I have more good news to share today! Walt Disney World has announced that they are removing the nightly parking fees at Walt Disney World Resorts for overnight guests. This is the first bit of FINANCIAL good news I’ve been able to share for a while about our beloved Walt Disney World. Could this be an early result of Bob Iger’s return? I don’t know, but it definitely makes me happy!
Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!
If you don’t drive at Walt Disney World, you may not have felt this pain. Starting in 2018, Disney resort guests were charged between $15 and $25 per night per vehicle to park at their resort. Only Disney Vacation Club guests were exempt from these charges. As I’m sure you can imagine, these costs added up quickly for guests. If you drove to Walt Disney World or chose to rent a vehicle for your Florida vacation, you felt this pain.
These fees have been an enormous source of guest frustration over the last several years. Parking fees have also served as a STRONG example in media conversations about Disney “nickel and diming” guests on top of ever increasing park ticket prices.
Walt Disney World Resort guests already get free parking at the theme parks–this has not changed. However, making the decision whether to rent a car or whether to fly or drive is a little easier when you don’t have to add in the cost of parking at your resort every night!
Is this a PR Move?
So of course, a big question is WHY is free parking returning for Disney resort guests? Is it just a big public relations move? Absolutely!! It is for SURE an effort to improve the public perception of the Walt Disney Company. Disney’s reputation, especially with the fanbase has taken a lot of hits in the past couple of years. Free parking is a pretty minor move, but it will get some press. It will also make a lot of Disney fans and travelers happy. Or at least, happier.
Photo: Brooke Hudson
What is giving this news more mileage for me personally is that Disney is sacrificing revenue. We haven’t seen Disney do this in a long time. For the last I don’t even KNOW how many years, we have seen a trend of Disney making an awful lot of decisions that are VERY bottom line focused. We have seen LOTS of decisions that seem to put guest experience and guest relations at a much lower premium than the company used to value.
The reality is, a Walt Disney World has always been expensive. But the value over the years has decreased. It is still VERY valuable, and hour for hour, you still get a TON of value from a Walt Disney World vacation. But for those of us that have been visiting Walt Disney World for many years, it’s challenging to see the guest experience degrade somewhat while the pricing of everything has increased so significantly.
Final Thoughts
I don’t know if free parking returning for resort guests is a sign of things to come or just a token PR gesture — but it IS meaningful. It HAS impact on Disney travelers, especially those that drive to Walt Disney World. And it will, very slightly, reduce how much money Disney will make from the resorts each day. Or maybe it won’t. Because if the guest doesn’t have to spend $25 to park his car, maybe he will spend it on a T-shirt instead.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com
We have breaking news this morning. At last, Disney has opened up reservations for next fall. Disney fall 2021 vacation packages are now available.
Winter Icicle Castle (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
As you may already be aware, next October will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. There are many refurbishment projects currently underway, intended to spruce up the parks and resorts for Disney’s big 50th Anniversary. We are all hopeful that by next fall, many of the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 will be lifted, and we’ll all be able to fully enjoy the complete Disney experience.
Spaceship Earth (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Many guests have been waiting for Disney fall 2021 vacation packages to book their 2021 Disney vacations because they want to be on Disney property during the celebration. There are also thousands of Disney fans (my family included!) that had to cancel their 2020 vacation plans due to the impact of Covid-19. These fans have been anxiously waiting for Disney to open up fall 2021 vacation packages.
Enjoy Animal Kingdom at Night (Photo: Disney Parks)
Disney Fall 2021 Vacation Packages Available NOW
Today is the day. Vacation packages and resort reservations are now available from September 27, 2021 through December 31, 2021. If you are interested in booking your Disney fall 2021 vacation, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for a free, no obligation quote.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Photo: Disney Parks)
If you think you might want to visit Disney next fall, I highly encourage you to book sooner rather than later! Disney is going to be applying the full court marketing press, and doing their best to make sure that EVERYONE wants to be at Disney World next fall.
I was at Disney for the 45th Anniversary and it was PACKED! Hotels were at full capacity for most of that fall, and dining reservations were super tough to get. It’s better to lock in your plan early–even if you may need to make changes later.
Work with a Travel Agent
One of the (many!) benefits of working with an authorized Disney vacation planner is that we have direct access into the Disney systems. We often have access to unpublished or limited discounts not available to the general public. If you book your vacation through an authorized Disney vacation planner, and Disney releases a discount later that would save you money, we can go in to their system and apply that discount to your package. (As long as final payment has not been made.)
Linda and Brooke with Mickey and Minnie at Animal Kingdom
Working with a Disney vacation planner does not cost you ANYTHING. We are paid by Disney. But by working with me, you have my expertise, Disney love, and hundreds of amazing vacations on your team. This can be a challenging time to navigate planning a Disney vacation. Let me help make it magical!
Have a wonderful week!
Happy Dreaming,
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com
P.S. Did you get this week’s Disney Parks News Update? Check it out here.
In this week’s Disney Parks News Update, we have GUNS confiscated on Disney property, refurbishment updates, LOTS of food news, scary clowns and more! Please watch this week’s Disney Parks News Update video below.
EPCOT currently looks a little bit like a construction zone, as EPCOT Future World is in the midst of a major overhaul. There are a number of projects in progress around EPCOT’s Entrance and throughout Future World. Among these projects is the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, scheduled to open sometime next year. We are happy to report that construction appears to be moving ahead on all these projects. We don’t have completion dates or opening dates for any of the work going on, but we are hopeful that Disney is on track with their plans to have this work complete in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary next October.
Frozen Ever After
Frozen Ever After (Photo: Disney Parks)
A VERY popular attraction, Frozen Ever After, is closing for refurbishment in a couple of weeks. Don’t worry—it’s only for a few days. The attraction will be closed from November 2 – 6, 2020. This is likely just for cleaning and general maintenance; this is not enough time for Disney to do any major overhauls. Not to mention, this is still a fairly new attraction. It really shouldn’t need any major refurbishment yet.
We’ll be in the park the following week, and will let you know how the attraction looks when it reopens!
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Art of Animation Resort (Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts)
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is reopening at long last on November 1, 2020. If you aren’t familiar with the Art of Animation resort, it is a very popular Value Resort, and one of our favorites. Check out our blog post about this resort here.
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During the shutdown, Art of Animation got some minor refurbishments, including new flooring and updates in the lobby area. The rooms themselves got minor updates to furnishings and room details.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out Art of Animation, it is located on the Skyliner line, and it’s a worthwhile stop to check it out. All the themed icons from Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and the Little Mermaid make terrific backdrops and props for unique family pictures.
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The Big Blue Pool, Art of Animation’s largest pool, did not get it’s refurbishment done during the closure, however. As a result, the Big Blue Pool will be closed for refurbishment from January 1, 2021 through early April 2021.
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
Guests are encouraged to use the Flippin’ Fins Pool (Little mermaid area) or the Cozy cone Pool (in the Cars area) during the closure. The Schoolyard Sprayground play area is NOT being affected by the closure.
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
Guests staying at Art of Animation during this time should expect to see or hear construction during their stay; however, construction does not occur between dusk and 9 am, so your rest time should not be impacted.
If you have a reservation during this time and are concerned about this refurbishment, please reach out to your travel agent (or me!).
Boardwalk Inn: Luna Pool
A highlight for me personally in this week’s Disney Parks News Update is about the CLOWN over at the Luna Pool at the Boardwalk Inn.
The pool at the Boardwalk Inn, the Luna Pool is currently being refurbished while the Boardwalk Inn is closed. The pool area at the Boardwalk Inn is themed to the turn of the 20th century Coney island. The area has a sort of “Circus-y/Old timey amusement park” vibe.
Boardwalk Inn Luna Pool Area (Photo: Disney Parks)
The centerpiece of the pool area has always been a giant clown face. The mouth of the clown is a waterslide. I’m not a giant fan of clowns to begin with but this clown? Totally creeps me out. In fact, I’ve avoided booking there for my family because of the creepy clown.
