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

[RaySharpton]

Post #379 & #380 & #381-What social distancing measures are in place at Walt Disney World on attractions and in queues? - PHOTOS - kennythepirate Jamie Fonseca - August 5, 2020.

For the most part, social distancing on rides did not impact our overall experience on them.

If anything, loading fewer Guests onto rides only increased wait times, but since crowds are low, we didn’t feel that impact for most rides.

Partitions on Rides

Some rides, such as Kilimanjaro Safari and Living With the Land, utilize partitions on the ride to separate Guests from each other.

These on ride partitions have largely been met with displeasure by Guests, as the views through these partitions is cloudy and skewed, and definitely impacts the ride experience.

Social Distancing at Disney World: Shows

While many shows are not currently open, there are several that are. Disney worked hard to implement social distancing on any shows that Guests can still attend.

In most shows, we saw every other row being blocked off to Guests.

We also noticed that chairs were grouped together in parties of four. If your party is larger than four, you were required to break off into more than one group.

Groups of four were mostly separated from each other with actual seats being blocked off.

Again, this feels like a welcome change that I hope is here to stay. Not only did I feel safer having separation from other Guests while viewing shows, I also felt more comfortable not having to sit closely with strangers.

Transportation

If you’re wondering how the different Walt Disney World modes of transportation are impacted by these new measures, we have several guides to help you.

For information on new procedures for Disney’s Magical Express, check out this guide HERE. For new bus guidelines, head over HERE. We also have an update on what role social distancing plays on the other modes of transportation over HERE.

 

[mamabunny]

Regarding the use of the partitions in the queues...

I can't help but wonder how safe is it actually to pass through what is now (essentially) a plexiglass canyon that would effectively trap any lingering virus, rather than just creating the 6 foot distancing up and down the queues, even if it meant you had to have some wonky spacing?

And, as someone who would be riding through there seated in a mobility device, I can already tell you I'm going to be claustrophobics, and probably on the verge of a meltdown by the time I get through there. I was uncomfortable just looking at those pictures!

Thanks, Ray - as always, you help keep us informed - and safe!

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, MB.

I haven't thought about that.

Regarding the use of the partitions in the queues...

I can't help but wonder how safe is it actually to pass through what is now (essentially) a plexiglass canyon that would effectively trap any lingering virus, rather than just creating the 6 foot distancing up and down the queues, even if it meant you had to have some wonky spacing?

And, as someone who would be riding through there seated in a mobility device, I can already tell you I'm going to be claustrophobics, and probably on the verge of a meltdown by the time I get through there. I was uncomfortable just looking at those pictures!

Thanks, Ray - as always, you help keep us informed - and safe!

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #384-Walt Disney World will be reducing its theme park hours - August 8, 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 Reopening Hours:

Magic Kingdom: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

EPCOT: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Disney Springs: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

and

Starting September 8, park hours will be cut at all four Walt Disney World parks through October on the WDW website.

Magic Kingdom: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Closing 1-hour early)

EPCOT: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Closing 2-hours early)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (Closing 1-hour early)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Opening 1-hour later and Closing 1-hour early)

Disney Springs remain unchanged, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

Analysts are forecasting a loss of $2 billion for the Parks division, compared to a profit of $1.7 billion last year. The losses are expected though, as the domestic Disney theme parks closed down in mid-March, and Walt Disney World reopened in mid-July. That means that zero guests entered the domestic Disney theme parks during the entire fiscal third quarter. by blogmickey



https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disneys-q3-fy20-earnings-results-webcast/

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #385-Disney World Dining Reservations Affected By the Reduced Park Hours? - PHOTOS - DFB Rachel Franko - August 8, 2020.

Dining locations around the parks and resorts have been following strict health and safety regulations with Mobile Dining Check-in, distanced seating, limited menus, and more. Still, some guests have had affected Advance Dining Reservations now that Disney World’s park hours have been shortened beginning September 8th.

As the parks continue their initial re-opening, Disney has stated that they would be making changes when they were necessary. One possible way we’ve seen this happen is through Disney announcing they’d be further reducing park hours starting in September.

On September 8th, Magic Kingdom will have its hours reduced from its previous hours of 9AM to 7PM to 9AM to 6PM, EPCOT will go from 11AM to 7PM instead of 11AM to 9PM, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be listed at 10AM to 7PM rather than 10AM to 8PM, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 9AM to 5PM opposed to its previous 8AM to 6PM hours.

Since the parks are operating with even more limited hours next month, certain guests’ dining reservations could be affected during this time. If guests had booked reservations during a time that the parks WERE open, but have since been reduced, they could be left with essentially a non-usable reservation. If a guest booked, for example, a 6:30PM dinner reservation in Magic Kingdom back when it was set to close at 7PM and the park NOW closes at 6PM…they aren’t going to be able to use that reservation!

