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Disney World’s Proposed Reopening Plan Is APPROVED By Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

Earlier this morning, we learned about Disney World’s proposed reopening dates and guidelines that will be in place when the parks reopen.

Disney World Monorail

Disney proposed a soft opening of July 11 for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and July 15 for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The plans required the approval of the Orange County Task Force as well as the Orange County Mayor, followed by the Governor.

These proposed plans have approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. These plans will now go on to Governor Ron DeSantis’ office for his approval.

Photo Credit: Orange County Mayor’s Office

If given the green light, Disney World will reopen their four theme parks and some hotels in mid-July. In addition, Disney World will reopen their Disney Vacation Club Resorts as well as the Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground on June 22.

Disney World Screenshot

This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as we hear them. We may know soon whether Governor Ron DeSantis has approved of Disney World’s reopening proposal.

Read the full details of Disney World’s proposal here!

Will you be at Disney World in July? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney World reopening, governor ron desantis, jerry demings, mayor jerry demings, orange county, ron desantis

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Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS: ‘Social Distancing Squads’ Will Make Theme Park Debut When Walt Disney World Parks Reopen

Today we are covering Walt Disney World’s plans for reopening as presented today to Florida’s Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. The phased reopening is proposed to start with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on July 15th.

Magic Kingdom Entrance

Proposed safety measures for the opening include limiting guest capacity in the theme parks with a new guest theme park reservation system among other protocols. The limited capacity in the park will help to accomplish physical distancing between guests, and Walt Disney World will also rely on its cast members to help implement these new measures.

Jim MacPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, presented the plans to the Task Force, sharing the following: “Cast Members will be trained to positively encourage guests to practice the correct behaviors and demonstrate them themselves.”

Guest Relations Cast Member in Disney Springs

And one of the ways that will be accomplished is through something called Social Distancing Squads — a dedicated team of “highly energetic cast members” (also referred to as Safety Ambassadors) who will be present in every park.

Disney Springs Safety Ambassadors © Disney

The theme parks will not actually deliver the debut of the Social Distancing Squads to Walt Disney World. A Squad has been present in Disney Springs since its reopening, and Jim MacPhee shared that the team has been “a huge hit” with guests.

Disney Ambassadors in Disney Springs

Additionally, he stated: “As always, our exceptional cast members will engage with our guests to make the experience as real and as magical as possible.” 

We will continue to keep you posted on these and other safety measures proposed for the reopening of Walt Disney World as this story continues to develop. To learn more about the current status of Disney parks and destinations around the globe, you can visit any of the links below.

What do you think about the Social Distancing Squad in the parks? Please let us know with a comment!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, disney springs, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Physical Distancing, Social Distance Squad, social distancing, walt disney world reopening

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Disney Merch Disney Parks

WOW! This Limited Edition Collection Sold Out FAST in Disney Springs

This morning marked the official reopening of World of Disney in Disney Springs!

The crowds this morning were HUGE; so huge, in fact, that Disney had to use a virtual queue to limit capacity within the store. Once inside, there was one merchandise collection that was in particularly high demand. 

When World of Disney opened this morning, it had two months’ worth of the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction collection available on the shelves — February’s Pirates of the Caribbean collection and April’s “it’s a small world!” collection.

Pirate Minnie Ears

This collection has been in high demand since the very first monthly collectibles in the series were announced in January. Recently, the collections have been selling extremely quickly on shopDisney, so it came with little surprise that the demand was just as high in Disney Springs today.

©Disney

Despite getting to Disney Springs early this morning, we were still stuck with a wait to get into World of Disney. By the time it was out turn to shop, the two available collections were almost completely SOLD OUT. The only remaining Main Attraction item were a few of the Pirates of the Caribbean Minnie Mouse plushes.

Minnie Mouse plushes

According to Cast Members, guests were frustrated at how quickly the “it’s a small world!” collection had sold out. Cast Members also shared that more merchandise will be hitting the shelves soon, so we will let you know if this merchandise is restocked or if World of Disney starts selling the May Enchanted Tiki Room collection. 

