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NEWS! Walt Disney World to Utilize Guest Reservation System Upon Reopening Theme Parks

Walt Disney World Resort has proposed a reopening date to Florida’s Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force starting on July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and July 15th for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

Epcot Entrance in Walt Disney World Resort

Among the many safety measures mentioned in the proposal, limited guest capacity is mentioned. And in order to help implement that, Disney is planning to utilize a guest theme park reservation system.

Though details have not yet been announced regarding the reservation system, it’s worth noting that a limited guest capacity measure has already been implemented in Shanghai Disneyland, with guests required to purchase a ticket for a specific date in advance, and Annual Passholders likewise required to secure a reservation.

queue line for Magic Kingdom Monorail

We will continue to keep you informed on these and other proposed measures as this story develops. As a reminder, Walt Disney World (as well as SeaWorld) just made its reopening proposal today — at press time, the proposal has not yet been approved.

To learn more about the current status of Disney parks around the world in the meantime, you may visit any of the links provided below.

What are your thoughts on the proposed reservation system? 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’s Hollywood Studios, Guests Reservation System, limited capacity, shanghai disneyland, theme park reservation system, walt disney world reopening

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Disney Parks Other

Answering The MOST IMPORTANT Questions We’re Getting From Readers About Disney World Right Now.

A lot is changing in and around Disney World right now as some stores and restaurants have recently reopened in Disney Springs and a plan is in the works for reopening Disney World’s hotels and theme parks.

Disney Springs

That’s why a lot of you have questions about what’s going on and how your future plans at Disney World may be impacted.

We wanted to take some time today to provide you with all the best resources we’ve been compiling over the last several weeks. We’re going to lay everything out on the table and clear up anything and everything we can so that you’ll have all the facts at your disposal.

Here are the answers to the most critical questions we’re receiving from you right now.

What safety measures has Disney implemented so far and are they mandatory?

With the recent reopening of Disney Springs, we now have a better understanding of what Disney World may require its Cast Members and guests to do before entering any of its theme parks (although they haven’t officially announced any new procedures yet for other parts of Disney World other than Disney Springs at this time).

©Disney

What we do know is this: Disney Springs isn’t allowing any exceptions to their new safety measures. That means if you don’t want to go through their health-check, have your temperature taken, and wear a face mask for your entire stay, you won’t be permitted inside Disney Springs at this time.

Click here for everything you need to know about temperature checks in Disney World

Are the temperature screenings accurate?

Professional healthcare workers provided by AdventHealth are conducting the temperature screenings at Disney Springs using touchless thermometers. The easy-to-use handheld devices use infrared light to read the energy your body produces, translating this data into a temperature reading within two-tenths of a degree of accuracy in some cases.

Advent Health Cast Member at Temperature Screening

To be allowed to enter Disney Springs, your temperature needs to be under 100.4 F. If your temperature is 100.4 F or greater, you’re allowed to wait off to the side in a tented “cool-off” area and have your temperature re-taken. If it’s still too high, you and your entire party won’t be allowed inside.

Temperature Screening

When discussing potential health screenings for guests entering Disney World, Disney Company Chairman Bob Iger had previously speculated Disney Parks may implement mandatory temperature checks to enter.

Read more about the technology behind touchless thermometers here!

When do I have to wear a face mask at Disney World?

At Disney Springs, guests over the age of three must wear face coverings at all times. The only time you’re permitted to remove them is when you’re seated at a restaurant or consuming a drink or a food item.

Other than those few occasions, your mask must be covering your nose and mouth for the duration of your visit.

The Polite Pig is Selling Face Masks

While Disney Springs is providing an extremely limited number of disposable face masks for guests who accidentally leave their mask at home, they can’t guarantee they’ll have one for you if you don’t bring your own. That means you could be turned away if you forget to have a face mask for each person in your family over the age of three.

Will you be turned away at Disney World? Click here to learn more.

Will Disney World be limiting its capacity?

Yes. It is expected Disney World will reopen with a limited capacity, as it now states on its website. Realistically, it could be some time before the parks operate at their full capacity.

Walt Disney World website screenshot

See how Disney World has limited its capacity in the past here!

Currently, Shanghai Disneyland is limiting capacity to below 30%.

Shanghai Disneyland

Guests must have an advance reservation (either a dated park ticket, or an actual reservation in the case of annual passholders) to enter.

Learn more about the new reservation system Shanghai Disneyland is using here!

Will I be turned away at Disney World if I have a park ticket and a hotel reservation?

While it’s unclear at this time how Disney World will begin to allow guests back in, a few viable options are possible.

It’s Mickey!