According to a Disney Cast Member we spoke with, they will be reaching out individually to guests whose dining reservations are affected by these changes. However, Disney will possibly provide an auto-cancellation date for dining reservations, if Cast Members are unable to reach guests in time. At this time, they were unsure if or when that would happen.

If you happen to have a dining reservation that’s affected by the new park hours, Disney recommends that guests go online to modify them. However, if guests aren’t aware of the changes, Disney should take care of any affected reservations without action from the guest, but that could mean you’re out a reservation and will need to make alternate plans.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #386-One Month Later: The 6 BIGGEST Changes Disney World Has Made Since The Reopening. - PHOTOS - DFB Quincy Stanford - August 14, 2020.

Disney World has been open for almost a month now and it definitely feels…different.

It is a new normal — and we’re not the only ones still adjusting. Disney is having to contend with some complex and unexpected situations in and around the parks. Already, we’ve seen a few changes to how Disney World is handling its reopening; let’s take a look at a few of the BIGGEST!

1. Changes to the Face Mask Policy
First up, we’ve got the changes to the face mask policy in Disney World. Face masks have been a pretty hot topic and the first weeks of the reopening we saw a LOT of questions about what does and does NOT qualify as a face mask in the Disney parks. As Disney learned more from health officials as well as guest use in the first weeks of reopening, they made several BIG changes to their policy.

nitially, there was a lot of back-and-forth about whether gaiter-style masks were allowed in the parks. Originally, they were A-OK in Disney Springs, but once the parks reopened Disney finally updated their face mask policy to officially exclude gaiters. But that wasn’t the last policy update.

Disney also changed the wording on when mask removal was allowed to specify that masks can only be removed when guests are eating or drinking while stationary and socially distanced. After this change was made to the policy, Disney made significant efforts to communicate the update to guests in the parks through the use of added signage and even Cast Members walking around to remind guests to wear their face coverings.

Similarly, we saw new signs pop up in the parks to accompany the most recent face mask update when Disney officially banned the use of face masks with valves, holes, or mesh. As you can see, Disney has done a LOT of fine-tuning with the face mask policy, so if you’re headed to Disney World soon, make sure you read up on the most recent iteration.

2. Changes to the Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue
Another big change has been with the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even prior to opening we saw some changes as Disney initially announced that virtual queues would not be used for attractions upon reopening — before backtracking to say that Rise of the Resistance would use a modified version of its virtual queue.

The modified queue introduced three different windows during which guests could try to grab a Boarding Group at 10AM, 1PM, and 4PM (instead of all at once when the park opens). After reopening, the three windows were used for a while until Disney changed the times to only two: at 10AM and 2PM — which is the way the queue is run now. Riding Rise of the Resistance certainly isn’t the easiest thing in the world, so it’s important to keep up with these changes!

3. The Addition of More Disney Park Passes for Annual Passholders
A park ticket isn’t the only thing you’ll need to get into a Disney World park nowadays. You’ll need to secure a Disney Park Pass theme park reservation too! This new measure was put in place to help Disney control the number of people in the parks and they’ve had to make a few changes to the way availability works since the parks opened.

Disney Park Passes have been especially difficult to come by for Annual Passholders, and there have been several instances of Disney adding Annual Passholder availability within the system after parks were fully booked up for Passholders. Disney CEO Bob Chapek explained that this was due to a lower than expected proportion of out-of-state guests coming to the parks in opening weeks, meaning they could make the adjustment to welcome more Annual Passholders.

4. Changes to Hotel Opening Dates
Though several Disney World resort hotels have reopened with the parks, there are several that remain closed — including some that don’t have reopening dates at all! But even for those hotels that do have set reopening dates, things are not set in stone.

A few weeks ago, Disney made a pretty MAJOR change by delaying the reopening of four Disney World resort hotels. The reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was delayed two months to October 4th, the reopening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort was delayed three months to November 1st, and the reopenings of Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn were delayed indefinitely.

We’ve even seen some delays with the Swan and Dolphin Hotels too. That’s a LOT of changes!

5. Park Hours Changes
The most recent change on this list has to do with park hours! As of just a few days ago, Disney notified guests of an upcoming reduction in park hours for all four Disney World theme parks. Of course, park hours are always subject to change, and they do tend to shorten in the fall months; but now our Disney days are officially going to end even earlier.

Beginning September 8th, the theme park hours are 9AM to 6PM in Magic Kingdom (previously 9AM-7PM daily), 11AM to 7PM in EPCOT (previously 11AM-9PM), 10AM to 7PM in Hollywood Studios (previously 10AM-8PM), and 9AM to 5PM in Animal Kingdom (previously 8AM-6PM). All of the parks saw a reduction of one or two hours per day.

