The first signs of reopening at Walt Disney World have surfaced. Disney Springs, the shopping district of WDW, will begin “phased reopening” on May 20th.
“Following the guidance of government and health officials, a limited number of shopping and dining experiences that are owned by third-party operating participants will begin to open during this initial phase.”
The theme parks and hotels will remain closed for now.
For health and safety of guests and cast members, everyone must wear face coverings! In addition, Disney will step up cleaning procedures, reduce direct contact, and conduct additional safety training for cast members.
Disney is reaching out to their Unions now about bringing some cast members back to work.
“During the initial opening phase, Disney Springs will have limitations on capacity, parking and operating hours. Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can.”
UPDATED INFORMATION (ADDED 5/13/2020):
Only sub-contracted stores will re-open in Disney Springs on May 20th. World of Disney, Disney Pin Traders and any other Disney-owned shopping or dining location will start to re-open within the next phase beginning May 27th.
- Disney will require all guests and employees to wear face masks.
- Guests will have their temperature checked before entering the shopping complex.
- Plexiglass dividers have already been installed at registers – guests will swipe their own payments cards, as employees will no longer handle these.
Disney’s stated priority is the safety of their guests and employees. Expect those refusing to abide by safety procedures to be asked to comply or leave the property.
It’s Time To Dream Of Travel Again . . .
Special comeback rates are now available at some of your favorite Anaheim and Orlando hotels, with discounts of $100 or more per night.
Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park shutdown concerns and rescheduling plans. We know you’re as uncertain about the future as we are. That’s why Get Away Today is offering the most flexible Disney travel options available:
Price Protection – If a better special comes out after you have booked, you’ll get the better deal.
Peace of Mind – Make hotel changes, reschedule dates, drop nights, change ticket vouchers and more, as many times as you’d like for a small, one-time fee.
Layaway Plan – Lock in your 2020 or 2021 Disneyland Resort vacation for just $175 down. By booking early, you secure your availability and have the flexibility to pay as you go. Make as many interest-free payments as you’d like, whenever you’d like, with final payment due just seven days prior to travel.
- Give your family something to look forward to:
Visit Get Away Today HERE - Or fill out a request form and they’ll call you back:
Vacation Information Request Form HERE
Let’s Hear From You
Shanghai Disneyland reopened their shopping district approximately one month before the reopening of the park. Do you think Walt Disney World is following a similar model? When do you expect the hotels and parks to reopen? Let’s hear from you!
The original version of this article ran May 7th 2020, and was updated on May 13th 2020 to reflect additional stores and restaurants.