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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! Related posts: Find Out How to Celebrate The Premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker at Your Local Disney Store! Disney Stores Will Be Reopening Soon With These NEW Health and Safety Measures Say What?! These Disney Holiday Goodies Are Available NOW at a Target Near You! View the full article

Disney-owned locations reopened today in Disney Springs and we have questions! Popcorn in Disney Springs If you know us, then you KNOW we miss our Disney snacks. We’ve been investigating all those snack locations to see what iconic Disney eats are available to us once more. We’ve spotted Mickey Pretzels, Popcorn, and even DOLE WHIP. One thing is heavy on our minds though — will Cast Members still refill our refillable popcorn buckets with the added health measures? We found out! We were wandering Disney Springs today when an amazing development caught our eye — a popcorn stand, popping away! We headed over to snag some of our favorite Disney snacks and to see what sort of health changes they had made. Popcorn Like in all other dining locations in Disney Springs, distancing markers are in place to keep guests and Cast Members safe. We snagged a scoop of popcorn to munch on but not before asking if they would fill our refillable buckets for us in the future. Snack and Cocktail Carts Well, it turns out that YES, they will fill refillable souvenir buckets. They, however, weren’t selling the refillable popcorn buckets today. You had to already have a refillable popcorn bucket with you. We will be back with more details on this process soon! Click here to learn more about the return of Disney snacks! Will you be bringing your refillable bucket to Disney Springs? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: NEWS! The Millennium Falcon Popcorn Bucket Has Landed in Disney World (In Less Than Twelve Parsecs)! This NEW Skyliner Souvenir is Already SELLING OUT in Epcot!! Mickey Pretzels and Popcorn Never Tasted SO GOOD — Snacks are BACK at Disney World! View the full article

It’s been a busy day at Disney Springs! From World of Disney reopening to us eating our first official Dole Whip in months, we’ve wondered how it could get any more memorable! Yes, there are STORMTROOPERS in Disney Springs today! Leave it up to a squad of actual STORMTROOPERS showing up at Disney Springs today to get the party going! Yes, you heard us correctly: we spotted Stormtroopers at Disney Springs today! A pair of Stormtroopers were seen patrolling from high above the shops. We saw them above Uno de 50! Do we think they’re there to enforce the new health and safety protocol in Disney Springs? Regardless, we always find ourselves paying closer attention to the rules when Stormtroopers are around! Watch out! Stormtroopers are patrolling Disney Springs! We don’t anticipate seeing them at the ground level, but what an interesting and cool way to incorporate a character interaction today in Disney World! PLUS — while we listened to them give marching orders to the guests, we noticed that one of the Stormtroopers seems to be female! While we’ve known about Stormtrooper leaders like Captain Phasma being female, we’ve never encountered a female-voiced stormtrooper at Disney World until today! Have you?? Check out what else we’re up to at Disney Springs today here! Are you heading to Disney Springs soon? Let us know in the comments, and be on the lookout for those Stormtroopers! Related posts: The World of Disney Is Reopening in Disney Springs Today With 3-Hour Virtual Queues! SNEAK PEEK: The Newly Reimagined World of Disney Store at Disney Springs What’s New in Disney Springs — Halloween Cakes, Construction Updates, and Galaxy’s Edge Merch! View the full article

We’ve been filling you in on all the latest happenings now that several stores and restaurants have started to reopen at Disney Springs since last week! World of Disney And while you probably thought our coverage of World of Disney’s grand reopening was a pretty big deal today — we’re following an even BIGGER story (we think so at least!). Now that several Disney-owned locations have started to reopen, guess what we’ve found throughout Disney Springs?!? Snack and Cocktail Carts That’s right, fam! Mickey Pretzels, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, Churros, and Popcorn have triumphantly RETURNED to Disney World! Popcorn We’ll never look at them these common Disney World snacks the same way AGAIN! To think about how many times we took them for granted only to realize when the parks temporarily closed down we’d miss them MOST OF ALL! We picked up a bucket of popcorn (still in that cute Mary Blair inspired packaging!) Popcorn! A Cast Member informed us that they’re still refilling popcorn buckets, even though they’re not currently selling them! Next up, we got our ol’ pal, a Mickey Pretzel! Mickey Pretzel! Churros are available as well. Snacks All our favorite Ice Cream Novelties, including Mickey Premium Bars and Ice Cream Sandwiches, have returned as well! Ice Cream A small number of alcoholic options like beer are available for purchase at these stands again too. You can find the snacks at various carts throughout Disney Springs starting today! See our full coverage of the reopened Disney-owned stores in Disney Springs here! Are you happy to see your favorite Disney snacks BACK?! Let us know below! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs — Halloween Shakes, Dooney & Bourke’s Anniversary, And Disney Tees Galore! What’s New at Disney Springs: Missing Treats; Halloween Cookie Dough; Slimy Cupcakes; and Merchandise Explosion! What’s NEW at Disney Springs: The Her Universe Star Wars Collection, NEW Park Life Dooneys, and Rock the Dots Merch! View the full article