Boardwalk Inn Luna Pool (Photo: Disney Parks)
I mean, look at that thing. Don’t you think it’s a little creepy? (OR A LOT CREEPY???!!!)
Here’s the big news: locals have reported that the giant clown head has been REMOVED as part of the Luna Pool refurbishment!!! It has been seen being taken away from the pool area (although no one actually saw it dismantled, thrown in the trash or burned in a ceremonial cleansing so we do not know for sure it is not coming back). The area where the clowns head WAS is still covered with tarps, but work is continuing.
Dare we hope that the clown is gone for good? Could the Imagineers have something new and creative for that area that doesn’t terrorize small children (or ME)??? I do not know, unfortunately. We will definitely scope out the pool area when we visit next month; hopefully we will be able to give you a more definitive update then. But for now? I’m happily booking a reservation for my mom and I at Boardwalk for May, assuming the clown will be GONE.
Food News
We have lots of FOOD NEWS in this week’s Disney Parks News Update!
ABC Commissary
Over at Hollywood Studios, the ABC Commissary has reopened with a brand new menu. Some old favorites are still there, but the menu has had a major overhaul. Tacos and curry rice bowls have taken center stage. New items include Pork carnitas tacos, Shrimp tacos, curry rice bowl with shrimp and a plant based curry rice bowl with tofu. Two new chicken sandwiches also join the lineup. Kids can choose from a Pork taco, grilled cheese sandwich, a turkey sandwich or their old favorite, uncrustables.
ABC Commissary (Photo: Disney Parks)
Minnie’s Halloween Dine
Also at Hollywood Studios, we have a new menu for Minnie’s Halloween Dine over at Hollywood and Vine.
Photo: Disney Parks
This meal does feature character appearances. The characters will parade through the dining area and wave and let you take pictures. However, they won’t be stopping at your table for individual pictures as you are probably used to from character meals pre Covid.
This is a fixed price, three course meal, featuring a salad, entrée and dessert.
Photo: Disney Parks
Entrée choices include prime rib, roasted turkey breast, macaroni and cheese with shrimp, Salmon, Pork osso bucco and plant based pan seared king trumpet mushrooms.
Photo: Disney Parks
Desserts include your choice of apple blueberry pie, banana crème pie, chocolate smores pie, vanilla crème brulee and a plant based cherry lemon pie.
Photo: Disney Parks
Cocktails, wine and beer are available for an additional price. Beer starts at $7.50, Wine by the glass starts at $10, and cocktails start at $13.
In the past I have NOT enjoyed Hollywood & Vine, however, I have to admit this sounds pretty good. We may have to check this out for ourselves!
Chef Mickey’s
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
Next up in Food news: Chef Mickey’s Character Dining is coming back! One of the most popular character meals on property, Chef Mickey’s will soon be visited by Chef Mickey himself (and a few of his friends!).
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
Starting on December 16, 2020, Mickey and Minnie and their friends will be back at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s not quite the same—this is NOT a buffet at the moment, and the characters will not be coming to your table. However, the characters will “pop up” at surprise intervals and parade through the dining rooms, waving at guests for pictures. Reservations for Chef mickey’s character dining open up October 17.
Photo: Disney Parks
Its important to note that Chef Mickey’s IS currently open. Right now, it’s an all you care to eat family feast WITHOUT characters. Pricing for adults is $25 and kids are $14 (plus tax). However, once the characters return, pricing will jump to $42 for adults and $27 for kids (plus tax).
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
In addition to the characters joining diners, there are three new entrees being added to the menu. Mickey’s celebration pancakes, a loaded potato cheese casserole with smoked bacon crumbles and chives and finally, Goofy’s Banana Bread French Toast—which looks and sounds like a heart attack on a plate.
Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts
It will probably taste AMAZING though. If you plan to check out this very popular character dining experience, reservations are HIGHLY recommended (really, required).
Updated Mask Warnings
New mask warning signs appeared throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks last week. These signs more specifically state that guests must wear their masks properly, at all times, and further state that guests who do not wear their masks will be asked to leave the parks.
In addition to the new signs located throughout the parks, Disney has added an audio announcement about the mask policy that plays in the parks several times each day. Finally, they’ve added the message to the My Disney Experience phone app. Disney is very serious that guests understand this policy.
I know there has been some confusion on this: Florida was recently moved to Phase 3, which means the Florida state government is no longer requiring masks in all public places, and the state has rescinded the fines for not wearing a mask. HOWEVER, it is important to recognize that each business has the right to establish and follow their own protocols, based on what they believe is safest for their guests or customers.
Disney is SERIOUS about their Mask Policy
Completely separate from what the state dictates, Disney has their OWN policies. Disney has determined, based on their research and advice from scientific advisors and guidelines from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) that masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19 (and other airborne spread diseases). Disney is requiring all guests over the age of 2 to wear masks at all times while in the theme parks, and while in public areas of Disney resorts.
Photo: Disney Parks
I understand this is a hot button topic for some people. Bottom line: If you aren’t willing to wear a mask during your Disney visit, do not visit Disney.
If you don’t wear a mask, you will not be permitted entry to the theme parks. If you remove your mask (other than while dining), you will be asked to leave the theme park. It’s very simple. If your aren’t comfortable wearing a mask during your Disney theme park visit, do not visit Disney until masks are no longer required. Hopefully, sometime next year. Disney has a very good refund policy right now, due to the challenges raised by Covid-19, and I am confident they will work with you to cancel or reschedule your trip.
Walt Disney World Theme Parks Capacity
In last week’s Disney Parks News Update, we talked about capacity at the theme parks. We expressed our belief that Disney has been quietly increasing capacity at the theme parks. This belief is based on anecdotal and observational evidence. The theme parks are feeling more crowded. We are seeing much longer lines for attractions. It’s getting more difficult to social distance in main traffic areas throughout the parks. Park reservations are fully booked up, and then Disney releases more availability for certain days, especially weekends. In general, it just “feels” like the parks are getting more crowded every week.
Bob Chapek, Disney CEO
However, Bob Chapek, Disney’s CEO told CNBC this week that Walt Disney World theme parks are still capped at 25% capacity. He also stated that the parks will remain capped at 25% capacity until the CDC guidelines change.
We have to assume that Bob Chapek knows what he’s talking about. He’s the boss of all the bosses, and while he’s not in the trenches admitting guests into the park, we figure he’s heavily involved with the decisions related to capacity. Especially as those decisions will affect the overall profitability of the theme parks dramatically, right?
We’re NOT at 25% Capacity?
So what could explain the discrepancy between what we (and many others who have visited over the last few weeks) are feeling and what Bob Chapek tells us must be true?
1) It’s likely that when the parks first opened, they were not any where near 25% capacity. Perhaps they opened at 5 or 10% and hovered there for a while. We saw lots of pictures and comments that the parks were like ghost towns, and all the attractions were walk-ons during the first couple of months. That has certainly changed. So perhaps what we are seeing now is truly 25% capacity?
2) Another factor in longer lines could be staffing related. If Disney is staffing fewer cast members on attractions, perhaps some “lanes” are closed in attractions? This could slow down the movement of guests through those rides, resulting in longer lines and more congestion?
I’m not sure. It sure seems like the crowds we are seeing, especially in Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom, are higher than 25% capacity. But we don’t work at the parks, and Disney is fairly tightlipped about what they consider FULL capacity to be. So the short answer right now? We don’t know. We will update you next month with our perspective when we are actually there ourselves.
Assault Weapons at Disney World?
Our final story this week is a troubling one. We have learned, courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel as well as several other news outlets, that a Disney guest brought an AR-15 rifle and 9 mm handgun with him on his Disney vacation!
The guest, a 43 year old man from Palm Beach Gardens, checked into the Polynesian Villages Resort over Labor Day Weekend. When the guns were discovered in his luggage, Disney contacted the local sheriff. The man had a concealed weapons permit, and therefore was not arrested.
However, Disney does not allow weapons of any kind on property, so Disney confiscated and held the man’s arsenal for him until the end of his vacation. He stated he brought the weapons because he was worried about his family’s safety during the social justice protests in the Orlando area last month.
