Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[Naomeri]

I say this every couple of pages.
Real expectations are key!!
Do not think the crowds will be July and August crowds
Do not think the attractions will be walk on or 10 to 15 min wait times
Do not think 100% of people are wearing mask, physical distancing in queues and looking at entrance and exit markers

DO

have a flexible plan
rope drop, as in be at the parks 45 min before official opening time
go to your number 1 priority attraction first
stay until end of day
Use mobile order to your advantage, meaning order early in the day to lock the time you want to eat, this will avoid the extra 20 min wait time if that specific wait time is full
Be open minded and considerate to others. Just because you see someone without a mask for 1 minute doesn't meant his person ahs been blatantly ignoring the rules or it might, but just walk away and try to not let that bother you too much
Listen to the CM/TM/Ambassadors directions

Just have realistic expectations, even before covid I would tell people coming pick 3 attractions that you must do, plan around them and the rest is icing on the cake, there are still attractions that are walk ons at certain times of the day. This is all brand new for everyone and if you decide to come now just be aware that this will be unlike any other trip and go with the flow

If the recent long wait reports seem like too much reconsider coming now. Why come if you are already nervous and feeling negative about your trip?

Thank you for your repeated messages of calm and patience. I’m a little sad that it seems like it will be busier than it seemed when I booked my trip a couple weeks ago, but I‘ve never been a FP+ master and usually just get in line for the rides I want, wait time be darned (I once waited more than 2 hours for FOP (while soaking wet from a pre-hurricane downpour )) so this trip probably won’t be too different than my previous trips.

On the other hand, there’s still a month to go before I get there, so who knows what changes WDW will make by then?

 

[mmouse50]

I have real expectations of the wait times and the park looking like being like a normal busy summer day but in the past I always had the option of a fastpass - so the rides that I really wanted I did fastpass and then did the other "must do rides" early in the day. I guess that I was just a little freaked out by the wait times and curious if the MDE app was inflating them a little or if it was the actual wait times.

 

[lovethattink]

The last couple of times we went to MK, we went a few hours before closing. We found those 3 hours to work best for us.

We went on 7 attractions including 7DMT which had a 40 minute wait posted, walked at a slow pace, and shopped, and got stopped on Peter Pan for 20 minutes because someone fell getting out of their ship right before us.

 

[katyringo]

I do wonder what are the concerns for bringing back fast passes. I'm sure there are reasons beyond low crowds. The organization of the two lines, the spacing on the rides, etc. We purchased express pass for our universal day. Id love for a Fastpass version like disneylands to come to world. Day of and for the park you are in. But I don't get the vibe this is a priority for Disney right now. They need people in the lines since so much is still closed.

 

[CanucksRock]

I went last week, and we experienced the very quite and very busy. I do agree - get there early, before park open. Hit your must do rides first. You can get at least a few in before numbers pick up. Even on a busy Friday, right off the bat we went to 7DMT, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, BTMR, and SM before crowds started picking up. DHS was certainly the busiest park we experienced. If you go to AK before park open - just go to Pandora. The other rides don't open until park open. (we learned this the hard way...but had a nice walk through an empty park )

 

[Shinrai]

I do wonder what are the concerns for bringing back fast passes. I'm sure there are reasons beyond low crowds. The organization of the two lines, the spacing on the rides, etc. We purchased express pass for our universal day. Id love for a Fastpass version like disneylands to come to world. Day of and for the park you are in. But I don't get the vibe this is a priority for Disney right now. They need people in the lines since so much is still closed.

Same. We're also Disneyland people, and I'm wishing WDW would put in some kind of option similar to Maxpass.

 

[yulilin3]

Same. We're also Disneyland people, and I'm wishing WDW would put in some kind of option similar to Maxpass.

That's the rumor ands it's being discussed in the news and rumors forum

 

[disneygirlsng]

Same. We're also Disneyland people, and I'm wishing WDW would put in some kind of option similar to Maxpass.

I know rumors of paid FP have been amping up more and more lately that it's pretty much inevitable at this point, but I hate that I could do just as much, if not much more at times with free FP+ than I could with Maxpass. Free and being able to ride everything with refreshing is hard to pass up. FP+ was just so absolutely perfect for me, it'll be hard to do anything else.

 

[elgerber]

That's the rumor ands it's being discussed in the news and rumors forum

can you say what the thread title is? I don't go over there much.

 

[Tormania]

As others have mentioned, busy for one person is "normal" for someone else so it's all perspective. Personally all of our trips have been after Thanksgiving in early Dec specifically to "limit" crowds and have great weather.

But my big question for WDW is what is the criteria they are using before they start to increase ride capacity, open more restaurants, etc??? Right now it seems completely arbitrary which my logical brain doesn't appreciate that much.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I say this every couple of pages.
Real expectations are key!!
Do not think the crowds will be July and August crowds
Do not think the attractions will be walk on or 10 to 15 min wait times
Do not think 100% of people are wearing mask, physical distancing in queues and looking at entrance and exit markers

DO

have a flexible plan
rope drop, as in be at the parks 45 min before official opening time
go to your number 1 priority attraction first
stay until end of day
Use mobile order to your advantage, meaning order early in the day to lock the time you want to eat, this will avoid the extra 20 min wait time if that specific wait time is full
Be open minded and considerate to others. Just because you see someone without a mask for 1 minute doesn't meant his person ahs been blatantly ignoring the rules or it might, but just walk away and try to not let that bother you too much
Listen to the CM/TM/Ambassadors directions

Just have realistic expectations, even before covid I would tell people coming pick 3 attractions that you must do, plan around them and the rest is icing on the cake, there are still attractions that are walk ons at certain times of the day. This is all brand new for everyone and if you decide to come now just be aware that this will be unlike any other trip and go with the flow

If the recent long wait reports seem like too much reconsider coming now. Why come if you are already nervous and feeling negative about your trip?

