What do you feel it will be like for us when WDW opens again using our mobility wheelchairs & scooters?

[RaySharpton]

Post #181-Temperature Screening Process Debuts at the Transportation and Ticket Center and Monorail Social Distancing Guidelines and Boarding Procedure at Walt Disney World PHOTOS - July 7, 2020

A medical professional will be taking your temperature upon entry. If you or any member of your party has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, the entire party will be denied entry. Face masks will also be required for all guests over the age of 2, and must cover your mouth and nose at all times. A “cool off” period will be allowed if a Guest fails the screening the first time, just to make sure no environmental causes could be the reason for a high temperature.

In case you forgot your required face covering (necessary for all guests over the age of 2), there are handy face mask vending machines available.

Once you make it past temperature screening, bag check is still required for all guests.

Guests are instructed to put electronic and metal items on their person into these bags to go through security at the TTC.

Cast Members wearing face masks and face shields instruct guests where to stand in order to facilitate social distancing.

Then, instead of herding in front of gates as guests usually do, they are directed by Cast Members to stand in front of specific numbered gate markers. These numbers will correspond with the number you received while queueing up before the ramp.

Guests also receive instruction on how to group together for seating. Those with large parties may be split up between multiple cabins to avoid overcrowding.

Aboard the monorail, we get to see the vinyl partitions in person that we previously were only able to photograph from Disney’s Contemporary Resort. These partitions help keep parties separate within the same monorail cabin. Guests are told to remain seated for the duration of the ride.

Monorail loading video.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #182-Inside the Magic Kingdom in Disney World For the First Time Since the Closures PHOTOS! DFB - July 7, 2020.

Magic Kingdom in Disney World officially reopens on July 11th. But we’re inside reporting LIVE today from Cast Member previews. We were invited by a friend, which means we can give you a sneak peek of what to expect when the parks officially reopen in just a few days.

When parking today, we were directed into every other spot. Disney later fills these spots in after guests have exited their vehicles. Now, since this is just a preview, transportation is operating a bit differently.

Today, the tram was not operating, but the monorail and ferryboats are available.

It’s worth noting that the Tram vehicles — which guests can ride from the parking lots to the TTC in order to shorten the walk — were not in operation this morning. However, we’d like to remind that today is a cast member preview, so things may work differently when the parks officially reopen. (P.S. Ferry Boat transportation was also available.)

Approaching the Monorail station, numbers are placed on the ground, giving guests the ability to easily spot where they may stand in order to keep a safe distance from other groups. (We’d like to thank @aleyafromdisney on Instagram for sharing the picture below with us!)

We were given a number to stand on prior to boarding the monorail.

A partition has been added inside of the monorail as well.

You can also take the ferry over to the park from the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Disney is now asking guests to put all electronics and anything metal into a clear plastic bag when going through the bag check. This can add a bit of time depending on how many electronics you have with you.

Don’t forget, guests must have their temperatures checked prior to entering the parks as well.

The temperature checks are located in a few large white tents. The entrance had stickers on the ground to help guests in physical distancing as they enter the park.

This is the Cast Member preview so of course, crowds were extremely low. Wait times were sitting between 5 and 25 minutes this morning. The Annual Passholder preview and opening day should give us a better idea of what wait times and crowd levels will be like.

Need a break from your mask? You can head to the Relaxation Stations around the park where you’re allowed to remove your mask for a time. Tables are distanced in the Relaxation Stations and elsewhere around Magic Kingdom.

The big Cavalcades aren’t the only way to see characters either. We also spotted some Hundred Acre Wood friends cruising by on a Main Street Vehicle.

The queue area on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been updated to include physical distancing barriers. Interactive elements have been roped off as well. Guests are seated with a row in-between different parties.

The Haunted Mansion stretching room pre-show is currently not available. Instead, Cast Members guide you through the room as a part of the queue.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #183-Na’vi River Journey Reopens With Hand Sanitizing Stations and Social Distancing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom PHOTOS - July 10, 2020

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #184-Disney World Theme Parks Debut Artificial Intelligence Security Screening Process in all 4-parks PHOTOS blog mickey - July 7, 2020

Disney will be moving away from a hands-on approach to bag check screening and moving into the 21st century with Artificial Intelligence screening that will greatly improve the bag check process.

As a reminder, the old bag check process would rely on a security Cast Member to search your bag by hand before sending you through a metal detector to check your person.

Of course, the level of thoroughness in the bag check varied from security Cast Member to security Cast Member, and introduced the element of human error. As you might imagine, we’ve been through security hundreds, if not thousands of times over the years, and just like everyone else, we’ve seen different levels of detail in the bag check searches. After a manual bag check search, security would randomly ask guests to walk through a metal detector, meaning not everyone had to pass through. We’ve had our qualms with the process over the years, but have largely remained silent on the topic.