Personally, I think if you are worried enough about the safety of your family that you need to bring an assault rifle, a hand gun and more than 100 rounds of ammunition with you to DISNEY WORLD where there are THOUSANDS of unarmed adults and children, perhaps you should postpone your vacation until a time when it feels safer for you to visit.
Again, Disney is being extremely flexible with cancellations, refunds and rescheduling. I would never want anyone to feel unsafe, but we can’t have assault rifles and other deadly weapons making their way onto Disney property.
To be clear: Disney does not allow guests to bring weapons of any kind onto its property. If you have issues with this policy, please contact Disney directly.
Disney Parks News Update: Final Thoughts
That’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News Update. It’s good to see that in some ways, things at the parks are starting to look a little more normal. However, it is a sign of the times that we are seeing stronger mask warnings from Disney, and that we had a story this week that included the word “assault rifle”. I’m hopeful that we will have more stories about things getting back to normal as time goes on.
Thank you for reading!
Happy dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com
This week’s Disney Parks News Update includes more information about Disney’s recent announcement that 28,000 cast members from the theme parks division will be laid off. Critics and analysts weigh in on Disney’s decision. Also featured this week: Disney resort news from Hawaii, Walt Disney World Discounts, and runDisney virtual race updates. Please watch this week’s video below.
For those of you that would rather read than watch the video, today’s Disney Parks News Update is detailed below.
Disney Layoffs
This week’s top story continues to be Disney laying off more than 25% of its 100,000 theme park employees. We have learned that 67% of the 28,000 theme park employees being laid off are part time employees. Also, 6,700 of the employees being laid off are Walt Disney World non union employees.
Disney is still negotiating the terms of the layoffs with the various unions. Therefore, we don’t yet have numbers for union employees being impacted by the layoffs.
However, we are hearing that all departments and all levels within the theme park division are being affected. From Imagineers to Janitorial staff, every department is being impacted. Of the employees so far that have gotten the call, it seems that December 4, 2020 is the effective date for most of the layoffs so far.
We won’t know the impact on the guest experience until after December 4. However it seems pretty obvious that the guest experience WILL be significantly impacted.
Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell Weighs In
Scott Maxwell at the Orlando Sentinel had a terrific commentary piece this week addressing the Orlando area’s dependence on tourism as the primary economic driver and primary source of employment. Maxwell included information about many of the other tourism related layoffs happening in and around the Orlando area, including 1,900 Sea World employees, 2,300 Universal Studios employees, and thousands of employees from various hotel employers. It’s a really interesting commentary and I encourage you to check it out.
Abigail Disney Chastises Disney
Also weighing in on Disney’s decision to layoff 28,000 employees was Abigail Disney. Abigail Disney is the granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy Disney. She took to twitter to make her feelings about the layoffs known. In her Twitter thread about the layoffs, Abigail Disney chastised Disney for underpaying its theme park employees. She also emphasized the impact these layoffs will have on employees and their families.
She went on to say “If Disney had not spent down every penny of its cash on share buy-backs in 2019 (11.5 billion worth), perhaps there’d have been some dough on hand to ensure that even at a partial level they could continue to keep some of these workers on until things return to normal.”
Strong words, to be sure. However, it is important to realize that her words are likely to have little effect on Disney, a giant publicly traded company. Ms. Disney does not currently hold a position of power or influence at Disney. She is, nonetheless, a member of the Disney family and is expressing her personal opinions.
Disney Cast Member (Photo: Disney Parks)
October Hours
In more optimistic news, Disney has recently been increasing park hours here and there. Most weekends in October now feature extended hours, with each park staying open about one hour later than the rest of the week. I think this is a result of increased capacity as well as Disney’s attempt to drive more guests to quick service and table service restaurants open later in the day.
We are hopeful that we will continue to see this happen into November and December. Keep in mind that Disney always reserves their right to change park hours, at their discretion, based on anticipated crowds, staffing levels and other parameters.
Crowd Levels
As we mentioned last week, Disney has been quietly increasing capacity levels and adding park reservation availability for both annual passholders, resort guests and ticket holders. We are seeing longer lines, especially on the weekends. This trend is expected to continue as Disney moves closer and closer to normal.
We can pretty confidently say that we do not expect crowd levels to return to the extremely low levels we were seeing in the first couple months the parks reopened. Guests are gaining more confidence both in traveling in general, and in Disney’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic specifically. I think Disney will continue gradually increasing capacity in response both to the State of Florida’s movement to Phase 3 and to guest reservations and demand.
We don’t yet know when (or even IF) we can expect Fast Pass+ to return. For now, the lack of Fast Pass+ actually helps the overall speed of the stand by lines. This is the result of cast members not needing to merge Fast Pass+ holders into the standby lines.
Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa
While this is not theme park news, this is a Disney resorts news story. Disney has announced that Disney’s Hawaiian resort, Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa will begin gradually reopening on November 1, 2020.
Disney is working with the State of Hawaii to coordinate their reopening plans. Potential guests are encouraged to check with the Hawaiian tourism board for specific travel restrictions that may include mandated quarantines or pre travel testing. Visit gohawaii.com/travel-restrictions to learn more.
Aulani Flexible Cancellation Policy
To encourage guests to visit Aulani, Disney has some new policies and discounts in place.
First, there is a flexible cancelation policy in place for Aulani guests through May 20, 2021. This policy enables guests to cancel their Aulani reservations up to 24 hours before arrival without penalty!
If you have been thinking about planning a Hawaiian vacation, but have been concerned about future Covid-19 developments, this flex policy is terrific. You can plan with confidence, knowing that if you need to reschedule or even cancel your trip you can do so without worry about losing money.
Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa (Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts)
Aulani Discounts
Also in place to encourage guests to visit Aulani are discounts of up to 35%, depending on your dates and room types. This resort is truly extraordinary, and is an amazing vacation destination. If you’d like more information on planning an Aulani vacation, please contact me at Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
Walt Disney World Vacation Package Discounts
Staying on the topic of discounts but returning to the theme parks, Walt Disney World is currently offering a few discounts I wanted to make you aware of.
First up, Vacation package discounts. These are room and ticket packages, and require a minimum 4 night stay/4 day ticket package. You can save up to $500 over the non discounted prices of room & tickets for the same dates.
Discounts vary by resort type, and are good for stays through December 25, 2020. As we’ve discussed before, the Disney theme park experience is limited right now. Much of the entertainment is not happening. Character meals and character greetings are not happening. Fireworks and parades are not happening.
While this is a decent discount, it’s not outstanding. Especially when you consider the given the current limited hours and entertainment offerings. However, if you really want to visit between now and December 25, I want to make sure you save as much money as possible. This discount may make a winter trip possible for some of you.
Southern State Disney Discounts
Disney is actively wooing guests from “southern” states. I think the game plan here is to appeal to guests within driving distance. Especially since so many travelers are still not comfortable flying right now.
To take advantage of this discounts, you must have residency in one of the following states:
Alabama
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
These discounts are room only packages. Discounts are up to 30% for guests staying in a deluxe resort, and up to 20% for guests staying in a value resort. If you want to price out a potential trip for your family, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or by commenting below.
Florida Resident Discounts
The biggest discounts at the moment are for Florida residents, which makes a lot of sense. Florida residents are most likely to be able to visit in the immediate short term.
If you are a Florida resident (note: they do make you prove residency), there are some really terrific discounts right now. The big win: you are eligible for a four day flex ticket at $49/day, which is a savings of about 50% over a regular priced four day ticket.
Florida residents are also eligible for room only hotel discounts of up to 35% for deluxe resorts and up to 25% for Art of Animation (a Value resort, but value Plus in my opinion.) These Florida resident discounts are really good, even with the current limitations of hours, entertainment, character greetings etc.
runDisney Virtual Races
In runDisney news, the virtual races for both the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and the Princess Half Marathon Weekend for 2021 are still available to for registration. Race dates are:
Walt Disney World 2021 Marathon Weekend: January 7 – January 10, 2021
Princess Half Marathon 2021 Weekend: February 20 – 21, 2021
If you choose to do a virtual runDisney event, you are still going to train for your event. You will still complete the distance of the race you register for. Ideally, on the date the original runDisney onsite race was planned. The big difference? You will complete the race at home, on a route of your choosing or on your treadmill.