All valid, but it's also unfair of WDW to raise park capacity which increases safety risk and not increase ride capacity, entertainment and dining options all while still charging full price for a less than experience. At least we're seeing some wiggle room with hours being extended but it's still pretty paltry.

 

[lynch34]

Are most people who get into DHS getting Rise groups if they do the proper steps at opening?

Is Disney allowing you to get one at 10 am and at 2 pm?

 

[mcomber7]

Has anyone stayed at pop recently? I’m wondering what time to be at the Skyliner for Hollywood studios to be close to the front of the line....

 

[Homemom]

Are most people who get into DHS getting Rise groups if they do the proper steps at opening?

Is Disney allowing you to get one at 10 am and at 2 pm?

On Tuesday, September 15, we were all scanned into park at 9:48. We sat down and waited for 10:00. At 9:59 three of us started trying to join and I got boarding group 25. The ride went down awhile but our group was called at 1:50.

 

[Geomom]

Are most people who get into DHS getting Rise groups if they do the proper steps at opening?

Is Disney allowing you to get one at 10 am and at 2 pm?

You can only get one group per day. No idea on the first question, but I doubt it. When we were there in July we only tried for the 2pm slot. Failed on day 1, got a backup group (58) on day 2...but Rise was down for hours so we never got called.

 

[twodogs]

I know rumors of paid FP have been amping up more and more lately that it's pretty much inevitable at this point, but I hate that I could do just as much, if not much more at times with free FP+ than I could with Maxpass. Free and being able to ride everything with refreshing is hard to pass up. FP+ was just so absolutely perfect for me, it'll be hard to do anything else.

Have you used Maxpass at DLR (this is not meant to sound rude! Just wondering if you have used both)? We are in Texas so we go to both parks, and I will say that I LOVE Maxpass so much more than FP+. No stressful planning months ahead, and everyone is on equal footing when you walk into the park for the day (and I don't have to pick which park that I want to be in months ahead of time either). Also, the ability to stack FPs so that you can hold numerous FPs at once on the Maxpass platform is SO much better to me than only being able to hold one at a time, after your first 3, with FP+. "Refresh" works on MP too as earlier times or things that were unavailable come up all the time that way!

The cost issue for me is separate from which platform actually works the best for my family and our touring style. I agree with you that eventually I think we all figured WDW would monetize FP the same way that DLR did (though DLR still has the free option of going to the FP machines and getting your FP that way). WDW tried the "extra FP" with CL booking, and that probably made them some money, but I think they would make much more by monetizing FP for ALL guests since most people can't afford/don't want to pay for CL just for more FPs (but it is great if you already stay CL). And at the end of the day, making money is the number one priority for Disney, IMO.

 

[disneygirlsng]

Have you used Maxpass at DLR (this is not meant to sound rude! Just wondering if you have used both)? We are in Texas so we go to both parks, and I will say that I LOVE Maxpass so much more than FP+. No stressful planning months ahead, and everyone is on equal footing when you walk into the park for the day (and I don't have to pick which park that I want to be in months ahead of time either). Also, the ability to stack FPs so that you can hold numerous FPs at once on the Maxpass platform is SO much better to me than only being able to hold one at a time, after your first 3, with FP+. "Refresh" works on MP too as earlier times or things that were unavailable come up all the time that way!

The cost issue for me is separate from which platform actually works the best for my family and our touring style. I agree with you that eventually I think we all figured WDW would monetize FP the same way that DLR did (though DLR still has the free option of going to the FP machines and getting your FP that way). WDW tried the "extra FP" with CL booking, and that probably made them some money, but I think they would make much more by monetizing FP for ALL guests since most people can't afford/don't want to pay for CL just for more FPs (but it is great if you already stay CL). And at the end of the day, making money is the number one priority for Disney, IMO.

Yep, I've used it a few times. I don't find the planning stressful at all, quite the opposite actually in that I really, really enjoy it. Having my favorite rides locked in before I even get there is one of my favorite things. Only having one at a time doesn't bother me, once I'm in line for one ride I'm almost always able to snag one for the next ride before I even get on the ride I'm in line for. It's not that I didn't like Maxpass, it's just that I could do pretty much the exact same thing at WDW for free. I'm usually in a small group of 3-4 people, which does make FP+ easier than those that are in larger groups, so that can play a factor as well.

 

[Spazz2k]

So this past weekend we had the chance to take some pictures after closing in SWGE at DHS and I will say it was incredible. Not only did we get some amazing shots, we also had a chance to witness something that is rarely seen flying over head...the goodyear blimp over Batuu was a sight to see. We also got to do Savi's Workshop on re-opening and that was very special too. My wife and I did it on opening day and my daughter and I did it on re-opening.

Some pics after closing...all are no filter, no adjustments...you can see how incredible the lighting is in Batuu at night

 

[Justrose]

Has anyone stayed at pop recently? I’m wondering what time to be at the Skyliner for Hollywood studios to be close to the front of the line....

I have heard 8:00 AM.

 

[allaboutthemouse]

So this past weekend we had the chance to take some pictures after closing in SWGE at DHS and I will say it was incredible. Not only did we get some amazing shots, we also had a chance to witness something that is rarely seen flying over head...the goodyear blimp over Batuu was a sight to see. We also got to do Savi's Workshop on re-opening and that was very special too. My wife and I did it on opening day and my daughter and I did it on re-opening.

Some pics after closing...all are no filter, no adjustments...you can see how incredible the lighting is in Batuu at night

Those are great pictures!
Was the Savi’s experience any different on re-opening as opposed to pre-COVID?