Currently, the new system is installed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom hasn’t received the new system yet, but we’re told they should be upgrading after the scale test is complete at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While the Disney Springs test strictly didn’t allow photos, we spoke with a Security Manager today at Disney’s Animal Kingdom who walked us over to a scanner, not in use, and allowed us to take a photo. Of course, nothing about the Disney setup is visibly different than other installations already in use at other theme parks and venues around the country.

The experience today was seamless and even guests who were stopped simply had to take their items to a nearby security Cast Member who was able to perform a targeted inspection and send them on their way without having to perform a full bag check.

We also had the opportunity to see the Evolv system in action at Hersheypark recently, and have to say that the experience was seamless. Here’s a look at the system in place at Hersheypark, the photo was taken with permission from employees. As you can see, everyone will go through the Evolv Express scanner, and a secondary check is performed if the system detects an anomaly. If not, you’re free to go enjoy the theme park without ever having to take off your bag, or have it manually searched. Tablet devices will alert security guards to an anomaly if it occurs and will pinpoint the problem area to allow for a more accurate manual search.

According to the Evolv Technology website, Evolv Express uses advanced sensors and machine learning to automatically screen for concealed weapons on all employees, contractors, and visitors entering your facility without slowing down operations.

Powered by the Evolv Cortex AI™ Software Platform, Express is the only fast, touchless, free-flow firearm and bomb detection system that screens more than 3600 people per hour (60 people per minute) and gets smarter over time. It keeps high volume entrances flowing by reliably detecting guns and other weapons as visitors walk through at a natural pace.

 

[Starwind]

A vlogger posted a Youtube video of their day at AK during the cast preview day; gives a good idea of many of the measures in place.

 

[RaySharpton]

Disney World Monorail Safety Procedures and Social Distancing PHOTOS - Blog Mickey - July 7, 2020

The Disney World monorail system is one of the transportation options currently in use to bring guests to the Magic Kingdom. As of publication time, the EPCOT monorail line is not running, and guests who want to visit EPCOT from the Magic Kingdom area resorts will need to utilize the bus system.

Before guests even get on the monorail, they are asked to stand on numbers in a holding area just outside of the station when the station is full. Each party is asked to stand on a number and stay together.

Guests are asked to then stand on a number and wait for the monorail to arrive. This number has nothing to do with the number you stood on in the holding corral. It’s just a way for Cast Members to direct you where to stand.

Inside the monorail there is a divider between one set of seats and the other. It’s important to note that your party may be grouped with another party on a single side of the monorail. Cast Members will ask that each party sits across from each other and doesn’t move for the duration of the trip.

For the return trip back to the Transportation and Ticket Center or the Resorts, parties may stand near each other, but not directly next to each other.

 

[mamabunny]

Disney World Theme Parks Debut Artificial Intelligence Security Screening Process in all 4-parks - July 7, 2020





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So... will mobility devices pass through these scanners as well, or will we still need manual bag check/screening?

 

[RaySharpton]

So... will mobility devices pass through these scanners as well, or will we still need manual bag check/screening?

I think our wheelchair devices would have too much metal. They will probably do a visual like they used to do. I don't know. But it would be cool if we could. We would but everything else like phones in a plastic bag, I think.

 

[Euby]

I have a theory on the EPCOT relaxation zones. What about the Odyssey, the landing area between the UK and France pavillions, and the Fastpass fireworks viewing area? I think any areas that are near the lake would be used.

 

[RaySharpton]

How Was Disney World’s Reopening Cast Member Preview? Here’s The Good, the Bad, and the Rad PHOTOS. By AJ - July 8, 2020

Today was a historic day in Disney World history. After an unprecedented four-month closure, the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom re-opened for their very first previews — welcoming Disney World Cast Members to test and explore the theme parks’ new health and safety procedures and protocol while enjoying their favorite rides and attractions for what felt like the “first time in forever.”

The parks debuted several new policies and procedures to protect the health and safety of both guests and Cast Members. These include social distancing markers, required face coverings, required temperature checks, and a focus on limiting contact between guests and Cast Members when possible.

The security bag check prior to entering the parks has gotten a new, low-contact makeover. Now, guests place all electronics into plastic carriers, then walk through the new security system WITH their personal bag instead of having it searched by a security guard.

If your bag still sets off the alarm, it’s time to dump it all out into a security bin in hopes of finding the offending article (for our reporter, it was a fuel rod that set off the alarm).

Was this faster than the traditional bag check? Possibly. Pulling out your electronics and putting them into plastic bags can take a lot of time, but that time could be won back if you walk safely through the new automated detectors without having to have a Cast Member go through your things. Either way, however, the process does minimize contact significantly between guests and Cast Members.

