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Disney Parks

Disneyland Still Doesn’t Have An Opening Date So Let’s Just Engage in Rank Speculation About It Instead

Hi everyone, you may recall that the last time we tried to glance at the crystal ball to see when Disneyland might reopen, Disney was accepting reservations starting on June 1, 2020. As we approach that date, there is a new cutoff for new reservations per Disneyland’s site (as of the most recent update as this goes to press of May 8) — July 1, 2020. Does this mean that Disneyland will be opening on July 1?  Does that mean that it definitely won’t be open before July 1? Officially, it doesn’t mean anything until Disney announces a reopening date, and the only thing certain right now is uncertainty, and any reservations made or held at the moment should be considered tentative until we hear something official from Disney one way or the other.

For those of you with Annual Passes, you can check out our last article on this topic for details on your options during the closure. For additional details on how other aspects of Disney travel are impacted, including the myriad different individual tickets, group tickets, special events and dining, please check Disney’s COVID-19 impact site.

So, we obviously don’t know when the park is going to open, but we can play soothsayer and have fun trying to guess, right? Well, I’m not going to wade into that minefield, but you’re free to do so. Here’s some info to help fuel your rampant guesswork, including some information that might, emphasis on might, offer some insight on what a COVID-19-era Disneyland Resort will look like:

So, once again, we really don’t know when Disneyland will reopen, but hopefully this gives you something to needle over in the interim while we wait for an announcement. As soon as we know, we’ll be sure to let you know!

The post Disneyland Still Doesn’t Have An Opening Date So Let’s Just Engage in Rank Speculation About It Instead appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Disney California Adventure, Disneyland (CA), Disneyland Park, Trip Planning, coronavirus, Disneyland

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Disney News Disney Parks

Disney Springs: What You Need to Know for Its Partial Reopening

In the first step forward towards the reopening of Walt Disney World, Disney Springs will have a partial reopening on Wednesday, May 20. Here’s what you need to know.

What Will Be Open?

Not all parts of Disney Springs will be open. Only the Lime and Orange parking garages will be open, and they will have limited capacity. In addition, not all stores and restaurants will be open — for instance, World of Disney and the Lego store will not be open, nor will fan favorite restaurant Homecomin’. Here’s a list of what Disney has said will open on the 20th.

What Will Crowds and Weather Be Like?

Expect the first couple hours to be crowded as everyone tries to run in to be “first”, and then things should slow down in the middle of the day. There likely will be a second rush in the early evening, as people show up for the dinner hour. Crowds will likely be lower on Thursday than on Wednesday. Tomorrow’s high is expected to be around 94, with 50% humidity. The full “summer season” hasn’t fully arrived yet, but it will still be warm.

What Is Disney Doing to Ensure Safety?

Disney is focusing on six key changes to ensure the health and wellbeing of guests and cast.

  • Limited parking and reduced entrances
  • Temperature screenings prior to entry
  • Face coverings required for Guests ages 3 and up
  • Physical distancing practices including physically-distanced queues and physical barriers
  • Temporary operation modifications, including reduced hours at select locations and no scheduled entertainment offerings or high-touch interactive areas
  • An increased focus on disinfecting and sanitation, including the addition of hand-washing stations and hand sanitizers in key areas

What Should I Do If I Plan To Go?

These are new times for all of us, and there’s a steep learning curve for policies that have been created within the past few months. Here’s some tips that we suggest:

  • If you are sick, or believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay home.
  • Bring, and plan to wear, your own mask. Disney has not stated whether masks will be available for purchase or if free, disposable masks will be offered. If you want to go, bring your own mask and plan to wear it for the majority of your visit.
  • Know what it is you want to do, go and do it, and then head out. With some of the “headliner” experiences at Disney Springs not being open, there’s little reason to just “hang out”.
  • Tip generously. It’s been a rough time for service workers in the area. If you are able, please tip generously.
  • Use cashless payments whenever possible. All jokes aside about dirty money, money is pretty filthy. Some vendors may accept alternative funding sources like ApplePay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay, but using a physical credit card is always an option.
  • Wash your hands often, and bring your own personal hand sanitizer and use it often when hand washing isn’t immediately available.
  • If you will have children with you, let them know what to expect. Kids are resilient, but sometimes the unknown can make them nervous. Explain that they will have their temperature checked when they arrive with a little gadget that doesn’t even touch their skin and doesn’t hurt at all. Let them know that they will need to wear a mask during their visit. If you think they won’t be able to feel comfortable with these new rules, it probably would be a good idea to stay home for now.
  • Follow the instructions of cast members. They’re looking out for everyone’s safety. Please listen to them.
  • Pack your patience. These are unique times, and everyone is still learning. Remember to be kind, both to cast members and other guests.

Is Disney Really Serious About Making Everyone Wear a Mask?

If you are ages 3 and up, yes.

But What If I Don’t Want To/Don’t Think I Can/Am Concerned About the Heat?

As someone who is not a fan of wearing masks (even though I accept they are necessary when I do go out), my plan is to stay home. Any of the items that I could shop for in person at Disney Springs, I’m able to purchase online. Many of the dining establishments that I’d eat at during a visit to Disney Springs have comparable alternatives that I can order takeout from in the surrounding area. Because this is not a forever rule, there’s nothing wrong with waiting until another time to visit Disney Springs.

But if you still really, really want to go and are concerned about spending all day wearing a mask in the heat, here’s something to think about.

We surveyed our TouringPlans Twitter followers to see how long they typically spend on a visit to Disney Springs. Here’s the results.

Of those surveyed, the common comment was that at least some of that time was spent dining, and when you are seated to eat, you are not required to wear a mask. Because some of the stores where guests would tend to spend a lot of time will not be open for this initial reopening phase, I’d expect people would be trending towards the lower side of the scale, and so we’d see people spending around 2-3 hours at most at Disney Springs, with an hour or so of that mask-free for dining. During that time, should you feel overheated, there will be stores that you can stop inside to cool off as needed. And as always, common sense says that if you are there and feel unwell, you can certainly return to your vehicle for a few minutes to remove your mask, or possibly try another day.

Would you plan to go to Disney Springs for the first day of its partial reopening? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Shopping, coronavirus

Categories
Disney Cruises Disney News Other

Disney Cruise Line News — Week of May 19, 2020

Ahoy, mateys! I’m Heather, and I’ll be bringing you the up and coming on all things Disney Cruise Line. Welcome back again this week. Let’s see what’s new in the DCL world!

Cruise News

I know you REALLY missed a long bummer of a post about cancellations, didn’t you? Glad I am here to bring it back this week! Kidding aside, I’m truly sorry to anyone who’s had a cancelled trip during this time. We all know that there are many more pressing and important matters right now, but it’s still okay to be disappointed when the trip you’ve looked forward to is no longer!

The latest round of cancellations was a pretty big one. It extended the full shut down of the cruise line through July 28, across all four ships. Here’s a list of the newly cancelled cruises:

Disney Magic

  • July 13, 5-night Mediterranean
  • July 18, 7-night Western Europe
  • July 25, 11-night Northern Europe

Disney Wonder

  • July 6, 7-night Alaska
  • July 13, 7-night Alaska
  • July 20, 7-night Alaska
  • July 27, 7-night Alaska

Disney Dream

  • June 21, 5-night Bahamian
  • June 26, 5-night Bahamian
  • July 1, 4-night Bahamian
  • July 5, 5-night Bahamian
  • July 10, 3-night Bahamian
  • July 13, 4-night Bahamian
  • July 17, 3-night Bahamian
  • July 20, 4-night Bahamian
  • July 24, 3-night Bahamian
  • July 27, 4-night Bahamian

Disney Fantasy

  • June 20, 7-night Western Caribbean
  • June 27, 9-night Southern Caribbean
  • July 6, 5-night Western Caribbean
  • July 11, 7-night Eastern Caribbean
  • July 18, 7-night Western Caribbean
  • July 25, 7-night Eastern Caribbean

