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Disney World Cast Members Prepare for Opening with Health and Safety Measures

Today Disney released this behind the scenes look at how the Disney World Cast Members prepare for the reopening with new Health and Safety measures in place.

With just eight days until Disney World reopens, tens of thousands of cast members have been straightening up their nametags (and grabbing their face coverings!) as they begin to return to work. As we count down to the phased reopening of the Disney World theme parks, they are looking forward to welcoming their fellow cast members home to begin training in preparation for reopening.

And this week, that special moment finally arrived for a group of Disney World theme park cast members as they put on their nametags, reunited with their work locations and fellow cast, and began their first days of training to learn new health and safety protocols. With the return of every cast member, and at the conclusion of every training session, you can feel how passionate and ready the team is as we get one step closer to the first theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort welcoming guests home.

Many of them are returning to places that look and feel a little different, and collectively, they have been dedicating thousands of hours to health and safety training because they know that it will take all of us working together to responsibly create the magic once again.

Take a look at some of the first special moments as cast returned to their favorite parks and began prepping to welcome guests home with a smile in their eyes.

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From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, Disney Cast Members, Disney Theme Park, Disney World, Disney World Reopening

Over at The Landing in Disney Springs, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC serves up tasty vegan and allergy-friendly baked goodies.

Cookie Monster Cupcake at Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC

We’ve been frequenting the bakery lately and trying everything from sweet cupcakes (we love the Cookie Monster Cupcake) to savory Veggie Bombs! So we thought we’d fill in our fellow fans on an update to the bakery’s hours.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC announced via Instagram that the Disney Springs location hours are temporarily changing to 1PM – 9PM daily.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery Case

It’s also noted that they will be open on the 4th of July in Disney Springs, and that they’ll keep us informed when hours are extended again. We’ll be sure to pass that news on to you when it is announced!

Read about our latest visit to Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC here, and see what’s new in the bakery case here!

So, make a plan to stop by Erin McKenna’s a little later in the day… and grab a cupcake for us while you’re there!

Have you stopped by Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC? Please let us know with a comment!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Walt Disney World, allergy friendly, disney springs, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, operating hours, The Landing, Vegan

It might not be Wednesday, but it is a Wishables day! The new Toy Story Mania Wishables are now back on shopDisney! These playful micro plush toys popped up earlier this week, and sold out fast! A few other past collections have also joined in on the fun today too!

Toy Story Mania Wishables

You’ll be right on-target when collecting the Disney Parks Wishables inspired by Toy Story Mania! Each blind pack brings one of four characters from the popular attraction to micro plush life, but you won’t know which you’ve received until you take a peek! There are four different character options available in the mystery packs!

There is also a stand-alone Woody Wishable, but he is, unfortunately, missing on the site today. Each Wishable retails for $9.99 a piece, and are highly collectible! They are a lot of fun trying to collect them all, and always sell out fast!

There are also a few other past collections available today too, like the Country Bear Jamboree series.

Did you miss out on the Toy Story Mania Wishables last release? If so act quickly, because they won’t last long!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Shop, Souvenirs & Collectibles, Disney Plush, toy story, Toy Story Mania, Toy Story Mania Wishables, Wishables

We’re coming to the end of Walt Disney World’s historic closure, and wow, what a roller coaster ride it’s been (and we’re not talking the fun kind).

Big Thunder Mountain

Disney World’s theme parks will be reopening soon with some significant changes, but many people are relieved to see any semblance of normalcy return, even if the parks look a little bit different than we remember. And yet, we’re wary. Could a closure like this happen again? As much as we’d like to say no, it’s a little more complicated than that. Take a look.

Disney will have more protocols in place for health crises, but that doesn’t mean they definitely won’t close.

Part of the reason the current closure has been so lengthy (more than 100 days!) is due to the fact that the current global health crisis is completely unprecedented. Disney has had to build protocols for the closure and reopening from the ground up. The last time a health crisis was this severe — during the the 1918 outbreak of Spanish Flu — the parks didn’t even exist. (Walt Disney was just 17 at the time and actually contracted and survived the virus.)

Walt Disney World Resort entrance

Once we emerge from this current closure, it does mean that we may be better prepared in the future. If there is a next time, the company can use what they learned during this crisis to help craft the response to the next one. Depending on the nature of the next health crisis, this could help to shorten a closure or potentially avoid one altogether.

Unfortunately, “the next crisis” is something we do have to worry about, according to Time. This won’t necessarily be the last pandemic in our lifetime. Part of what makes a virus turn into a pandemic is a lack of sufficient treatment or cure. If a future illness can spread effectively despite the health measures that Disney has implemented, it could force another closure as the world contends with it.

Boardwalk Resort

In fact, even the path of the current pandemic is uncertain. With case numbers on the rise, especially in Florida, another set of closures and restrictions is not impossible. We have already seen Disneyland’s proposed theme park reopening delayed. The fate of Disney World’s eventual reopening comes down to both governmental guidelines and whether or not Disney can effectively keep guests and cast members safe given the current state of the pandemic.

Click here to learn about all of the times Disney World has closed in the past.

Health crises aren’t the only situation we need to worry about.

Although this closure has been the longest by far, Disney World has closed before for other reasons. It’s possible we’ll see the parks close again for a non-health-related situation. For instance, Disney World closed in response to the terror attacks on 9/11 because of concern that the parks could be a target. If there is ever such a threat to guest safety, Disney World will not remain open.

Hurricane Skies in Disney World’s Epcot

Mother Nature poses another threat to Disney World’s ability to stay open. Hurricanes are a pretty regular cause for shutting Disney down. Even with a well-crafted hurricane policy, sometimes it’s safer if the parks close when a particularly inclement storm comes through, to ensure the safety of Cast Members and guests. In fact, Florida is facing an especially active hurricane season this year. It’s feasible that Disney will need to close if any of these storms threaten the area.

Click here to learn about what an active hurricane season means for your Disney trip!

So, yes, Disney World might close down again — but they might be a little more prepared for crises in the future.

It can definitely feel frustrating that the parks could close again in the future, especially when this closure has been so trying. It is the reality though. Luckily, going forward, Disney will have options to turn to in the event of a similar crisis. The current situation means that new health measures and long-term closure protocols are now a part of the precedent: Disney now has a playbook.

Closed Path to Epcot

In fact, it’s possible Disney already has teams working on what-if scenarios in the event that this ever happens again! As disappointing as they may be, closures can be necessary to keep guests and cast members safe. Whatever happens, Disney Food Blog will be here to keep you up to date on all the latest at Disney World.

Click here to learn about Disney’s reopening procedures!

Do you think the Disney parks could close again? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney parks, Featured, Walt Disney World, Disney World, disney world closure, Disney World reopening, Global health crisis, guest safety, Hurricane, hurricane closure, hurricane season, safety, Walt Disney