6. The Addition of Temperature Checks at Resort Hotel Restaurants
Last but certainly not least has been the addition of temperature checks at table-service restaurants in the Disney World resort hotels. When the resort hotels first opened back in June, we were surprised that temperature screenings were not in place for guests entering the hotels. It appears Disney wanted to add an extra layer of checks for guests dining in hotels.

Now, when you check in to a table service restaurant at the Disney World resorts, you need to pass a temperature screening with a temperature below 100.4 degrees. If your temperature is higher, you’ll be directed to a re-screening, just like at the parks and Disney Springs. This change definitely makes some sense to us considering guests have to go through temperature checks pretty much EVERYWHERE else accessible to the public in Disney World.

There you have it! Those are all of the biggest changes we’ve seen in Disney World since they reopened — and we might see a few more before things really settle.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #387-Disney Construction Update! We’re Getting VERY CLOSE to the Completion of the Grand Floridian Walkway in Disney World! - PHOTOS - DFB Carly Terzigni - August 14, 2020.

Over the past several months, we’ve been keeping our eye on the work being done to connect Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa with Magic Kingdom via a new walkway and pedestrian bridge!

The presumptive pedestrian bridge was installed last month, which makes this walkway look awfully close to being done!

The bridge continues on to a walkway which leads straight to Magic Kingdom! Once completed, all three of the Monorail resorts should be accessible to Magic Kingdom on foot.

On the other side of the bridge, we spotted a white tent which could potentially be some sort of security checkpoint or temperature screening location!

When we took a closer look at the tent, we saw that it was currently blocked off by a fence.

With Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa reopening to Guests on September 21, we might expect to see the walkway and pedestrian bridge being used to get to Magic Kingdom in the coming weeks! Since the Grand Floridian Villas have been open to Guests since June 22, it’s very possible we’ll see the walkway open even sooner!

Do keep in mind, Disney has not confirmed this as a pedestrian bridge.

Other photos:

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #388-Disney-New Social Distancing Markers Added to Entrance of the Magic Kingdom for Monorail Queue - PHOTOS - August 14, 2020.

While there have been social distancing markers for entering the Magic Kingdom since the park’s reopening, new markers have been added specifically for boarding the nearby monorail.

These circular markers are next to the entrance queue markers, so this area can double as a line for the park and a monorail line, depending on demand.

These new markers have an image of a monorail and an arrow pointing to where guests should move next.

The arrows direct guests through a switchback queue without any ropes or walls.

Closer to the monorail station, the circles separate from the park’s entrance markers and stand on their own.

The monorail line gets longest at night when guests are leaving, so that would be when these markers are most needed for social distancing.

 

[mamabunny]

Very clever to use the arrows within the distancing markers to create the queue lines!

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #390-bioreconstruct aerial photos - August 15, 2020.

Aerial look today at the soon to be completed pedestrian walkway between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian. There's a pivoting bridge at the center, and a fixed bridge at right.

bioreconstruct-An aerial look at the pivoting bridge in the pedestrian walkway between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian. Allows watercraft traffic (like Electrical Water Pageant at left) to pass. The Liberty Belle steamboat also passes through here for access to the Bay Lake service area.

Aerial view of the 2 bridges of the new walkway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom.

Along the shore in this aerial is the new walkway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. Distance between the turnstiles and an average room location seems to be equivalent to walking Space Mountain to Splash Mountain, then back to hub.

Aerial look at current construction at the Magic Kingdom entrance plaza. Including a new boat dock.

Two weeks earlier on August 5, 2020, then current state of a new dock at Magic Kingdom. This is also where the walking path to Grand Floridian begins.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #391-Disney Springs Now Playing COVID-19 Safety Message Around Entire Complex - PHOTOS - blogmickey mike - August 16, 2020

Disney Springs has begun to play the COVID-19 safety message that was previously only played at the parking garage entrances throughout the entire complex.

In an earlier piece about how Disney Springs was falling behind on safety when compared to the theme parks, one of the things we called on Disney to do was to play the safety reminder throughout the entirety of Disney Springs to remind guests of the safety measures in place at the outdoor shopping and dining complex. For whatever reason, the safety message would play on Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, but leadership at Disney Springs didn’t play it anywhere except for periodically at the parking garages.

While visiting Disney Springs last night, we were happy to see that Disney Springs is now playing the safety message throughout the entire complex, and not just at the parking garage entrances. This, in our opinion, is a step in the right direction for Disney Springs which has become a weak spot in Walt Disney World when compared to other venues like theme parks and hotels.