Whether it’s similar to Shanghai Disneyland’s reservation system or something closer to the tiered closures Disney World uses during the holiday season when the parks reach their capacity, we hope to be able to provide you with this information soon.

When is Disney World going to reopen?

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Now that Universal Orlando, Legoland Florida, and other Central Florida attractions have announced their official reopening plans and dates, Disney World is planning to propose theirs soon.

Monorail at Disney World

So far, we’ve seen many of the first signs we mentioned earlier that Disney World might be preparing to reopen. Florida’s local government has now permitted several small and major theme parks to reopen, Disney Cast Members are slowly being called to work, and Disney Springs has started its phased reopening.

Dole Whip

Click here to read what needs to happen before Disney World can reopen!

It’s unclear what Disney World’s official reopening will be like, but based on what we’ve experienced with Disney Springs so far, we expect Disney World to be very different from how we saw it last. 

Spaceship Earth

It also seems likely that Disney World in Florida COULD reopen sooner than Disneyland in California based on how their local governments are handling the situation. Nothing has been announced at press time.

Could Disney World open first to Florida-residents only? Here’s what we know.

Is my favorite ride or attraction going to be open?

On Disney World’s website, it states some attractions, experiences, services, and amenities may have limited availability or remain closed. That’s a pretty broad statement and we hope to be able to provide you with more clarity soon.

Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom

What we CAN tell you is that looking at Shanghai’s reopening, most of their rides are open to guests. They’ve also changed their character meet and greets — Only parades, stage shows, fireworks, and some play areas with frequent touchpoints have been closed down.

Check out what modifications Shanghai Disneyland has made to its guest experiences here!

What about coming soon attractions? Are they still going open on time?

It’s hard to say…these new projects did experience delays when construction was halted at Disney World. While some attractions were closer to being done than others, it’s unclear how their timelines have been affected.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was scheduled to open this summer while Space 220 Restaurant already encountered numerous delays pre-closure of the parks.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

And for Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration, big plans were in the works for Magic Kingdom including a revamping of Cinderella Castle as well as the new TRON: Lightcycle Run roller coaster in Tomorrowland.

TRON Coaster Construction

Epcot was also left in a precarious spot when the parks suddenly shut down. Plans to close Spaceship Earth had just been announced while much of Future World is currently in the midst of a massive overhaul as part of the big Epcot Transformation. Work also stopped on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. All of these projects and more could be affected, but so far the extent of possible delays hasn’t been revealed.

What can we expect from Disney World in 2021?

Is it even worth it to go to Disney World this year?

That will depend largely on you and your level of comfort. Even if you’ve planned a trip to Disney World a million times before, planning a trip following the closures is going to be more unique with its own set of challenges and problems to work through.

Cinderella Castle at Night

First of all, it’s not going to be the same Disney World from your memories. It will be, but it won’t be. Choosing when you want to visit next is a very personal decision you’ll ultimately have to make based on your comfort level with this whole situation.

Magic Kingdom Sign

If you’re used to traveling to Disney World to attend certain events, festivals, or popular times of year like Christmastime, keep in mind a number of these special things we expected Disney to have announced by now, but Disney has remained quiet.

You might need extra-assurance from Disney before booking a trip if any of these offerings are super-important to you, otherwise, you might want to save your money for when you know they’ll be offered.

Click here to learn more about if it’s worth it to go to Disney World this year!

When is Disney World going to get back to normal?

There has been a lot of speculation floating around about how long it will take the Disney parks to reach their normal attendance levels. Some estimate it could happen as soon as next year while others think it could take even longer.

Haunted Mansion

While all of these analysts’ predictions are just speculation at this point, Disney will only re-open the park to the capacity recommended by the local government and public health officials.

Magic Kingdom

It’s unknown when mass gatherings will be permitted again, but at that time, with the guidance of local and state government, Disney World will most likely start to look and feel a lot more “normal.”

We asked our readers when they’d feel safe returning to Disney World. Here’s what they said.

Should I go to Disney World this year or wait until next year?

There are definite pros and cons to each, which you need to consider carefully before making your decision. If you return to Disney World this year, you’ll get a memorable experience for sure, but whether that’s the kind of memories you’d like on your trip is up to you.

Liberty Belle Riverboat at Magic Kingdom

Attractions will likely be altered, some experiences will likely be missing, and you’ll likely have to wear a mask. If none of that bothers you enough to consider waiting, go for it! If the idea of just being in Disney World again is enough for you, or you don’t have the flexibility to reschedule the same trip later next year, then visiting this year is certainly looking like an option!

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Keep in mind though if you have little ones you want to give a perfect Disney experience, this is a “once in a lifetime” trip for your family, or you’re uncomfortable with the new restrictions, then postposing til next year or beyond is a perfectly viable option as well.

