Walt Disney World COVID-19 UPdates
July 6, 2020
This is a BIG week for Disney! Here's a look at all that is currently happening!
As you can see, there are many exciting things happening at Disney this week. We hope you get to experience some of the magic! Check back for updates, specifically, experiences that you will see when things start to open!
This is a BIG week for Disney! Here's a look at all that is currently happening!
- The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom open up on Saturday, July 11th (reservations required).
- Both parks open up for Cast Member preview days on July 7th and July 8th (reservations required).
- Both parks open up for Passholder preview days on July 9th and July 10th (reservations required).
- The NBA players start to arrive in Orlando starting on Tuesday and continue on through at least Thursday.
- The "MLS is Back Tournament" starts this week beginning on Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, without fans in attendance.
- Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort open up to guests starting on July 10th.
As you can see, there are many exciting things happening at Disney this week. We hope you get to experience some of the magic! Check back for updates, specifically, experiences that you will see when things start to open!
June 22th, 2020
The Reservation System is now up and running for guests with Disney Hotel Reservations and park tickets. If you have a reservation but do NOT have park tickets, you'll be able to purchase park tickets later on this summer at an unknown date.
If you are an annual passholder (without a hotel reservation), you'll be able to reserve park reservations starting on June 26th. And if you have Disney park tickets but do not have a reservation, you'll be able to make park reservations starting on June 28th. For more information including an example of how to work the Disney Park Reservation System, click here!
The Reservation System is now up and running for guests with Disney Hotel Reservations and park tickets. If you have a reservation but do NOT have park tickets, you'll be able to purchase park tickets later on this summer at an unknown date.
If you are an annual passholder (without a hotel reservation), you'll be able to reserve park reservations starting on June 26th. And if you have Disney park tickets but do not have a reservation, you'll be able to make park reservations starting on June 28th. For more information including an example of how to work the Disney Park Reservation System, click here!
June 20th, 2020
Attractions that will be open have been announced including some exciting news about Spaceship Earth at Epcot that answers one of our open questions!
Magic Kingdom
In addition to these attractions that were announced to be open, they also announced what the Character Experience will be like. Instead of classic character meet and greets, you'll see your favorite characters in new and different ways similar to the character experience that you might have seen at Disney Springs (check out the current experience Disney Springs section) with the Storm Troopers. Examples include but are not limited to:
And last announcement for today - musical groups will also be featured all around the parks including but not limited to:
Attractions that will be open have been announced including some exciting news about Spaceship Earth at Epcot that answers one of our open questions!
Magic Kingdom
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Others
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Others
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Others
- Spaceship Earth
- Soarin' Around the World
- Frozen Ever After
- Test Track
- Others
In addition to these attractions that were announced to be open, they also announced what the Character Experience will be like. Instead of classic character meet and greets, you'll see your favorite characters in new and different ways similar to the character experience that you might have seen at Disney Springs (check out the current experience Disney Springs section) with the Storm Troopers. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Characters getting a ride on the classic Main Street Trolley down the Magic Kingdom Park parade route.
- Characters sailing along the waterways of Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.
- Character appearances along the World Showcase promenade at Epcot.
- Character motorcades on Disney's Hollywood Studios' Hollywood Boulevard.
And last announcement for today - musical groups will also be featured all around the parks including but not limited to:
- The Main Street Philharmonic at the Magic Kingdom Park
- Mariachi Cobre at Epcot
- JAMMitors at Epcot
- And more!
June 19th, 2020
Today, Disney introduced the Disney Park Pass System for reserving Theme Park Visits to Walt Disney World Parks.
Here are the main points of the Reservation system:
Today, Disney introduced the Disney Park Pass System for reserving Theme Park Visits to Walt Disney World Parks.
Here are the main points of the Reservation system:
- You'll need a My Disney Experience account in order to reserve and retrieve your reservations.
- You'll need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that is linked to your My Disney Experience Account
- Annual Pass blackout dates apply
- If you have a Disney Hotel Reservation, make sure that the reservation is linked to your My Disney Experience Account.
- You can only choose one park per day. Park Hopping is currently unavailable.
- For guests that currently have a ticket (including Annual Passholders)
- Beginning on June 22, 2020, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests will be able to make park reservations.
- Beginning June 26, 2020, Annual Passholders without a resort stay will be able to make park reservations.
- Beginning June 28, 2020, existing ticket holders without a resort stay will be able to make park reservations.
- Starting on June 28, 2020, guests will be able to purchase Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make reservations for arrivals starting in 2021.
