, what we’ve attempted to do here is offer some degree of ‘grounded optimism’ amidst a sea of sadness. It’s easy to be pessimistic right now–the news is a nonstop barrage of negative stories, a lot is changing, the future is uncertain, and many compromises will be necessary as we go forward. Some (many!) people should simply opt out and cancel their upcoming Walt Disney World vacations in light of this. There’s no amount of upside or spin that can change that.
However, what is getting lost in the chorus of complaints is the potential upside. Just because it’s going to be a bad time for many people to visit doesn’t mean it’s a bad time for everyone. (To the contrary, precisely because it’s a bad time for so many means it’s likely to be a good time for those who can make it work.) Ultimately, we’ll put our money where our mouths are on this–we’ve already booked several DVC resort stays in the last week and are dreaming up ways to leverage the current circumstances to our advantage. With that said, we would recommend choosing travel dates very carefully, and we’ll be back with Part 2 of this post tomorrow to discuss exactly that. Stay tuned!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be visiting sooner rather than later, likewise hoping to make lemonade out of lemons and do Disney differently? Or, will you hold off, not viewing the current value proposition or guest experience as being workable for you? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective? A variety of viewpoints are welcomed here, but we will not tolerate insults, arguing, or politically-charged comments. Additionally, please do not debate the efficacy of health safety policies—all such comments (for, against, otherwise) will be deleted. Those arguments are played out and isn’t the appropriate forum for that.
All great perspective- as usual, Tom.
We are APs but not local (live in WI) and visit 3-4x a year. We’ve had 2 trips cancelled already this year which felt like the end of the world initially- but now my attitude is to roll with the punches as we can only control how we react to situations.
We have a trip planned in November and are unsure whether we’ll keep it or cancel. So much is still up in the air that it’s hard to know where the country will be at that point in time. Since we’ve had the fortune of going so much in the past couple of years, it’s not the end of the world that certain things aren’t operating but I have much empathy for those that have been planning a vacation for years and are now dealing with the prospect of a totally different vacation than what they envisioned.
I do miss the days of not having to pre-plan every last dinner of a Disney trip (esp. now that you have to cancel within 24 hours or are charged) and winging it. But our opinions on going are really hinging on the lack of the Park Hopper- I don’t know that I can commit to a Disney vacation where I can’t Park Hop since we have gone so much and don’t need to spend a full day at any 1 park and wouldn’t be happy limited in doing so. For us, I think that would have to be resolved before we consider visiting. But talk to me again in the fall and see how desperately I miss Disney and perhaps I’ll have a different opinion then.
Hi everyone+ I hope you are all staying safe. We are due to travel from the UK in August, we were very much still planning on coming even with the cancelled dining and EMH on hold nothing would stop me from seeing Mickey from afar, in a mask….nothing! However, we booked club level at the Beach club and we are unsure if that it is still possible to offer the benefits of club level so without knowing this, we really don’t really know what the money we’ve saved for Disney Magic will be going on so what would be the point? I’m really not trying to be negative I’m so gutted over what everyone is going through at the moment, including myself as a Nurse, I know how lucky we all all to still have the chance to moan about these things but all I’ve been holding onto this holiday since we locked down in March. Never did I dream it would not be possible For me to go in August. I’d love some clarification but everyone is in the same boat.
Hi Janine, snap – we go Aug 16, 3 nights Universal then onto Disney – our first day would be 21 Aug in a Disney park. We had assumed how fast things are moving that we might just be ok for then. The announcement that Disney isnt opening until 11-15 July came as a shock – what to do.. at moment flights paid in full. Tickets to be paid by 7th… do we pay and see how the land lies? Do we wait to see if we can even fly to USA.. What decisions have you come to since your post? I feel I have lost 2 days sleep over it so I must want us to go.. is it realistic, will we have more park time and a better experience, one we won’t forget??
I absolutely love the thought of not having to plan things so far out and empty parks! The only thing that’s stopping me from visiting this summer is the masks. I just can’t/won’t do it. And as we all know, Orlando is scorching hot until October/November so unfortunately it’s a no go for me. If mask requirements are relaxed, I’ll be there with bells on!