Magic Kingdom

As we mentioned earlier, 2021 is the 50th anniversary of Disney World, so while there will be many new experiences to enjoy if you wait, it’s likely there will be more people too!

Click here to see if you should reschedule your trip for this year or 2021!

We hope we’ve helped you make a little more sense out of these last few weeks and what lies further down the road. Please keep sending us those questions and we’ll keep doing what we do to try and answer them as best we can!

Want to stay in the know about everything happening at Disney World? Sign up for our newsletter here!

Do you have a question about Disney World that we didn’t answer above? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll get back to you!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, construction delays, Disney World, Do I have to have my temperature taken, do I have to wear a face mask?, face masks, frequently asked questions, guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind, is it even worth it to go to Disney world this year, limited capacity, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, reservations, safety measures, safety protocols, shanghai disneyland, should I go to disney world this year, should I wait to go to Disney world next year?, Space 220 Restaurant, temperature screenings, Tron lightcycle Run, what’s the deal with face masks, when will disney world be normal again, when will Disney World reopen, will my favorite ride be open?

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Disney Parks Other

7 Disney Delays You Haven’t Even Thought Of Yet!

The global health crisis has had a big effect on the Walt Disney Company.

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle

Lots of Disney projects have had to shift to a different timeline. We’ve seen delays in the opening of Disneyland’s Avengers Campus, a whole bunch of blockbuster films have been pushed back, and more. With all these high-profile changes, what are the delays you’re NOT thinking about? Here are the seven Disney delays that might have slipped your mind!

1. Three Upcoming Disney Cruise Line Ships

You might not have thought about the three upcoming Disney Cruise Line Ships that are currently under construction!

Last year, Disney announced that they would be almost doubling their cruise fleet with three new ships to be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The first of these new ships is to be called the Disney Wish and was set to set sail in January 2022.

The Disney Wonder

Though an official delay has yet to be announced it is very possible that these ships will see some changes to their schedule. The global health crisis and resulting cancellations has resulted in a massive interruption to cruise demand as well as income for cruise lines. According to Disney executives, the cruise line will likely be the last to return in their tourism segment. It’s possible that we could see some delays on these massive new ships as well.

2. Food and Merchandise Supply Chains

We’ve noticed a variety of national shortages beginning to affect the United States. According to Fox News, meat shortages could last through the summer. Carbonation is scarce too, per Forbes. Plus, with the pressure on airlines and international routes, transporting goods from place to place isn’t quite as easy as it used to be.

Ribeye Steak from California Grill

It’s unclear at this time if or how these shortages will affect Disney. So far, Disney has been on the mark with releasing new merch on time, and though most reopened restaurants in Disney Springs have had limited menus, we haven’t noticed any foods being unavailable to restaurants yet.

3. Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge

We’ve all kept a super close eye on those big attractions projects in Disney World — we’re watching Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, TRON Lightcycle Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind very closely! Still, there is another major project that we’re worried about that might not be as top-of-mind as the rides.

Reflections Concept Art © Disney

Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge is the new Disney Vacation Club resort that is under construction in Disney World. The resort is still under construction, but it’s unclear how it has been affected by the construction halt or any supply chain issues. Right now the resort is set to open in 2022, so we’re keeping a close eye on what to expect.

4. Harmonious

Another Disney World project that should be on your radar is the upcoming Epcot show Harmonious. This show has a growing chance of being delayed since its previous opening date was Spring 2020.

Unfortunately, the Disney parks have remained closed for much of Spring 2020. Beyond that, it’s unknown how work on the show has been interrupted.

©Disney

A potential permit for the show WAS filed during the closure, but delays are not unlikely. Epcot Forever may need to run a little longer than expected — and that’s IF nighttime spectaculars can return initially. Despite the completion of work, the debut could be delayed further by health measures.

5. Disneyland Refurbishment Projects

There are a few iconic Disneyland attractions that are currently under refurbishment and these projects have been on pause since Disneyland instituted a construction halt with their closure. That could mean some serious delays until these attractions reopen.

Haunted Mansion Construction Tarps

Haunted Mansion, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and King Arthur Carrousel are all currently under refurbishment in Disneyland. Haunted Mansion was set to reopen this Spring, and the reopening dates for Snow White’s Scary Adventures and King Arthur’s Carrousel haven’t been announced yet, but with the construction halt, they could be closed for longer than they were originally intended.

6. Production on Upcoming Shows and Films

Like we mentioned, there are a LOT of films that have seen delayed release dates, but we haven’t really talked about the shows and films that have seen delays in their production. Many films and shows without release dates have seen production halts.