This, along with mandatory temperature checks, were the main additions to the park entry system, and seemed to go relatively well today. If you experienced a big back-up or time sink here, please let us know in the comments.

But a major concern from our readers has been Disney’s ability to enforce and maintain social distancing and required face coverings with the new game plan. In our experience, the Cast Member “guests” at the preview were doing a decent job of rule-following. We didn’t see too many maskless folks or even guests who had pulled their masks down below their nose.

Social distancing was being adhered to in nearly all situations we encountered. And for most of our visit, the parks were sparsely populated, so it was easy to keep that 6-ft invisible bubble around oneself.

But some things did break down a bit a few times during the day. In addition to reportedly having a couple of rides malfunction and/or break down, there might be some implications from the lack of a virtual queue system on some attractions as well. While most ride wait times were 5-10 minutes most of the day, more popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Splash Mountain saw some longer waits and/or social distancing hiccups.

[QUOTEBut, like we said, this is why Cast Member previews exist. Disney’s job is to measure twice, cut once, and test, test, test. And it’s much easier to test out big change roll-outs with a small, dedicated group of guests — like Cast Members — than with a much larger crowd on re-opening day. You can expect some wrinkles to be ironed out by Thursday’s Annual Passholder preview, and again by Saturday’s grand re-opening. Stay tuned. ][/QUOTE]

As predicted by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, due to very limited guest capacity in the parks, FastPass in today’s experiment wouldn’t have been necessary for most attractions. And our reporters were pretty much able to ride anything they wanted to ride today with just a 5-15 minute wait per attraction.

But note that when a ride breaks down or experiences technical difficulties, or needs an enhanced cleaning, the socially distanced line can get a little bit longer than what’s comfortable; and when guests run out of social distancing markers on the ground, it can be difficult to figure out where the 6ft mark is. This could lead to some crowding if Cast Members aren’t there quickly to manage the process.

Locations like The Emporium and Uptown Jewelers in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom have the ability to turn on and off their virtual queue line systems depending on crowd-levels. These shops are allowing only a fraction of their capacity inside at a time, so on busy days, there may be waits.

While it’s weird to have to get into a virtual line to just pop in and check out the newest necklaces, it does seem to be a procedure that’s working for Disney right now when days get busy at Disney Springs. And we like that it allows guests to continue to enjoy the park while technically “waiting in line” to get into a shop.

Characters no longer meet face to face, give hugs, or take photos with guests (unless they’re selfie photos from afar), but you can still see them every day!

Character Cavalcades and boat float-bys are a new, fun way to see characters at sporadic, super random times. Why sporadic and super random? To make sure guests don’t congregate together in anticipation of catching the show.

While it’s a bummer to not be able to meet Mickey for a hug, the Cavalcades we saw were SO much fun! Merida and Gaston on horses? A Trolley full of Hundred Acre Wood pals? Aladdin and Mary Poppins on the same float? The crystal PRINCESS FLOAT back in action?

We saw a LOT of characters and it was a LOT of fun. So while it’s different from what we’re used to, the random “you never know when you’ll next see a character” factor is a rad throwback for many of us to our childhood where Disney characters were always out and about and you never knew who you’d see!

So, overall, the Disney Cast Member preview we attended went well. The park seemed deserted, guests were generally following the rules, and wait times were minimal except at the most popular rides and attractions. Of course, we didn’t see everything that went on in the park. If you had different experiences you’d like to share, please let us know in the comments.

Were there hiccups? Yes. Are they debilitating for Disney? No. The hiccups we saw and experienced are mostly fixable, which is why Disney prioritizes running events like Cast Member and Annual Passholder previews. Run the show, find the bugs, fix ’em, run the show again. That’s why shows rehearse.

We’ll be experiencing the (likely more populated) Annual Passholder Preview later this week, and the official Re-Opening Day this weekend, to see any implemented updates to current policies and procedures.

Disney stated in a health and safety media panel today that they weren’t “complacent” about the protocol they were implementing, and that they were eager to continue to learn and update their policies based on data and experience gathered both here in Orlando and at Disney parks around the world. So it will be interesting to see what evolves.

 

[RaySharpton]

Walt Disney World Resort 2020 Theme Park Ticket Sales and Disney Resort Hotel Bookings Resume July 9 - by Avery Maehrer, Manager of Communications, Walt Disney World Resort - July 8, 2020

In just a few more days, we’ll begin welcoming the first guests back to the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re continuing to prepare for these openings in a measured and deliberate way, implementing health and safety measures with cast members and guests in mind.

