Top Ten Tips for Traveling to Walt Disney World in 2020

We just returned from Walt Disney World and are so excited to share what we experienced on our amazing trip! This is the first of a series of blog posts we'll share with you to help paint the picture of what you can expect on a Walt Disney World vacation and to help you make the most of it!

We are frequently asked what it is like to travel during this time. Our clients rely on us to be experts and we work tirelessly to elevate our knowledge for you. As your travel advisor, a very important part of our job is to stay current on new travel policies and procedures. Walt Disney World has been open for some time now, and they have been very successful in maintaining a safe environment for their resort guests. Kristen and Kayla just traveled to Walt Disney World and experienced this first hand. They saw and followed the protocols that are in place to help guests have a fun, clean and safe trip to the parks.

#1: Wear your mask

Face coverings must be worn by all guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. You’re responsible for bringing your own face covering but Disney does sell them throughout the parks and resorts. All face coverings must be made with at least two layers of material, fully cover the nose and mouth, secure under the chin, fit snugly against the side of the face and be secured with ties or ear-loops. Neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas, and face coverings with valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not considered acceptable face coverings. You may only remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking in a stationary position (i.e., standing at a table, sitting on a bench, etc.).

#2: Wash your hands

You probably know by now, washing your hands for 20 seconds is key to reducing the spread. There are portable hand-washing stations throughout the parks that make washing your hands easier to do than ever. Disney has installed hundreds of hand sanitizing stations throughout the parks as well. 
We kept Purell wipes and hand sanitizer in our park bags so we could grab them whenever we wanted them. We brought a bottle of antibacterial hand soap for our hotel room, too.

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3: Keep your (physical) distance

You are reminded often to keep 6 feet between yourself and others. Disney has installed ground markers and physical barriers to make it easy. Ride queues, restaurant dining rooms and shops throughout the parks are clearly labeled so you can maintain a safe physical distance from other guests. Thankfully, this doesn’t impede social interactions! We love chatting with guests and Cast Members; thankfully, we were still able to do plenty of that while keeping our physical distance from them.

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#4: Plan your day in the park

While you’re waiting to enter the park, chat with everyone in your party about what they’d like to see and do today. You don’t need to have a step-by-step plan, but you should decide what your priorities are. Monitor the attraction wait times on your My Disney Experience app throughout the day to help you decide where to head next.

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#5: Be patient.

While crowds may be lower than usual, it’s important to remember that the park isn’t operating at full capacity. More time is being dedicated to cleaning and maintaining attractions, restaurants and common areas throughout the day. You may wait a little longer for a ride than the posted wait time, or your food may take a little longer to prepare than usual. Be patient and be kind. Rest assured everyone is doing their best to make magic for you.

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#6: Get up early

The parks are open limited hours this fall and no big changes are expected heading into the winter months. To make the most of your day, get up early and be one of the first in line to head to the parks. Most modes of transportation start running about an hour before the park opens, and we recommend arriving at the bus, Skyliner, boat or monorail station at that time.

#7: Stay close to the parks

There are certain resorts that are more convenient than others in the current climate. We recommend staying close to the park you plan to visit the most. If you’re going to spend more than one day at Magic Kingdom, staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are the most convenient as you can walk across the street and into the park. If you’re going to frequent Epcot or Hollywood Studios, you’ll appreciate the ease of accessing these parks from Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club or Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas. If you’re hoping for a more economical option, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort offers easy access to Disney’s Skyliner which will get you quickly to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
If you want to try something new, consider Disney’s Riviera Resort. We had a chance to explore this resort for the first time on our most recent trip and it is beautiful! The 1- and 2-bedroom villas are great for families, the dining options are plentiful and the pools are beautiful. You can also easily access Disney’s Skyliner for a quick ride to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

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#8: Make Park Pass reservations

You must reserve theme park admission in advance. Both a Park Pass reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date will be required for entry. You can only visit one park per day. You can make your Park Pass reservations as soon as you purchase theme park admission (currently through September 26, 2021) and we recommend doing so.

#9: Partner with your travel advisor

Things are changing every day, it’s more important than ever to work with someone who can advise you on how to have the best vacation. We are here to walk you through every step, from choosing which parks to visit on which days to what to pack in your park bag. You have to take an active role in planning and enjoying your vacation, let us be your partners through it all.

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#10: Embrace the magic

We didn’t have to try very hard to find the magic we know and love at Walt Disney World. As Fastpass+ junkies, we were thrilled to experience some ride queues that we normally wouldn’t pass through, like Peter Pan’s Flight and Flight of Passage. Interacting with characters may not be the same as it was, but there are actually opportunities to chat, selfie or wave at characters like never before. Per usual, Cast Members are the key to feeling the magic at Walt Disney World. You can see the smiles in their eyes and hear it in their voices; they are so excited to be back and making magic for Guests. We had the chance to chat with many Cast Members acting in many different roles and they made us feel right at home; they were our favorite part of going back to Walt Disney World.

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