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Disney releases an Update on staying at a Disney Resort Hotel before reopening

Disney releases an Update on staying at a Disney Resort Hotel before reopening Disney Resort Hotel

Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services Katie Kelly has just released an update on staying at a Disney Resort Hotel this morning:

Check it out below…

Dear Guests,

As we look towards reopening our parks and resorts around the world, your wellbeing – and the wellbeing of our cast members – is one of our top priorities. In March, we began the phased reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort, and on May 20, we took another step as guests returned to shop and dine at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. Just as we’ve started making plans for our theme parks, we are also making plans for our hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts. With that in mind, we wanted to share what you can expect when you book a stay at a Disney Resort hotel.

As Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel shared in her previous update, our health and safety team has taken a close look at the experiences at our hotels, from resort and room cleaning to check-in, dining and entertainment, so you can have a magical visit with peace of mind. During your stay, you’ll find updates and enhancements made with health and safety in mind, in line with the guidance of health and government authorities.

At the Resort

Staying with confidence starts at check-in, with options to use Online Check-in service at select locations and meet your luggage at your room with redesigned bell services.

Throughout Disney Resort hotels, we’re increasing cleaning in high-traffic areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms, and more. We’ve also expanded the number of hand sanitizer locations across the property.

At our restaurants, lobbies, pools, fitness centers, and other public areas, we’re looking at adjusting services to enable preventive measures and physical distancing, including reducing capacity where appropriate and implementing enhanced cleaning measures.

We’re using technology to aid us in these efforts, with limited-contact services in place at our shopping and dining locations, with Mobile Order, cashless options and Magic Bands.**

In Your Room

Before arrival, every room will be given enhanced cleaning. During your stay, a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day.**

Our housekeeping cast members will receive training on increased cleaning measures throughout the resort hotel and for each guest room, including updated practices for cleaning tools and managing in-room amenities, linens, luggage, and more.

Disney releases an Update on staying at a Disney Resort Hotel before reopening

Of course, we all have an important role to play in promoting health and safety. We are asking our guests to help, by washing your hands frequently with soap and water; following physical distancing and other guidelines when you visit; and rescheduling your visit if you or a member of your party feel ill or are subject to quarantine or other travel restrictions.

We’ll share more information about the health and safety measures at Disney Resort hotels with you ahead of your visit – and continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as appropriate.

While our new experience may be a little different from the last time you stayed with us, a magical and memorable visit awaits you at our Disney resort hotels. We’re looking forward to welcoming you – see you real soon!

Katie Kelly

Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services
Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products

*Owned-and-operated Disney resorts.
**Available at Walt Disney World Resort only.
***Disney Vacation Club members will receive their traditional housekeeping service.

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From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, Disney Hotel, disney resort hotel, Disney World, Disney World Reopening, Disneyland

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Everything Disney World is Refunding Right Now!

Things have been shaken up in Disney World and we are here to help you sift through it all.

Epcot Monorail

Quick recap: Disney World closed in March, kept accepting reservations, announced reopening dates, then wiped out existing dining and FastPass+ reservations. Now what? Disney is still sorting our their plan of action for the reopening, but let’s take a look at each part of your vacation to see what they are currently refunding!

Disney World plans to open Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th. To help limit the parks’ capacities, Disney is rolling out a new reservation system. But what does that mean for guests who already booked resort reservations?

Disney World Resort Hotels

As the closure has been extended, Disney has been cancelling and refunding hotel reservations that were scheduled during the closure automatically.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney retracted their previous announcement that Resort Hotels (Other than Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Fort Wilderness) would be reopening and have not released a reopening date for these other hotels. However, in order to accommodate guests with existing reservations, Disney World placed a hold on new hotel and ticket reservations. Guests with existing Resort reservations will have priority access to the new park reservation system.

Disney World Tickets

As we mentioned, you can’t purchase a new ticket right now, because Disney is focusing on guests with existing tickets for the time being. But with all the different types of Disney tickets available, Disney World is handling each one a little differently.

Park Tickets

Unexpired multi-day park tickets or date specific park tickets that would have been valid on March 12th are still being extended through December 15, 2020. Or, you can apply the value from an unused ticket towards a ticket at a later date.

Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom

At this time, park-hopper add-ons will NOT be automatically refunded. According to a Cast Member we spoke with, “It will not happen automatically do to the fact that we currently do not have information on if our Guests will be able to park hop.”

You can read more about Disney World’s Ticket extension policy here!

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway sign

Disney’s new reservation system will require guests to book a ticket for a specific date, similar to how Shanghai Disneyland reopened. Guests with resort reservations will have priority access to this new system. Guests will also be required to have a valid park reservation and admission before they can book dining or other experiences. We will keep you updated when we hear more details about this new system!

You can read more about the reservation system here!

Florida Resident Discovery Disney Tickets

Florida Resident Discovery Disney Tickets are currently valid through September 30, 2020.

Disney World Annual Passes

Disney stated that Annual Passholders might have access to special experiences and priority booking once the parks reopen. However, the website is still reflecting the same cancellation policy from the closures.

You can read more about Disney World’s Annual Pass refund process here!

Special Ticketed Events

During the closure, Disney has been refunding event tickets for cancelled events including Disney’s After Hours, Villains After Hours, Early Morning Magic, and H20 Glow Nights.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom

Disney has discontinued ticket sales for upcoming events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but a Cast Member confirmed that — as of now — the tickets are still valid. We will keep you updated as we learn more about these parties.

You can read more about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets here!

Disney World Dining

In anticipation of the reopening, Disney has canceled all existing dining plans and dining reservations “including Disney dining plans included in packages.”

©Disney

So if you grabbed an advance dining reservation, you booked a Disney Dining Plan with your trip, OR you received a free Dining Plan with your vacation package — these will be automatically canceled and refunded. This cancellation applies to plans from May 28, 2020 through September 26, 2021.

All pre-paid dining or dining experience reservations will be automatically refunded and you will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.

Be Our Guest

Note: This does not mean Disney will not have dining plans or reservations by 2021, they are just clearing their current bookings to make way for a new system.

Once the new reservation system is live, the traditional 180 day booking window will change to a 60 day booking window prior to the reservation date. Additionally, if you are a Tables in Wonderland member, your membership will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Similar to the park reservation system, once the new dining reservation system goes live, guests with existing reservations will receive priority access to rebook dining reservations.

You can read more about the dining cancellations here!

Now What??

A LOT has changed in the past several hours, so things are very much up in the air. Take a deep breath and know that you aren’t alone in this. We’re tracking down as much info as we can and will keep you posted here at DFB with the most up-to-date news we have!

If you have questions about your booking, you can call (407) 934-7639 for Disney Customer Support or use the chat feature to message with someone on the Disney World website. To cancel or change your reservation, you can do so online using My Disney Experience.

As you can imagine, Disney World is receiving a high volume of calls and messages, so there might be a bit of a wait. If you booked your trip with a travel agent, you can contact them for more details and for next steps. We’re in this together and please let us know your questions so we can help you out as much as possible!

If Disney World adds or changes any refund policies, we will keep updating this post with the newest information!

Click here to learn more about Disney World’s CONFIRMED reopening dates!

What questions do you have for us about the reopening? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to get the answer to you!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney dining tips, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, After Hours, dining, Disney, disney accommodations, disney dining, disney dining plan, Disney free dining, disney hotel, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs restaurant, disney ticket, Disney World, disney world resort, disney world resort hotel, disney world ticket, free dining, free dining plan, hotel reservations, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, table service dining, walt disney world resort