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Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

We are BACK at Magic Kingdom for the first time in MONTHS! From checking out some of our favorite rides to admiring Cinderella Castle’s new glow-up from close up, it has been A DAY!

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Magic Kingdom

And after seeing which shops would be reopening in Magic Kingdom (as well as EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom!) we started prepping our lists of must-buy items!

We popped into a couple Magic Kingdom shops today to scope out the scene and see how our retail-therapy session compared to the ones we’ve previously experienced at Disney Springs as well as the select Disney World resorts that have recently reopened!

Crowds and Waiting to Shop

One of our biggest questions was whether we would have to wait in a virtual queue like we did at World of Disney on its first day back in operation! The process was relatively smooth but still a change from what we’ve been used to in Disney World!

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Main Street Confectionery

We were told by Magic Kingdom Cast Members that just like the Disney-owned Disney Springs stores, some theme park gift shops may activate a virtual queue system if a crowd forms. You’ll check in at the front of the store and give your phone number to a Cast Member. Then, when it’s your turn to shop, they’ll contact you to return.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Magic Kingdom

We noticed that none of the stores (at lease when we were there), including the Emporium, had activated their virtual queues today so we were able to walk right into any shop without waiting. At Uptown Jewelers, there’s a separate virtual queue just to view the Pandora jewelry case.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Designated Exit

Most stores now have a designated entrance and exit too to help control the flow of foot traffic.

Shopping

Once we got inside, our shopping experience was pretty similar to what we’ve seen elsewhere in Disney World so far. We saw some familiar signage throughout the store, reminding guests to maintain physical distancing and to handle the products as little as possible.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Signage Inside the Store

Dressing rooms are also unavailable at most locations.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Fitting Rooms Are Closed

There’s still plenty of merchandise on the sales floor, but some of the product displays have been reoriented to allow for easier social distancing.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Sales Floor

Checking Out and Payment

Once we selected our treasures to bring home with us, it was time to hop in line! Physical distancing floor markers are present at the checkouts much like they are at other shopping locations throughout Disney World. New plexiglass barriers have also been installed at the cash registers.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Emporium’s Check-Out

For payment, Disney is encouraging all guests to utilize contactless payments, such as Apple Pay or your MagicBand.

Is Shopping in Disney World Different? Here’s What We Experienced Today!

Emporium

And just like that, our first Magic Kingdom shopping excursion is complete! Keep in mind, anything you purchase at ANY Disney World theme park gift shop will not be available for front-of-park package pick-up or hotel delivery for the time being. They CAN, however, still ship your items home for you for an additional shipping fee!

What is your favorite store in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, Walt Disney World, closed fitting rooms, contactless payment, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world shopping, emporium, merchandise, no front of park delivery, no ship to hotel, shopping, social distancing markers, virtual queue

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Here’s What We Know About MagicBands During Disney World’s Reopening

As many of us are already keenly aware, our summer Disney World vacations are going to look and feel very different this year. There’s going to be a lot fewer people in parks, tons of new health and safety measures, and no parades, fireworks or character meet and greets to start.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

But with so many modifications being made to Disney World’s guest experiences, you might be asking yourself what’s going to happen with MagicBands? Will we still be using them? Can we still pre-order them? We’re just like you guys — we can’t picture a trip to Disney World that doesn’t include MagicBands since we’re so used to swiping them to enter the theme parks, our guest rooms, and even pay for stuff! Plus — that’s only a couple of ways we use ’em! The list goes on and on!

Rest assured, while many changes are happening for Disney World’s July 11th and July 15th reopening, Disney World will still be using MagicBands. While we won’t have all the details for you until Disney World reveals its new reservation system, here’s what we know about MagicBands so far.

What if I’ve already ordered my MagicBands?

Shortly after the parks announced they were closing, Disney World suspended MagicBand orders. Guests who had placed orders that were shipped out would still receive their MagicBands while any upgraded MagicBands that were to be delivered to Disney World resort hotels after March 20th were automatically canceled and refunded.

Screenshot from Disney World Website

Since the Disney World theme parks and hotels were closed indefinitely, MagicBand orders were suspended. But now that the parks are reopening July 11th and 15th along with several Disney Vacation Club resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort opening June 22nd, is there a way for guests to order their MagicBands again? We investigated!

Will I still be able to order my MagicBands?

Normally, Disney Resort hotel guests and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can order MagicBands through the My Disney Experience website. But since Disney World has temporarily suspended its ticket sales, stopped taking new hotel bookings, and aren’t allowing guests to reserve any FastPasses or dining experiences at this time, we were curious to see if we could still place a MagicBand order.

Beach Club Resort

When we tried to place an order as a Disney World Annual Passholder this morning we received a message stating, “While the Walt Disney World theme parks and Resort hotels are temporarily closed, we are not currently accepting new MagicBand orders linked to Walt Disney World Annual Passholders or Disney Resort hotel reservations. Please continue to check this page for additional updates.”

Screenshot from Disney World’s Website

Okay, fair enough. Luckily, we also have a reservation to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort as well as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on July 1st. 