I can live with most of the changes except for mandatory mask. For a 2 year old??? I have been a Disney visiter with my family for over 40 years. But i will not go with current stipulation. Even if it was free i would not wear a mask in the heat and humidity.
We do not do not shop in Disney, (we use the parks app), we do not watch fireworks or parades, we often bring our own food…..But right now only one of us has a weekday select pass which doesn’t allow us to start back in the parks until late August and the rest need new passes. I have been dreaming of a low crowd Disney World since I experienced it myself as a child. I will be purchasing passes for the rest of us and planning a vacation ASAP! Just like others have commented, we are all different and this Disney World appeals so much to me!
I have no desire to experience this “temporary new Disney.” I am going to be cancelling our December trip. No parades (think), no character meet and greets or dining, no dining reservations? What would I be going for? Are they reducing prices to accommodate for this SEVERELY limited Disney experience? I doubt it. I love Disney, but i will not be paying Disney prices for seeing characters from long distances and riding some roller coasters. Which is about all that is left from the sounds of things. That is before even discussing having to wear a mask all day, which i was prepared to tolerate.
I will find it hard to continue with our Platinum Plus Annual Passes under the “new” Disney, with no reduction in the amount we pay for the passes or being compensated for not being able to attend when we want. I understand capacity restrictions due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts Disney is taking and agree, but in no way should a Annual Passholder, barring any normal blackout dates their pass may be under, be restricted from entering the parks without a reservation.
Agree. Mask is doable, although pointless and ridiculous in the heat of Florida. Paying the same amount of money for half of the experience is not.
Wasn’t sure if this is the place to ask , but we had a trip planned for this September 2020, we are going to reschedule …. we ere thinning March 2021 ( 1st week in March to be exact my daughters 7th bday will be happening that week ) OR should we reschedule for September 2021…. I ask for opinions bc it’s a lot of money to spend and I want to get the full or almost the full experience and wasn’t sure if you guys think waiting longer will be better or that by March you think it should be okay ?! Thanks so much I’m advanced and I really enjoy reading the blog ! It’s super informative and helpful !
There is no telling what will be going on with COVID by either of those months, so I would say go for March. September is peak hurricane time for Florida and the weather is miserable. I am a Floridian and I go to Disney in any month, but it’s a much nicer physical experience in March.
That’s a tough call – first week of March is my favorite time to go. President’s Day crowds are gone. Those that have a late Feb week off from school are gone. And Spring Break hasn’t started yet. Prices are lower as well. Weather can be hit or miss but usually it’s warm enough for pools. But … then Sept is a great month crowd-wise as well. Plus it’s much warmer if that’s your preference. I would usually say March but might opt for Sept given all that’s going on. Maybe plan for both but see how things are looking at the start of the year on all fronts, including what discounts might come available for a March in the fall (unless you’d already get the 35% off).
As much as I love the optimism of this post, one thing that is missing is the idea that spontaneous is great for a couple or small family. We have a family of 9. Getting dining reservations and fast passes was hard enough in advance. It could be a nightmare same day.
My 18 year old daughter and I have spend roughly 160 days vacationing at Disney World the last 14 years. We have tried just about everything. We have had every dining plan or no plan at all. We have fast passed and not at all.
We park hop a lot, mostly because we like certain restaurants. We plan our park days and where we are eating based on XMH.
I think our vacations are pretty laid back. We fast pass three rides the entire time there. We get out of the room at 10am. Most of the day is really spontaneous with the exception of meals and what parks we will be in.
Honestly, I like going because it brings back the fond memory of my daughter getting a princess makeover. It makes her happy, and I’m just happy to see her happy.
My only real worry about the new setup (going July 24th) are the park reservations and face mask. Unsure of how I’m going to feel about wearing one all day in 95 degree heat.
It will be interesting to see how much I really save on this vacation with the Deluxe Dining removed and the restrictions. Then again, I really love going to the signature dining locations.
