WDW Daily News

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:

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.

Walt Disney World employees are hoping to push back the reopening of “the happiest place on Earth.”

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As Disney continues the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, they are excited to welcome Guests back to Disney Vacation Club resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, beginning June 22. This includes:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort 
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows 
• Disney’s Riviera Resort 
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

As they open these hotels, they are taking a measured and deliberate approach to implement a number of health and safety measures based on guidance from various governmental authorities and health agencies. 

In addition, they currently plan to open the following resort hotels to booked Guests on the following dates. Please note, that given the fluidity of the current environment, these dates are subject to change and Guests’ reservations could still be modified to other resort hotels if needed.

• July 10 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• July 29 – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Aug. 12 – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Aug. 24 – Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
• Sept. 21 – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Oct. 1 – Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
• Oct. 14 – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Guests with current reservations at impacted Disney Resort hotels can request help with modifying their reservation starting Monday June 22. Reservations for stays in 2021 will begin booking on Wednesday, June 24.  Only Guests with a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass will be able to access the Disney Park Pass reservation system. 

Given the current situation, there are some resort hotels and other areas 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.  

While these plans may evolve, they will be monitoring the constantly changing health environment and its impact on the state of Florida as they find the right time to welcome back even more of our Guests and Cast Members. 

Disney is excited to share a few details about the attractions and entertainment guests will be able to experience when they return. Though these may look a little different than in the past, there will be plenty of magic for everyone to enjoy when Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park open on July 11, and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios open on July 15. 



Most attractions will be available at each park – for example, live your adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with attractions like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. At Magic Kingdom Park, classics such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean are waiting to welcome guests with thrilling adventures for the whole family. Time travelers, take note that the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT will also continue to be available in its current state while we pause on its planned refurbishment, along with other favorite attractions like Soarin’ Around the World, Frozen Ever After and Test Track presented by Chevrolet. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the magic of nature awaits with Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Avatar Flight of Passage.  

If you are hoping to see some familiar friends or take in the tunes of treasured performers, you’re in luck! The characters will appear in new and different ways that bring a smile to your face while also being mindful of physical distancing. From special cavalcades down the Magic Kingdom Park parade route and friends sailing the waterways of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, to processions along the World Showcase promenade at EPCOT and motorcades on Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Hollywood Boulevard, each area will come to life throughout the day. You never know when a party of your pals may come by, so be prepared for plenty of surprises! 

For example, after rocketing through space in Tomorrowland guests might see that famous Space Ranger, Buzz Lightyear; or discover a captive Captain Jack Sparrow as they traverse the Castillo del Morro on their way to Pirates of the Caribbean. Guests could cross paths with Queen Anna and Elsa as they venture “into the unknown” on a journey around World Showcase at EPCOT or spy members of the Resistance hiding out from the First Order throughout Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu. 



Looking beyond the beloved characters, several musical groups will also return. Guests can look forward to seeing Main Street Philharmonic at Magic Kingdom Park, plus the Mariachi Cobre and everyone’s favorite funky drumming crew the JAMMitors at EPCOT, just to name a few.  

Disney has released the following information about the new reservation system:

By: Disney DestinationsJune 19, 2020

It’s almost time for magic as we prepare for the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re taking a deliberate approach that includes limits on attendance and controlled guest density to align with guidance from health and government authorities on physical distancing. We’re also using technology to power creative solutions as we develop new ways for guests to visit The Most Magical Place on Earth in this unique environment.



To manage attendance during this reopening period we are introducing the new Disney Park Pass system. During this time, all guests with a ticket or Annual Pass will be required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, using this new online tool on DisneyWorld.com.

Here are a few important details to know about this new system:

• Your clients will need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where their Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.
• They’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to their My Disney Experience account.
• If they have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to this My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well.

Once they’ve logged into their My Disney Experience account and linked their ticket, they’ll have access to a calendar of available reservation dates for each theme park. If they have a multi-day ticket, they will be required to make a park reservation for each date of their visit. Families and friends can link their tickets together and look to arrange theme park entries at the same time.

Please note, park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the reservation is finalized. At this time, guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations. Guests with existing tickets that include the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option have options available to them for ticket modifications and cancellations. We hope to bring back the ability to visit more than one park per day soon and will continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases.



For Existing Ticket Holders and Annual Passholders: Beginning this week, we will reach out to existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders with more information on when they will be able to check availability to make their park reservations. We will open the Disney Park Pass system to these guests in phases, beginning with those with future Disney Resort and other select hotel stays. Later this summer, we will resume sales of 2020 tickets and Disney Resort hotel arrivals, based on availability of park reservations, while we continue to provide guests with existing tickets and Annual Passholders the opportunity to make park reservations for 2020 dates. 



Click here for a downloadable PDF version of the key dates above.



Planning a New Trip for Next Year: By June 28, all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as our phased reopening continues. Guests will be able to view park reservation availability on DisneyWorld.com prior to purchasing their tickets. 


As you begin planning your clients’ upcoming visits, we’re also 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 we’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. We 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.

We understand these updates may change the way you plan visits to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and Disney Resort hotels for the time being. We are focused on making the Walt Disney World Resort experience magical, convenient and enjoyable.

We look forward to welcoming you and your clients back to The Most Magical Place on Earth!

A regular poster on the wdwmagic message boards shared a couple screenshots today from what they claim is the proposed new reservation system for the Disneyland Resort.

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The most magical place on Earth is going to be home for the return of the 2019-2020 NBA season. Yes, that’s Disney World. As we get more and more details about the July 30 return date, we finally have an answer to a popular question: Where will the players be staying?

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