While walking around for a few hours last night, we noticed a slight improvement in proper mask usage when compared to late last month, but we still think Disney can do a much, much better job with staffing the social distancing “Incredi-crew” at Disney Springs. There are still quite a few guests “sipping and strolling” when that has been banned now for weeks. As the most consistently densely populated space on Walt Disney World property (at least on nights and weekends) Disney would be wise to pay a bit more attention to guest behavior at Disney Springs.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #392-Disney's Complete List of What Restaurants ARE and ARE NOT Open at Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks Right Now! - PHOTOS - foodblog Carolyn Menyes - August 16, 2020

There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it, planning a trip to Walt Disney World is a little bit confusing right now.

There are a LOT of changes, from what rides are open and how they’re operating to how many people are in the park. But one of the BIGGEST changes that affect how people maneuver the parks is trying to figure out which restaurants are open.

Sure, you can now make restaurant reservations at table service spots 60 days out, but if you want to wing it or wander into a quick service spot, you may be disappointed because one of your favs is closed!

To help you plan your snacks and meals, here’s a list of every restaurant and snack stand currently OPEN at the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Open Restaurants at Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Aloha Isle
• Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
• Be Our Guest Restaurant
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
• Liberty Square Market
• Liberty Tree Tavern
• Main Street Bakery
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
• Pinocchio Village Haus
• The Plaza Restaurant
• Sleepy Hollow
• Storybook Treats
• Sunshine Tree Terrace
• Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

EPCOT

• Biergarten Restaurant
• Choza de Margarita
• Coral Reef Restaurant
• Crepes des Chefs de France
• Fife & Drum Tavern
• Funnel Cake
• Garden Grill Restaurant
• Gelati
• Joy of Tea
• Kabuki Cafe
• Katsura Grill
• La Cantina de San Angel
• La Cava del Tequila
• La Hacienda de San Angel
• The Land Cart
• L’Artisan des Glaces
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
• Les Vins des Chefs de France
• Popcorn in Canada
• Refreshment Outpost
• Refreshment Port
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse
• Rose & Crown Dining Room and Pub
• San Angel Inn Restaurante
• Spice Road Table
• Sunshine Seasons
• Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
• Tutto Italia Ristorante
• UK Beer Cart
• Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• 50’s Prime Time Cafe
• Anaheim Produce
• Backlot Express
• BaseLine Tap House
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
• Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
• Milk Stand
• Oga’s Cantina
• PizzeRizzo
• Ronto Roasters
• Rosie’s All-American Cafe
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• The Trolley Car Cafe

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
• Creature Comforts
• Dino-Bite Snacks
• Flame Tree Barbecue
• Harambe Fruit Market
• Isle of Java
• Nomad Lounge
• Pongu Pongu
• Rainforest Cafe
• Restaurantosaurus
• Satu’li Canteen
• Tamu Tamu Refreshments
• Thirst River Bar & Trek Snacks
• Tiffins Restaurant
• Trilo-Bites
• Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
• Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages
• Yak & Yeti Restaurant

It’s also important to know what restaurants are currently NOT open at Disney World’s theme parks. Here are the spots that are temporarily unavailable.

Temporarily Unavailable Restaurants at Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Casey’s Corner
• Cheshire Cafe
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Columbia Harbour House
• Cool Ship
• The Crystal Palace
• The Diamond Horseshoe
• The Friar’s Nook
• Gaston’s Tavern
• Golden Oak Outpost
• The Lunching Pad
• Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
• Prince Eric’s Village Market
• Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
• Tortuga Tavern
• Westward Ho

EPCOT

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Block & Hans
• Chefs de France
• Cool Wash
• Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
• Lotus Blossom Cafe
• Monsieur Paul
• Nine Dragons Restaurant
• Restaurant Marrakesh
• Sommerfest
• Takumi-Tei
• Tangerine Cafe
• Teppan Edo
• Tokyo Dining
• Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• ABC Commissary
• Catalina Eddie’s
• Dockside Diner
• Epic Eats
• Fairfax Fare
• Hollywood Scoops
• Hollywood & Vine
• Kat Saka’s Kettle
• KRNR The Rock Station
• Market
• Neighborhood Bakery
• Tune-In Lounge
• Woody’s Lunch Box

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Caravan Road
• Dawa Bar
• Dino Diner
• Drinkwallah
• Eight Spoon Cafe
• Harambe Market
• Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
• Mahindi
• Pizzafari
• Restaurantosaurus Burgers & Sundaes
• The Smiling Crocodile
• Terra Treats
• Tusker House Restaurant
• Warung Outpost

t’s important to note that all of these restaurants are operating with limited capacity and that they can reopen or suddenly close at any time.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #393-Florida Tourism Drops Over 60% in Second Quarter, 90% Drop in International Travel - blogmickey Mike - August 17, 2020

A new report from Visit Florida attempts to put a number on the impact that the tourism industry took during the second quarter of 2020. The report covers the months of April, May, and June – a time period in which the Walt Disney World theme parks were completely shut down. As you may know, Disney closed its theme parks in mid-March and didn’t reopen until July 11th.