Your completion of the race is “required” for you to receive your finisher’s medal, which will be mailed out by Disney after the race weekends are complete. However, these virtual races are essentially done on the “honor system”. So if you do the race on a different day, or take more than 16 minutes per mile to complete the race, that will be ok.
Prices range from $49 – $500, depending on the race and/or the challenge you want to do, and whether you want to include the race tech shirts with your purchase.
Mom/Daughter Challenge
My mom and I have decided to do the Princess 10k virtual race together; I am also doing the Princess half marathon to complete the Fairy Tale Challenge. We’ll be posting our training updates both here and on the blog.
If you want to follow along, please make sure you subscribe both to our YouTube channel and to this blog.
If you’re considering a runDisney event, I offer “Couch to 10K”, “Couch to Half Marathon” and “Couch to runDisney Challenge” training programs that include weekly email coaching, training schedules and personalized support. Contact me to learn more. (Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com)
If you want to learn more about the runDisney experience, please check out this post.
And that’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News Update. If you have a topic you would like us to cover in the blog or on YouTube, please let us know by commenting below. You can also send an email to brooke@disneycastledreaming.com with your suggestions.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com
Disney World parks have now been reopened for two weeks. How it’s going seems to depend a lot on who you talk to. Now that the dust has settled a little bit on the reopening, we wanted to update you on a few announcements Disney has made since the parks reopened. Disney has announced Disney attraction closures, both temporary and permanent. There are also several highly anticipated upcoming attractions that have been put on the back burner, modified or cancelled altogether.
Resort Opening Changes
Disney has decided NOT to reopen Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn until further notice. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resorts will both remain closed until further notice. In addition, the three All Star value resorts and Pop Century resorts remain closed at this time.
Disney has pushed back the reopening of both Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
Here is the new schedule of the resorts that are scheduled to reopen this year.
July 29:Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
August 24: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
September 21: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
October 4: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
October 14: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
November 1: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
It is important to remember that all these dates are still subject to change. Disney continues to evaluate the health situation and what is happening in the state of Florida.
Spaceship Earth Refurbishment
Previously, Disney had planned to close Spaceship Earth in May 2020 for a two to three year refurbishment. Read about that here.
When the parks reopened, fans were happy to see that Spaceship Earth reopened, right along with the rest of EPCOT attractions. Shortly after reopening, Disney announced that plans to refurbish/reimagine Spaceship Earth had been paused indefinitely.
Spaceship Earth (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
At this time, no additional information has been released. If you’ve ridden Spaceship Earth anytime over the last year or two, you’ve probably noticed that it needs refurbishment. Some areas of the ride, and many of the ride vehicles look worn.
Why the pause? In short: Money. Disney lost more than $1 billion during the first month the parks were closed, and when the next quarter’s results are released, that loss will no doubt be mind boggling large. As a result, it is likely that Disney will be scaling back on planned projects, or even canceling projects to control spending until the parks start to recover financially. This, unfortunately, is likely to take YEARS.
We suspect that Spaceship Earth will close at some point either in 2021 or 2022 for a few months for cleaning and refurbishment, but it is doubtful that the substantial refurbishment originally planned will happen at all. This is not official, this is just our opinion. On the upside, if you are planning to visit the parks over the next 18 months, most likely Spaceship Earth will be open.
Mary Poppins Attraction
For as long as Disney has been building attractions, there have been rumors that a Mary Poppins themed attraction would be built. For many, the very brief Mary Poppins scene in the now-gone Great Movie Ride was a favorite scene. When Mary Poppins Returns was released in 2018, a resurgence of interest in Mary Poppins was born. When Disney announced that at long last, a Mary Poppins themed attraction was going to land in the UK Pavilion at EPCOT, many fans were THRILLED. While very few details were ever released about the planned attraction, it was officially announced. The attraction was included in the presentation at the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. The attraction has now been removed from that presentation.
Disney officially announced that the planned Mary Poppins attraction has been “postponed”. In this case, it is likely that the attraction will never materialize. It doesn’t appear that the attraction had gotten very far down the imagineering road, and given the financial losses Disney sustained this year? It doesn’t look good for our girl Mary. Hopefully, we are wrong, and we will eventually see this attraction move ahead. It is unlikely to happen for several years, however, and we suspect other properties will be higher priorities by then.
Disney Attraction Closures
Along with announcing postponements, Disney also announced some attraction closures. For the most part, these were not surprising.
Stitch’s Great Escape
Disney has permanently closed Stitch’s Great Escape. This controversial ride was (in our opinion) a ham fisted overlay of the failed scary attraction, Alien Adventure. After many guest complained, Alien Adventure was closed and a new “story” was created to make the attraction less scary and more funny, using the same basic attraction features. Stitch was stuck into the “story”, assumably to attract younger children and families to try the new version of the attraction.
The attraction was never very popular. In our opinion, it didn’t really work. The story was neither fun nor funny, and including Stitch didn’t really make much sense. The ride wasn’t as scary, it was more gross—and while that can be both fun and funny, in this case…it really wasn’t.
For the last couple of years, Stitch’s Great Escape has been closed more than it’s been opening. The attraction has opened a few times a year when crowds are particularly high to try and give people another attraction to visit. Disney’s decision to permanently close the attraction and no longer use it for overflow suggests it wasn’t really working in that capacity either. We suspect even the most loyal Stitch fan will not be sorry to see this attraction go.
We hope this space will be used for a really terrific Tomorrowland attraction at some point in the future. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen any time in the next 2-5 years.
Primeval Whirl
Primeval Whirl is another not-very-popular attraction that is now officially closed, per Disney’s recent announcement. Located in Dinoland at Animal Kingdom, Primeval Whirl is part of the “carnival” section of Dinoland. It’s very much an “off the shelf” attraction, similar to basic attractions you’d find at an actual carnival or very basic theme park. It certainly lacked any “Disney Magic”.
Much like Stitch’s Great Escape, Primeval Whirl has been mostly closed for the last couple of years. Disney opened Primeval Whirl occasionally, when crowds were especially high. We doubt there is a plan to replace Primeval Whirl. Likely, Disney just decided to close it permanently to reduce training and operating costs for a rarely used, unpopular attraction.
Rivers of Light
The announcement that Animal Kingdom’s nighttime show, Rivers of Light, would NOT be returning permanently was a surprise and a disappointment. Part of the Animal Kingdom expansion when Disney decided the park needed to be a full day “experience”, Rivers of Light was a unique nighttime show unlike anything else on Disney property.
Disney built a gorgeous waterside theater near the Finding Nemo the Musical theater to house Rivers of Light when it was designed. Because of the animals, nighttime entertainment at Animal Kingdom cannot include fireworks, explosions or loud pyrotechnics like we are used to seeing at most Disney nighttime shows.
Animal Kingdom’s Rivers of Light (Photo:Disney Parks)
Rivers of Light uses hauntingly beautiful music, stained glass floats, dancing waters and water projections to entertain. It’s a slower, quieter show, but very beautiful to look at and a nice way to unwind at the end of a busy day.
We are disappointed that Disney will not be bringing the show back, but we hope those beautiful floats and that theater will be used for SOMETHING in the future. Again, due to financial constraints, it is unlikely we will see anything for a few years. (SIGH).
Projects in Process
There are quite a few projects in process around Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, we don’t know the current status on most of these projects. We are assuming work is progressing, but we’ve had no announcements.