Screenshot from My Disney Experience App

At first, it appeared as if we could order our MagicBands, because we saw this “Choose MagicBands” option…

Screenshot from My Disney Experience App

…but when we clicked on it, we still weren’t directed to the ordering process. Instead, we saw this screen which informed us we could order our MagicBands up to 11 days before our arrival date if we wanted them sent to our homes (which has been Disney World’s shipping policy on MagicBands since before the temporary closures).

Screenshot from My Disney Experience App

We searched high and low and didn’t find any way to place an order for MagicBands at the moment, so as far as we’ve been able to dig up, MagicBand orders are still being temporarily suspended at this time. We’re hopeful once Disney World launches its new reservation system, guests will be able to place their MagicBand orders once again.

Check out Disney World’s newest solid color MagicBand here!

I have 12 days left to order for a July trip and I’m not sure what I should do!

Prior to the closure, Disney World advised guests to order their MagicBands at least 11 days before your arrival date if you would like your MagicBands shipped to your home and at least 6 days before your arrival date to have them shipped to your Resort hotel. Disney World’s website still states this as their policy.

However, while we were attempting to order MagicBands today, we noticed this “Shipping Timeline” which reads a little bit differently.

Screenshot from My Disney Experience App

Disney World says you should choose a MagicBand 10-6 days before your arrival date and MagicBands will ship only to your resort for the time being. If you select your MagicBand 5-1 days before your trip, you won’t get to pick out a color or design. You’ll be issued a gray MagicBand, available for pick-up at the guest relations.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Once the hotels reopen, Disney World will be strongly encouraging guests to utilize online self-check-in as well as a new chat feature that will instantly connect guests with a Cast Member, saving you a trip to Guest Relations. However, Disney has informed us standard check-in will be available for guests whose MagicBands are shipped to the resort.

It’s still very unknown when Disney World will resume shipping MagicBands out to guests’ houses or how fast they’ll arrive, but we’ll update you with any new information Disney provides on this matter.

What if my Disney World hotel doesn’t have a reopening date yet?

We’re keeping a watchful eye on Disney World’s hotels for any reopening announcements and we’ll let you know as soon they’re accepting new bookings. So far, we know in order to have priority access to the new reservation system, guests will need to have valid admission and Disney World accommodations booked.

MagicBand reader in Walt Disney World

We did, however, see the feature on the My Disney Experience app which allowed us to forego the option of ordering new MagicBands so we could recycle our old MagicBands from previous trips. While not everyone has old MagicBands lying around, any MagicBands you’ve used at Disney World and haven’t deactivated from your account could still work at the parks and hotels.

Screenshot from My Disney Experience App

You can also purchase MagicBands on shopDisney or other third party websites such as Amazon or eBay and link them to your account, but since Disney World provides MagicBands for free (included in the price of your reservation) you may want to hold off.

Keep in mind — having just park tickets or only a hotel reservation will not guarantee you’ll have access to the theme parks upon their reopening. Since Disney World has suspended all ticket sales, new hotel bookings, and a bunch of other services (which we now know includes ordering MagicBands) we know many of you are anxious to get the ball rollin’ on your vacation planning. Just sit tight for now, try not to worry yourselves too much, and we expect Disney World to be releasing many new details about its procedures very soon!

Are you waiting to order MagicBands for your Disney World trip this summer? Let us know 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, can I still order magicband, Check-In, contactless payment, Disney World, Disney World Website, hotel reservation, july 11th, july 15th, MagicBand, magicband orders, My Disney Experience, no reopening date, official reopening, room key, self check-in, sent to house, sent to resort, will disney world still use magicbands

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Disney Stores Near YOU Will Be Reopening “VERY SOON!” See the Details HERE!

What a day! We were LIVE at the reopening of World of Disney in Disney Springs AND Disney World shared their reopening plan!

World of Disney

While we got a firsthand look at what it’s like to experience the reopened World of Disney, it didn’t take long for Disney to share a reopening plan for Disney Store locations around the world!

Disney shared that select Disney Store locations will begin reopening in the coming weeks. 

Disney Store Reopening Announcement ©Disney

Disney stated guests can check their Store Locator to see when their local stores will be open.

Stores will follow many of the same protocols we’ve seen in World of Disney when they reopen. Most notably, guests three and up will be required to wear a mask at all times (and Disney specified guests must provide their own masks) as well as maintain physical distancing while in the stores.

World of Disney Distancing Sticker

Capacity will be limited in the stores and hours may be limited. Also of note — Limited Release merchandise will NOT be released in-store and special in-store events will be halted for the time being.

Limited Releases like the Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Collection Won’t Be Released in Disney Stores Initially

The stores will also be cleaned more frequently and hand sanitizer will be readily available to guests. Contactless payment will also be available.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about Disney Stores reopening near you!

Click here to see our full coverage of the reopening of World of Disney (and more!)

Are you excited to see Disney Stores reopening? Let us know in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Disney News, Featured, News, Special Stuff, contactless payment, Disney reopening, disney store, masks, reopening disney stores, sanitizer, World of Disney