The report says that the tourism industry saw a 60.5% drop in visitation, with international travel down more than 90% as quarantines and travel bans discouraged travel. Most tourism came from other states, according to the report. Visit Florida noted that the data was preliminary and subject to change.

Please note that due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on data used to produce visitor estimates, the numbers provided … are likely to face larger-than-normal revisions as new data become available. by Visit Florida

While the time period covered does not include the Disney World reopening, Disney has seen a slow return by guests, with Disney CEO Bob Chapek noting that the demand has been lower than Disney predicted.

As a result of lower than expected demand, and a naturally slower fall season ahead, Disney is shortening theme park hours beginning September 8th.

In the month of September, Disney World theme parks will see a 28% reduction in operating hours when compared to the same time period in 2019. Disney has implemented a theme park reservation system that has made it difficult for its most loyal guests to visit.

Disney has also taken the unprecedented step of canceling Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as many elements of the party such as parades, stage shows, and fireworks aren’t able to operate with physical distancing in place.

Post #393-Visit Florida: Major Decline in Travel for Second Quarter of 2020 -kennythepirate Rebecca Davis - August 17, 2020

Recent research from Visit Florida indicates that out of state and international visitors decreased substantially during the second quarter of 2020. Read on for details.

New research from Visit Florida shows just how grim the second quarter was for the state.

Overall, Florida saw around 12.8 million visitors Between April and June 2020. This number is a 60.5% decrease over Q2 2019, where Florida welcomed over 35 million visitors.

These findings are in line with the bleak financial quarters experienced by both Universal Orlando Resort and the Walt Disney Company’s Parks, Resorts and Products division.

Overseas, international visitors totaled under a quarter of a million at 235,000. This represents a substantial decrease (-91.1%) over Q2 2019. In the second quarter of 2019, Florida saw over 2.6 million visitors from overseas.

Throughout most of the second quarter, international travel to the United States was restricted, so these numbers are not surprising.

Visitation from Canada to the Sunshine State fell 99.1% to a paltry 8,000 visitors in Q2 2020, compared to around 1 million in Q2 2019.

Passenger Plane Decreases
Passenger plane boardings at the 19 Florida airports fell by 87.7% in the second quarter.

Orlando International Airport had the greatest number of enplanements of all Florida Airports at 699,824. This number represents an 89.3% decrease for MCO.

The preliminary air/non-air split for “domestic, non-resident” visitors to Florida during this period was 8.7% to 91.3%. Only 8.7% of visitors from other US states to Florida flew in by airplane.

Hotel Occupancy
According to the Visit Florida research, hotel occupancy in Florida fell sharply in April before making a modest recovery in May and June.

Overall, the number of hotel rooms sold in Florida was down 63.8% in the second quarter of 2020 when compared to the same period last year.

Overall Outlook
Both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World obviously saw drastically fewer visitors during this period. Disney World was closed for the entirety of the three months and Universal Orlando was open for a mere 2 weeks of the second quarter.

Florida as a whole saw a dramatic decline in visitors, particularly those from overseas and Canada, but also from those travelling domestically.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #394-The 8 Most Confusing Things In Disney World Since It Reopened -foodblog Quincy Stanford - August 18, 2020

A LOT is different in Disney World and it can be hard to keep track of all of the changes.

Now, MOST of the changes make sense. We totally get the mask mandate, temperature checks, and social distancing. But we’ll be honest, there are some things (or lack thereof) that are just downright confusing for us! Let’s take a look at some of the bigger head-scratchers we’ve experienced in a reopened Disney World!

There are temperature checks EVERYWHERE — but not when you check in to the resorts?

Perhaps our biggest surprise when we first got back to the resorts on their opening day was that there were NO temperature checks when you get to a resort hotel. This definitely strikes us as a little strange considering there are temperature checks EVERYWHERE else — in Disney Springs and in the parks, and even at the table-service restaurants IN the resorts. But there are no temperature checks when you first get to the resorts.

Temperature Screening at Disney Springs
Does this mean that theoretically, a guest could fail the temperature check at Magic Kingdom and head back to the resort to hang out in common areas? Yep, it kinda does! Still, Disney did add an extra precaution with the introduction of those mandatory temperature checks at resort table service restaurants. Still, not having the checks required to enter a hotel at all when they do everywhere else does have us a little bit confused.

Things seem laser-focused on health and safety, but some high touch points seem neglected.

