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Planning Your Disney Parks Vacation

An update from Guest Relations at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

Dear Guests,

It’s an understatement to say that the past few months have been a challenging time for us all.  As we navigate the longest park closures in our histories, we’ve loved hearing your kind words of hope and seeing how you’ve made your own Disney memories at home has uplifted and inspired us all.

During this time, we know it can be difficult to plan your Disney vacation. Now more than ever we’re longing for the opportunity to come together with family and friends to escape, to celebrate, to re-do missed milestones, like birthdays and anniversaries and to make new Disney memories.

Given the current uncertainty as to when we will reopen Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, we’ve had to periodically adjust the schedule for the ability to book hotel reservations at our resorts. While we’re currently accepting reservations starting in July 2020 at both resorts, as this situation evolves, timing may continue to shift.

As we continue to follow guidance from government and health care officials regarding how we’ll be able to reopen our parks and resorts in a responsible way, we may also need to make real-time adjustments to booked experiences, park tickets and park passes.

Please know that if any reservations you may have made need to change, we will work with you to make the necessary modifications.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out the recent blog post from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, on how we’re planning for re-opening our parks and resorts.

Our focus remains on the safety of the entire Disney community. Be sure to keep checking our websites for more details, and stay tuned for more information right here on the Disney Parks Blog.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unprecedented time together. We continue to be moved by the incredible support and passion our guests have shown for our Disney family, and we hope to see you real soon.

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

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Disney News Disney Parks

It’s official Legoland Florida reopening on June 1st

Legoland Florida Reopening

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort will officially reopen on June 1st. As the health and safety of guests and employees at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort continues to be paramount, the Resort’s extensive plan of enhanced health and safety measures includes reduced capacity, cashless payments, social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning regimes. The Resort will initially open with adjusted operating hours.

Along with the park and waterpark’s reopening, the all-new LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel will debut on June 1. Reservations are available for travel dates June 1 or later for both LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel and LEGOLAND® Hotel.

Here is a look at what guests can expect with the reopening of LEGOLAND Florida Resort on June 1.

PEACE OF MIND POLICY FOR NEW LEGOLAND® FLORIDA BOOKINGS & ANNUAL PASS PURCHASES

We want you to have the most vacation ever — starting with your LEGOLAND Florida vacation planning experience with us.  With the Peace of Mind planning, we hope to make it a little easier for your family to assemble the pieces of your next vacation so we can build those fun, exciting and special memories together. For that reason, we have launched our “Peace of Mind Policy” with timing flexibility for booking vacation packages and for our existing Annual Passholders and ticket holders.

You can continue to book your LEGOLAND Florida vacation with the peace of mind that there is the option to change your hotel or vacation package reservation date up to five (5) days before your trip without incurring a fee.

For our new Annual Passholders, we want you to join our passholder family with the opportunity to redeem and launch your year with us during an extended period of time. You can now visit our theme park up to 100 days after your purchase to activate your new annual pass.

For our existing Annual Passholders, we will be extending the validity of your pass based on the duration of our closure period or, in the case of our Annual Passholders using monthly pay, reinstating your pass payments starting June 1 as we welcome you and your families back to experience our parks.

For Guests who had a dated ticket that was valid during our closure dates, we will be extending the validity window of your ticket through the end of 2020 so that you have the flexibility to visit us later in the year.

The Peace of Mind Policy applies to new LEGOLAND® Florida Vacation Packages & new LEGOLAND Florida Annual Pass purchases from March 9:

For a limited time, all reservations can be rescheduled up to 4 P.M. Eastern Time five (5) days prior to scheduled arrival date free of charge. Any changes to your reservation are subject to availability and new room rates may apply. If you made your booking within five (5) days of arrival, no cancellations, changes or refunds are allowed. In the event of no-show, all monies are forfeited. Tickets and Extras are non-refundable once issued, but may be used up to one year from the original reservation date. Restrictions may apply.

This policy applies only to reservations made directly through LEGOLAND® Vacations.  If your travel plans were arranged by a third-party, including travel agents, travel-booking websites, or other businesses independent of LEGOLAND® Parks and Resorts or LEGOLAND® Vacations, please contact those suppliers directly to understand their policies and any applicable fees for changing or cancelling a reservation.

The extension of the redemption window for all new LEGOLAND Florida Annual Pass purchases (current pass purchases must be activated/redeemed at the LEGOLAND Florida Front Gate within 60 days of purchase) to 100 days from date of purchase is available to guests who purchase a valid Annual Pass product between March 11 and July 31, 2020. Regular Annual Pass terms & conditions apply per pass type as outlined in the terms & conditions specific to each pass type.

