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Disney Springs Reopens today at 10am

Disney Springs Reopening

Disney Springs has begun a phased reopening today! The hours of operation are 10 am to 10 pm.

Matt Simon Vice President of Disney Springs talks about the new safety measures at Disney Springs.

To get an idea of what they will look like check out this video.

Here is more information on what to expect at Disney Springs.

For Cast Members, Operating Participant employees and Guests, there are 6 key things to know before arriving at Disney Springs, and they include:

  • Limited parking and reduced entrances
  • Temperature screenings prior to entry
  • Face coverings required for Guests ages 3 and up
  • Physical distancing practices including physically-distanced queues and physical barriers
  • Temporary operation modifications, including reduced hours at select locations and no scheduled entertainment offerings or high-touch interactive areas
  • An increased focus on disinfecting and sanitation, including the addition of hand-washing stations and hand sanitizers in key areas

Since many of these measures will be new, and may evolve, we want to be sure Guests, Cast Members and Operating Participant employees are aware of all these changes.

  COVID-19 Warning

We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other Guests, and Cast Members. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting Disney Springs.

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and Guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

By visiting Disney Springs you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

Help keep each other healthy.

Guest Parking and Entrances

During this initial phase, Guests will be directed to self-park in the Orange and Lime garages; all surface parking lots will be closed. At opening, we have also reduced Guest entryways to 4 locations: Orange and Lime garages, along with the Hotel Plaza Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge and the rideshare location. Guest access to Disney Springs from the Grapefruit garage will be restricted.

Temperature Screening

All Guests are required to undergo temperature screenings upon arrival at Disney Springs.

  • Guest Screening: During this initial period, Guests will undergo temperature screening in these locations: the second-floor exits of Orange and Lime parking garages and the Marketplace Entrance (to serve Guests from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge and the rideshare drop-off lot). Based on guidance from health authorities, anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 F or above will be directed to an additional location for rescreening and assistance. Those with temperatures above 100.4 will not be allowed entry; those in their party will not be allowed entry either.
  • Employee Screening: Cast Members and Operating Participant employees will be required to complete a health screening and temperature check at home, prior to coming to work.

Limited Contact

Following guidance from the government and the medical community regarding enhanced screening procedures and prevention measures, we have made some temporary adjustments that include limited-contact Guest Services to ensure a responsible and enjoyable environment for everyone.

  • Face Coverings: All Guests ages 3 and older are required to wear face coverings when visiting Walt Disney World Resort.All face coverings should:
    • Fully cover an individual’s nose and mouth and allow the Guest to remain hands-free
    • Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
    • Be secured with ties or ear loops
    • Be made of breathable cloth material, either disposable or reusable

    Costume masks are not considered appropriate and are prohibited from being worn, in alignment with our existing rules.

    Guests are required to wear face coverings at all times, except while dining or swimming. The use of face coverings should not be seen as a substitute for physical distancing. Guests must provide their own disposable or reusable face covering.

  • Physical Barriers: Physical barriers have been added in select places where it is difficult to maintain strict physical distancing guidelines. These may be visible in areas around cash registers or at Guest Relations, for example, to help ensure proper distances between people.
  • Cashless Transactions: At this time, it is recommended all Guests use cashless or contactless payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, Disney Gift Cards, Disney Rewards Redemption Cards and mobile wallets—including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Guests may purchase a Disney Gift Card at select Merchandise locations and Welcome Center (Guest Relations) to pay without cash.

Physical Distancing and Capacity Measures

Managing the number of Guests visiting Disney Springs has been a major consideration as we implement physical distancing guidelines based on recommendations from health authorities and government officials. One of the ways to do that is to limit the number of Guests and Cast Members at any given time for each location. Additional measures include:

  • Signage: Directional signage has been installed to assist Guests to responsibly move throughout the property. Additionally, ground markings will help promote proper physical distancing when queuing is needed at a location.
  • Training: We are also training Cast Members to engage with Guests and promote physical distancing guidelines in common areas and queues.