Temperature checks aren’t the only measure that seems to have gray areas. For instance, Disney seems laser-focused on safety and sanitation, but there are some high touch points that seem to be treated just like they’ve always been pre-closure. If you’re nervous about germy surfaces, bring your own hand sanitizer and wipes!

We’ve noticed that there is no cleaning between each guest on interactive rides like Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin or Toy Story Midway Mania, and the Skyliner is only being cleaned ONCE A DAY. Plus, water fountains are still in use, which seems especially eye-raising to us since guests aren’t even allowed to use the self-serve soda stations in most dining locations.

We love the Character Cavalcades, but sometimes they’re head-scratchers.

This one is kind of silly but has definitely left us confused. We absolutely ADORE the new Character Cavalcades, in fact, we love them way more than we thought we would! But there are some character cavalcades that don’t make a ton of sense. We just want to know the thought process behind some of these choices!

For one, the Frozen Promenade in EPCOT features Anna and Elsa taking a spin around the World Showcase. Here’s the thing though, Anna is riding along in a glorious horse-drawn carriage while Elsa…walks? HOLDING her train bunched up in her arm…? Were there no extra white horses to stick her on? Elsa on horseback would be CRAZY cool. We’re not sure this is what she had in mind when she did the whole “Into the Unknown” thing.

Then there’s the Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade. On the surface level, it sounds great. All our Fantasyland pals together at once? Awesome! But in practice it really is just random Disney characters all tossed together on a float. Mary Poppins, Alice, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and Aladdin? Not the combo we necessarily would have picked.

Magic Kingdom Character Cavalcade
And not even all Fantasyland characters! We’re pretty sure Aladdin sets up shop in Adventureland last we checked. Should there be an asterisk next to the name with tiny print at the bottom saying “Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade…oh yeah, and Aladdin. He didn’t have a lot going on today.”

Why won’t Disney show characters wearing face masks?

Speaking of characters, several guests think it’s strange that Disney won’t show their characters wearing face masks. We asked our readers about their thoughts on this, and the results were nearly 50-50 for and against.

Some guests think it makes absolutely no sense for face characters to wear masks. It could possibly ruin the story of that character to see them masked up. But for other guests, there is definitely a case to be made for some characters (princesses, for instance) wearing face masks in a way that won’t disrupt their story.

The biggest benefit of doing this would be that it could give parents a way of showing little kids that face masks are a-ok. Right now, this is giving kids an excuse to say, “But MERIDA isn’t wearing one!

How can some park areas feel so well thought out, safety-wise, and others feel like a free-for-all?

Another thing that’s really got us at a loss is the way that some park areas feel perfectly planned out while others? Not so much. Think about lines for attractions and some quick-service venues with carefully-placed social distancing and directional stickers. Now, think about seeing NONE of that in super-popular (and super bottleneck-y) areas like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Doesn’t make a ton of sense, does it?

Frankly, Galaxy’s Edge has felt like a bit of a hot mess in general. When that area gets crowded, you won’t typically find us hanging out near the Millennium Falcon for a selfie! We definitely think the space could use more directional markers, better ways to promote spacing, or maybe even some sort of limited capacity.

Disney has been very hot and cold about resort hopping.

Listen, we’re REALLY confused about the deal with resort hopping. Disney’s official line is that to even get INTO a Disney World hotel right now, guests will need a confirmed room reservation, or a confirmed dining reservation if you’re a day guest not staying overnight. But in practice, we’ve found that resort hopping is a little less clear.

So far, we’ve had no issue heading into the monorail loop resorts — Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort — as long as we have that dining reservation OR we order something through Mobile Order from a quick-service spot on site. Basically, food has been our golden ticket in.

But we have been turned away from other resorts for arriving too early for a reservation. At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, we were asked to sit in our car until it was time to go in and eat, and we were scolded at the Beach Club for arriving early as well. Next time we went back to the same hotel, we were allowed to enter with no issue! It really seems very dependent on the Cast Member you encounter when trying to enter. We’re glad you can still (sort of!) resort hop, but we do wish this policy was a little bit clearer.

There are gaps in the monorail dividers.

Currently, monorail cabins are split into two separate spaces by a barrier in the middle of the car, but that barrier does not seal against the walls or seats. The result of this is pretty significant gaps where air can get through, including RIGHT near your head when you’re seated on the bench. If the gaps are there to make sure the cabin has airflow, doesn’t that defeat the whole point?

What’s keeping menus so limited?

And finally, what’s keeping some of our favorite items off of the menu? We’ve been pretty devastated whenever we see a favorite is unavailable at a dining spot (We’re looking at you California Grill Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli!).

We’ve heard from chefs and Cast Members that some missing items will be returning soon, but why aren’t they back yet? We know a lot of this has to do with supply chain issues, available Cast Members, the ability to safely space Cast Members in prep areas, and costs vs. guest demand, but we DO wish that we knew with a bit more certainty when these missing items will return — or if some are gone for good.