For example, the Ratatouille themed attraction originally slated to open in “Summer 2020” has not opened. The signs outside the attraction building that used to say “Summer 2020” have been removed. The attraction was in fairly good shape prior to the parks closing in March. We would have thought the attraction would be opening perhaps late summer or early fall at the latest, based on construction delays caused by Covid-19. However, Disney has not made any announcements or been talking about this attraction at all. We suspect that with the parks opened with limited capacity and the health crisis still looming, Disney has decided to save this attraction for when the parks are welcoming more guests, and they can generate positive buzz for the attraction. Just speculation on our part, but we think they may want a bigger “good news” announcement than they would likely get right now.
Space 220 Concept Art, Disney Parks
Similarly, Space 220 is a new table service restaurant, originally planned to open late 2019 and pushed back to Summer 2020. There has been no news on this restaurant for months, so we suspect it will not open this year. We hope to be wrong as we are very anxious to check this one out. Unfortunately, we doubt we are wrong.
Big Coming Attractions
The Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster and the Tron Lightcycle coaster ride are both projects scheduled for completion sometime in 2021. We’ve had no information on these, but hopefully they are still on track.
Tron Billboard, visible from Storybook Circus
We’ve also had no significant updates on the reconfiguring of EPCOT’s main entrance and future world. This is another project not expected to finish until sometime next year. This is a project that we think will be scaled WAY back from the original plans. It will be interesting to see what happens with this fairly massive project over the next 12 months.
Disney Attraction Closures: What About the PARKS???
The big question, of course, is will Walt Disney World close the parks again. We just don’t know the answer to that one. It is possible, especially considering how fast new cases are emerging in Florida every day. While we are confident that Disney will do everything in its power to keep from closing down, they also don’t want to jeopardize public health, their image or their bottom line. There are a lot of things that could (and should) factor into a decision to close the parks again. Hopefully, it will not become necessary. We will keep you posted as we learn more in the days ahead!
Are you upset or worried by any of the closures or postponements mentioned above? Please like this post and comment below.
Disney has released more information about the reopening of Walt Disney World. The big news today? Disney cancels ALL dining reservations through the end of the year.
Disney has also cancelled all Fast Pass reservations. For more information about Disney’s reopening plans, please check out this post. The plans submitted to Orange County have been approved, and Disney is on track to reopen on July 11, 2020.
Disney Cancels Dining Reservations
Disney has officially cancelled all dining reservations through the end of this year. This is a pretty significant indication that Disney does NOT expect theme park operations and capacity to return to normalcy any time this year.
For those of us planning to visit Disney later this year, the canceling of dining reservations may have a big impact on our trip plans.
In their statement, Disney has told us that the cancellations are due to social distancing requirements. They have said that when they reopen, restaurants will be limited in capacity.
Disney plans to reopen dining reservations with limited numbers “closer to when the parks reopen”. They are also shrinking the Advance Dining Reservations window from 180 days to 60 days. This seems to be an “until further notice” change.
Fast Pass+ Reservations Suspended
In addition, Disney has suspended the Fast Pass+ reservation system. Fast Passes will not be available for any attractions when the parks reopen on July 11, 2020. Any existing Fast Pass+ reservations will be automatically cancelled. Disney will use additional queue space to manage capacity and social distancing. Disney has not provided any information as to if and when the Fast Pass+ reservation system will be reinstated. Fast Pass+ information has already been removed from the My Disney Experience.
Extra Magic Hours Suspended
Disney has also decided to suspend Extra Magic Hours temporarily as the parks reopen. Again, we don’t know how long this will last. It may end up that Extra Magic Hours will be suspended briefly, and will return quickly. It’s also possible that Extra Magic Hours will be suspended through the end of the year.
Reservations for Tours and Other Experiences
Disney has also cancelled reservations for all behind the scenes tours and other experience that require reservations. Disney has indicated that some experiences will remain closed for the time being. Other experiences will be available with limited capacity. Reservations for these experiences will likely become available closer to the parks reopening. As with everything else, the situation is fluid and frequent changes are likely.
Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations
All NEW ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations are temporarily paused. The priority right now for Disney is Guests with existing tickets and reservations. Guests that already have tickets and Annual Passholders will be able to make theme park reservations before new tickets are sold. There are no specific instructions yet on how those guests will be able to make their reservations. Disney has said they are going to be reaching out to those Guests soon to provide details.
New ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations will resume at some point. Disney has stated their initial priority is taking care of existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders. The parks will be reopening with limited capacity, so I’m not sure when exactly when new reservations will be available. I will update you as soon as I have more information.
Masks ARE Required
As we mentioned in our previous post about the parks reopening, face masks or coverings WILL be required for all theme park guests and Cast Members. They will also be required for all Guests and Cast Members in Resort public areas.
Disney themed face masks? Let’s go! Click the picture above.
Summary of All Changes
So, in short, visiting Walt Disney World this summer (and potentially, for the rest of the year) is going to look VERY different.
No character greetings–at least for now!
Face masks required
No Extra Magic Hours
Fast Pass+ system suspended
No fireworks
Nighttime spectaculars canceled
Social distancing
All dining reservations have been canceled
New reservation window of sixty days instead of 180 days
All reservations for tours and other experiences have been canceled
No character greetings
Playgrounds closed
No water play areas
“Makeover” experiences (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Boutique, for example) are canceled
Character greetings have been canceled. Character meals are most likely canceled, too. (Unconfirmed)
Disney is working with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and other health experts to do everything they can to protect the health and safety of both Guests and Cast Members.
Should You Visit Disney This Year?
Of course, many of these changes are disappointing. If you’ve been looking forward to your trip all year (or longer!), canceling or postponing can be really sad. However, if you have a “first” trip planned during this time, I highly recommend you reschedule. So many of the experiences are going to be limited, I think you will be disappointed. If you are a frequent visitor, and know you’ll be visiting again next year, you may not be as disappointed by some of the “missing” features during this phased reopening time. Canceling or postponing can be a very difficult decision. If you need advice, or would like to talk it through with someone, please feel free to reach out. I’m here, and I understand. brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
All nighttime fireworks and spectaculars are canceled due to social distancing requirements
It is important to keep in mind that Disney is trying to keep everyone safe. If you have a trip booked, and want to cancel as a result of these changes, Disney is working with everyone to reschedule or offer refunds. Contact your travel agent or Disney to learn more.
Personally, I think with the reduced capacity and all the other changes, the best visitors during these early phases are going to be local Florida residents and Disney Annual Passholders. Likely to be frequent visitors, I think locals and Passholders will be less impacted by all the changes. They’ll also be less likely to feel disappointed or that they’re “missing out” on experiences that have been canceled for the time being.
What Can We Expect in 2021?
Information about next year and the impact of this pandemic on the theme parks in 2021 is pretty sparse. I suspect we will learn more as the theme parks reopen, and we see how Guests respond. In China, Guests have been very cooperative with Disney. Chinese Guests have responded well to new rules and restrictions. This has resulted in Shanghai Disneyland expanding capacity.
However, it is important to recognize that visitors to Disney World in Florida come from all over the world and from many different cultures. We don’t yet know if Guests in Florida will be as cooperative as those in China. We hope so, and we hope that we don’t see an increase in new Covid-19 cases as the parks reopen. This is going to be a “wait and see” situation.
Other Florida Theme Parks
Universal Theme Parks open next week, as does Legoland. Gatorland has already reopened. Sea World is reopening June 11, followed by Disney World on July 11. Busch Gardens in Tampa has submitted plans for reopening, which have been approved. No reopening date has been announced yet.
Hopefully, by mid August we will have more information on how the reopening plans are succeeding for all the Florida theme parks.
The good news is that all the theme parks ARE reopening. It will be different, but it is happening. Hopefully, as the months pass, things will return to something closer to normal for theme park visitors. It is time, I believe, to start planning our vacations for next year. If you need help, I am available! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
Great news today, everyone! Walt Disney World has presented their plan for reopening the parks in Florida to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for approval. Pending that approval as well as state approval, Disney World is reopening July 11, 2020.
Disney World is NOT opening all at once, however. Like everything else, Disney World is going to reopen in phases.
