WDW Daily News

French illustrator Samuel Chevé, who publishes under the professional name Lamuse, has created a series of Disney mashups. He takes beloved animated characters and draws them as Earth’s mightiest heroes (and their cohorts) from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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As we continue the phased reopenings of our parks and resorts across the world, promoting health and safety for our guests, cast members, and the larger community is a responsibility we take very seriously. 

On Saturday, we will continue the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, marking the first of our domestic theme parks to welcome guests back to the magic. While we await California guidelines for reopening Disneyland Resort, and will adjust as necessary, we wanted to share more information on our approach to health and safety in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks.



We remain deeply committed to focusing on your well-being when you visit or work at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. From increased cleaning and disinfecting across our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reimagined the Disney experience so we can all enjoy the magic responsibly. We implemented our health and safety measures after considering the guidance of government and local health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to the U.S. Travel Association and Disney’s team of health experts.

Together, we are a Disney family, and while COVID-19, and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each other’s safety.  As we implement our guidelines at our parks and resorts, we want to thank our guests and cast members for all they do to care for one another by doing their part. 

1. Health & Wellness

At Disney, our approach emphasizes a combination of measures to help reduce risk in the carefully managed environment of our parks and resorts. 

• Limited Attendance: All guests will be required to make advanced ticket purchases and reservations.
• Reduced capacity and physical distancing: We’re reducing capacity and adjusting experiences to allow for physical distancing, a key measure reinforced by the CDC. This includes physical distancing in dining experiences, attractions, queues and other locations. Additionally, physical barriers have been installed in areas where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain, like cash registers.
• Temperature checks: Quick temperature checks are required for all guests at entry to our theme parks.
• Face coverings: We will be requiring both cast members and guests ages two and older to wear a face covering – unless swimming or when eating or drinking – and enforcing this policy across our parks and resorts.
• Handwashing and hand sanitizer: We have increased the number of hand sanitizer locations and handwashing stations throughout our parks and resorts.
• First Aid locations: Our first aid locations are staffed by experienced nursing staff and have updated their protocols for responding to symptoms of illness. 

2. Cleaning & Disinfecting

We’ve updated our already high standards for cleanliness across our parks and resorts, with a special emphasis on areas such as attractions, queues, dining, lobbies, transportation and other common spaces.

• Increased cleaning & disinfecting: We’re increasing the frequency of cleaning, especially for frequently-touched surfaces and high-traffic areas. Following park close, each park will receive an enhanced cleaning before guests arrive the next day.
• New procedures for resort stays: In addition to increasing cleaning in areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, tables, handles, and restrooms, we’ve updated our procedures for guest rooms at our owned-and-operated Walt Disney World hotels. Before arrival, every room will be given an enhanced cleaning and a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day during the stay.

3. Technology Solutions

We are tapping into Disney innovation to help promote health and safety for our guests and cast members.

• Disney apps: With the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps our guests already know and love, guests can view hand sanitizer and handwashing locations, explore digital menus, and more.
• Limited-contact options: From Mobile Order and cashless payments, to Walt Disney World’s Magic Bands and online check-in at select locations, we’re offering technology solutions that can make it easier for our guests to minimize contact and maintain physical distancing.

4. Cast Member Training & Workplace Safety

Safety starts with our cast, and we’ve adopted a number of new policies and practices for cast members at work. 

• Training: Cast members are receiving additional training on both new measures and the continued importance of personal health and hygiene, such as handwashing and of course, staying home when ill. For some, this includes training on how to help everyone who visits to follow new health and safety measures, including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distancing. 
• Workplace health and safety: We’ve increased the frequency of cleaning in work areas, adjusted our work practices to promote physical distancing, and introduced new protocols for temperature checks and face coverings. 
• Health screenings: Cast members will self-screen for temperature and symptoms of illness before each shift and will stay home if they are not feeling well.

5. Working Together

Because each of us shares a responsibility for the health of our community, we’re making resources available to make guests aware of our new policies, so they too can do their part.

• Guest communication: We’re proactively sharing information with guests about what to expect ahead of their visit to support their planning. In our parks and resorts, we have added signage about personal health and hygiene measures, physical distancing, and more. 
• Following our guidelines: A special group of cast members will also be present in the parks to explain our new procedures, answer questions guests may have, and encourage everyone to follow these measures to promote the well-being of us all.
• “Together We Can Make Today Incredible” campaign: In June, we introduced “Together We Can Make Today Incredible,” a health and safety campaign that spotlights healthy behaviors featuring fan-favorite characters from the Incredibles animated movies. The campaign emphasizes that everyone has an important role to play in health and safety while engaging guests in a uniquely Disney way.

