Tag: Disney World reopening

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These NEW Disney World CHANGES Went Under the Radar Last Night!

There was A LOT of news about Disney World last night! And with huge updates like the suspension of FastPass+, the cancellation of all Disney Dining Plans and dining reservations, and details about the new reservation system for park entry, some of the other new info has gone relatively unnoticed!

Spaceship Earth

Here are the Disney World announcements you might have missed!

All Experience Bookings Have Also Been Canceled

In addition to FastPass+ and dining reservations, Disney World also announced that all experience bookings such as behind-the-scenes tours have also been canceled. 

Information from the Disney World Website Regarding Canceled Experiences

According to Disney, these experiences were canceled in order to promote social distancing among guests. We reached out to Disney and at this time they are not providing information regarding which behind-the-scenes tours and experiences are being canceled. They did however inform us that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets are valid at this time.

Click here to read our update regarding Mickey’s Not-S0-Scary Halloween Party! 

Updates to the Dining and Experience Booking Window

Also, while all Disney dining and experience reservations are canceled, there will be changes implemented when guests are able to book again. When reservations resume, guests will be able to book dining and experience reservations up to 60 days in advance.

Information from the Disney World Website Regarding Updates to Dining and Experience Reservations

The shortened booking window will allow guests to make their plans closer to the date of their trip. We know that this can really put a damper on plans, especially if you already had dining reservations or like to plan ahead. As more information is shared regarding this new reservation window, we will be sure to give you all the details!

Click here to read more about the cancellation of Disney Dining Plans and dining reservations.

Park Hopper Add-Ons Will NOT Be Automatically Refunded

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.” Keep in mind, this was what we heard this from one Guest Relations Cast Member and could possibly change. Disney has not shared specific information on if guests will have the ability to park hop or not at this time.

Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom

Guests who are interested in changing their tickets may call the Ticket Services department at (407) 566-4985.

Click here to learn more about the Disney World park reservation system.

While dining, FastPass+, and park reservations have received most of the attention since last night’s announcements, these are a few of the other changes that you may have missed! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more information regarding the reopening of the parks and keep you informed with any updates.

Click here to learn about the updates to the Disney World mask policy.

Do you have a Disney World trip planned this year? Let us know in the comments.

Related posts:

  1. News: Reopened Theme Parks Will Look “Drastically Different” According to Florida’s Orange County Mayor
  2. News: Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with Special Disney World Treats This Weekend Only!
  3. DFB Video: 8 Things You SHOULD NOT EAT in Disney World

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, behind the scenes tours, booking window, disney dining plan changes, Disney World reopening, Disney world reopening plan, disney world tours, park hopper, Walt Disney World Tours

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Disney Parks Other

Who Counts as a “Disney World Resort Guest” For the Reopening? We’ve Done Some Digging!

Now that Disney World has dropped a bombshell of updates to their policies regarding their July 11th reopening date, there’s a lot of confusion going around!

Walt Disney World

Following the announcement that a new reservation system will be needed to gain access to the parks,  all previously booked Fastpass+, dining reservations, and Disney Dining Plans have been canceled, many guests are now left wondering if they’re even ELIGIBLE to gain access to the parks when they reopen.

While we’ve known for some time Disney World would reopen with a limited capacity, we didn’t know to what extent they’d be scaling back admission (and it’s still unknown at this time!). BUT, we DO know guests who have previously purchased theme park tickets AND have hotel reservations ON THE BOOKS will be given priority access.

Disney World has temporarily paused ticket sales and new hotel reservations! Learn more here!

Some of our readers who have BOTH of these essentials still feel in the dark following the announcements. We’re going to help clarify.

Walt Disney World Partner Hotels

What does this mean for guests who have booked stays at non-Disney operated hotels such as Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort as well as Shades of Green? Remember — while these properties are situated on Disney World’s property, they’re only partnered with the resort.

Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

We reached out to Disney World today to get some answers. We chatted with a Cast Member who told us guests staying at Disney World’s partner hotels will also count as resort guests.

Screenshot of Chat with Cast Member from Disney World’s Website

That means if you have already purchased Disney World park tickets and have a hotel reservation at a partner resort, you will be among the first group of guests to gain access back in the parks if you’re staying at one of these hotels.

Disney Vacation Club Hotels

It has been previously announced that Disney Vacation Club Resorts will begin reopening to guests on June 22nd. While regular guests cannot book reservations at this time, Disney Vacation Club Members are STILL able to book new room reservations with their points at the time of writing this.

Disney Vacation Club

So if you’re a DVC member, you might still be able to snag a reservation around the reopening.

Disney-Owned Hotels

Finally, Disney-owned hotels on property are a bit trickier. It was announced that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be reopening on June 22nd along with the DVC resorts.

Welcome to Fort Wilderness!

Aside from Ft. Wilderness, no reopenings have been officially announced for other Disney hotels. Prior booked reservations have not been canceled by Disney at this time.

We know all this news to come out of Disney in the past few days is a massive bomb dropped on many guest’s vacation plans, and we’re doing all we can to get you answers. Please share in the comments ANY questions you may have about your upcoming trip and we will do everything we can to help you get answers.

It’s official! Disney World theme parks and hotels will be reopening soon! Learn more details here!

Are you one of the lucky folks with valid tickets and a hotel reservation? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. Review! We’re In Chocolate Heaven Thanks to This Delicious Dessert in Disney World!
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  3. News! Disney World’s Shades of Green Resort Set to Remain Closed Until Mid-May

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, Shades of Green, Swan and Dolphin Resorts, Walt Disney World, 2020 closure, bookings, disney world hotels, Disney World reopening, dolphin resort, reopening, reservations, shades of green resort, Swan and Dolphin Resort, swan resort, tickets, who counts as a guest

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

BREAKING NEWS! Disney World Has an OFFICIAL Reopening Date

Disney World recently proposed a reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for approval.