The Peace of Mind Policy applies to existing LEGOLAND Florida Annual Passholders and LEGOLAND Florida tickets purchased for closure dates through the duration of closure:

All active Annual Passholders, who are not currently enrolled in Monthly Pay, will receive an extension of one month for every month that the Park is closed based on the valid dates for their existing pass. All active Monthly Pay Passholder’s monthly payments were suspended starting April 1, 2020 and will be reinstated as of June 1, 2020 based on the park’s announced reopening date. Regular Annual Pass terms & conditions apply per pass type as outlined in the terms & conditions specific to each pass type.

Any unused tickets that were valid for specific dates during the announced closure period (excludes FLEX tickets) of March 16 – through the duration of closure will be valid to use as regular admission on any valid day (based on the ticket type purchased) for the rest of 2020, upon reopening, with no additional fee. Regular terms & conditions for tickets, as outlined during purchase, still apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL

Are the hotels open? / What is LEGOLAND Hotel doing to ensure guest health and safety during coronavirus concerns?

Along with the park and waterpark’s reopening, the all-new LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel will debut on June 1. Reservations are available for travel dates June 1 or later for both LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel and LEGOLAND® Hotel.

For more information about our enhanced health & safety measures specific to our on-site hotels, please click here.

ANNUAL PASSES

How will the closure of LEGOLAND Florida Resort impact Annual Passes?

All active Annual Passholders, who are not currently enrolled in Monthly Pay, will receive an extension of one month for every month that the Theme Park was closed based on the valid dates for their existing pass (up to three (3) months). Blackout dates by Annual Pass type still apply.

All active Monthly Pay Pass Members in good standing will have their April and May monthly payments suspended. The number of suspended months will be deducted from the number of required contracted monthly payments. For example, the suspended months of April and May reduce the required payments from 12 to 10. Although the contract allows them to continue month-to-month after the revised required 10 monthly payments. Monthly payments will be reinstated as of June 1, 2020 with the announced reopening of the park. Billings will continue until they cancel.

Standard terms and conditions for annual passes still apply.

Are the Awesomer and Awesomest Annual Passes valid at Madame Tussauds and SeaLife Orlando since they have reopened before LEGOLAND Florida Resort?

Yes, these passes will be valid for use at both attractions for the rest of May 2020 preceding the LEGOLAND Florida Resort reopening on June 1, 2020.

TICKETS

What should I do with my unused tickets if I was planning to visit during the closure?

Any unused tickets that were valid for specific dates during the announced closure period (excludes FLEX tickets) will be valid to use any day for the rest of 2020 with no additional fee. You did not need to request a date change; this will be automatically applied to all valid tickets.

I had Parking, Souvenir bottles, or Fastrack add-ons to my tickets, will those be extended?

All of the above will be automatically extended with your tickets for use on the day when you choose to visit LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

I had a Water Park Cabana, VIP Tour, ECV, Stroller or Wheelchair rental for my visit, will those be extended?

Yes, these items will be extended for your visit but will need to be rebooked by our team due to availability. When you’ve decided to visit again, just email llf.experience@legoland.com and we will be happy to rebook them free of charge.

RESORTS

Questions about your upcoming reservation?  

If you have made a reservation through LEGOLAND Vacations with an arrival date through May 31, 2020, you will receive an email from our Reservations Team at least 5 days prior to your scheduled arrival. This email will provide details and instructions on your booking options (it will arrive in your email inbox or folder from LEGOLAND@legoland.com).

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing heavy call volume and prioritizing guests with arrivals within the next 5 days. We ask that you use the contact options in the above email for the most expedited service from our team. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

What if I booked my vacation from another seller/website?

If guests’ travel plans were arranged by a third-party, including travel agents, travel-booking websites, or other businesses independent of LEGOLAND® Parks and Resorts or LEGOLAND® Vacations, they will need to contact those suppliers directly to understand their policies and any applicable fees for changing or cancelling a reservation.

When will the new Pirate Island Hotel open? / What should I do if I have a vacation already booked for Pirate Island Hotel based on the previous opening date?

New reservations are now available for travel dates June 1 or later for the all-new LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel, as well as LEGOLAND® Hotel and LEGOLAND® Beach Retreat. For the most recent updates, visit: legoland.com/operations-update

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Legoland, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, COVID-19, legoland Florida, Legoland Florida reopening, orlando

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Disney News Disney Parks

News! Reopening Plans For Gatorland, Fun Spot, and MORE Have Been Approved By Mayor Demings

While last night we learned Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings had given Universal Studios Orlando’s reopening plan for its theme parks the green light, several smaller attractions have also been approved. We shared that a few of these locations are hoping to open THIS weekend just yesterday. 

