In a conference this morning with the Orlando Economic Recovery Task Force, Disney officials announced their plan for a phased reopening of the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s get straight to the facts.
WDW Theme Parks Reopening
- July 11: Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopen
- July 15: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopen
Guests with existing tickets on hand, annual passholders, and those with verified Disney hotel reservations will be allowed to make new ticket purchases before additional tickets are sold. The parks will open with partial capacity and some attractions will not be available on opening day.
COVID-19 Theme Park Rules
Similar to policies currently in place for Disney Springs, guests and Cast Members will need to submit to temperature checks and be required to wear face masks, except when eating. Social distancing markers, spacing parties out in recommended six foot intervals, have been installed in all queues and waiting areas.
Hand sanitizer stations will be ubiquitous throughout the parks and social distancing rules will be gently ‘enforced’ by squads of Cast Members roaming the park. Guests will be kindly reminded to comply with posted Disney policies.
Parades, firework shows, and other spectaculars that draw large crowds will be temporarily suspended. Playgrounds, character meet-and-greets, and venues such as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will remain temporarily closed, but characters will still travel throughout the parks to entertain guests.
A no-contact payment system will be expanded throughout the resort to minimize contact between people. This could be as simple as a final expansion of the Magic Band payment system or the addition of mobile payment solutions such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
Will I Need To Bring A Mask? Will Disney Make Me Buy A Mask From Them?
Disney has announced they will provide masks to guests without them upon entering the park.
WDW Hotels Reopening
- June 15: Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina reopen
- June 22: Walt Disney World DVC Resorts and Fort Wilderness Campground reopen
According to their public statements, Disney announced that future bookings at WDW Resort hotels will open up once they allow new ticket sales.
WDW Reopening Plan Approval Process
The county task force unanimously approved the plans to reopen the Walt Disney World Resort in phases. Final approval must be given by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis before anything can be officially put into action.
For a more detailed look at Disney’s COVID-19 response for the past few months, check out our World COVID-19 Timeline article. Leave me a comment. I’d love to know your thoughts on WDW’s reopening plan.
Thanks for reading!