Cleanliness and Sanitation

We’ve increased cleaning and disinfection in high-traffic areas such as public elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms and more. Additionally, Disney Springs will open with hand sanitizer and hand-washing locations, and Guests are highly encouraged to use these while visiting.

Cast Training

We’re further emphasizing our strong culture of health and safety among Cast Members and Operating Participant employees, and will continue to provide new training and reinforcement as we navigate through the reopening phases.

About These Measures

As part of these efforts, Guests may see other changes to our retail and dining offerings, as well as other experiences. Though it may be different from the last time you visited, these new measures are designed to offer a magical Disney experience in a responsible way.

We understand that these times are challenging, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate as responsibly as we can. Together, we can find new ways to have fun while being diligent to maintain proper physical distancing.

Frequently Asked Questions

View frequently asked questions about the phased reopening of Disney Springs—as well as related updates.

What’s Open?

The following locations will open on May 20. Hours of operation vary. Please contact the store or restaurant directly for hours of operation.

More Information

In addition to the information shared here, please see the Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules for more details.

Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences and other offerings may be modified and will be limited in capacity and subject to limited availability or closure, based on direction from health experts and government officials to promote physical distancing.

Additionally, attractions, experiences, services and amenities may have limited availability or may remain closed. We will provide more information as it becomes available. We reserve the right to cancel any reservations, admission media or purchases and provide applicable refunds. Please also see our policies regarding cancellations by Guests.

From our friends at chipandco.com

Filed Under: Disney Springs, Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, COVID-19, Disney Springs Reopening, Disney World, Disney World Reopening

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Disney Business Disney News Disney Parks

News! Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs Share New Safety Protocols

Disney Springs is planning to start Disney World’s phased re-opening tomorrow, May 20th.

Chicken Guy!

We’ve been keeping you updated with all of the restaurants that plan to re-open tomorrow, but Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood just released more information on how they plan to protect guests at the re-opening.

Earlier today, we got a sneak peek of what Disney Springs’ new health and safety protocols look like in practice, but now we know more about how Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood will adapt their restaurants with extra safety procedures.

Planet Hollywood

These restaurants will first protect guests by enforcing extra safety measures with their employees.

All employees will be required to undergo health checks each day, wash their hands every 20 minutes for 20 seconds, wear personal protective equipment (where appropriate), undergo enhanced training on sanitation and social distancing.

Chicken Guy!

The restaurants will also work with their vendors to ensure they are following similar precautions and will remind employees of these standards at the beginning of each shift.

The restaurants have modified the guest experience by transitioning to single-use menus, installing sanitizer dispensers, and updating the dining room floor plans to promote social distancing. They will sanitize and disinfect tables after each party and will sanitize throughout the restaurant frequently.

Guy’s Favorite Sauces

You can read more about Earl of Sandwich’s opening here, Chicken Guy’s here, and Planet Hollywood’s here. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest and be sure to tune in tomorrow for our live coverage from Disney Springs!

Which of these three restaurants is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, Chicken Guy!, dining, Disney, disney dining, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world resort, Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood, reopening, table service dining, walt disney world resort

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Disney Parks Other

SeaWorld Orlando Tested Their Mako Coaster With Masked Riders Today!

Although Disney Springs is set to begin a phased re-opening tomorrow, May 20th, and Universal Orlando’s CityWalk has re-opened to the public, Florida’s major theme parks still remain closed.

©SeaWorld

No opening dates have been announced for Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld Orlando, but SeaWorld appears to already be prepping for guests to return.

The Orlando Sentinel spoke with Dan Leavelle, who was passing by the park earlier this morning. He caught a glimpse of one of the park’s coasters, Mako, racing around the track carrying masked passengers.