As you may recall, earlier we had temporarily paused 2020 ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings so we could focus on helping existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders plan their visits with the new Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system. We are glad to share that beginning tomorrow, July 9, we will resume ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings for 2020. Guests will soon be able to purchase new tickets and plan future visits throughout this year with the Disney Park Pass system, which we are using to help manage attendance during this reopening period.

For those looking to make their plans right away, please note that tickets and Disney Resort hotel bookings may be released at different times throughout the day tomorrow. In addition, we will use virtual waiting rooms as needed to manage the high volume of guests looking to plan their visits.

All guests with valid admission are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, so be sure to check the park reservation availability calendar before purchasing any new tickets and then go directly to DisneyWorld.com/DisneyParkPass after your purchase to make your park reservations. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. Please note that, during this phased reopening, some tickets, ticket options and Disney Resort hotels are unavailable, but there are still a variety of options to choose from.

Though the experience may be different than the last time you visited, there is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

If you’re planning a visit for this year, we recommend checking out our “Know Before You Go” page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you’ll find tips and information like how to make park reservations after purchasing your tickets.

We realize that everyone’s situation is unique, so if you have specific questions about your plans, you may call the Disney Reservation Center, submit questions to the Disney Parks Moms Panel or speak with your travel provider for more details. We hope to see you real soon!

Also...

Park Tickets Sales and Hotel Bookings Will Resume Tomorrow By Heather Alosa - July 8, 2020

With each passing day we learn more and more about Disney World and their phased reopening. New information has just been released on ticket sales and hotel bookings. Read on to learn more!

Earlier this year, Disney had temporarily paused 2020 ticket sales. They also paused all Disney Resort hotel bookings.

They report they did this to focus on helping existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders who would be visiting with the new Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system.

TOMORROW, July 9, Disney will resume ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings for 2020! Guests will be able to purchase new tickets and plan future stays throughout this year with the new Disney Park Pass system.

The Disney Park Pass system is the new reservation system that is being used to limit the number of guests in the park. A limited capacity, along with other safety measures, is being used to help ensure safety to guests and Cast Members.

Tickets and Disney Resort hotel bookings may be released at different times throughout the day tomorrow. There will also be a virtual waiting room as needed to manage the high volume of guests looking to make new plans.

Any guests wishing to visit Disney World will need a valid admission to make a reservation in advance for each park entry. Be sure to check the park reservation availability calendar before you buy your tickets!

Once you buy your ticket you can then go to DisneyWorld.com/DisneyParkPass and make your reservations. Be sure to note that reservations are limited and subject to availability. Disney also states:

Disney shares on the Disney Parks Blog: “Though the experience may be different than the last time you visited, there is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.“

Disney Parks Blog also shares some information if you are planning a trip this year. This is what they recommend:

“checking out our “Know Before You Go” page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you’ll find tips and information like how to make park reservations after purchasing your tickets.We realize that everyone’s situation is unique, so if you have specific questions about your plans, you may call the Disney Reservation Center, submit questions to the Disney Parks Moms Panel or speak with your travel provider for more details. We hope to see you real soon!“

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #192-Wonderful WDW Video from Jeff Vahle - July 8, 2020

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View this content on Instagram

 

[RaySharpton]

......

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #194 & 195-Socially-Distanced Dining at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Newly and food photos in the Reopened Magic Kingdom PHOTOS - July 7, 2020

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #194 & 195-Socially-Distanced Dining at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Newly and food photos in the Reopened Magic Kingdom PHOTOS -July 7, 2020















UPDATE AUGUST 4, 2020:

The Diamond Horseshoe Converts Into Overflow Seating for Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom

The Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom has remained closed since the park reopened, while its neighbor, Liberty Tree Tavern, continues operating. In order to create more social distancing, Disney has converted The Diamond Horseshoe into overflow seating for Liberty Tree Tavern.

The check-in counter is protected by a Plexiglass window for when the restaurant does eventually open.

.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #196 Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Reopens in the Magic Kingdom with Blocked-Off Seating and Updated Health & Safety Measures PHOTOS - July 8, 2020











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[RaySharpton]

Post #197 & 198-Peter Pan’s Flight Takes to the Sky With a Socially Distanced Queue PHOTOS at the Magic Kingdom PHOTOS - July 8, 2020.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #197 & 198-Peter Pan’s Flight Takes to the Sky With a Socially Distanced Queue PHOTOS at the Magic Kingdom PHOTOS - July 8, 2020.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #199 Space Mountain Relaunches With Queue Dividers & Social Distancing Marker PHOTOS at the Magic Kingdom PHOTOS - July 8, 2020

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #200-Prince Charming Regal Carousel Reopens in the Magic Kingdom with Numbered Sections and New Protocols for Social Distancing PHOTOS - July 8, 2020