WDW Daily News

By: Disney DestinationsJuly 10, 2020

As Disney looks forward to reopening Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park tomorrow, Cast Members are also preparing for the reopening of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.

For guests with upcoming Disney Park Pass reservations to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney would like to share an update about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which will once again be using virtual queue in the My Disney Experience app. You will want to note a few changes to the process beginning July 15. Most importantly – as availability allows – guests will have an opportunity at 10am, 1pm and 4pm to request to join the virtual queue. This means there is no need to arrive early to the park to check the virtual queue.  

There are a few important details to know before arriving: 

• First, make sure to download the My Disney Experience app. Once guests enter the park, they’ll need to log in to their account at one of the distribution times (10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.). 
• Once logged in, select “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue” on the home screen. This is where guests will be able to view the current status and next steps for joining the virtual queue.
• The app will indicate when there is no availability for a specific distribution time. 
• As long as a guest’s My Disney Experience account is linked to park tickets for themselves and the others in their group, a guest can enroll their entire party in the virtual queue at the same time. In order to give as many guests as possible the opportunity to join the Resistance, each guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.
• Guests should make sure push notifications are turned on for My Disney Experience so they will be alerted if their group is called to return. Guests will have up to an hour from the time of the alert to go to the entrance of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. 
• Please note that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.  

If guests have any questions or need assistance with joining the virtual queue, Cast Members at Guest Experience Team locations throughout the park are available to assist. While waiting for a virtual queue group to be called, guests can enjoy other experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including our newest addition, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney knows many of our guests are familiar with using virtual queue to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure. For other attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, they plan to use their regular standby queues to manage capacity and to maintain physical distancing.  

Disney can’t wait to welcome guests back to the magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom open tomorrow and I will have some photos of what the Magic Kingdom looks like with the new safety procedures and limited crowds but for now here is what Disney’s Pop Century looks like as of noon on a Friday 😳

• 

• 

• 

• 

Complimentary airport transportation via Disney’s Magical Express service for Guests arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport is continuing to operate during this period, with some modifications.

Beginning July 16, 2020, luggage delivery service will not be provided for those arriving to and departing from Orlando International Airport. Guests who choose to use Disney’s Magical Express will be responsible for picking up any of their checked luggage from the airport’s baggage claim area and taking it to the motor coach, so that it can be loaded for transport to their Disney Resort hotel. Please know that Guests’ luggage will travel with them to their Disney Resort hotel. 

Luggage assistance will be available at the front of Disney Resort hotels, including luggage storage and/or transport to the room. Upon their departure, Guests should ensure their luggage is with them and loaded onto the motor coach so they can check it in with their airline once they reach the airport. The resort airline check-in service will not be offered at this time.

Guests will be notified of these changes prior to departing their home locations. Stay tuned for any additional updates at a later date. 

Magic is here! In just a few more days, Disney will begin welcoming the first guests back to the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re continuing to prepare for these openings in a measured and deliberate way, implementing health and safety measures with cast members and guests in mind. 

As you may recall, earlier Disney had temporarily paused 2020 ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings so we could focus on helping existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders plan their visits with the new Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system. They are glad to share that tomorrow, July 9, they are resuming Disney Resort hotel bookings, packages and ticket sales for 2020. In preparation, the booking systems will be unavailable overnight, beginning at approximately midnight Eastern this evening. When systems come back online in the morning, guest will be able to purchase new tickets and plan future visits throughout this year with the Disney Park Pass system, which they are using to help manage attendance.

All guests with valid admission are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, so be sure to check the park reservation availability calendar before purchasing any new tickets. Guests should then go to www.StartYourDisneyExperience.com after purchase to link your tickets and make park reservations. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. 

When adding theme park tickets to a new 2020 package, you will now have the option of choosing tickets for 2 to 7 days in length. Certain ticket and package options, such as the Park Hopper option, Minnie Van Airport Service and Disney Dining Plan packages, are currently unavailable.

Please note that, during this phased reopening, some tickets, ticket options and Disney Resort hotels are unavailable, but there are still a variety of options to choose from.

Though the experience may be different than the last time you visited, there is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings available across all four theme parks, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. 

When planning a visit for this year, we recommend checking out our “Know Before You Go” page on the Walt Disney World microsite, which features tips and information, including how to make park reservations after purchasing tickets. 

We realize that everyone’s situation is unique, so if you have specific questions about upcoming plans, please call the Disney Reservation Center.

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.

Full Story & Images

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.

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story