"We think July is the right time for us," Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek said about reopening plans. View the full article

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! Related posts: Breaking News! Orlando is Going Under Curfew Starting Tonight News: Mayor Predicts When Business Around Disney World May Resume News! Disney Has Joined Florida’s Re-Opening Task Force View the full article

There are a few quintessential Disney World experiences we got to experience for the first time in months today! World of Disney In addition to shopping for Disney merchandise in person, we got to snack on one of our FAVORITE park snacks. We stopped by Marketplace Snacks which reopened today for the first time since Disney Springs closed in mid-March! Queue with physical distancing at Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs Marketplace Snacks is one of the locations outside of the theme parks where you can get the infamous DOLE WHIP! DOLE WHIP! So, obviously, we had to pick one up today! It was everything we remember and love. We knew we missed our beloved Dole Whip, but tasting it for the first time in months was all the more SWEETER. Dole Whip from Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs This experience has made us want ALL the theme park snacks! And now that Disney has proposed a reopening date of July 11th, that could be happening rather soon. See what else we’ve been up to at Disney Springs today here! What snack are you looking forward to eating the most when the parks reopen? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Where to Find Disney Dole Whip Without A Park Ticket! What’s New at Disney Springs — A BRAND NEW Store, Potato Chips IN A Cake, and MORE Mermaid Merch… REVIEW! The NEW Olaf Dole Whip Slushie is Worth Melting for in Disney Springs View the full article

Now that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has lifted Japan’s nationwide state of emergency, several businesses including Japanese theme parks are making reopening preparations. Minnie & Mickey ice pops in Tokyo Disneyland Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have been closed since February and while they haven’t announced an official reopening date yet, Tokyo Disney Resort’s shopping district (the equivalent to Disney World’s Disney Springs) has announced they’ll be reopening June 1st. Today we have a bit more news about Tokyo theme parks we think you’ll want to hear! To help guide some of its theme parks with reopening procedures, East Japan and West Japan Theme Park Associations has drafted a document called, “Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of Infection of the Novel Coronavirus.” This organization has an agreement with Universal Japan as well as Oriental Land Company which helps manage Tokyo Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland Waffle Co. The list of recommended safety protocols and health screening measures includes several suggested policies (many of which we’ve heard before such as social distancing, enhanced sanitation, temperature screenings, etc.), but there are definitely a few new ideas in the mix as well — some of which haven’t encountered before. Tokyo Disneyland Curry popcorn One of these new safety protocols seems to include asking theme park guests not to scream or shout on rides. In fact, any form of speaking excitedly or loudly exclaiming joy in enclosed areas such as shows or indoor attractions may be frowned upon. Tokyo Disneyland Mochi The rest of the new recommended safety guidelines seem pretty normal including the frequent sanitization of 3D glasses and other interactive tools, along with rental items such as wheelchairs and strollers. Guests will be encouraged to use cashless payment options at restaurants and shops while the parks will be monitoring whether or not they can conduct large shows or parades safely. Since it will be difficult for performers to wear masks during shows, they will be kept at a distance of six feet at all times from guests should Tokyo Disneyland feel its stage shows can resume. Tea Cup Vending Machines in Tokyo Disney Note at this time, these are merely suggested guidelines issued by East Japan and West Japan Theme Park Associations and haven’t been officially released by Tokyo Disneyland. We’ll continue to follow this story and provide you with additional details as more information is announced. What do you think about guests being asked not to scream or cheer at Japan’s theme parks? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: It’s Costing Disney HOW MUCH To Close The Theme Parks?! NEWS: Japan Lifts Remaining State of Emergency Nationwide NEWS! Tokyo Disneyland Has Extended Its Closure Date View the full article

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! Related posts: The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! 6 Tips for Planning a Disney World Trip During Hurricane Season NEWS! New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations On Pause for Initial Reopening Phase of Disney World View the full article

This morning marked the official reopening of World of Disney in Disney Springs! World of Disney 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! Related posts: Peace, Love, and Tie-Dye! You’ve Gotta See These Rainbow Merch Items in Disney World! Go on a Grand Circle Tour of Tomorrowland With the NEW PeopleMover Hat in Disney World! What’s NEW at Disney Springs: The Her Universe Star Wars Collection, NEW Park Life Dooneys, and Rock the Dots Merch! View the full article

