Phased Re-Opening Dates Announced for Walt Disney World Theme Parks

It's official! Walt Disney World will begin a phased re-opening on July 11, 2020 with Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom. A few days later, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios will join them in opening on July 15, 2020. Select audiences, including Cast Members, will get previews prior to the scheduled opening. 

We didn't get a lot of details during today's Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force Meeting but we did get a great overview of their plans to implement new health and safety protocols in their theme parks. Walt Disney World will start implementing a pre-arrival theme park reservation system to help manage significantly reduced capacity in their parks, restaurants, and stores. Capacity will also be reduced on attractions and on all modes of transportation. 

Additional health and safety protocols include mandatory face coverings, a social distancing squad, more sanitization and hand-washing stations, temperature checks upon entry and other enhancements that will limit person-to-person contact. These enhancements include encouraging a cashless environment, increased mobile food ordering options, and the temporary pause of character meets, parades, fireworks and other events that create crowds. Play areas, like playgrounds, water effects, etc. will also be temporarily suspended. 

​Guests who plan to visit Walt Disney World will receive numerous 'Know Before You Go' communications to ensure only healthy, prepared guests are visiting the parks. There will be ample signage throughout the park, as well as Cast Members positively encouraging guests to comply with these protocols. 

At this time, we have no update about Walt Disney World Resort hotels reopening. We hope to learn more in the days and weeks ahead, and we'll continue to share updates here.

UPDATE FROM THE DISNEY PARKS BLOG: 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.

You can subscribe to our blog or follow us on Facebook to be alerted to new blog posts. Stay well!