©Walt Disney Studios

These halted productions include (among others) the following:

  • The Little Mermaid from Walt Disney Studios,
  • Big ShotHome AlonePeter Pan and Wendy, and Shrunk from Disney+,
  • The Big Sky and Empire from 20th Century Studios,
  • Genius from National Geographic,
  • American Housewife and Grey’s Anatomy from ABC,
  • and Pose from FX.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on productions as they resume!

7. International Theme Park Expansions

Finally, it’s easy to focus on the domestic theme parks — but there are definitely some expansions at the international parks that are delayed at this time as well! According to Le Parisien, the Frozen-themed expansion coming to Disneyland Paris has been sitting stagnant since the closure began. The expansion is set to open in 2023 but may see delays from this pause.

©Disney

Similarly, Tokyo Disney Resort’s New Fantasyland (originally set to open April 28th) and Fantasy Springs (opening 2022) expansions have been halted for now as well, per Nikkei Asian Review.

For Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia expansion and Hong Kong Disneyland’s Frozen expansion, things are a little different. These projects haven’t been paused with the closure, so work was able to continue, according to Big News Network.

Zootopia Shanghai Concept Art ©Disney

That doesn’t mean that these to lands are exempt from delays though.

Overall, the global health crisis has a pretty far-reaching effect for the Disney company. We’ll be looking out for news on any of these projects so we can report back to you! In the meantime, you can check out our full coverage of the reopening of Disney Springs right here!

Did you let any of these delays slip your mind? Tell us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney cruise line, disney merchandise, Disney News, disney parks, Disney+, Featured, News, 20th century studios, abc, Big Shot, Disney, Disney cancellations, disney closures, Disney delays, Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Paris Expansion, Disneyland Refubishment, FX, Global health crisis, harmonioUS, Home Alone, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion, live-action little mermaid, National Geographic, Peter Pan and Wendy, reflections a disney lakeside lodge, shanghai disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Expansion, Shrunk, The Little Mermaid, tokyo disney, Tokyo Disney Expansion, Walt Disney Studios

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Shanghai Disneyland Is Already Making Progress Less Than Two Weeks After Reopening!

Shanghai Disneyland has been re-opened for almost two weeks (can you believe it??).

©Disney

While the hotels and parks have been welcoming guests again, Shanghai Disneyland has implemented multiple health and safety protocols to keep guests and Cast Members safe — including Health QR Codes, physical distancing, mask requirements, and more.

However, when the parks re-opened, there were a limited amount of attractions available to guests.

Shanghai Disneyland

Parades and fireworks have been halted for the time being, along with play areas and theater shows. However, Shanghai Disneyland has still brought magic to the guests with the Mickey and Friends Express character processional several times during the day. They have also managed to promote social distancing while hosting the Evening Magical Moments — which lights up the Enchanted Storybook Castle and plays music at dusk daily.

©Disney

But, since the parks have been open for a few weeks now, Shanghai Disneyland has started to slowly reopen other guest experiences. Although the park announced that they would be doing distanced character shows and entertainment, @gourmetdyy has been giving us a look at things available in Shanghai Disneyland currently!

Alice in Wonderland Maze at Shanghai Disneyland

Custodians at Shanghai Disneyland are bringing joy to guests through their water art, incredibly detailed paintings, and much more!

Since Shanghai Disneyland originally opened with limited attractions and restaurants, there are signs that Disney is progressing with reopening by bringing back select shows and dining locations. Some of the places you can visit now include Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular, Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration, and Tribal Table restaurant.

While Disney World and Disneyland may not be open open yet, Shanghai Disneyland’s health and safety protocols have allowed them to already progress their reopening in under two weeks. At this time, the only Disney attraction open in the U.S. is Disney Springs, but Disney World is set to propose a reopening date by next week. We will continue to keep you updated on Disney Parks news here!

What are you looking forward to doing the most when the Disney Parks re-open? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, Disney News, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, News, Disney, disney news, Disney reopening, Disneyland, evening magical moments, Mickey and Friends Express, reopening, shanghai, shanghai disneyland, shanghai disneyland reopening

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Disney News Disney Parks

Shanghai Disneyland Stage Shows Resume Operations

Shaghai Disneyland Stage Shows

Shanghai Disneyland reopened to guests on May 11th with limited operations. One of the items not ready to resume operations due to COVID-19 was the Stage Shows.

We are glad to announce that the Shanghai Disneyland Stage Shows have Resumed Operations today!

As you can see above shows like Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration & Avengers Training have returned.

Still waiting to return to normal operations are the Parades and Nighttime Shows.

There is no word on when they are expected to resume operations, but we expect them to be back in running soon!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Shanghai, Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration, Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Stage Shows