Legoland Florida will reopen on June 1 with coronavirus precautions in place after governor approves its plan. View the full article

Daily Orlando Sentinel Now podcast: Walt Disney World, SeaWorld present reopening plans, SpaceX launch, breweries serving again, and Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando. View the full article

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! Related posts: Here’s A Look at the Safety Measures Being Discussed By Major U.S. Theme Parks Right Now Answering The MOST IMPORTANT Questions We’re Getting From Readers About Disney World Right Now. NEWS: Who Ya Gonna Call? Maybe NOT the Disney World Dining Reservation Center! View the full article

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. Related posts: 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! 6 Tips for Planning a Disney World Trip During Hurricane Season View the full article

This morning Disney World presented a proposal for a phased reopening of the parks starting July 11th. Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s proposal included a lot of details about the expectations for reopening, but it did not touch on the reopening dates for resorts or Disney Vacation Club Properties. Shortly after the presentation though, Disney posted reopening dates for Disney Vacation Club properties at Disney World and more. Here are all of the current details. Disney has shared that “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.” According to the Disney World website, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) properties at Walt Disney World and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen to members and guests on June 22nd. DVC properties in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina will reopen on June 15th. Disney World Screenshot As of now, Disney has not released information on whether all of the resorts will open at once in Disney World or if they will open in phases. Regardless, they note that Disney resort hotel offerings may be modified, limited in capacity, and subject to availability or closure. Welcome to Fort Wilderness! Disney has also shared that they are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so that they can focus on those with existing tickets and reservations at this time. DVC members can still make new reservations. “Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; we’ll be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details.” Ticket sales and hotel reservations will resume after this period of time. Read more about the new reservation system here. Keep an eye on DFB for updates about further reopenings in Disney World and click the links below for more information on the historic Disney World closure. Get ALL the details about Disney World’s reopening proposal here. Will you be looking to stay at a DVC resort in June? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Disney’s Making Changes to Its Disney Vacation Club Points! See The Updated Charts HERE! Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens News! Disney Vacation Club Properties Have Extended Their Closures View the full article

Now that Disney World has announced it plans on reopening Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th along with Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15th, we also know some of the modifications the parks are planning on implementing. Magic Kingdom Sign According to Disney’s reopening proposal which took place this morning, Disney World’s theme parks will temporarily suspend its parades, fireworks displays, or character meet-and-greets upon reopening. Disney World presented the following chart at this morning’s Orange County Economic Task Force meeting where it proposed its gradual reopening plan including tentative reopening dates. Due to social distancing concerns, Disney World has decided to “temporarily suspend its parks, fireworks, and other events that create crowds.” ©Disney Disney World stated they will also be “temporarily suspending high touch experiences such as meet and greets and playgrounds.” Disney has also shared that “characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests.” It’s Mickey! At this time, we don’t know when Disney World plans on resuming these guest experiences or if substitutions will be made. When Shanghai Disneyland opened earlier this month, parades, fireworks, and other entertainment offerings were suspended initially, but some stage shows have already resumed while new character processionals had been added throughout the day. See what progress Shanghai Disneyland has made since its reopening here! Happily Ever After Disney World’s gradual reopening plan has been approved by the Orange County task force, but must be reviewed and finalized by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ before it’s official. We’ll let you know more details as soon as Disney provides additional information. Disney World plans on using a new reservation system upon its reopening! Learn more about it here! Are you surprised Disney World isn’t planning on offering these guest experiences right away? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Related posts: NEWS: Orlando Mayor Cancels 4th of July Fireworks Display What Does the Disney World Closure Mean for Crowd Levels in 2020…And When Should YOU Go? Updated! Will Disney World Really Re-open April 1st? View the full article