Disney World’s Phased Reopening Approach
Initially, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open on July 11, 2020. A few days later, July 15, 2020, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will open.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Disney is very focused on managing this reopening very carefully and more importantly, very responsibly. They’re going to significantly limit attendance and guest density throughout the parks, once they reopen.
A Very Different Theme Park Experience
It’s important that we adjust our expectations to a new theme park experience. Covid-19 unfortunately has not been eradicated, nor do we (yet) have a vaccine. So it is very important that we continue to be careful and prioritize our health and safety. Social distancing, washing your hands, and wearing face masks are going to continue to be very important–at least for the foreseeable future.
Cinderella Castle from Bay Lake Tower at Night (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Some of Disney’s trademark experiences that draw large crowds are NOT returning to normal operations until further notice. This means there will be no fireworks, parades, or nighttime spectaculars. This also means that experiences that are considered “high touch” experiences are also not returning at this time. This includes “makeover” experiences (think Bibbidi Bobbidi Doo), character meet and greets, water play areas and playgrounds.
To summarize, while the parks ARE reopening, the following experiences are NOT reopening during these early phases.
Parades
Character Meet and Greets
Fireworks and Nighttime Spectaculars
Makeover Experiences
Water Play Areas
Playgrounds
Linda & Brooke with Mickey & Minnie at Animal Kingdom (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Disney has not specifically mentioned popular stage shows that also draw crowds, like the Indiana Jones Stunt Show or Beauty and the Beast. I suspect those will either be limited or cancelled as well. It’s possible Disney is holding off decisions on these types of attractions until they get closer to opening the parks. I also think they may do limited seating to accommodate social distancing. Similar to ideas that have been floated for reopening movie theaters, Disney could close alternate rows, and suggest distance between families or groups. At this point we just don’t know.
Reservations for Park Entry
During this phased reopening of Disney World, Disney is going to require guest to make advance reservations to enter the park. This is how they intend to limit attendance at each park. They have not specifically stated how many guests will be allowed to enter each park once they are reopen; I suspect this is so they can test a variety of crowds as they see how things go. Initially, Shanghai Disney reopened with a capacity of 24,000 versus their normal capacity of 80,000.
While we don’t have official numbers, the Magic Kingdom has a max capacity of 100,000 people. (Personally, I find it pretty unpleasant any where NEAR that crowd level but different strokes for different folks!) I’m expecting that Disney will limit attendance at MK to 30,000 OR LESS during this first phase of reopening. Keep in mind, there are also THOUSANDS of cast members to support guests at the same time.
How to Make Reservations
Disney has not shared exactly HOW we are going to be able to make reservations for park entry. They HAVE indicated that guests with existing tickets and annual passholders will be able to make reservations for park entrance before the system will be opened up for new ticket sales.
Disney has temporarily halted new ticket sales and new resort reservations until they work through the existing and rescheduled reservations. Note: Disney Vacation Club members are the exception to this: they can still make resort reservations. Disney has indicated that they will be reaching out to existing ticket holders and annual passholders “soon” to discuss the process for making park reservations with them. The official statement says “more details about this new reservation system will be available soon”.
What Resorts are Reopening and When?
Disney has announced that Disney Vacation Club resorts in Orlando and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground are opening to guests June 22, 2020. In addition, Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina are opening to guests beginning June 15, 2020. These resorts are reopening with new safety and cleanliness protocols in place. In addition, plans to support social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures are in place, according to Disney.
Old Key West Resort (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
At this time, Disney has not announced when additional resorts will be opening. My prediction is that they will roll out additional resorts as they gradually increase attendance thresholds at the parks. I’m sure there will be a lot of training for cast members at each resort as they prepare for reopening.
Will I Have to Wear a Mask?
Disney is putting various measures in place to protect health and safety of both guests and cast members as Disney World prepares to reopen July 11, 2020.
All guests over the age of three and all cast members will be required to wear face coverings inside the theme parks and in public areas of the resorts. On the upside, Disney is selling really cute face masks (of course!) at shopDisney.com now for pre-order. Check them out below. I mean, if you have to wear one, they might as well be adorable, right?
Disney themed face masks? Let’s go! Click the picture above.Star Wars themed face masks! Click the image above!Toy Story themed face masks at shopdisney.com. Please click the picture above!
In addition, both guests and cast members will be required to undergo temperature checks prior to entering a theme park. Disney already has the temperature check system in place for guests entering Disney Springs.
Disney is also recommending cashless transactions whenever possible, encouraging guests to plan on using their magic bands or credit cards to minimize the handling or exchange of (potentially bacteria carrying) cash.
High traffic areas will get additional cleaning and disinfection procedures with higher frequency than other areas. Disney has also stated that procedures will be reviewed and updated frequently as we all get used to the new normal.
What Does it All Mean?
So, the good news: Disney World is reopening July 11, 2020. The not-as-good news is that things are going to be different. But let’s face it. There are a LOT of things in our lives that are going to be different going forward. Perhaps permanently different.
Disney has stated that the phased opening at Shanghai Disneyland has been going very well, and that they are encouraged by the guest response there. Let’s hope guests in Orlando will be as cooperative and understanding.
Disney continues to work with the CDC and other health officials to implement best practices for reopening. I suspect this will be an evolving situation as time goes on, and we all have a chance to see the impact that reopening has on our citizenry. Hopefully, we are going to continue the number of new cases shrink as life gradually returns to normal. However, it is important to recognize that public safety is critical, and should we see a surge in new cases, it is entirely possible that Disney will have to close again.
We’re All in This Together
It is vital that any guests intending to visit the parks in the next couple of months (and perhaps longer still) are prepared to wear masks, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and get their temperatures checked.
It is also important that guests weigh their desire to visit the parks against the potential risks to their own health, and the health of others. Finally, it is critical to understand that some experiences will NOT be happening for the first few weeks and months the parks are open. If those changes are going to make you unhappy, or cause you to question the expense, I recommend you reschedule your trip for later in the year or even to next year.
We must all work together to help this phased reopening of Disney and the rest of our country be successful. We must be respectful of the new safety protocols in place for the protection of EVERYONE. Wearing a mask in the Florida heat this summer may not be fun, but it may also help to save lives. I, for one, think that’s a small price to prevent other people getting sick, or even worse.
What We Don’t Know
There’s still a lot we DON’T know, and I expect information will become available in the weeks to come. I know I still have questions about dining and transportation. Are you wondering about Fast Passes and the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance? I’d like to know about shows and the stretching room at the Haunted Mansion. I bet you are wondering about the new Space 220 restaurant at EPCOT and all the other construction projects in progress.
Lots of questions, and very few answers. I’m excited Disney is opening, and I’m anxious to see what’s to come!
Happy Dreaming,
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!
P.S. ShopDisney.com is having a great summer sale right now. If you’re jonesing for a little Disney magic, check it out!
Full disclosure: I am a shopDisney.com affiliate. If you visit shopDisney.com using one of my links, and your purchase results in a purchase, I will earn a small commission. This does NOT cost you anything. Thank you!
Breaking news! The Walt Disney Company announced today that Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disneyland will be closing due to the coronavirus. In addition, Disney Cruise Line departures are cancelled through the end of March.
These new Disney theme park closures follow the closures of Shanghai Disney, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland earlier this month.
Earlier this week, we gave you an update regarding Disney’s policies and procedures for both U.S. Disney Parks and Resorts and Disney Cruise Line. If you’d like to review that article, please visit here.
However, in just a few days, the coronavirus has caused increasing concerns worldwide, affecting the decisions of people all over the globe. As a result, Disney has announced that Disney Parks in the U.S. and France will close beginning March 16, 2020. The parks will remain closed through the end of the month.
Photo: Brooke Hudson
Disney’s Official Statements
Disney released these statements late Thursday afternoon.
Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line
“In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our Guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month.
Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, through the end of the month.
The Walt Disney Company will pay its Cast Members during that closure period.
The hotels at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open until further notice. The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open.
Domestic Walt Disney Company employees who are able to work from home are being asked to do so, including those at The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Direct-to-Consumer, and Parks, Experiences and Products.
We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts.”
