Disney World is set to reopen in Florida on Saturday after being closed for several months due to COVID-19. Here are several things you need to know before you and your loved ones go and visit Mickey Mouse and Co.
Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park will reopen Saturday.
EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will reopen on July 15.
Disney World has been closed since March 15. Back in May, Disney received word from the state they can reopen in July, which Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings tweeted the news back on May 29.
I am pleased to announce that I have received word from Halsey Beshears, Secretary of @FloridaDBPR, that @WaltDisneyWorld Resort and @SeaWorld have received approval of their re-opening plans. #SeaWorld will re-open June 10 and #WaltDisneyWorld Resort will be July 11. pic.twitter.com/vNKgSxZvbC
— Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings (@OCFLMayor) May 29, 2020
Disney said in a press release that new safety measures are being put in place to keep you and your loved ones safe.
RESERVATIONS
To visit the parks, you must have a reservation and a valid park ticket for the same park on the same date to enter.
At this time, park officials say new tickets are currently unavailable to purchase but will be available sometime in the future.
- Temperature checks: All guests to the park will be screened by no-touch thermometers at Disney Springs or at the Walt Disney World theme parks. Park officials say anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 F or above will not be allowed entry. Officials ask that you check you and your entire party's temperature before leaving you home.
- Parking: Complimentary transportation will also be provided between the guests' Disney Resort hotel and Disney theme parks. Face coverings are required at all times while boarding and using Walt Disney World transportation. Valet service is temporarily unavailable, with the exception of guests with disabilities.
- Face masks: Anyone over the age of 2 will be required to wear a face mask. Park guests are not allowed to wear costume masks.
- Social distancing: The parks will have signs and ground markings to help guests practice physical distancing. Physical barriers will be placed around cash registers or at Guest Relations to help keep everyone safe.
- Cashless transactions: Officials recommend guests use cashless payment options, including debit cards, credit cards, and Disney Gift Cards, which can be purchased with cash.
- Hand sanitizer: Hand sanitizer locations will be made available all throughout the park. Hand washing will also be made easily available for guests.
RESORT SERVICES
If you are staying at a Disney Park resort, guests will see the following changes:
- Bell Services will deliver luggage to rooms, but will not escort guests
- Club-level service is temporarily unavailable
- Deliveries may only be made to occupied rooms
- In-room celebrations are not available
- In-room dining is not available
- Dry-cleaning and valet laundry services is temporarily unavailable; self-service laundry is available
- Shipping services are temporarily unavailable
- Resort airline check-in service may be temporarily unavailable
DINING
If you are planning to dine at a table-service restaurant at Disney Resort hotel a confirmed dining reservation is required for day guests.
If you are staying overnight, officials highly recommend you make a reservation.
IN-PARK DINING
Guests will need valid park admission and a reservation for park entry through the new Disney Park Pass system—as well as a dining reservation—to dine at an in-park, table-service restaurant.
Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.
Due to COVID-19, meet and greets with Disney characters are currently unavailable. Characters will still be found roaming around the parks to say hello to guests.
To avoid large crowds gathering, parades and fireworks shows have been postponed until further notice.
TOURS
The following tours are currently unavailable:
- Backstage Magic
- Behind the Seeds
- Disney Private VIP Tours
- Disney’s Family Magic Tour
- Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
- Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
- Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour
- The UnDISCOVERed Future World
- Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour
- Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour
- Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour
- Up Close with Rhinos
- Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
- World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered
- Wild Africa Trek
- Wild Africa Trek (Morning)
For more information, before you travel to Florida, you can check out the Walt Disney World website.