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #395-Disney's Polynesian Resort Monorail Service to Be Suspended at the Beginning of October 2020 -blogmickey Mike - August 31, 2020

As part of the ongoing work that will result in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort remaining closed until Summer 2021, monorail service will also be interrupted beginning in early October.

Disney will be retheming the Polynesian Village rooms to a Moana-inspired theme in the coming months, as well as refurbishing the Great Ceremonial House. As a result, Monorail service will be suspended beginning in “early October 2020”, but no exact date has been identified yet.

Here are the updated transportation options:

Bus transportation is available from this Disney Resort hotel to EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Disney Springs area; bus transportation will be available to Magic Kingdom park beginning in early October 2020.

Water taxis are not available from this Disney Resort hotel to Magic Kingdom park.

Monorail transportation is available between the Great Ceremonial House and Magic Kingdom park until early October 2020; the walkway to the Transportation and Ticket Center will remain open, where Guests may access the monorail and ferry boats to Magic Kingdom park

Monorail transportation is not available for EPCOT

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Note: Due to Resort refurbishments, transportation offerings will be modified beginning in early October 2020. See details below.

The following offerings and experiences are currently available at this Disney Resort hotel. Hours of operation will be provided during your stay.

Dining

• Kona Cafe
• Capt. Cook's
• Pineapple Lanai
• Barefoot Pool Bar
• Tambu Lounge

Shops

• Moana Mercantile
• Bou-tiki

Activities

• Pools
• Poolside Activities
• Oasis Patio Rentals
• Movies Under the Stars
• Fishing Excursions

Transportation

• Bus transportation is available from this Disney Resort hotel to EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Disney Springs area; bus transportation will be available to Magic Kingdom park beginning in early October 2020
• Water taxis are not available from this Disney Resort hotel to Magic Kingdom park
• Monorail transportation is available between the Great Ceremonial House and Magic Kingdom park until early October 2020—see details below; the walkway to the Transportation and Ticket Center will remain open, where Guests may access the monorail and ferry boats to Magic Kingdom park
• Monorail transportation is not available for EPCOT

Resort Refurbishment
Due to upcoming refurbishment work at the Great Ceremonial House, monorail service to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be temporarily suspended beginning in early October 2020.

Many Disney World resort hotels are open or have reopening dates set, some are partially open to DVC members, and some do not have a reopening timeframe at all. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, for instance, has availability at the DVC Villas and Bungalows right now but wasn’t set to fully open until next October. Now, that reopening has been delayed.

New details have surfaced regarding the extended closure and refurbishment of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World, including a resort-wide retheme to the popular animated film, Moana.

New details have surfaced regarding the extended closure and refurbishment of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World, including a resort-wide retheme to the popular animated film, Moana.

A Disney World spokeswoman on Monday said changes to the rooms will include a move to a Pacific Ocean-inspired color palette as well as details, patterns and textures from Disney’s “Moana,” an animated film that takes place partly on the Polynesian island of Motunui.

Moana-themed carpet was installed earlier this year at ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. In this segment, you can see Maui in the upper left quadrant, and the Heart of Te Fiti in the lower right.

Disney says it will take the time to make refurbishments in the resort’s Great Ceremonial House as well as guest rooms. - ORLANDO SENTINEL

 

[mamabunny]

:::sigh::: Poly was *fine* as it was. Yes, it needed a refresh, but I have always thought it was perfect as it was.

But what do *I* know? I'm still mourning the loss of the "old" original lobby years ago...

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #397-Disney World’s Overhead Face Mask Announcement Has Been Updated AGAIN! - PHOTOS - foodblog Carly Terzigni - September 3, 2020.

While strolling through Magic Kingdom today, we heard an overhead announcement about the new safety policies like we’ve grown used to in the reopened parks…but this time it was a little different.

Today, we heard a new voice with a British accent delivering the usual safety guidelines that have become customary in these announcements, but this time, there was yet ANOTHER update!

The last time the overhead announcements were updated, verbiage was added regarding the mask removal policy when it comes to eating and drinking.

NOW, the announcement also reminds guests of Disney’s policy while taking photos.

Disney World’s Overhead Face Mask Announcement Has Been Updated AGAIN!
By Carly Terzigni 24 Comments

While strolling through Magic Kingdom today, we heard an overhead announcement about the new safety policies like we’ve grown used to in the reopened parks…but this time it was a little different.

Main Street U.S.A.
Today, we heard a new voice with a British accent delivering the usual safety guidelines that have become customary in these announcements, but this time, there was yet ANOTHER update!

