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Disney Parks

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

This is a big week for Disney fans as Walt Disney World is preparing for its phased reopening of the Resort’s four theme parks which begins this Saturday, July 11th with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, followed by EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15th.

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

Monorail

One big topic we’ve been exploring is what getting around the property will look like. We’ve taken a look at buses with the recent reopening of select Resort hotels, but what will it be like to ride the Disney Skyliner, the boats, and (of course) the Monorail? Well, we took our first cruise on a reopened Monorail today (with thanks to a friend who invited us to a Cast Member preview which is currently taking place) and we’re here to tell you what it was like!

We took the Monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom. The Transportation and Ticket Center (or TTC, for short) serves to offer parking for Magic Kingdom guests in addition to transportation options to the park itself. (The picture below, just for reference, was taken during a previous visit.)

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

Monorail Station at Walt Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center

It’s worth noting that the Tram vehicles — which guests can ride from the parking lots to the TTC in order to shorten the walk — were not in operation this morning. However, we’d like to remind that today is a cast member preview, so things may work differently when the parks officially reopen. (P.S. Ferry Boat transportation was also available.)

Approaching the Monorail station, numbers are placed on the ground, giving guests the ability to easily spot where they may stand in order to keep a safe distance from other groups. (We’d like to thank @aleyafromdisney on Instagram for sharing the picture below with us!)

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

Physical Distancing Stickers

Number signage is also put in use as guests await the arrival of the next Monorail to carry them along the “Highway in the Sky” that leads to the Magic Kingdom.

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

Monorail stickers

A cast member gave us a number to stand on prior to boarding, which helped not only with traffic flow but also with the ultimate purpose of dispersing guests — keeping appropriate distancing in mind — throughout the cars themselves.

Cars are now split with physical distancing barriers, and our car was limited to us and one other party of four.

Here’s What It’s Like to Ride the Monorail in a Reopened Disney World!

Monorail partition

Overall, it was nice to ride along the “Highway in the Sky” once more. We’d like to state again that, because today was a Cast Member preview, things may change when Magic Kingdom reopens to guests this weekend. So be sure to stay tuned to DFB this week for all of the HUGE new Disney World updates!

Have any specific questions about riding the Monorail in a reopened Disney World? Ask them in the comments and we’ll do our best to get you answers.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney parks, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, disney transportation, Disney World reopening, health measures, monorail, monorail health measures, monorail reopening, transportation and ticket center

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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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Other

NEWS: You May See Some NEW TSA Safety Measures the Next Time You Fly

With the global health crisis changing the way that people think about public safety, a lot of industries are changing the way they do things.

Orlando International Airport

One of the affected industries has been air travel. Now, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reworking how it screens passengers.

According to Click Orlando, the TSA has implemented several changes to their security screening process to reduce any chance of contamination at the security checkpoints. Their goal is to have the new process rolled out in airports nationwide by mid-June.

Airline Check-In

The new procedures include the following:

  • Travelers will keep possession of their boarding passes. TSA agents will no longer handle boarding passes. Instead, travelers will place passes on the readers themselves and hold passes for agents to inspect.
  • Food will be separated for X-ray screening. Food often triggers an alarm during screening. By separating it, there is less of a chance that TSA agents will need to open a carry-on bag to inspect its contents.
  • Travelers are encouraged to pack smart. If passengers take care to remove liquids, gels, or aerosols in quantities greater than 3.4 oz, there is less of a chance that TSA agents will need to open their carry on bag. If a prohibited item is detected, passengers will be pulled aside to remove and discard the item themselves.
  • Agents will be wearing face coverings and travelers are encouraged to as well. Note that travelers may need to adjust their masks during the screening.

Star Wars United Airlines Plane ©United

These new changes are not the only ones that have been instituted in airports thus far. Prior instituted health measures include:

  • Reduced security lane usage.
  • Masks and gloves for TSA agents.
  • Frequent glove changes for TSA agents.
  • Plastic shielding installed at various locations.
  • Distancing measures.
  • Routine cleaning and disinfecting.

©Orlando International Airport

Of the changes, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said, “In the interest of TSA frontline workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible. We continue to evaluate our security measures with an eye towards making smart, timely decisions benefiting health and safety, as well as the traveler experience.

We’ll be following along with more changes from the TSA so that we can keep you updated.

What do you think of the new TSA health measures? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, News, Air Travel, Airline, airport, health measures, Transportation Security Administration, TSA

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Disney Parks

This Is the ONE Place We Found Masks For Sale in Disney World Today

We’re at Disney Springs today as it reopens for the first time since it closed alongside the Disney parks back in March. Oh, look! Mickey balloons!

Mickey Balloons at Disney Springs Today

Though the Disney World parks remain closed, we’re getting to experience a taste of all of the new procedures in Disney Springs today. By now, you’ve probably realized a big piece of what that looks like is everybody is now wearing face masks! 

That’s because to be allowed inside Disney Springs right now ALL Guests and Cast Members at Disney Springs are required to wear masks for the entirety of their stay.

Disney Springs

Though Disney Springs’ guidelines explicitly stated guests ages three and up must bring their own face coverings to pass through the health screening, what happens if your elastic breaks or your face mask gets wet and you don’t have a back-up? Surely Disney Springs would have face masks for sale at several retail stores like we saw at Univeral Studios’ CityWalk, right?

Disney Springs

Actually, we looked around and couldn’t find face masks being sold anywhere — at least, initially. It’s possible Disney-owned stores will sell them, but Disney-operated businesses haven’t reopened yet since they’re waiting until May 27th.

So your only option is third-party retailers which have reopened. (Do note that Disney does have a select number of disposable masks if needed.) That’s how we came up with the idea to duck into Vera Bradley! We had actually walked by the store earlier in the day before it opened at 11AM and noticed there was already a line out front. Were these folks hoping to find some Vera Bradley Face Masks inside?

Vera Bradley

Once inside, we asked an employee if Vera Bradley was selling face masks. Sure enough — THEY ARE!

Vera Bradley Face Masks

The associate (who was wearing a vibrant Vera Bradley Face Mask herself) held up a few options. They’re made of cotton fabric and are the kind that wrap around your ears with elastic bands.

Vera Bradley Face Mask

Vera Bradley Face Masks are individually-packaged and sell for $8 each! Plus they come in an array of beautiful colors and patterns. So far this is the ONLY spot we’ve found face masks for sale at Disney Springs, but we’ll let you know if we find anywhere else that’s selling them. And if you spotted them elsewhere, please let us know!

Are you surprised that Vera Bradley is the only store selling face masks? Share your thoughts in the comments.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, $8, Disney Spring face masks, disney springs, Disney Springs health measures, disney springs reopening, face coverings, face masks, health measures, only place to buy face masks at disney springs, Vera Bradley, where can I buy a face mask at Disney springs, where can I buy a face mask at disney world, where to buy face masks