The day you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Walt Disney World has filed a request with local officials to begin reopening the parks and resort hotels on July 11th, a full month after all the other major parks in the area.
Disney Vacation Club Properties and the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen to both DVC members and guests on June 22nd. Additionally, Disney Vacation Club properties in Vero Beach, FL, and Hilton Head, SC, will reopen on June 15th.
(5/29 UPDATE: Disney originally stated that all other resort hotels would open alongside the first two parks on July 11th, but this has since been removed. Disney has now confirmed this was in error on their part. Their website now states Disney resort hotels and other offerings may be modified, limited in capacity, and subject to availability or closure.)
Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are set to open July 11th. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT will open a few days later on July 15th.
The theme parks will have reduced operating hours, closing between 6 and 8 PM, EPCOT will open at 11AM rather than 9AM.
Here’s a quick look at the operating hours for reopening week, July 11-18:
As you might expect, Disney will increase safety and sanitation measures across the resort. They will push the use of mobile and MagicBand technology to make mobile ordering and no-touch payments the norm.
Due to controlled Guest density and physical distancing, 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, though likely in a different way that guests are accustomed to.
A social distancing squad will help keep guests informed and entertained as they strive for safer guest safety. Cool Zones will give guests a spot to remove their masks and cool off.
Temperature screenings and masks will be required, as they are in other Orlando area parks.
There will be an online pre-reservation plan in place to visit the parks.
Guests of the resort will see increased signage both before they enter the parks and in the parks themselves:
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Theme Park Reservation System
“Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited as we welcome Guests back to the magic, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all Guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance.”
Ticket Sales
“At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we 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; we’ll be reaching out to these Guests soon to provide additional details. We 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.”
Disney Vacation Club
“Additionally, 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. Plans to support required physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning measures, along with a number of other safety and cleanliness protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening.”
The Orange County Florida Economic Recovery Task Force is responsible for approving requests for businesses to reopen. Those approvals then go to the state, where they are almost always approved.
SeaWorld Submits Plans for June 11th Public Reopening
At this same meeting, SeaWorld requested a June 11th reopening of its Orlando parks. They will have an employee day on the 10th before opening to the public.
Like other parks, SeaWorld will require face masks and temperature check all guests and employees.
Parades and meet and greets will be changed to keep guests at a distance. Contactless payments and park entry will be utilized. Guests will bag their own merchandise.
Guests will see an increased number of safety signs throughout the parks:
This is breaking news. In the coming minutes, we’ll be updating this article with additional information regarding Walt Disney World’s plans.
Like other parks, SeaWorld will require masks, increase hand sanitation stations, temperature screen guests and employees, increase the cleaning of the park, utilize contactless payments were possible. They are also moving to a contactless park entry process. No fingerprint scanning.
Disney Springs has already reopened. Our opening day visit is posted below:
Disney Springs Back in Business – Our Opening Day Experience!
Other Orlando Theme Parks Reopening As Well
Make Future Magic
The Theme parks are beginning to reopen, and there’s no better time to lock in low rates on future travel than right now. Special comeback rates are now available at some of your favorite theme park hotels.
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!
Are you ready to return to Walt Disney World? Do you think Disney has picked a date that will work for most visitors? What safety precautions are most important to you in order to return to the theme parks?
