News Walt Disney World's COVID-19 reopening plans announced - July 11

[ThatMouse]

Just because it's open, doesn't mean it's safe to go. Are they going to give full refunds for season passes (April through Jan) even though it's half open?

 

[EpcotCenter82]

On the Walt Disney World website:

Pending approval from government officials, the phased reopening plans we submitted calls for Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Resort hotels to open beginning July 11 for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.

Additionally, Disney Vacation Club properties at Walt Disney World and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen to Members and Guests on June 22. Disney Vacation Club properties in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will open on June 15. Disney Springs has begun a phased reopening. Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort Hotels, restaurants and other offerings may be modified, limited in capacity and subject to availability or closure

 

[natatomic]

Oh come on, resorts and theme parks are in the same family. Other theme parks are requiring masks on property at all times too so why are you just pertaining to Disney World resort? It's only Fun Spot where masks are optional cause clearly they can't scare away people cause that place needs foot traffic.

I’m not the one who made the original point, but Legoland isn’t requiring masks, so maybe that’s what they’re thinking about?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

...ahhh...I see dvc is opening 3 weeks early? That’s for fun times in Orlando

 

[fgmnt]

Enforcing rules is literally part of their job, though.

This is true, but I've seen widespread public resistance to the simple task of covering your mouth magnitudes beyond any resistance to lowering a lap bar on a roller coaster.

 

[DisneyDave71]

Since the other thread was closed before I could get this in I’d like to congratulate the 286 other posters who also picked July in the poll. This proves (at least in my case) that a broken clock really is right twice a day

edit: I expect to see at least 286 likes on this post

Yikes, I went with May. Not even close.

 

[Seanual757]

Resorts are out. Keep them closed. And Florida residents and annual pass holders should get first dips on advance reservation.

Not fair for those locals who are staying at resorts. Disney is still going to rely on guests (Local) to fill the rooms so excluding resorts makes zero sense.

Same with DVC owners who are local.

The good news is we finally have a date and YES I was wrong twice with my 6/6 and 7/1.

The unknowns are long Resorts, water parks, dining (character), DVC, APH. I still believe and I said two months ago they should give priority to resort guests for the first few weeks as a way to track them and work out the kinks. I am sure in the coming days and week more information from Disney will come out.

I am really surprised it seems they really did not have a plan I fully expect a detailed laid out plan for re-opening. All of this time off and they came up with a very limited opening menu.

 

[deeevo]

Orlando doesn't get 115 heat index cmon lol. So much complaining about something that isn't even an issue.

Kissimmee July 2019. Might not be 115 but its very, very hot.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don’t care how many vinyl stickers you place on the pavement, physical distancing is not feasible at a theme park attended by tens of thousands of people.

I don't think mandatory masks in Orlando in summer is any more feasible.

 

[_caleb]

They have a 12 year old and the average age of a first time mother in Cincinnati with a college degree is 28 so they're probably 41 and 40.

I see. You didn't mention they were from Cincinnati. Poor souls will have to wait for football season to even find out about Disney's reopening.

 

[MouseBrayden]

Does anyone know what an "affinity soft opening preview day" is? Is that Club 33, AP's, DVC, etc? Something else? Ops mentioned it in the presentation

59:35 for clip

 

[Giss Neric]

But the managers what?

So like I expected, no real enforcement, and those not wearing will be much greater at the parks, since most will be drinking constantly, and much hotter than shoppers are now.

Managers are the ones who handles disobeying guests. It's hard cause they don't want to cause a scene and you can't really predict how a person behaves. Some are cool with it but some are easily offended and short tempered. It's a case to case basis but overall it's not a real problem. Pandemic or not, people are always disobeying rules anyways.

 

[sedati]

Disney saw something that told them to close before everyone else.
Disney sees something that's telling them to open later than everyone else.
Any time a company whose sole purpose is to make money says "no thanks" to your cash, pay heed. These decisions are not being made willy nilly.

 

[Seanual757]

Contactless payment is great. Need to allow for gift card payment with mobile orders ASAP.

they need to enable payment by magic band not just for resort guests it would make life so much easier.

 

[JD2000]

park reservations (for any park) need to be guaranteed for those with pre-existing vacation packages through disneyworld.disney.go.com. and fastpass needs to continue (as long wait times are not enjoyable). otherwise they need to refund hotel reservations and park tickets.

 

[rowrbazzle]

A very cautious approach works better for them imo than Jumping the gun.

I don't think those are the only two options. And I don't know what constitutes jumping the gun. I guess no one does, which makes it difficult.

 

[Rider]

Per previous announcements, your pass will be extended from its original expiration date by the total number of days the parks were closed. Now that we know the opening dates, they'll be able to finalize the program code and schedule the update to everyone's expiration dates. Once they do that, the new expiration date will show in your MDE profile.

Every AP needs to keep in mind that an extension may NOT be the defult option for their pass. If you pay monthly your pass will NOT be extended unless you call Disney.

Update on Walt Disney World Resort Operations — Including Theme Parks and Water Parks

Get the latest on resort closures, operational updates, cancellation & refund information for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL

disneyworld.disney.go.com

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

People may be "over" the virus, but the virus isn't over us. This isn't going anywhere anytime soon and Orange County is aware that numbers aren't exactly declining significantly in the area.

At some point though, the restrictions are only as good as the public's general sense of things. Sentiment has to somewhat match policy. And just from personal experience (your mileage my vary), being out in public and also traveling a bit, it feels to me like many people are already back to normal, a trend which will likely continue between now & July 11.

 

[Ragerunner]

I'm guessing a huge surge of pent up demand initially and then a dramatic crash to 9/11 levels or worse.

I think you are right. The true depth of the economic recession will set in after the first rush of fans and passholders slow down. If the virus respikes in the fall all bets are off.

 

[jaklgreen]

I don't think mandatory masks in Orlando in summer is any more feasible.

I agree. Here is a short video taken recently of Shanghai DL. You can clearly see that there are people who are walking around not wearing masks.