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Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

According to a recent post on Unite Here Local 737’s Facebook page (one of the largest unions of Disney World Cast Members) another wave of callbacks for food and beverage workers has just begun!

Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

Be Our Guest Sign

And we’re picking out a few particularly tasty tidbits of information from the “teams” Disney World is asking to return to work!

So far, we mentioned that Epcot Festival Cast Members have started receiving callbacks. Whether this means we’re likely to see Epcot’s Festivals resume when the parks reopen or not — it’s still too soon to tell. But another interesting thing we noticed is that Be Our Guest Restaurant Cast Members are being asked to return — but only for Table Service!

Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

Be Our Guest

This hard-to-get-into Magic Kingdom spot opened in New Fantasyland back in 2012. Due to its popularity (and often needing to obtain an advance reservation for dinner 180 days earlier), Disney began offering a quick-service breakfast and lunch option.

Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

Breakfast at Be Our Guest

Both are unique in that you can still make an advance dining reservation for either breakfast or lunch. Guests can also pre-order breakfast and lunch using the My Disney Experience app.

Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

Dine In The Beast’s Castle!

However, since Disney is only recalling its staff for its sit down dinners, we’re wondering if Be Our Guest Restaurant will resume their fast-casual breakfast and lunch offerings — or if they’ll be postponing them for the time being? Either way, it is very interesting that the union specifically listed is as “Be Our Guest (TSR only – no QSR).”

Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Canceling Their Quick Service Offering for the Time Being?

Grand Ballroom at Be Our Guest

While we’ll be awaiting the official world from Disney regarding the status of Be Our Guest Restaurant we do know the restaurant will be one of the locations using the new Mobile Dine Check-In feature on the My Disney Experience app which you can learn more about here.

Have you ever eaten at Be Our Guest Restaurant? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney News, Featured, magic kingdom, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Breakfast, cast members, dinner, Disney World, Disney World reopening, lunch, Mobile Dine Check-in, quick service, reservation, restaurant, servers, unite here local 737, workers

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Disney News Disney Parks

Face Masks will be Required for Guests Visiting Disneyland

Face Masks will be Required for Guests Visiting Disneyland

With Disneyland‘s reopening coming up next month, Disney fans have been wondering what the health and safety requirements will be. Disney puts the health and safety of both Cast Members and guests as its number one priority.

A recent update shows that Disney is working hard to make sure that there are detailed protocols and procedures to protect the well being of all who will be at the parks. One of those includes all guests and Cast Members are required to wear face masks while at the Disneyland Resort.

You can read the health and safety statement from Disney below:

Enhanced Health and Safety Measures

“We recognize that the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, which is why our reopening approach is deliberately fluid and phased, and there are many factors that are helping us determine the timing of when various aspects of our business will reopen in a responsible way. In addition to following existing state and local guidelines, which continue to evolve, we currently are working with our unions to responsibly and thoughtfully implement new health and safety measures for Cast Members. These enhanced health and safety measures include:

  • Enhanced Protective Measures: We will require mandatory face coverings for both Cast Members and Guests, with the addition of hand-washing stations and physical barriers, where appropriate.
  • Physical Distancing: We will reduce theme park capacity to enable physical distancing and add appropriate signs to help Guests move responsibly throughout the property.
  • Temperature Checks: All Guests will undergo temperature screenings prior to entering the Downtown Disney District or the theme parks; in addition, health screenings and temperature checks will be required daily for Cast Members.
  • Limited-Contact Enhancements: We are recommending cashless transactions and we will reduce Cast Member and Guest interactions with helpful technology, including the expansion of Mobile Order in our Disneyland app, Apple Pay and more.
  • Enhanced Cleaning and Sanitation: We will build upon our existing standards of cleaning with heightened protocols.

While it may be a bit different from the last time you visited, we’ve come up with new ways to create magical moments together—and memories to treasure forever.”

Will you visit the Disneyland Resort with these enhanced health and safety measures?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Disneyland, Parks & Resorts, Travel, Cast Members, COVID-19, Disneyland Reopening, Disneyland Resort, Face Masks, Health and Safety

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Disney Parks

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

We’ve been exploring what a reopened Disney Springs is like for a few weeks now.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Disney Springs

With new health measures, requirements, and capacity limitations; things have definitely changed in Disney World. The reopening of the theme parks is on the horizon, so we’re taking a look back at what our first steps back in Disney mean. Here’s everything we’ve learned from two weeks in a reopened Disney World!

