Breaking News: Proposed Dates for Walt Disney World Reopening Announced

Breaking News

At 10 am EST, the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force met virtually in Orlando. The objective was to discuss the proposals of SeaWorld and Walt Disney World to reopen their parks as well as other businesses in the area. Jim MacPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations, Walt Disney World Resort gave a virtual presentation on the plan. Here is what we know from their proposal:

The most important piece of information that we want to know is, when are the parks opening?

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open July 11^th, 2020. Epcot and Hollywood Studios will open July 15^th, 2020.

They did briefly mention cast previews and possible other previews but nothing in detail as far as anyone being able to go to the parks before those dates.

Now for what changes we will see when the parks open. Here is what was presented:

• Enhanced Protective Measures

  • A layered approach of protocols including face coverings, hand washing and sanitizing stations where appropriate
  • Face Masks will be required to enter the parks

• Physical Distancing

  • Reduced capacity of theme parks, restaurants, retail attractions, buses, monorails, and other transportation that enables appropriate physical distancing.
  • Temporarily suspend parades, fireworks, and other events that create crowds.

• Enhanced Cleaning/Sanitation

  • More frequent cleaning across high touch locations and surfaces in opening areas.

• Temperature/Health Screening

  • Temperature checks at main entrances to theme parks
  • 3^rd party screening via a contactless handheld device. (The temperature checks at Disney Springs are currently done by Advent Health so we assume they would continue to provide this service to the parks if not another 3^rd party.)

• Limited-Contact Enhancements

  • Contactless payments with Magic Bands, Apple Pay, Google Pay
  • Enable cashless transactions at restaurants and retail
  • Further enable mobile order at food and beverage locations.
  • Temporarily suspend high touch experiences

Some of the other notable comments today were…

• Expansion of the mobile food ordering
• No character meet and greets
• Disney to create a Social Distancing Squad to ensure social distancing remains constant around the parks. This will consist of cast members and they are already present at Disney Springs.

Here are some great screenshots we have from the meeting today:

Members of the task forces were on-site at Walt Disney World yesterday to tour the property to get a more detailed idea of the proposal and plan that will be put in place to keep guests and cast members safe when the parks open in July. This helped to show the task force Walt Disney World’s readiness for opening.

The proposal will now be sent to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings who must sign off on the plans. Then they will be submitted to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Walt Disney World did state that they will be sure to do everything that they can to educate their guests before and during their stay and time on property of the changes. Guests should expect extra communications before arrival and during your stay via email, the My Disney Experience App, and signage.

Last week, Universal Orlando presented their proposal to the task force and had approval from Mayor Demings and Governor DeSantis within a day. We hope their approval will come just as quickly for Walt Disney World.

Stay tuned to The Disney Nerds Podcast for more news on the reopening as it comes!