We’re looking forward to upholding this plan each day, and to the return of our guests and cast members to our parks and resorts.  

When you’re ready to join us at your favorite Disney destinations, we’re excited to welcome you back. Until then, be well – see you soon!


Dr. Pamela Hymel
Chief Medical Officer
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

As part of our phased reopening, you can now book additional dining and experience reservations at Walt Disney World® Resort. 

From dining inside Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom® Park and the culinary adventures of World Showcase at EPCOT®, to select table-service restaurants in our Disney Resort hotels, you can take advantage of a 60-day booking window beginning today, July 7, to plan meals and other experiences.

To help you plan, here are important updates to our food and beverage experience:

• In-Park Dining: Theme park guests will need valid park admission and a reservation for park entry through the new Disney Park Pass system, as well as a dining reservation for in-park, table-service restaurants for the same park on the same date. Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.
• Disney Resort Hotel Dining: A confirmed dining reservation is required for day guests, and reservations are highly recommended for guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel. 
• Disney Springs Dining: Select dining locations at Disney Springs are currently accepting reservations.
  

You can also take advantage of the new My Disney Experience mobile check-in feature, which allows them to bypass the line at the podium and check in for dining reservations at select Walt Disney WorldResort table-service restaurants on their own mobile devices.

For reservations, booking windows and other offerings, your “Know Before You Go” micro-site will be updated soon with this information.

Be sure to also check out  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ for the latest menus and offerings as we implement wellness, physical distancing and minimized contact for guests at our restaurants.

When Disney World reopens, Disney College Program participants won’t be among the thousands of employees returning to work.

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There are currently two versions of Pirates of the Caribbean 6 in the works, and they’re both reboots – here’s why.

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By deciding to change the theme of Splash Mountain, Disney did the right thing both ethically and economically.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has no intention of interfering with Walt Disney World’s July reopening,despite a petition from concerned employees and a surge in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the state.

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From Disney Parks Blog:

Today we are thrilled to share a first glimpse of a project Imagineers have been working on since last year. Splash Mountain – at both Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida – will soon be completely reimagined. The theme is inspired by an all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

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Here is the official statement from Disney:

We previously announced a proposed phased reopening of our theme parks for July 17, pending government approvals. We developed enhanced health and safety protocols for both cast and guests at Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort that have been approved, allowing us to reopen in a responsible manner and bring our cast members back to work. 

The State of California has now indicated that it will not issue theme park reopening guidelines until sometime after July 4. Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials. Once we have a clearer understanding of when guidelines will be released, we expect to be able to communicate a reopening date.  

Our Downtown Disney District will reopen on July 9 as previously announced with health and safety protocols in place for our cast members and guests. The opening of our Downtown Disney District has been previously approved in line with restaurant and retail openings throughout California. The Master Services Union, which represents our retail cast at this location, previously signed an agreement for members to return to work. 

In order to reopen our theme parks we need to negotiate agreements with our unions to return employees to work. We have had positive discussions and are very pleased to have signed agreements from 20 union affiliates, including the Master Services Council, which represents more than 11,000 of our cast members. The signed agreement details plans that include enhanced safety protocols that will allow us to responsibly reopen, and get thousands of our cast members back to work.    

We thank our cast and guests for their patience during this unprecedented time while we await approval from government officials.

2021 Walt Disney World® Resort vacation packages will soon be available to book for select Disney Resort hotels. 2021 package bookings will open for:

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeCopper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeDisney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo HouseDisney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani VillageDisney’s Art of Animation Resort Disney’s Beach Club VillasDisney’s BoardWalk InnDisney’s BoardWalk VillasDisney’s Caribbean Beach ResortDisney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs ResortDisney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & SpaDisney’s Old Key West ResortDisney’s Polynesian Village ResortDisney’s Polynesian Villas & BungalowsDisney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Riviera ResortDisney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & SpaDisney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Given the current situation, there are some resort hotels and other areas such as our water parks, that are not, as of this time, being scheduled for reopening yet. Disney will continue to evaluate the situation and reopen more locations when the environment is right to do so. 2021 vacation packages for select Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels will go on sale on June 28, 2020.

Vacation packages are valid for arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Please note, the end date of your vacation must be on or before Sept. 27, 2021. Normal terms and conditions for final payments, cancelations and change fees will apply for all 2021 vacation bookings.

Booking a 2021 package does not guarantee theme park availability, and you will need make a park reservation for arrivals starting in 2021 as our phased reopening continues.

Disney Dining packages remain unavailable at this time. 

As we shared with you last week, Disney exploring engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the magic – particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve. In 2021, we plan to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature. With this new offering on the horizon, we will be retiring our complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and they’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. Disney will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.