Walt Disney World

The plan, which includes a soft reopening of July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and of July 15th for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, was approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and set to move on for review by the state government. Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed off on the proposal, which means the plan is approved for use.

With this go-ahead from government officials, Disney will open the theme parks in mid-July with significant added health measures. Prior to this, we will see the Disney Vacation Club resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground begin to reopen on June 22nd.

Reopening Approval Letter

Disney plans are likely set as a baseline with the approval from the governor, but that does not mean that certain aspects will not develop or change. We will keep you updated as we learn more or as any modifications are made.

At this time, Disney is not accepting new hotel reservations or allowing guests to purchase additional tickets. This is because Disney is introducing a brand NEW reservation system.

Magic Kingdom

Read the latest details on the new reservation system here.

FastPass+ and the Disney Dining Plan have been suspended for the time being. And all Disney dining reservations have been canceled at this time.

Mickey Ice Cream

We know that things are changing quickly, but we are here to HELP! We’re doing our best to answer all of your questions so that you can still have the best Disney World vacation possible! If you have any questions about upcoming reservations or your future vacay, please let us know. And check back here for the latest and most up-to-date news!

Click here to read the DETAILS of Disney’s reopening proposal! 

Have questions about Disney’s reopening plan? Ask them in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Florida Surgeon General Warns That Current Measures Should Continue Until a Vaccine Exists. What Does That Mean for Disney World?
  2. Florida Governor Says Disney is “Ahead of the Curve” When it Comes to Reopening
  3. Disney World Says, “We Do Not Have an Opening Date Yet.”

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney parks, Featured, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney World reopening, Disney World Reopening Date, Disney world reopening plan, florida governor, Florida gvoernor ron desantis, ron desantis

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Disney has just received approval of their Walt Disney World re-opening plans

Walt Disney World re-opening plans

Great news! Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings just confirmed that Disney has just received the approval of their Walt Disney World re-opening plans.

I am pleased to announce that I have received word from Halsey Beshears, Secretary of @FloridaDBPR, that @WaltDisneyWorld Resort and @SeaWorld have received approval of their re-opening plans. #SeaWorld will re-open June 10 and #WaltDisneyWorld Resort will be July 11. pic.twitter.com/vNKgSxZvbC

— Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings (@OCFLMayor) May 29, 2020

Earlier this week Disney World submitted their reopening plans to the Orange Country Economic Recovery Task Force.

This puts Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom to begin a phased reopening to the general public on July 11th, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, animal kingdom, Disney World, Disney World Reopening, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, reopening

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Disney Parks Other

Will Disney World Hotel Arcades Be Affected By New Policies?

The times they are a-changin’ for Disney resorts, and now there’s a new potential change to be thinking about.

Contemporary Arcade

Gamers, listen up! The global health crisis has had widespread effects on everything from your dining menu to the way you shop around stores and now it seems that another facet of entertainment is taking a hit. Health measures and concerns have started to have an effect on the arcade game industry — and this could affect Disney World following its reopening. Let’s take a look!

What’s happening with arcade games?

According to WESH-2 in Florida, the future of arcade games is uncertain thanks to the health crisis. In fact, businesses around the country have been putting in calls to have the machines picked up by the warehouses that rent out the games. Some have expressed uncertainty about when and if these rentals will go back out.

Extra seating during End Zone refurbishment in the arcade

Essentially, arcade games can get in the way of new health measures that businesses are implementing. They are high-touch surfaces so arcade staff would need to wipe down machines after each use, which may not be feasible in a highly-automated arcade setting. Many are opting to forgo the arcade concept altogether during this time.

Contemporary Resort Arcade

For restaurant/arcade concepts, games can also take up valuable space that locations need to properly distance tables. So the crisis is definitely affecting the way that arcades run — but how will we see this reflected in Disney World?

Click here to read about some of the changes we’re seeing in a partially reopened Disney World!

How could this affect Disney World?

Many resorts on Disney property offer small arcades. There are 20 arcades spread out among the Disney World resorts and all of them contain potentially-rented, high-touch games. As we’ve seen with other arcades affected, the ones in Disney World might not be exempt for new guidelines.

Arcade Area

On one hand, we probably won’t see games pulled to make room for more space. There aren’t any restaurant/arcade models in Disney World so they probably won’t be affected by distancing measures. Still, we have seen arcades used for extra space in the past during refurbishments so it isn’t completely impossible that these spaces may be used.

Even if the arcades are not used for space, Disney may keep the arcades closed initially to reduce health concerns. When and if they do open, we may see increased cleaning protocols between use for the machines.

Contemporary Resort Arcade

NOTE that Disney has not confirmed that arcades will be affected by their current policies. As we wait for more information about the Disney World hotel reopenings, we’ll keep you updated!

Arcades are a great option for kids during your resort day so the option may be more limited in the future. Plus, if you were dead set on setting a new Pac-Man record during your resort day, you might want to make other plans just in case.

For more information on Disney World’s reopening click here!

Do you think the Disney arcades will change? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Related posts:

  1. News! Florida Aquarium Plans to Re-Open Next Week! How Do Their Re-Opening Policies Compare to Disney World’s?
  2. Shanghai Disneyland Is Already Making Progress Less Than Two Weeks After Reopening!
  3. How Reopening Theme Parks Could Mean LESS Profit For Disney

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney resorts, Featured, News, arcade, Arcade Games, disney parks reopening, Disney reopening, Disney World arcade, Disney World reopening, Disney World Resorts, reopening, video games