Throughout these past few months, we’ve been touched by the outpouring of support from our guests and fans around the world who’ve shared their favorite Disney memories and even replicated their favorite attractions at home. Everyone who has ever visited a Disney theme park has their own special connection to these magical worlds and the amazing cast members who bring that magic to life. Following the recent reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, we’re pleased to share that more Disney magic is coming back. Today, we submitted a proposal to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida describing our approach for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks planned to begin on July 11. Pending Orange County and state approval, our Walt Disney World Resort proposal plans for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom to begin a phased reopening to the general public on July 11, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. In preparing to reopen during this unusual time, we have to manage our theme parks in a very different way from what we’ve known before. As we begin to reach out to our cast members and call them back to work, they will be focused on operating our parks in a responsible way that continues to give our guests opportunities to create magical Disney memories. This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing. That means certain experiences we know draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date. In addition, “high-touch” experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests. Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited as we welcome guests back to the magic, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations (Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations). Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; we’ll be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new ticket sales and hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon. Additionally, Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will reopen to members and guests and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen on June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will also open to members and guests starting on June 15. Plans to support required physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning measures, along with a number of other safety and cleanliness protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening. Today, our World of Disney retail shop reopened at our Disney Springs shopping and dining complex at Walt Disney World. And in the coming weeks, Disney Stores will begin a phased reopening of operations globally, beginning with a select number of stores in the United States, in addition to stores in Europe and Japan. We’re looking forward to reopening our theme parks, Disney Resort hotels and stores and doing so in a responsible way. In this spirit, our destinations will continue to follow enhanced safety protocols based upon applicable guidance from health authorities and government agencies. As we all must work together to promote the health and safety of everyone, cast members as well as guests 3 years of age and older will be required to wear appropriate face coverings in theme parks and common areas of resort hotels. All guests will also undergo temperature screenings prior to entering a theme park; cast members will also have temperature checks. Cashless transactions are recommended, and cleaning and disinfection procedures will be increased in high-traffic areas. Additional information on enhanced health and safety measures and operational changes for reopening locations will be shared soon. These policies are under continuous review and are subject to change as we monitor conditions and receive guidance from health and government authorities. We’re being deliberate during these phased reopenings, and we’re encouraged by how our guests are responding at Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs. We’re doing our part, and we need our guests to do their part, too, as we work together to focus on safety. View the full article

Walt Disney World just presented a reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force with a proposed reopening date of July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and July 15th for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney World This proposal was approved by the Task Force. Now it must be approved by Mayor Jerry Demings before it is presented to Governor DeSantis for final approval. Disney World’s presentation today included the parks’ initial plans for reopening and those details are outlined below. Dates Disney World’s proposed plan would reopen Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom to guests on July 11th. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios would follow with a reopening on July 15th. There will be soft opening preview days which Disney will share details about on a later date. Limited Capacity Disney World will be using a reduced capacity for theme parks, restaurants, retail, attractions, buses, monorails, and other transportation so that guests can appropriately physical distance. Monorail at Disney World To visit the theme parks, guests will need to use a new theme park reservation system. Guests MUST have a reservation in advance and new information is coming soon. It is important to note that Shanghai Disneyland is currently using a reservation system, which you can learn more about here. You can read MORE about the new theme park reservation system here. Health and Safety Measures Disney has broken up their Health and Safety Protocols into five different priorities — Enhanced Protective Measures, Physical Distancing, Enhanced Cleaning/Sanitation, Temperature/Health Screening, and Limited-Contact Enhancements. ©Disney Let’s take a look at the specific measures within these categories. Enhanced Protective Measures Like in Disney Spring, Disney will require face coverings for guests and Cast Members while on property at Disney World. Cast Members will be issued reusable face coverings, just like they have been in Disney Springs so far. Guests will HAVE to wear their masks as a mandatory measure but they are looking at potential “relaxation zones” where folks can remove their masks for a moment. ©Disney Hand-washing and sanitizing stations and signage reminders will be posted throughout the theme parks, both on stage for guest access and backstage for Cast Member access. Points of sale will have plexiglass barriers installed for all retail and dining locations to protect guests and Cast Members in areas where distancing cannot be maintained. Physical Distancing In addition to reduced capacity for the theme parks as a whole, Disney will be discouraging large gatherings. The initial reopening will see the temporary suspension of parades, fireworks, and other events that could create crowds. Disney Springs Cast Members will see modified and enhanced backstage areas so that they are able to distance while on breaks and in backstage environments. Enhanced Cleaning/Sanitation Both on stage and backstage areas will see more frequent cleaning across high touch locations and surfaces. Temperature/Health Screening Guests will be required to have their temperatures checked at the Main Entrance to the theme parks. This will be done with a 3rd party company using contactless, handheld devices — muck like the methods in Disney Springs. Spaceship Earth Cast Members who are guest-facing will receive on-site temperature checks. All Cast Members will be expected to engage in daily at-home temperature checks and health assessments prior to departing to Disney World. Read more about our experience with temperature checks in Disney Springs here. Limited-Contact Enhancements Restaurants and retail will see cashless transactions enabled and contactless payments will be encouraged through MagicBands, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Mobile Order will also be further enables at separate locations. Mickey Mouse Some notable high-touch experiences will be temporarily suspended as well such as meet and greets and play areas. Informing Guests Disney’s focus on informing guests with the new health protocols is with strategies that are focused on education, communication, and engagement. They are looking into “know before you go” strategies for guests so that they are aware of protocols prior to their arrival. Disney Springs Once they arrive in Disney World guests will be reminded of protocols and key points will have signage to remind guests of changes as well. Cast Members will be crucial in focusing on the wellbeing of themselves and guests. Magic Kingdom Current guest-facing Cast will be trained on engaging guests and reminding them to follow health and safety protocols. This will be in addition to a dedicated “Social Distancing Squad,” like the one deployed in Disney Springs, to assist guests in staying safe. We will continue to keep you updated with more details of this developing story. For more information about the current status of Disney Resorts and destinations around the world, click here or visit the links below. Do you have plans to visit Disney World or Universal Orlando soon? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: BREAKING NEWS! Disney World Proposes THEME PARK REOPENING DATES! NEWS: Vice President Pence Discusses Disney World and Other Parks Reopening In Orlando The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day View the full article

