Disney Closing Walt Disney World Theme Parks due to Coronavirus

[mickeyspal]

One thing I don't understand is why they are closing the parks but not the hotels, restaurants and Disney springs. Surely the people who have just arrived for the start of their holiday will now all be in a congested area , the 100,000 people who would be in the parks with more space ,will now all be together in a smaller space , i just dont get it. Close all or nothing, is it just me or is anyone else confused by this.

[jsl0801]

absolutely gutted for a woman on our local radio station there, they only told their 4 kids yesterday that they were going today and now its being cancelled.

[smoggy123]

Originally Posted by mickeyspal

One thing I don't understand is why they are closing the parks but not the hotels, restaurants and Disney springs. Surely the people who have just arrived for the start of their holiday will now all be in a congested area , the 100,000 people who would be in the parks with more space ,will now all be together in a smaller space , i just dont get it. Close all or nothing, is it just me or is anyone else confused by this.

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I thought that too! Everyone who has the dining plan, who would have been spreading their reservations around the parks will now be heading to Disney Springs to eat!

[angelbabe]

Originally Posted by mickeyspal

One thing I don't understand is why they are closing the parks but not the hotels, restaurants and Disney springs. Surely the people who have just arrived for the start of their holiday will now all be in a congested area , the 100,000 people who would be in the parks with more space ,will now all be together in a smaller space , i just dont get it. Close all or nothing, is it just me or is anyone else confused by this.

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IMO it's a sanitizing issue. Trying to sanitize every single surface over such a large area in a theme park is a logistical nightmare, whereas the hotels, restaurants and individual shops in DS, will be able to cope much better.

It could leave Disney open to lawsuits afterwards, so I think this plays a big part too.

[Inky]

I think they should close hotels as well, a very expensive holiday to stay at a hotel and go to Disney Springs with no parks indeed 🙁

[angelbabe]

Originally Posted by Inky

I think they should close hotels as well, a very expensive holiday to stay at a hotel and go to Disney Springs with no parks indeed 🙁

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I can understand what you are saying but to close the hotels might mean many median and low-income families would lose their jobs and be unable to pay bills or put food on the table.

[TigerLily8]

Originally Posted by mickeyspal

One thing I don't understand is why they are closing the parks but not the hotels, restaurants and Disney springs. Surely the people who have just arrived for the start of their holiday will now all be in a congested area , the 100,000 people who would be in the parks with more space ,will now all be together in a smaller space , i just dont get it. Close all or nothing, is it just me or is anyone else confused by this.

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The idea of closing the hotels on short notice and kicking everyone out on the same day is not feasible. People will have to make travel arrangements to get home and it would a logistical nightmare if everyone in every Disney property had to leave on the same day to get home. Absolute chaos. Whereas shutting the parks is much mort straightforward - you simply can't go in.

I suspect they may eventually close the hotels but it may be a slower process.

[Loobylou_82]

Feel so sorry for people going in the next few days and weeks if it doesn't get resolved. With spring break and Easter approaching it's a busy time for Orlando. A lot of planning, time and excitement been wasted because of a flu virus, I could cry for them and I will be crying in October if it's still going strong.

[vampiress88]

Originally Posted by Stu

Latest Update from WDW

TICKETS

May I get a refund on my ticket?

Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before March 31, 2020 will automatically be extended to use any date through December 15, 2020. If you are unable to visit by December 15, 2020, you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.

Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through July 31, 2020.

Guests who have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours and Disney Early Morning Magic from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 will be automatically refunded.

ANNUAL PASSES

How does the closure of Walt Disney World impact annual passes?

Walt Disney World annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed, March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.

RESORTS

I have a future stay at a Disney Resort hotel while the park is closed. What does that mean for my vacation?

Guests who have not checked in for stays between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 may modify or cancel their Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to their original check-in date. If no action is taken, Disney will automatically process a refund to the original form of payment within seven days of the original check-in date. If you did not book through Disney directly, please contact your travel professional.

What if I want to cancel a Disney Resort hotel reservation after the parks reopen?

We will waive all Disney imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in through June 30, 2020.

DINING & OTHER EXPERIENCES

I have a pre-paid dining reservation or experience reservation like Droid Depot during the time when the parks are closed. Will I receive a refund?

Yes. All pre-paid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.

What happens to dining reservations that required a credit card at the time of booking?

Reservations made at locations impacted by the closure will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.

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Anyway they will do something different for the UK pass holders. Just as it’s extended slightly won’t help much as there’s limited times people can go and it’s so much money to not have it.
Also this
“ you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date” is that in $ or would it be for a uk ticket?

If we can’t get into Disney I would hope that they allow me to apply the value to another years ticket as we only used our annual pass for 9 days.

[emmsy]

Couple off questions - if when we go the parks are still closed but hotels are open would we be refunded by Disney for the ticket part off our booking or just be able to use our tickets at a future date? Also how would the dining plan work ? Would we still be allowed to use it at hotel restaurants? Thanks xx