Wearing a mask isn’t the worst thing ever.

Perhaps the most jarring change that we’ve had to get used to is wearing masks when we’re in Disney Springs. What we’ve learned here is that even in the Florida heat, wearing a mask is not the worst thing ever. Would we rather not be wearing masks? Yes. But you definitely get used to wearing one quicker than you think!

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Cast Member with required face mask

If you’re concerned about comfort, check out the tips we’ve put together about wearing your mask around Disney. We also have some recommendations for the most comfortable masks we’ve found so far. We also think they can be super fun when you get a pretty or fun pattern. Disney even came out with a series of official Disney mask designs you can check out!

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Disney Cloth Masks ©Disney

We also learned that you CAN eat and drink while walking around Disney Springs. With this, remember to use your best judgment — you CAN pull your mask down to take a sip of your drink, but try not to leave it down. Try to remain considerate of others as you snack!

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Masks

If you’re worried about the heat, go in and out of shops to cool off some. There are TONS of stores you can step into to get some much needed AC. We also recommend picking some restaurants you’ve been meaning to try and use that as an excuse to sit down and take a break from your mask — if you’re sitting and eating, you’re free to remove your mask, and you can try some new FOOD at the same time!

Disney is serious about new health measures.

We’ve also learned that Disney’s new health measures are rules, NOT guidelines. Physical distancing, temperature checks, and masks are all musts for guests in Disney Springs and Cast Members will let you know when you’re not following one of the health measures.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

World of Disney Social Distancing Stickers

We spotted a few Cast Members reminding guests to replace their mask if they had removed it without eating or drinking! You can refresh yourself on the scope of these new rules with our full breakdown HERE.

Cast Members are still bringing the magic.

Speaking of Cast Members, they are something that HASN’T changed in Disney World. As we’ve seen over the past few weeks, Cast Members are STILL bringing the magic — even from behind their masks.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Cast Member

We’ve had a wonderful time interacting with the Disney Springs Social Distancing Squad and Guest Services Cast. We’ve been cracking up at the fact that STORMTROOPERS are one of the more lighthearted means of enforcing the new rules as well!

Cast Members still are just as awesome at putting a smile on guests’ faces — with good reason. One Cast Member told us that they underwent training for how to be friendly and expressive with their eyes when they can’t show their smiles to guests.

Crowd levels can be a little wonky.

Something else we’ve learned in the past few weeks is that attendance in Disney World is unpredictable right now. We’ve seen some CRAZY crowded days and some days where it seemed like we were the only ones there.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Lines around World of Disney

We’ve seen everything from a six-hour wait to get into World of Disney to entirely empty areas of the complex. Of course, some of this has to do with what’s reopening, the day of the week, and the weather, but we’ve learned NOT to have expectations when it comes to crowd levels from day to day!

Things definitely FEEL different.

The biggest thing we’ve learned is that Disney World definitely feels different. Sure, we expected this, but there was a part of us that hoped things would just fall right back to the way they were before all this. It’s STILL Disney and STILL has all the good that comes with it, but it’s changed just a little bit.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Disney Springs

If you know that being around people or wearing a mask is going to be difficult for you, build up your tolerance in advance. Wear your masks on walks around your neighborhood to get used to the way they feel, especially outdoors in the heat.

On top of that, know your limits and your surroundings. Be aware of “getaway” spots that will be less crowded if you need to get away from people for a moment.

What We’ve Learned From Visiting a VERY Different Disney World

Disney Springs

Things DO feel different but Disney is still Disney. We still love strolling the streets of Disney Springs even with these changes. The parks could still feel just as magical when they reopen, even if there’s a different experience that accompanies the old feelings. We’ll be here every step of the way to give you the best tips, tricks, and advice to make returning to Disney World easy for YOU too.

What have you learned with Disney World open again? Tell us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, cast members, disney springs, disney springs reopening, Disney World, Disney World reopening, face masks, guest services, health measures

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Disney Merch Disney Parks

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen how Disney World is changing LOADS about the theme parks and adapting to current state and national health standards. These changes are to keep their Cast Members and guests safe. One topic we’ve heard a LOT about from our readers has been the future of pin trading in Disney World.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

French Quarter Pin Board

Pin trading is a close-contact activity between guests and Cast Members, so does this mean that pin trading as we know it will become a thing of the past at Disney World? Let’s take a look at what the concerns are surrounding pin trading and what might change moving forward.