Disneyland and California Adventure
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland® Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.
Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.
Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714.52.5050.”
Questions You May Have
To learn more about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the U.S. response to it by visiting the CDC.
What if I have a vacation package booked while the parks are closed?
You can cancel or modify your room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up until your original scheduled check in date. There will be no fee to change your dates or cancel your package. If you take no action to change or cancel, Disney will automatically process a refund to your original form of payment within seven days of your original check in date.
What if I have a vacation package booked after March 31? (But I don’t want to travel during that time?)
Disney has temporarily changed their change and cancellation policy. If you have a room reservation or vacation package with a check in date through June 30, 2020, you can change your dates or cancel your reservation with no penalty or cancellation fee.
How does the closure impact my annual pass?
Annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed. (Note: Disney has officially answered this question for WDW Annual Passes, but I am fairly confident that the same will hold true for Disneyland Annual Passes.)
What if I have date specific theme park tickets for the period the parks will be closed?
Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days or date specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before March 31, 2020 will be automatically extended to use any date before December 15, 2020. If you can’t visit the parks prior to December 15, 2020, you may apply the value of your wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.
What if I have a ticket for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours or Disney Early Morning Magic between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020?
Your ticket will be automatically refunded because those events are being cancelled.
What if I’ve prepaid for a dining reservation or an experience reservation like Build a Droid ? (Scheduled between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020?)
All prepaid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if they were scheduled to occur between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020.
What about dining reservations that I guaranteed with a credit card?
You will not pay a cancellation or no-show fee for reservations at locations impacted by the closures.
Disney World and Disneyland Closing Due to Coronavirus — Final Thoughts
I am disappointed that Disney made these decisions to close their parks worldwide. However, I understand that governmental and public pressures made this result almost inevitable.
I am very happy to see that Disney will continue to pay all cast members impacted by the closures. When I first heard this news, I was very concerned for the cast members. It’s fairly well known that Disney cast members’ wages are pretty low. I suspect many cast members live paycheck to paycheck as do so many people these days. The impact of two weeks without pay could be ruinous to many people. I am glad to see that Disney is stepping up and taking care of their people.
Disney Cast Members (Photo: Disney Parks)
It is of course possible that Disney could elect to extend these closures beyond the end of March; however, I am hopeful that will not be necessary. I hope that in April, we will see a return to normalcy across the country and the world; not just for Disney but for all of us.
What are your thoughts about Disney World and Disneyland closing due to the coronavirus? Do you have any vacation plans impacted by these closures? Please comment with your thoughts below.
Please take care of yourselves and those you love!
I know that many people are very concerned about COVID-19, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus. If you are planning a Disney vacation and/or a Disney Cruise Line vacation in the coming months, no doubt Disney and their response to the coronavirus are weighing on your mind.
Disney has released formal statements regarding COVID-19 for both Disney Parks and Resorts and the Disney Cruise Line.
It is important to remember that while the novel coronavirus can be very serious for those with health issues that compromise their immune system and make them more vulnerable, for most of us the impact of contracting the novel coronavirus will be similar to the flu. Taking care of our personal hygiene per the guidelines released by the CDC (link in the statement below) will significantly reduce our vulnerability to COVID-19, as well as other contagious diseases.
Disney has a well earned reputation for cleanliness and sanitation, and I am confident they are taking every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of all guests.
Disney and the Coronavirus – Parks and Resorts
Dr. Pamela Hymel, Disney’s Chief Medical Officer released a statement a few days ago. We have included an excerpt from this statement below:
“As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies.
Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all of our parks and resorts around the world have high standards of cleanliness, which assists with illness prevention, and we have health and safety protocols in place, such as:
Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues
Additionally, our onsite health teams and leaders are communicating with our cast members about illness prevention, including the guidance of the CDC. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, such as staying home when sick, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, following proper respiratory cough etiquette, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.”
Disney Cruise Line and the Coronavirus
In response to concerns specifically related to cruise travel, Disney has released the following statement and update to Disney Cruise Line policies.
“Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 continues to evolve quickly and Disney Cruise Line is closely following guidance from health officials and authorities in the ports of call we visit. We are also committed to keeping our Guests informed and updated, and are happy to address any questions our Guests have in advance of their cruise vacations and once they’re onboard.
The health and safety of our Guests, as well as that of our Crew Members, is our primary focus. We are taking precautionary steps and have implemented the following guidelines, which will likely continue to evolve as more information becomes available:
Currently, any Guest or Crew Member who has traveled from, to or through China, including Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea, Italy, Iran or Japan, within 14 days of departure will not be able to board our ships.
Any Guest or Crew Member who has been in contact with someone from these areas, including Guests with connecting flights in these locations, also will not be able to board, nor will anyone who has helped care for someone suspected of having or diagnosed with the coronavirus (COVID-19), or who is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure. Guests who have air travel booked through Disney Cruise Line will automatically have their flights rebooked on an alternate route. Guests who booked their own air travel arrangements should contact their airlines directly to make the appropriate changes.
As is always our practice, we screen all Guests and Crew Members before they board, and anyone who feels unwell with gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms (fever over 100.4º F, chills, cough or difficulty breathing) will not be permitted to sail.
In addition, all Guests and Crew Members will have their temperature checked by a nurse with a no touch thermometer prior to boarding, regardless if they are symptomatic or feel unwell. Additional medical screening will be required for anyone with a temperature of 100.4º F or greater, and they along with their travel party may be unable to sail.
For cruises that include a stop in Nassau or Castaway Cay, please note that The Bahamas will not allow anyone to disembark in any Bahamian port if they have been to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran in the past 20 days prior to arrival. These Guests may be able to sail but will be unable to visit The Bahamas.
For cruises that include a stop in Jamaica, please note that in addition to the locations noted above, officials there also will not allow Guests who have traveled from, to or through Singapore within 14 days of arrival to come ashore. These Guests will be unable to sail.
Temporary Cancellation Policy Update
Given the current situation, we are offering temporary adjustments to our cancellation policy to provide more flexibility for our guests. These adjustments may continue to evolve as more information becomes available.”
“Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Additional Information
Disney Cruise Line consistently receives among the highest public health inspection scores and has health and safety protocols in place. We also have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing illness and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. Some of these procedures include:
Training for all of our Crew Members on how best to prevent the spread of illness onboard.
A health screening completed by all Guests and Crew Members to check for illness before they board the ship.
Extensive cleaning and sanitation of high-traffic areas (e.g., handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons) and children’s facilities.
Cleaning of all staterooms twice a day, and additional disinfection when necessary.
Medical clinics on our ships staffed with experienced doctors and nurses and stocked with supplies and medications to treat a variety of illnesses.
According to public health authorities, Guests can also help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and many other illnesses by frequently washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom and before eating. Parents can supervise their children to ensure they wash their hands thoroughly. In addition, Disney Cruise Line has hand sanitizer wipes and sanitation stations conveniently available in multiple places on its ships. Guests can also cover their nose and mouth with a tissue (or upper sleeve) when sneezing, and avoid sneezing or coughing into their hands or without covering their nose and mouth.”
Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands
Because concern about the coronavirus is widespread, I felt it was important to include Disney’s statements verbatim, rather than to paraphrase them. As Disney releases new statements or amends these statements, I will release updates.
Bottom line: Disney is doing everything they can to combat the spread of COVID-19 or any other disease in their theme parks and cruise line. They have an excellent reputation for cleanliness and training cast members on strict policies and procedures. I have no doubt that Disney has gotten even more aggressive in these areas due to the concerns regarding the coronavirus.
If you have a Disney Parks or a Disney Cruise Line vacation planned for the next 60 days, and are concerned about Disney and the coronavirus, Disney has implemented temporary cancellation policies. If you would like my help with determining your recourse and/or rescheduling your trip, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
As long as you feel comfortable with Disney’s policies and are in reasonably good health, I don’t think it is necessary to cancel or reschedule your trip. However, if you are worried and don’t think you’d be comfortable, I can certainly understand if you wish to cancel or reschedule.