Lake County received approval to reopen short-term vacation rentals, such as Airbnb homes and apartments. View the full article

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! Related posts: News: New Dining Discounts for Disney World Annual Passholders for 45th Anniversary Year 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED How To Get Your Hands on the Starbucks “You Are Here” Disney Parks Mugs WITHOUT Actually Visiting the Parks! View the full article

Walt Disney World is planning a phased reopening with the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopening July 11 followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15, a Disney executive told Central Florida business leaders Wednesday. View the full article

Gatorland's Social Distancing Skunk Ape is helping promote guest safety within the park after it's post-quarantine re-opening. View the full article

Following the reopening of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk and Disney Springs, the Universal Orlando Theme Parks are set to be the first major Orlando-area theme parks to reopen since the closures in March. Disney Springs Florida’s Governor approved Universal’s request after the plan was cleared by Orange County Mayor, Jerry Demings, and the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. Walt Disney World followed the same protocol today and presented their reopening plan and reopening date to the Orange County Task Force for initial approval. Walt Disney World Resort has proposed a reopening date for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on July 11th, and a reopening date for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th. If this proposal is accepted, the parks will be open to guests on these dates. Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings must sign off on Disney’s proposed plans before they will be presented to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Previously, Demings has said that he will need 24-48 hours to review the plans before submitting them to DeSantis. Details about what a reopening would look like are being shared at this time and will be updating you with all the info — stay tuned! Would you visit Disney World on reopening day? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: NEWS: Vice President Pence Discusses Disney World and Other Parks Reopening In Orlando News: Mayor Predicts When Business Around Disney World May Resume Disney World Says, “We Do Not Have an Opening Date Yet.” View the full article

Just now, SeaWorld Orlando has proposed a reopening date. ©SeaWorld Some smaller Orlando attractions like Fun Spot and Gatorland have already reopened, and Universal Orlando Resort has announced its parks will welcome back the general public on June 5th. Last week, SeaWorld Orlando ran tests of their Mako Coaster with masked riders, and now they have submitted a proposed date for reopening as well! At this morning’s Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force meeting, SeaWorld announced it plans to reopen to on June 10th for an employee appreciation night and June 11th for the general public. Mako Coaster in SeaWorld Florida ©MidwayMayhem Here are all the details from our visit to the recently reopened Disney Springs! SeaWorld’s tentative reopening date still needs approval by Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis before it’s official. ©SeaWorld Several Orlando-area theme parks have already reopened, as have many stores and restaurants at Disney Springs and CityWalk at Universal Orlando. Now it looks like SeaWorld will soon be joining the list of reopened Central Florida attractions pending the Governor’s final approval! More details are being released at this time. We will update this post with all of those details. Have you visited SeaWorld Orlando? Share your story in the comments! Related posts: News! SeaWorld Parks Extend Closures Until Further Notice Find Out How to Score FREE BEER at SeaWorld Orlando this Summer! News! SeaWorld Orlando Will Offer FREE Tier Upgrades to Annual Passholders! View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video, and today we’re chatting about 9 tips the experts use every day in Disney World! Tower of Terror Sign If you’re in the Disney parks as much as we are, you pick up some tips you just can’t live without. We’re sharing our top park advice today! So check out all this and more in our latest DFB Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and let us know: What tips you use in Disney World! Related posts: DFB Video: 7 Disney World Restaurants We Never Talk About…And Why! DFB Video: Latest Disney News: New Ways to Skip the Line, BIG Changes in Hollywood Studios, and TONS of NEW Snacks DFB Video: 4 Things Disney Fans Freak Out About Each Year! View the full article