Compensation for these cancelled sailings was a bit different than we’ve seen previously. For guests who were paid in full, they were offered the option of a full refund, or a 125% Future Cruise Credit for a sailing within 15 months. Guests who were not paid in full, are being refunded for what they’ve paid so far, but there is no future cruise credit offer for these guests. It was pretty surprising to see this changeup, and one must wonder if this will be the new offer going forward as we anticipate further cancellations. Moral of the story? If you are hoping for that 125% FCC, you may want to seriously consider paying your reservation in full! I will not say it’s a foolproof strategy, fully realizing there are risks, so gamble at your own risk!

Got a question on the credit? We’ve got answers for you here!

If you are looking to book a new sailing, there’s a chunk of bookable dates that are now missing from the system. As of the time of this post, the next available dates to book per ship are:

Magic, October 12
Wonder, September 18
Dream, July 31
Fantasy, August 1

This does give me great pause when considering the fate of the European and Alaskan cruise season – perhaps the writing is on the wall already?

Now to change gears a bit, we do have some new DCL news, and it doesn’t involve the word cancel, huzzah! Yesterday, there was quite a shakeup in the leadership across the company. Thomas Mazloum is the new president of DCL, which falls under the umbrella of Disney Signature Experiences. He’s not new to the cruise line – he previously served as hotel director starting in 1998. Mazloum is replacing Jeff Vahle, who is keeping his leadership role, but this time for the Walt Disney World Resort.

Don’t forget to bookmark our COVID-19 update page for the latest! Wash your hands and stay well!

Thanks for joining me again this week. “Sea” you next time!

The Disney Cruise Line Update is brought to you by Storybook Destinations. Storybook Destinations specializes in Disney travel, is consistently highly rated by our readers, and is owned by our own blogger extraordinaire, Tammy Whiting. Storybook also offers free subscriptions to TouringPlans to clients with qualified bookings.

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Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, disney cruise line

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Other

A Salute to All Nations… Well, Actually, Just Canada

Happy Victoria Day!

Our neighbors to the north certainly are polite enough not to make a big deal, but we’re happy to have any excuse to celebrate these days. As a result, today we’ll all put on some plaid, watch hockey, and do shots of maple syrup as honorary Canadians!

To celebrate all things Canadian, here’s some blog posts from the past for your enjoyment.

That time Canada made our 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown

A Photo Tour of the Canada Pavilion

Photos from Canada’s Refurb in Progress in 2019 (aka See Canada Dry)

Shopping in the Canada Pavilion

That time when Canada had multiple flavors of sweet popcorn to try

A review of the Le Cellier brunch with the Chef and the Mom

What do you think is the best part of the Canada Pavilion? Let us know in the comments.

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Categories
Disney Parks

Everything You Need to Know About Mission: SPACE

You’re going on vacation to Walt Disney World! The only problem? You’re not sure which attractions are right for you and your kiddos and you have questions. Which attractions are too intense for little ones? What rides do I really need a FastPass+ reservation for? What’s the disability access like for certain attractions? We’re answering all those questions and more in our Everything You Need to Know attraction series with today’s focus on Mission: SPACE at EPCOT!

Mission: SPACE
©Disney

What is Mission: SPACE?

Mission: SPACE is a space simulator with two different experiences. The thrilling Orange Mission offers a journey to Mars complete with the sensation of space flight while the tame, family friendly Green Mission allows guests to orbit around the Earth.

For both missions, guests are assigned one of the four roles to perform during the mission: navigator, pilot, commander, or engineer.

Where is Mission: SPACE?

Mission: SPACE can be found at EPCOT’s Future World and sits between Test Track and the former Wonders of Life pavilion (slated to become the Play Pavilion in the future).

What is the History of Mission: SPACE?

Mission: SPACE opened in 2003 and was built where former EPCOT attraction Horizons once stood until it was demolished in 1999. In 2017, the attraction closed for a refurbishment and reopened the same year with two missions: the 0riginal Orange Mission and the new, less intense Green Mission.