Disney Springs

Since Demings approved the plans for thirteen other Central Florida attractions, they will now go to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office for his acceptance.

First reported by WESH 2 News, here is the list of attractions who have submitted their plans to reopen:

  • Fun Spot of Florida, Inc.
  • Gatorland
  • I-Drive Thrill Park LLC (Magical Midway Family Fun Center)
  • ICON Park Orlando
  • K1 Speed Orlando
  • Nona Adventure Park, LLC
  • Orlando Slingshot, LLC
  • Orlando Starflyer
  • Wonderworks Orlando
  • Aloma Bowl
  • Boardwalk Bowl
  • Andretti’s Indoor Karting and Gaming

Disney Springs

Andretti Indoor Karting and Games has been training its staff this week on social distancing and new disinfecting techniques while Magical Midway and the Orlando Sling Shot are gearing up to reopen at  50% capacity with the Governor’s approval along with other safety modifications. The arcade will remain closed while only the outdoor attractions will be open.

West Side Starbucks

In Polk County, Legoland has also submitted a plan to reopen at 50% capacity on June 1st. It is also awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis’ approval.

©Legoland

Disney World is expected to submit a reopening plan for its theme parks to the Orange County Mayor by as early as next week. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.

Have you ever visited any of these attractions in Florida? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, Walt Disney World, central florida, Disney World, florida governor, governor ron desantis, Icon Park, legoland, mayor jerry demings, orange county mayor, phased reopening, request to reopen, small attractions, small theme parks, smaller attractions, submitted plans, task force

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Disney Movies Disney News Disney+

Deep Breath! The All-New ‘Zenimation’ Series Has Arrived on Disney+

We have to tell you, folks, Disney just dropped some content that we didn’t know we needed — and we LOVE it!

©Disney

We were checking in on some new Disney+ content this morning when we spotted a pretty interesting new series of shorts. Ever felt like you needed to relax with the help of some beautiful Disney animation? Now, it’s super easy to with the Zenimation series. Check it out!

Zenimation is a new 10-episode series of shorts that are meant to help you chill out and relax at home. The episodes feature iconic animation from classic and recent Disney films accompanied by calming sounds.

©Disney

For instance, the first episode “Water” shows us some of Disney’s beautiful water animation with Moana, Ariel, and Elsa. The water sounds are turned up with other sounds minimized so that the compilation is as relaxing as possible. Other episodes include “Cityscapes,” “Discovery,” “Flight,” and more!

©Disney

Honestly, we’re very here for it and can’t wait to zen out to some Disney animation. You can find all 10 episodes streaming NOW on Disney+. Deep breath!

Will you be chillin’ with Disney’s Zenimation? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney+, Featured, News, Disney, disney plus, disney+ streaming service, Zenimation

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Disney News Disney Parks

Monorails have started running again at Walt Disney World

Monorails

The monorails are operating once again at Walt Disney World! It’s been over two months since we’ve seen the monorail system running on Disney grounds. Even though we don’t have a reopening date scheduled for Walt Disney World yet, it appears the work crew is testing the monorails with maintenance runs to have them prepared for guests in the future.

You can check out these photos a visitor, Girl Meets Disney World, took of the monorail when it was running yesterday.

And the highway in the sky has returned!!!! So happy to see some rails out on the beams!❤️?❤️?❤️Disney transportation…

Posted by Girl Meets Disney World on Thursday, May 21, 2020

Others have seen the monorail system running and shared their photos on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

 

Starting to run monorails today. #waltdisneyworld #monorail #castmember

A post shared by Sam- Disney World Travel Agent (@sammy_disney_cast_member) on May 21, 2020 at 6:11pm PDT

The monorail is a beloved mode of transportation on the Walt Disney World property. It’s used to transport guests at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) to either Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

So far, Disney has not yet confirmed a reopening date. Universal Studios Orlando submitted their reopening plans to the Orange County Task Force with intent to open to the public on June 5th. However, the Walt Disney Company plans to submit their reopening plan next week, which means we should have a better idea of when Walt Disney World will reopen once they send it in to the Orange County Task Force.

Source: Girl Meets Disney World

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Rides, Transportation, Walt Disney World, Disney Monorail, Disney World, monorail, TTC