Agree 100 percent Tom. Were APs in the 80s and 90s traveling frequently from the Midwest to DW on the fly. Last minute paper fast passes (with me collecting passes and running to get the next fast passes while my husband and son headed to the next attraction) and always having one available. Making reservations for dining the same day with no plans beforehand. Made resort reservations far enough ahead for anticipation Especially when Disney would send us special offers. Six months plus planning ahead was maybe for Christmas. Because of our schedule;not Disney’s. Shopping at Smuckers store by the Haunted Mansion or ride the Wedway during busy afternoons. Walk through uncrowded beautifully lit parks after dark. It seems like today the Disney My Way is scripted by Disney. Miss the magic of spontaneity. Miss the unscripted. Being absorbed by what is instead of what am I missing because I didn’t plan for it. So much joy was totally unplanned. Would love to see that return. Thank you for your effort on your blog. Planning to go to Disney Tokyo before the pandemic. Love Japan. Next spring. Thank you again
Like you, I really miss the lower crowd levels of the 70s/80s. As teens (early 80s) on summer break, my friend and I would drive over and spend the entire day. Cost less than $15 for the one-day unlimited passport. We’d usually meet some girls to hang with, and had a blast. The park was busy, but NOTHING like the crushing crowds we see now. There was no such thing as FastPass, but we could get into Space Mountain in under 45 minutes, and Mission to Mars, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, under 30. During the nighttime parade, we would hit Space Mountain and ride with zero lines. As soon as we got off the ride, we’d run out, run up the entry queue, and immediately get another seat. Cars were leaving with only 1 person aboard, some were leaving empty, because everybody was at the parade. We could easily ride 8 or 10 times in a row before the parade was over and people started lining up again, but even then, the nighttime crowds (after 9 pm) were very light. They started shutting down the best rides around 11 pm, and we were back in the car by midnight, exhausted. It was wonderful. I’m so sorry today’s generation will never experience Disney like that, because some of the best memories I have are at the MK during the summer as a teenager.
Great post Tom!! One of your best yet. Remember the days of coming off Tower of Terror and walking back on? Not needing dining reservations every day? This could be a great opportunity- thanks for the positive light!
We are booked for November and I totally agree with you ! I am a bit excited that I don’t have to worry about dining reservations and just go with the flow of whatever is going to happen. We enjoy Disney and can’t wait to go !! Bring on the spontaneous trip!
I love the optimism in this piece. Thank you for showing what could still be a magical vacation for those that are able and willing to go.
Thank you Tom! I always love your articles and perspectives. My family and I have our first trip to WDW scheduled for this October. It’s something we’ve been planning for two years and is a trip of a lifetime for us. We have been keeping a close eye on everything happening and talking to our TA about possibly postponing the trip. Right now we are waiting things out as things are very “fluid” with restrictions and policies. We are supposed to go to Universal for a few days after our time in WDW so we’re debating that aspect as well. Thank you for always giving us different perspectives to consider!
I was supposed to go May 21-31, then changed to June 3-9. When I realized a June opening wasn’t happening I changed to July 4-9. Now I’m just waiting and hoping I can make it on July 11. I’m surprised they haven’t blocked me from calling, I call so often!
I’m not worried about Disney as much as flying, what are some opinions on that?
I have watched several YouTubes on flying right now. They are from a pilots wife and she has been still traveling. She says she has never seen the planes so clean. You will get a lot of good information if you go out and watch several of her YouTube Videos. Here is a link to one. https://youtu.be/pA4vlUjBCO8. Her name is TravelTipsbyLaurie. You can search on her name too and there is one there from her husbands view being a pilot. One about new rules that TSA has. Very good information. Might help you decide and not worry.
Looking forward to your upcoming posts on visiting WDW this summer. We’re already booked and doing it differently as it is our first time doing a DVC rental. We didn’t buy the cancellation insurance and we paid off the trip prior to COVID, so we are going in mid-August. Trying to remain hopeful that restrictions may evolve in the coming months & that our family of 4 (with a 4 & 7 yo) will still have a magical time.
