Author: disneyparks.disney.go.com

The phased reopening of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks begins this Saturday with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here’s a look at how they’re preparing to welcome guests once again.  

For more information on the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, visit Disneyworld.com/Updates.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World Resort, WDW

As we continue the phased reopenings of our parks and resorts across the world, promoting health and safety for our guests, cast members, and the larger community is a responsibility we take very seriously.

On Saturday, we will continue the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, marking the first of our domestic theme parks to welcome guests back to the magic. While we await California guidelines for reopening Disneyland Resort, and will adjust as necessary, we wanted to share more information on our approach to health and safety in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks.   

We remain deeply committed to focusing on your well-being when you visit or work at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. From increased cleaning and disinfecting across our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reimagined the Disney experience so we can all enjoy the magic responsibly. We implemented our health and safety measures after considering the guidance of government and local health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to the U.S. Travel Association and Disney’s team of health experts.

Together, we are a Disney family, and while COVID-19, and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each other’s safety.  As we implement our guidelines at our parks and resorts, we want to thank our guests and cast members for all they do to care for one another by doing their part.

1.  Health & Wellness

At Disney, our approach emphasizes a combination of measures to help reduce risk in the carefully managed environment of our parks and resorts. 

• Limited and carefully managed attendance: All guests will be required to make advanced ticket purchases and reservations.
• Reduced capacity and physical distancing: We’re reducing capacity by letting fewer people enter our parks and are adjusting experiences to allow for physical distancing, a key measure reinforced by the CDC. This includes physical distancing in dining experiences, attractions, queues and other locations. Additionally, physical barriers have been installed in areas where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain, like cash registers.
• Temperature checks: Quick temperature checks are required for all guests at entry to our theme parks.
• Face coverings: We will be requiring both cast members and guests ages two and older to wear a face covering – unless swimming or when eating or drinking – and enforcing this policy across our parks and resorts.
• Handwashing and hand sanitizer: We have increased the number of hand sanitizer locations and handwashing stations throughout our parks and resorts.
• First Aid locations: Our first aid locations are staffed by experienced nursing staff and have updated their protocols for responding to symptoms of illness.

2. Cleaning & Disinfecting

We’ve updated our already high standards for cleanliness across our parks and resorts, with a special emphasis on areas such as attractions, queues, dining, lobbies, transportation and other common spaces.

• Increased cleaning & disinfecting: We’re increasing the frequency of cleaning, especially for frequently-touched surfaces and high-traffic areas. Following park close, each park will receive an enhanced cleaning before guests arrive the next day.
• New procedures for resort stays: In addition to increasing cleaning in areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, tables, handles, and restrooms, we’ve updated our procedures for guest rooms at our owned-and-operated Walt Disney World hotels. Before arrival, every room will be given an enhanced cleaning and a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day during the stay.

3. Technology Solutions

We are tapping into Disney innovation to help promote health and safety for our guests and cast members.

• Disney apps: With the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps our guests already know and love, guests can view hand sanitizer and handwashing locations, explore digital menus, and more.
• Limited-contact options: From Mobile Order and cashless payments, to Walt Disney World’s MagicBands and online check-in at select locations, we’re offering technology solutions that can make it easier for our guests to minimize contact and maintain physical distancing.

4. Cast Member Training & Workplace Safety

Safety starts with our cast, and we’ve adopted a number of new policies and practices for cast members at work. 

• Training: Cast members are receiving additional training on both new measures and the continued importance of personal health and hygiene, such as handwashing and of course, staying home when ill. For some, this includes training on how to help everyone who visits to follow new health and safety measures, including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distancing. 
• Workplace health and safety: We’ve increased the frequency of cleaning in work areas, adjusted our work practices to promote physical distancing, and introduced new protocols for temperature checks and face coverings. 
• Health screenings: Cast members will self-screen for temperature and symptoms of illness before each shift and will stay home if they are not feeling well.

5. Working Together

Because each of us shares a responsibility for the health of our community, we’re making resources available to make guests aware of our new policies, so they too can do their part.

• Guest communication: We’re proactively sharing information with guests about what to expect ahead of their visit to support their planning. In our parks and resorts, we have added signage about personal health and hygiene measures, physical distancing, and more. 
• Following our guidelines: A special group of cast members will also be present in the parks to explain our new procedures, answer questions guests may have, and encourage everyone to follow these measures to promote the well-being of us all.
• “Together We Can Make Today Incredible” campaign: In June, we introduced “Together We Can Make Today Incredible,” a health and safety campaign that spotlights healthy behaviors featuring fan-favorite characters from the Incredibles animated movies. The campaign emphasizes that everyone has an important role to play in health and safety while engaging guests in a uniquely Disney way.