Mako Coaster in SeaWorld Florida ©DanLeavelle

The coaster reaches 73 miles per hour and features a 200 foot drop. Leavelle reports he watched for about an hour and through about 30 run-throughs, he didn’t see any masks fall off. Dan Leavelle runs Midway Mayhem and posted a video of the test runs on his YouTube.

©SeaWorld

A SeaWorld representative confirmed the park was testing the coaster, but did not have any additional information on a re-opening timeline. We will keep you updated as we learn more about SeaWorld, Disney World, and Universal Orlando’s re-opening dates!

Would you ride a coaster if masks were required? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, News, CityWalk, coaster, Disney, disney springs, Disney World, florida, mako, Orlando, re-open, re-opening, reopen, reopening, seaworld, SeaWorld Orlando, theme park, Universal, Universal CityWalk, universal orlado, Walt Disney World

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Disney Parks Other

Three Surprising Things We Weren’t Expecting to See at the Disney Springs Preview

Recently, we shared a sneak peek of what Disney Springs will look like tomorrow when some of its third-party restaurants and stores reopen thanks to a special media preview that took place earlier today.

Disney Springs

But while we were ready to see temperature screening areas and increased signage based on our experience at Universal CityWalk Orlando as well as the safety guidelines previously issued by Disney Springs, there were still a few surprises mixed in!

Trash Can Lids Have Been Removed

For guests’ and Cast Members’ safety, you’ll notice Disney Springs has their trash can lids so that disposing of trash will now be hands-free.

Water Fountains Are Turned Off

Another thing that was mentioned at the Disney Springs preview is that water fountains have been shut off completely for the time being. We’re expecting they’ll be covered in some way to indicate they’re currently out of service. So far, Disney has installed several handwashing stations (like the ones we saw appear in the parks shortly before the closure began).

We’ll be curious to see if Disney Springs provides an alternative source of drinking water, such as portable water stations.

Dedicated Team of Greeters

And while we had an inkling Disney would be training a specialized team of Cast Members, we didn’t know just what to expect.

©Disney

Click here to learn more about Disney’s new health and safety team!

But today we were introduced to a new team are called Greeters, comprised of Resorts Children’s Activities Cast Members.

They’ll be helping guests in fun and caring ways while ensuring that guests are maintaining health and social distancing guidelines while roaming Disney Springs!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, cast members, disney springs, Disney World, Disney World Cast Members, greeters, may 20th, phased reopening, safety ambassadors, surprising facts, trash can lids removed, turned off, water fountains

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Disney Parks Other

First look: Disney Springs social distancing measures and video of the screening areas

Disney Springs social distancing measuresPrior to May 20th reopening of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney cast members to demonstrate appropriate physical distancing outside the World of Disney store. New ground signage will help guests maintain physical distancing while queueing to enter the store.

Ground signage at Disney Springs delineates appropriate physical distancing outside the World of Disney store. When Disney Springs reopens May 20, 2020, new health and safety protocols will be in place for guests visiting the shopping, dining and entertainment district – among them, maintaining proper physical distancing.

New directional signage helps direct guest flow throughout the shopping, dining, and entertainment district to better facilitate physical distancing.

A Disney cast member cleans his hands using a new hand-washing station installed at the shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Guests are encouraged to wash their hands frequently while visiting Disney Springs.

Signage at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., reminds guests of new health and safety protocols in place when the shopping, dining and entertainment district reopens May 20, 2020. While visiting Disney Springs, guests must maintain physical distancing and those 3 years of age and older must wear a face covering at all times, among other new guidelines.

Disney cast members in easily identifiable, brightly colored shirts will be walking throughout Disney Springs to answer guest questions about new health and safety protocols for the shopping, dining, and entertainment district.

Here is a video from Disney Springs showing you more of the social distancing measures and screening areas.

(Olga Thompson, photographer)

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Disney Springs, Disney Springs Reopening, Disney Springs social distancing measures, Disney World, Social Distancing