What You Need to Know About the Queue

Upon entering the ride building, guests immediately choose either the Orange Mission or the Green Mission. The queue is designed to look like guests are walking through a space training center filled with prop displays, spacecraft models and replicas, a massive gravity lab, and a peek at a control room.

Children’s playground at the exit of Mission Space

Guests who are too small or perhaps a little wary of this ride experience can check out the Advanced Training Center that offers a play area for kids and interactive games and activities.

What You Need to Know About the Ride Vehicles

Each ride vehicle seats four guests in four individual padded chairs with armrests. Each seat has its own over-the-head padded shoulder restraints. Before the ride begins, the ride vehicle closes around guests and moves them closer to their screens. Motion sickness bags are available inside the vehicle.

During the experience, guests can perform their assigned roles through pushing buttons and operating individual joysticks. Note: Pushing the buttons and controlling the joystick doesn’t actually affect or influence the expereince. The on-ride video will continue to play regardless of a guest’s performance.

What You Need to Know About the Experience

Mission: SPACE is technically two rides: Orange Mission and Green Mission. Upon entering the show building, guests enter the future at the International Space Training Center (ISTC) and choose their mission.

Guests choosing to experience Orange Mission embark on a mission to Mars. Guests ride in a centrifuge-based space simulator that spins them around a central axis to simulate both g-forces and moments of weightlessness. On the screen, guests see their shuttle liftoff and slingshot around the moon. After a few seconds of hypersleep, they land on Mars and have to control their vehicle with things (as they naturally do in a Disney Park) go wrong.

Guests choosing to experience the Green Mission are aboard the same ride vehicles as the Orange Mission. However, they don’t spin. This means no g-forces or the sensation of weightless. The only movement is what you normally experience in a simulator attraction. During this mission, guests experience liftoff and then enjoy a beautiful orbit around the Earth. Of course, things go wrong and guests must manually navigate through a storm upon landing.

As mentioned in the section covering Mission: SPACE’s ride vehicles, guests embarking on both the Orange and Green Mission are assigned a role. During the ride, buttons light up for them to press and individual joysticks on the console are used to simulate pilot the vehicle. However, the ride continues without a hitch even if you or someone in your ride vehicle doesn’t perform these functions.

What You Need to Know About Accessibility

Boarding procedure consists of a small step up into the ride vehicle. Guests must transfer from a wheelchair/ECV to experience this attraction. Guests 40″ to 44″ experiencing the Green Mission can obtain booster seats from a cast member. Due to the nature of the experience, service animals are not permitted on this attraction.

What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Advisories

Orange Mission

Guests should not ride if they are uncomfortable with dark, close spaces or even slightly prone to motion sickness as this attraction is a spinning simulator which creates g-forces. Some guests experience nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation, and even motion sickness even if they have never experienced it before.

All guests should also be in good health and free from high blood pressure, hearing, back or neck problems, motion sickness, and other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure.

Also, guests of certain body shapes and sizes may not be able to ride due to the attraction’s seat and restraints. Expectant mothers should not ride.

Green Mission

Guests should not ride if they are uncomfortable with dark, close spaces or simulators. Also, guests of certain body shapes and sizes may not be able to ride due to the attraction’s seat and restraints. Expectant mothers should not ride.

What are the Height Requirements?

Guests must be 40 inches tall to experience the less intense Green Mission; and guests must be 44 inches tall to experience the more intense Orange Mission.

Does Mission: SPACE Offer FastPass+

Yes, Mission: SPACE offers FastPass+ but it’s not the best use of a FastPass+ reservation since both versions of the ride rarely post long waits.

Does Weather Affect Mission: SPACE?

A June storm pops over World Drive as a rainy afternoon gets started.

Since Mission: SPACE is an indoor attraction; it isn’t affected by inclement weather.

Did I answer all of your questions about Mission: SPACE? Is this attraction at the top of your family’s vacation to-do list? Let us know in the comments.

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