I also booked a dvc rental and declined the travel insurance. I’m watching to see how things evolve over the next few weeks to make the final decision, but we are in a ‘use it or lose it’ situation with the resort reservation. We have a week at the Poly starting July 27th and are trying to remain optimistic that our family of 5 will be able to go and enjoy our time there. The safety measures that Disney is taking are not a deal breaker for us and we are hopeful that lower crowds result in more time on rides or just enjoying the ambiance of the parks. I am a little concerned about people not following the safety guidelines that Disney will be implementing, but my family will be doing our part to follow the rules and I think most other visitors will be doing the same. For now, I will remain cautiously optimistic that we will have a great (and certainly memorable) vacation.
14 years in a row we visited with the goal of “doing it differently” each time. With the kids in college, $$ are more scarce. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to head back! Just hubby and I!!!
Not trying to dampen the enthusiasm of those willing to take a chance and spend a lot of money on a reduced Disney experience, but we’re not interested. First, we are over 60, with pre-existing conditions that make us less interested in putting ourselves in crowd situations in which the virus could be contracted, and thinking everyone is going to follow the rules is fanciful, unfortunately. It’s obvious from social media that there are both those who do not understand the need for certain precautions as well as those who choose not to take them (sometimes quite defiantly). The “I paid good money for this vacation and you’re not going to tell me what to do!” group will likely be well represented. We tend to be rules followers and so you won’t have use using that line, but we also do not wish to pay for what will likely be a rather diminished experience. We are fortunate enough to live in an area where we will have no shortage of fun things to do without visiting Disney right now, so we’ll wait until we feel the comfort level is more where we’d like it and the experience is more in line with the cost. I’ve seen some AP groups on social media in which those who are looking to cancel reservations and hoping to be allowed to cancel AP contracts are being chided by Disney fanatics and being told that “Disney doesn’t owe you anything… you made a contract with them and it’s not their fault that things will be different.” Well, things will be a little TOO different for our liking for right now, and we are among those who hope will be allowed to cancel our AP for the rest of the year (or perhaps shift the rest of the contract out a year?). We do enjoy the parks, but Disney is not a charity… they do need to provide a product that is at least mostly the product we signed up for, or they need to give us the opportunity to cancel or significantly postpone. Having reduced crowds does not excite me when there will also be reduced capacity on rides, a reduced number of restaurants open with fewer guests allowed in at any given time, a reduced number of people allowed in shops at any given time, and possibly a reduced number of rides open. These, along with other necessary procedures that will be required to try to make it safer for everyone do not sound like the fun experience we planned for when we signed up for AP.
I got reminded (needlessly) on another blog that Disney was not a charity. No one thinks Disney is a charity. We’ve paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to vacation there. The point is, we made reservations or purchased Annual Passes for the full experience and we should either a) get that full experience or b) have some reduction in the cost of overall reservation price or reduced ticket prices. You cannot ask someone to dish out in our case 8000 dollars for half of the experience and expect zero pushback. I can deal with some changes, but Disney is pushing it.
This is a good analysis. I enjoyed the quiet low crowd times of eemh in September and October 2019 as a FL resident passholder. Pre-Covid I had plans to spend a lot of time at the parks this summer, however, given my personal situation, I think we may sit this summer out. I imagine others could behave similarly which would yield your predictions.
People’s individual health issues are going to make a big difference. If I were in my 20’s or early 30’s with no pre-existing conditions I’d likely go, and if I were even older with more preexisting conditions I’d completely rule it out. Luckily we got to the parks in March, so I’ve been able to ride rise and Mickey and minnie’s. Like you said, given how disney springs has been, others could opt to wait as well.
If wanting to have every minute of every day of my vacation planned out months in advance is wrong, I don’t want to be right. I appreciate your POV Tom, but I am a vastly different person. 😉
We are the same way. We organize and plan. It’s a lot of money for most of us who only go once a year, if that.