The last time the overhead announcements were updated, verbiage was added regarding the mask removal policy when it comes to eating and drinking. NOW, the announcement also reminds guests of Disney’s policy while taking photos.

Updated face mask policy at Disney World
Currently, the ONLY times when a guest may remove their mask is when they are located in a Relaxation Station, or when they are in a stationary location while eating or drinking.

That means guests CANNOT remove their masks while taking photographs. Yes, your annual family photo in front of the castle this year will include the stylish face masks that you picked out for your vacation!

Disney World’s Overhead Face Mask Announcement Has Been Updated AGAIN!
By Carly Terzigni 24 Comments

While strolling through Magic Kingdom today, we heard an overhead announcement about the new safety policies like we’ve grown used to in the reopened parks…but this time it was a little different.

Main Street U.S.A.
Today, we heard a new voice with a British accent delivering the usual safety guidelines that have become customary in these announcements, but this time, there was yet ANOTHER update!

The last time the overhead announcements were updated, verbiage was added regarding the mask removal policy when it comes to eating and drinking. NOW, the announcement also reminds guests of Disney’s policy while taking photos.

Updated face mask policy at Disney World
Currently, the ONLY times when a guest may remove their mask is when they are located in a Relaxation Station, or when they are in a stationary location while eating or drinking. That means guests CANNOT remove their masks while taking photographs. Yes, your annual family photo in front of the castle this year will include the stylish face masks that you picked out for your vacation!

Magic Kingdom
The new overhead announcement we heard today reiterated the fact that guests must keep their face masks on while taking photos. We’ll continue to monitor the guidelines and associated announcements, and we’ll keep you in the loop about any further updates!

From @OCFLMayor: Circuit Court Judge Lisa Munyon has rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of our Orange County Executive Order requiring residents to wear face masks in public. The ruling means the mask mandate is legal. (1 of 3) pic.twitter.com/bSRQlIm8Si
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) September 3, 2020

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #398-What Dining Locations Are Still Closed at Disney World Theme Parks as of today? (September 4, 2020) - blogmickey Mike - September 4, 2020.

As Disney World continues its phased reopening of the theme parks and resorts, we wanted to put together a list of dining locations that are still closed in the theme parks (Updated September 4th).

Magic Kingdom

Casey’s Corner
Cheshire Café
Cinderella’s Royal Table (reopening September 24)
Columbia Harbor House
Cool Ship
The Crystal Palace
The Diamond Horseshoe
The Friar’s Nook
Golden Oak Outpost
The Lunching Pad
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Prince Eric’s Village Market
Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
Tortuga Tavern

EPCOT

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Block & Hans
Chefs de France
Cool Wash
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
Lotus Blossom Café
Monsieur Paul
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Restaurant Marrakesh
Sommerfest
Space 220 (coming soon)
Takumi-Tei
Tangierine Café
Tokyo Dining
Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary (reopening October 8)
Catalina Eddie’s
Dockside Diner
Epic Eats
Fairfax Fare
Hollywood & Vine (seasonal dining begins September 25)
Hollywood Scoops
Kat Saka’s Kettle
KRNR The Rock Station
Market
Neighborhood Bakery
Tune-In Lounge
Woody’s Lunch Box

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Caravan Road
Dino Diner
Drinkwallah
Dawa Bar
Eight Spoon Café
Harambe Market
Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
Mahindi
Pizzafari
The Smiling Crocodile
Terra Treats
Tusker House Restaurant
Warung Outpost

 

[RaySharpton]

Post #399-What Disney World Theme Parks long queues look like in expectation of busy Labor Day weekend as of today? - VIDEOS - blogmickey Mike - September 5, 2020.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is posted at 35 minutes with plenty of physically distanced queue space to go.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1302231757954199554

Disney World is planning on big crowds for Labor Day Weekend! Here's a look at the extended, extended queue route for Space Mountain!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1302228687316750336

A long line for Sleepy Hollow at the Magic Kingdom!

A posted 30-minute wait for Pirates of the Caribbean utilizes the extended queue to promote physical distancing

Here's a look at Main Street USA an hour after opening on a sold-out Labor Day Weekend

https://twitter.com/x/status/1302246169897250817

The queue for The Haunted Mansion has extended past the end of where Disney placed physical distancing stickers as it snakes back toward the Liberty Square Riverboat

Lines are starting to build in Tomorrowland. This posted 30 minute wait for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin utilizes the entire extended queue for Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and more expanded queue space

.

Here's a look at Main Street USA an hour after opening on a sold out Labor Day Weekend

https://twitter.com/x/status/1302246169897250817

 

[mamabunny]

I'm glad they planned ahead for the holiday weekend; just hoping they continue to keep crowds low, and enforce spacing and masks vigilantly.