Pin trading is serious business for many Disney fans and collectors. There are countless pins available at the parks and resorts for folks to purchase. Special events like Epcot’s festivals or the holiday season will often have a series of limited edition pins for guests to collect. In short, a lot of people LOVE collecting and trading pins.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

2020 Magic Kingdom Pin

The act of pin trading typically involves a Cast Member wearing a lanyard or pouch covered in pins. The guest chooses which pin they would like, and then trades one of their pins in exchange. Some retail locations, front desks of resorts, and Guest Relations locations have pin boards or books from which guests can also select what they would like to trade for.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Galaxy’s Edge Lanyard with Pin

Disney understands the popularity of pin trading and collecting. It used to be that many pins, including limited edition ones, could only be purchased in the parks and resorts. Since Disney World and Disneyland closed their gates mid-March, specialty pins started to appear on shopDisney for folks to purchase.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Cinderella 70th Anniversary Pin

So, what is the main concern with pin trading in these current times? The act of trading pins means that you are touching an object that was just touched by someone else. If a Cast Member has a pin that was previously given to them by a different guest, and now YOU are touching that pin — there’s an obvious health and sanitation concern.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Caribbean Beach Pin Trading Board

In Disney Springs, one of the most common locations for pin trading is at World of Disney. When we spoke to Cast Members before the store reopened on May 27, we heard that there would most likely be some form of pin trading taking place, but modified from previous experiences.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

World of Disney

Disney announced that several merchandise experiences would be modified as more retail locations reopen. When it comes to pin trading, Guests can continue to trade through pin boards in select locations. For the time being, to promote physical distancing, Cast Members will NOT be wearing lanyards with pins.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Disney’s Statement on Limited-Release Merchandise

At this time, it’s unclear how long these measures will continue once the parks reopen. The only constant at Disney World is change and protocols could be updated or altered at any moment. For now, we know that pin trading is not COMPLETELY gone, but our pin trading experience will look different from before the park closures.

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Pin Trading Board

What remains to be seen is how pin trading will be monitored or controlled. For example, you may not be able to touch a pin until a Cast Member sanitizes it for you, or we may see Cast Members putting on gloves before handling any pins. This is currently speculation and, until we see for ourselves what pin trading is like, we can only guess! (Currently, no pin trading is taking place, not even at the reopened Pin Traders location in Disney Springs)

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Pin Trading Mickey

Disney is also probably aware that they cannot eliminate pin trading that takes place between two guests. Pin trading extends beyond just guests and Cast Members, and many folks love to swap pins if they see someone else wearing one that they may want to add to their collection.

It seems likely Disney will have a calculated plan in place before the parks reopen. Pin Trading is quite popular with a significant enough number of guests that eliminating it entirely isn’t feasible, so a new method of distribution and trading that takes health concerns into consideration will have to be implemented. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more concerning the state of pins in the Disney Parks.

What do you think the future of pin trading will look like at Disney World? Will you continue to pin trade in the immediate future? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, cast members, Disney merchandise, disney springs, Disney World, pin board, pin book, pin trading, pins, World of Disney

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Disney Food Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS: Disney World Is Calling Back More Full-Time Food and Beverage Cast Members

Earlier we reported some union Cast Members from Disney World’s hotels and theme parks were being called back to resume working as early as June 14th, and know we can provide you with a few more updates!

Cake Pop at Magic Kingdom

According to a recent post on Unite Here Local 737 union’s Facebook page, we now know a few more food and beverage locations that have started calling back their full-time Cast Members as Disney World gets ready for its big reopening!

Here’s are a few more specific areas where Cast Members are being called back to their positions starting June 21st.

Photo Credit: Local 737 Union

The Orlando Hotel and Restaurant Workers Movement which is affiliated with the Unite Here Local 737 union has also begun calling back Cast Members for several Disney World hotels. The post went on to state additional workers may also be called to some of the locations that have previously been announced and that they’ll be providing more information soon.

Are you a full-time Disney World food and beverage Cast Member? Let us know if you’ve been called back in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. We’re Adding Another Restaurant to the List! Blaze Pizza in Disney Springs Will Reopen May 20th
  2. PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs
  3. News! Vivoli il Gelato Will NOT Be Reopening Today in Disney Springs

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney News, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, 737, called back, cast member, cast members, Disney World, food and beverage, reopening, resort hotel, restaurant, return to work, theme park, union, Unite Here Local 737 union, workers