Another round of the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Series is set to release next month. Next month will be a Peter Pan’s Flight collection. We’re eager to see if this round goes as quickly as the others because it is pretty darn cute!!

©Disney

We will be back to report on that collection once released!

Click here to see how CROWDED World of Disney was today!

Were you hoping to snag the “it’s a small world!” collection? Tell us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs, It’s A Small World, minnie mouse the main attraction, Minnie Mouse the main attraction pirates of the caribbean, World of Disney

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Disney CEO Bob Chapek Speaks About Disney World’s Theme Park Reopening Plan!

Disney World has just presented its reopening procedures to Florida’s Orange County Economic Task Force as well as its proposed reopening dates.

Mickey Mouse

And now, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has just given a brief interview to CNBC with more details about the parks’ proposed reopening dates of July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and July 15th for EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

In response to why Disney World will be reopening more than a month after other Orlando theme parks Universal Studios Orlando and Seaworld are reopening, Chapek noted that Disney World is focused on offering a “quintessential Disney experience,” while ensuring safety and sanitation efforts are done “in a responsible way.”

Disney has proposed to start reopening some of its Florida parks on July 11. “We want to make sure that what we present to our guests when we open up is going to be a quintessential Disney experience,” CEO Bob Chapek says. https://t.co/Eb79d3KZZs pic.twitter.com/VUkIT1fFOK

Chapek stated Disney World will be reopening its parks with a “substantially lower number of guests” but when pressed for more specifics on “limited capacity,” Chapek stated unlike Shanghai Disneyland’s 30% capacity limit which was issued by Chinese officials, there isn’t government guidance in the U.S. on how many guests will be permitted to enter Disney World at this time.

Shanghai Disneyland Fireworks Testing

Learn more about Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening procedures here!

That being said, Chapek stated the number of guests allowed inside the Disney World theme parks will be a calculation of the six-foot social distancing guideline set in place by the CDC as well as the square footage of each park.

World of Disney Social Distancing Stickers

Learn more about the safety measures and procedures Disney Springs has implemented upon its reopening here!

So far, we also know parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets will be temporarily suspended while Disney World will be utilizing a new reservation system to limit capacity once the parks reopen. We’ll continue to provide you with more details as soon as they’re released.

Follow along with our live coverage from World of Disney’s very crowded reopening here!

How limited do you expect Disney World’s capacity to be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney News, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, bob chapek, disney ceo, disney ceo bob chapek, Disney World, interview, limited capacity, phased reopening, Reopening Plan, shanghai disneyland

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

NEWS! New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations On Pause for Initial Reopening Phase of Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort has submitted a plan for reopening in a phased process with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opening to guests on July 11th and Disney’s Hollywoood Studios and EPCOT opening on July 15th.

Monorail Station at Walt Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center

During the presentation of the plans, it was announced that park capacity would be “significantly reduced” upon reopening to implement physical distancing measures. And Disney has presented additional information about guest capacity with regards to new tickets sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations.

Disney already announced that they will utilize a system that will require guests to obtain a reservation to enter the park in advance. And in addition to this system to help manage attendance, Disney has also stated that — at press time — they are “temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations” with an intent to “focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations.”

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Noting that Disney Vacation Club members can make new reservations at this time, it was also revealed that existing ticket holders as well as Annual Passholders will be able to make their requests for reservations in phases prior to new tickets being sold. Reservations will be limited and subject to availabilty, according to Disney.

Magic Kingdom Park Entrance

In the presentation today, it was noted that additional details regarding the new reservation system will be revealed in the “near future,” and we will be keeping you posted as this story develops.

In the meantime, you can learn more about the status of Disney parks and destinations by visiting any of the links below, and learn more about Disney World’s reopening proposal here.

What are your thoughts on the reopening plans proposed for Walt Disney World? Please let us know with a comment. 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney resorts, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disnet World Resort, walt disney world reopening