- Later this summer on a currently unknown date, Disney will resume ticket sales and booking of Hotel Reservations based on availability of park reservations for the remainder of 2020.
May 27th, 2020
On Wednesday, May 27th, 2020, Cast Member Jim McPhee, the Senior Vice President of Operations, went through a proposal to the Orange County reopening task force that outlined plans that the Walt Disney Company set to reopen their Theme Parks in Orlando, FL. In this proposal, they announced that Disney's Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom are planning on opening up on Saturday, July 11th, 2020. Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot are planning on opening up on Wednesday, July 15th, 2020. There are currently no plans to open up the Disney Water Parks and other recreational activities such as Fantasia Gardens miniature Golf course and Winter Summerland were not stated in the reopening plans either so we are not sure if they are included or not at the moment.
In the proposal read by Mr. McPhee, he mentioned that there will be Cast Member Previews before the official reopening. He also referred to a Theme Park Reservation System that will be in place where guests wishing to attend one of the open Theme Parks will have to use that reservation system to make a reservation in advance of attending a park. This will help promote a reduced capacity of guests aloud to enter the parks each day (the official percentage or number is not currently known). He also mentioned that there will be a focus on mobile ordering when eating at quick service and other restaurants, there will be Plexiglas barriers at cash registers and food ordering stations to promote safety when it's hard to maintain physical distancing. There will be a reduction in capacity within the modes of transportation, stores, attractions, and restaurants. There will be no forms of entertainment that would cause large crowds such as firework spectaculars, parades, live entertainment, and others. Essentially - Disney will focus on three pillars; Education, Communication, and Engagement.
This proposal was presented on May 27th, approved by the Central Florida Reopening Task force after the presentation, was approved by the Mayor of Orlando shortly after on May 27th, and was approved by the Governor of Florida on May 29th.
On Wednesday, May 27th, 2020, Cast Member Jim McPhee, the Senior Vice President of Operations, went through a proposal to the Orange County reopening task force that outlined plans that the Walt Disney Company set to reopen their Theme Parks in Orlando, FL. In this proposal, they announced that Disney's Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom are planning on opening up on Saturday, July 11th, 2020. Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot are planning on opening up on Wednesday, July 15th, 2020. There are currently no plans to open up the Disney Water Parks and other recreational activities such as Fantasia Gardens miniature Golf course and Winter Summerland were not stated in the reopening plans either so we are not sure if they are included or not at the moment.
In the proposal read by Mr. McPhee, he mentioned that there will be Cast Member Previews before the official reopening. He also referred to a Theme Park Reservation System that will be in place where guests wishing to attend one of the open Theme Parks will have to use that reservation system to make a reservation in advance of attending a park. This will help promote a reduced capacity of guests aloud to enter the parks each day (the official percentage or number is not currently known). He also mentioned that there will be a focus on mobile ordering when eating at quick service and other restaurants, there will be Plexiglas barriers at cash registers and food ordering stations to promote safety when it's hard to maintain physical distancing. There will be a reduction in capacity within the modes of transportation, stores, attractions, and restaurants. There will be no forms of entertainment that would cause large crowds such as firework spectaculars, parades, live entertainment, and others. Essentially - Disney will focus on three pillars; Education, Communication, and Engagement.
- Education - Education will be focused on the idea to "Know before you go." This information will be published on the My Disney Experience App, during the booking process, and a follow-up website with all of the guidelines that must be followed.
- Communication - Communication will be through signage posted all throughout the Theme Parks, including entrances, exits, standing areas during queuing, and other signage reminding guests of the policies and procedures.
- Engagement - The Engagement aspect will be a team of Cast Members that are focused on their own well being and the guests well being through positive engagement. These teams might be known as the Social Distancing Squad.
This proposal was presented on May 27th, approved by the Central Florida Reopening Task force after the presentation, was approved by the Mayor of Orlando shortly after on May 27th, and was approved by the Governor of Florida on May 29th.
May 20th, 2020
Disney Springs officially opened on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020 and many third party shops and restaurants opened to the public. Please see the "Current Experience" section below to see the latest information on Disney Springs, as well as the experience of visiting.
Since then, additional information has been sent out to guests and Disney annual passholders by email, social media, the Disney Parks Blog, and other forms of communication.
Disney Springs officially opened on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020 and many third party shops and restaurants opened to the public. Please see the "Current Experience" section below to see the latest information on Disney Springs, as well as the experience of visiting.
Since then, additional information has been sent out to guests and Disney annual passholders by email, social media, the Disney Parks Blog, and other forms of communication.