We’re looking forward to upholding this plan each day, and to the return of our guests and cast members to our parks and resorts. 

If you have additional questions about a specific experience, we hope that you’ll explore the resources below:

• Walt Disney World: Know Before You Go
• Walt Disney World Resort Hotels: Know Before You Go
• Disney Springs: Know Before You Go
• Downtown Disney District: Know Before You Go
• Reopening Disney Parks – Our Continued Focus on Health and Safety, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel
• An Update on Disney Resort Hotels, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services Katie Kelly

When you’re ready to join us at your favorite Disney destinations, we’re excited to welcome you back. Until then, be well – see you soon!

Dr. Pamela Hymel
Chief Medical Officer
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, DLR, WDW

As part of our phased reopening, guests can now book additional dining and experience reservations at Walt Disney World Resort.  

From dining inside Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom Park and the culinary adventures of World Showcase at EPCOT to select table-service restaurants in our Disney Resort hotels, guests can take advantage of a 60-day booking window (beginning July 7) to plan meals and other experiences.

To help you plan, here are important updates to our food and beverage experience:

• In-Park Dining: Theme park 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 for in-park, table-service restaurants for the same park on the same date.  Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.
• Disney Resort Hotel Dining: A confirmed dining reservation is required for day guests and reservations are highly recommended for guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel. 
• Disney Springs Dining: Select dining locations at Disney Springs are currently accepting reservations. Please visit https://DisneySprings.com/dining for schedules and availability.

Guests can also take advantage of the new My Disney Experience mobile check-in feature, which allows guests to bypass the line at the podium and check in for dining reservations at select Walt Disney World Resort table-service restaurants on their own mobile devices.

For reservations, booking windows and other offerings, visit our “Know Before You Go” page at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/dine/. 

Be sure to also check out  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ for the latest menus and offerings as we implement wellness, physical distancing and minimized contact for guests at our restaurants. 

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to dine in our Walt Disney World Resort restaurants! Be sure to stay connected with Disney Parks Blog for more Disney dining updates.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disney Dining, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World Resort, Dining, WDW

This morning’s #DisneyMagicMoments celebrates the quirky world of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland park. What’s really special about Mickey’s Toontown in the early morning are all the sounds and details you may not notice during the daytime. Check out the video “rewind” below!

Did you know? The landscaping of Mickey’s Toontown is bright and colorful, just like the cartoons themselves. The plants and trees throughout the area were all selected to mimic the colors in Technicolor cartoons.

Check out more of these types of stories on our special #DisneyMagicMoments page on the Disney Parks Blog. 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, DL, DLR, Video

Disney Channel stars Ava Kolker and Christian J Simon from “Sydney to the Max” teamed up with the Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team and National Geographic to learn about the animals that live at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.* Ava and Christian had the unique opportunity to get up close to some of the most incredible animals on the planet and learn how the animal care experts take care of them. These previously recorded pieces showcase Sumatran tigers, zebra longwing butterflies, giant swallowtail butterflies and prehensile-tailed porcupines. 

Ava and Christian worked with Dawn, an animal keeper, to prepare some food-based enrichment items for the Sumatran tigers and then delivered these to the Sumatran tigers at the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Check out the video below to find out what happens: 

Ava and Christian got up close to a prehensile-tailed porcupine while learning from Conservation Manager Dr. Zak and Maria, an animal keeper, about what makes these animals unique. They even met a baby porcupine, called a porcupette! 

Dr. Zak shared with Ava and Christian why butterflies are so important and provided the chance for them to interact with zebra longwing butterflies and giant swallowtail butterflies in the Pollination Garden near Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. 

Together we can make a positive impact by protecting the places these and other animals call home. To check out more of Ava and Christian’s animal adventures, click here to visit the Disney Magic Moments collection in the DisneyNOW app. 

DisneyNOW is a kids-safe app with the newest episodes and current seasons of your favorite Disney Channel shows, DCOMs and dozens of games. 

*Some images do not represent current operational guidelines or health and safety measures such as face covering and physical distancing requirements.  Visit disneyworld.com for important details to know before you visit.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort