WDW ReOpening Guidelines

Walt Disney World Resort presented their reopening plans to the Florida task force this morning.

The biggest question everyone has: Will a mask be required?

Disney World guests will be required to wear a face-covering of some kind while in the parks unless they are eating. Remember your mask from home, but if you do not have a mask, ask a Cast Member for assistance.

Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date. In addition, “high-touch” experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in the parks to entertain and delight guests.

Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, Jim McPhee, presented a reopening date for our Florida Disney Parks, as well as new health and safety procedures. These measures included limits on park capacity and new guidelines and requirements for guests.

Jim McPhee proposed a phased public reopening date for Walt Disney World parks starting on July 11th.

McPhee reported in his proposal that mask resting areas will be provided for guests where they can remove their masks and take a break, “We’re also looking at establishing relaxation zones in and around, and off-property for people to go mask-off for a moment.”

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will reopen on Saturday, July 11th
EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will reopen on Wednesday, July 15
Dates for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon were not addressed
Opening dates for Walt Disney World Resorts were not addressed

Disney Parks will be adopting a “Know Before You Go” mantra for the following changes to park operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Enhanced Protective Measures: A layered approach of protocols including face coverings, hand washing & sanitizing stations, and physical barriers where appropriate
Physical Distancing: Reduction in theme park capacity that enables appropriate physical distancing in the theme parks and appropriate signage of physical distancing requirements as a reminder
Enhanced Cleaning/Sanitation: Build upon existing standards of cleaning with heightened protocols in the theme parks
Temperature/Health Screening: Conduct Guest and Cast temperature checks
Limited-Contact Enhancements: Reduction of Guest & Cast Member Contact Points

A new reservation system will be available online to retain park entry in advance. We will update as we retain more details on this system. Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited, they will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance.

At this time, they are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so they can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations (Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations).

Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; WDW representatives will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. They will resume new ticket sales and hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.

An online reservation system will be used to gain your spot in the park (details coming soon)
Park capacity will be reduced (percentage unknown at this time)
Signage will direct guests to maintain safe social distancing while entering the park
Turnstiles will be touchless, scanned by a Cast Member behind plexiglass
The finger scanners will not be a part of the park entry process
Contactless payment systems, plexiglass between Cast Members and guests where heavy interaction could occur
Cashless transactions will be the standard for all purchases
Cleaning and sanitation will be bumped up even a few notches above Disney’s usual spit-spot requirements
Cast Members will be trained on COVID-19-specific cleaning procedures
Guests will be encouraged to wash their hands with signage at the parks

DINING

QR Code capability on mobile devices to access menus
Disposable paper menus available upon request
Physical distancing will carry over to the dining experience
Food will be pre-packaged where possible
Payment for food items will be a touchless system

A designated team of Cast Members will help to remind guests of social distancing and safety guidelines. Expect to have a lot of Cast Members on-hand for questions and assistance!

This is what we know so far. As new information becomes available, we will update this post.

Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will reopen to members and guests and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen on June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will also open to members and guests starting on June 15.

Will you be visiting this year with these new guidelines?