I will keep you updated as news regarding Disney and the coronavirus evolves.
I’ve decided to run a new series of posts focusing on Disney’s WIDE variety of resorts. This week, I’m focusing on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has long been one of my favorites. Even when we don’t stay at the Polynesian, we often make sure to stop by and visit the Gift Shop, grab a snack at Cap’n Cook’s or to take a walk on the grounds.
It’s All About the Dole Whip
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the few places outside a Disney theme park when you can get the beloved Dole Whip. A creamy concoction of pineapple (or other citrus fruits) flavored dairy free soft serve, the Dole Whip has been a Disneyland and Walt Disney World MUST-DO since 1986. Originally, you could only find the Dole Whip at a kiosk near the Enchanted Tiki Room. Now, you can find them at larger, more permanent structures, and in more than one theme park. However, you can’t find a Dole Whip at all the ice cream carts, popcorn stands or churro kiosks located throughout Disney, so Dole Whip feels a bit more like a treasure you have to hunt for.
Dole Whips Anyone? (Photo: Disney Parks)
Side note: Animal Kingdom features a Dole Whip window where you can add RUM to your Dole Whip. You can also find this lovely rum treat at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Honestly, I think this might be what nature originally intended!
Of course, you can find LOADS of recipes on the internet (like this one), or buy the DOLE soft serve mix and make your own Dole Whips at home–but I think that takes all the fun out of it. I love having treats we only get on vacation at Disney.
The Pineapple Lanai, located just of the lobby at the Polynesian Resort, features several varieties of Dole Whip. Of course the traditional Pineapple flavor is there, along with Vanilla soft serve; you’ll also find Lime, which is served in a cone and topped with an orchid, and called the Te Fiti Cone (VERY popular). Not on the menu, but available, is the Lemon/Lime swirl. It’s pretty TART, though, so make sure you really love lemon and lime before going for that one!
Try the Te Fiti Cone or the Corazon Blanco Tequila Frozen Margarita Blended with Dole Whip LIME! (Photo: Disney Parks)
Periodically, they will also have special flavors or “themed” treats. For example, in honor of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Pineapple Lanai is offering a “Yoda” cone. Basically, it’s a Lime cone with two white chocolate “ears”.
If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use a snack credit for a Dole Whip treat at The Pineapple Lanai. Currently, a regular Dole Whip (Pineapple, Vanilla, or Swirl) is $4.99. The version with coconut rum is $11.00. Also available is a Pineapple float $5.99 and the Te Fiti Cone $5.29. Finally, you can get your Float in a souvenir cup for $10.99, or your Dole whip in a souvenir bowl for $9.99.
Dole Whip Float (photo: Disney Parks)
Now that we’ve got all that important Dole Whip information out of the way, I guess we should talk about the REST of the Polynesian Village Resort, hmm?
Take a Tour of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a Deluxe Resort, located on Walt Disney World’s Seven Seas Lagoon. The Polynesian Village Resort is one of the original two resort hotels at Walt Disney World when the Magic Kingdom opened back in 1971! In April 2015, Disney’s Polynesian Villages Resort opened its Disney Vacation Club resort, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.
Watch this video to explore Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.
Advantages of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Proximity to the Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows are located very close to the Magic Kingdom. A short water taxi ride, two Monorail stops or a short bus ride gets you to the Magic Kingdom pretty quickly.
Monorail Resort: There are only three resorts actually ON the Monorail line. Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s hard to beat the convenience of being on the Monorail line. Want to visit any of the other Monorail resorts? Just hop on the Monorail? Want to visit Epcot? Just hop on the Monorail. Want to go to the Magic Kingdom? Hop on the Monorail. Enjoying the restaurants and other amenities located at the other Monorail resorts is super easy when all you have to do is hop on the Monorail.
The Monorail Departs Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Photo: Destinations in Florida)
Design and architecture: The Polynesian Village Resort has a “South Pacific” theme. It’s about as close to Hawaii as you are likely to get in Central Florida. The resort is lush and beautiful, filled with water features and has a very tropical flair.
Room Size: The standard rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are larger than the standard rooms at many other Disney resorts. Standard rooms at the Polynesian Village Resort feature two queen beds and a day bed. The rooms allow for five people and one child under age three. Many resort rooms top out at four people, so the Polynesian is one of only a few resorts that allow for 5+ in a standard room.
Photo: Destinations in Florida
Romantic: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the more romantic resort locations at Walt Disney World. There are lots of beautiful spots to quietly snuggle and appreciate the scenery. There are hammocks to relax in, and you can sit on the beach or near the beach and watch the fireworks over Magic Kingdom. There’s even a picturesque spot where small Disney Fairy Tale Weddings are held.
Photo: David and Vicki Arndt Photography
Transportation: Disney’s Polynesian Resort gives you access to a wide variety of Disney’s free transportation systems. You can use the bus system, the water taxi system, or the Monorail system. You can take the Monorail to two other resorts, as well to Epcot. From Epcot, you’ll be able to use the Skyway (after it opens September 29), boat or bus to visit Hollywood Studios. The Skyway will also take you to four other Disney resorts.
Entertainment: The Polynesian Village Resort features a variety of restaurants and bars as do most Disney Deluxe Resorts. However, there is a very popular attraction that can ONLY be found at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: Disney’s Spirit of Aloha dinner show is held nightly, and is Walt Disney World’s version of a Luau. Guests enjoy an all you can eat tropical buffet, featuring Aloha pulled pork, Polynesian ribs, roasted vegetables and more. The highlight is the entertainment: hula dancers, fire dancers, drummers and more! (Note: You CAN use Disney Dining Plan meal credits for the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, but two meal credits are required per person. Current regular ticket prices range from $66 – $78 per adult, $39 – $46 per child.)
Character Meal: Most Disney Deluxe Resorts feature character meals. However, if you are a Lilo and Stitch fan, there is only ONE character meal for you: the Character Breakfast at Ohana, at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. You’ll not only find Lilo and Stitch at Ohana. They’ll be joined by some of their Disney pals, dressed in South Pacific vacation outfits. (Note: Disney Dining Plan meal credits may be used for this Character Breakfast; one meal credit per diner. Regular prices range from $24.50 for kids, ages 3-9 to $40.47 for adults and kids, 10 years or older.)
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto: a tropical tiki bar, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a fun place to stop in for specialty cocktails, beer, wine or small plates. Trader Sam’s offers a variety of non alcoholic beverages as well. Many of the specialty cocktails are available in collectible souvenir cups. The atmosphere at Trader Sam’s is fun and definitely worth checking out.
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Disadvantages
It’s Pricey. There’s no getting around it, Disney Deluxe Resorts are expensive. And the Deluxe Resorts on the Monorail are among the most expensive on property. I’m not saying it’s not worth it, because if you can afford it, it’s absolutely worth it. It’s hard to beat staying so close to the Magic Kingdom, being on the Monorail, and having great fireworks views from the beach.
It’s VERY Popular. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows is one of the most popular resorts on Disney property. As a result, it can be very difficult to get reservations there. If you’re hoping to stay at the Polynesian, plan to book as EARLY as possible–at least 1 year out, if you can. This helps increase your chances of getting the reservation you want.
Rarely Gets Discounted. Related to the popularity of this resort, the Polynesian rooms or room/theme park ticket packages are rarely discounted significantly. If/when discounts like Free Dining include the Polynesian, it is usually for a very small number of rooms and goes very quickly.
Photo: David and Vicki Arndt Photography
Not Just Another Hotel
I think my favorite thing about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is that when you are at the Polynesian, you KNOW where you are. Full of unique sights, smells and sounds, it is clear from the moment you enter the resort that the Polynesian Village Resort is not just another hotel. There is nothing “generic” about the Polynesian. It’s special, and feels different than any other Disney resort. Disney’s strength has always been theming, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows do not disappoint.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Lobby (Photo: Destinations in Florida)
Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? What did you think? Please comment below.
Happy Dreaming,
Brooke
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!
Looking for a more economical option? Check out this post about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
