I just returned back from 1 week at Walt Disney World. I had the pleasure of being there as it opened back up on 7/11/2020. If you’ve been following Disney throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, you know that going forward, things will not look the same. No matter when you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation, planning is always involved, but as things are right now, the planning looks different.
Education is key to a successful Walt Disney World vacation. I am committed to educating you on how to plan the perfect trip .
Here’s a look at my plans while I was there so you can have a good idea of how I experienced the Walt Disney World Resort. The main purpose of our trip was research. I do feel I was able to get a good feel for Disney during this week. While things are different, I honestly feel like it was for the better. Between the removal of Fastpass Reservations, and a more relaxed dining schedule as well as the absence of scheduled shows and characters, I felt like I was visiting Disney back in the 90’s, when I loved it the most.
- Dates-7/11/2020-7/17/2020
- Resort- Bay Lake Tower-One Bedroom Villa
- Parks- 2 Days at Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
- Travel Party-2 Adults and 2 Children Ages 15 and 12
- Transportation-Flew from Chicago on American Airlines
- We used Magical Express to get to and from the airport.
- While on property we used: Lyft, Disney Bus, Monorail, Skyliner and the Walkway from Bay Lake to Magic Kingdom.
My family was super relaxed, well-rested and felt like we go in everything we wanted to. Of course, the crowds we extremely low. Should you travel to Walt Disney World in 2020? That really depends on what you value. I would love to schedule a chat with you to see if you are a fit to visit Walt Disney World soon.
T
Back in 2011 Jenn Heart (forever in our hearts) one of our original Guru created our 4-step process to planning the perfect Walt Disney World vacation, we called is TADA. We were among the first to have this method and it has stood the test of time in creating magical vacations for our clients for years to come. While our process will have to be slightly modified, I am proud to say that our method is still pretty relevant as of today. Here’s a quick refresher:
T = Timing
A = Accommodations
D = Dining
A = Attractions
While timing has always been important, now it is is even more important. Disney has implemented the brand new Disney Park Pass System This new system requires you to make park reservations ASAP.
- Reservations are limited and subject to availability and are not guaranteed until a reservation is finalized.
- At this time, Guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations.
- A park reservation must be made for each day of entry. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.
- We highly recommend that you make your park reservation as soon as you complete your ticket purchase, as availability can change until the reservation is finalized.
Walt Disney World is still not quite fully operational which means they are operating at a reduced capacity which also includes, resorts. Not all of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are opened as of yet. Given the current situation, there are some Disney Resort hotels and other areas that are not, as of this time, being scheduled for reopening yet. This situation is very fluid so we recommend you visit the, link below which is our link to a live site which will continually update as Disney updates their resort openings.
So many factors are involved in picking the right Disney Resort for your family, budget, space, amenities. The main focus will be to stay at a Disney owned and operated resort. I’ve always been a firm believer that this is the only way to truly enjoy the magic, however, given the current situation, I believe this even more. Staying within the Disney bubble will afford you the opportunity to take advantage Disney’s world class service and attention to guest satisfaction, the proximity to be able to relax, and of course the well-known ability to stay safe as safety is something that Disney is very well-known for.
In pure Disney fashion, they’ve done an outstanding job of creating a safe space for you and your family to enjoy the world class dining available on property. Here’s what we experienced and what you need to know:
- You need to make dining reservations.
- Dining used to be made 180-days before travel however, now, you make them 60-days before travel.
- The Disney Dining Plans are temporarily unavailable.
- Dining check in is done differently than before.
Before you dine at Walt Disney World Resort, please be aware that you’ll need:
- Face coverings for each Guest age 2 and up, which must be worn in all public areas—including while entering and exiting dining locations—and can be removed while eating or drinking
- Dining reservations are highly recommended—and are required in some locations
Also, it’s highly recommended to have:
- The latest version of the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device, with location services enabled
- Cashless or contactless forms of payment
Did you know? All 4 Disney Parks are now open!!! Disney is commited to keeping your family and their Cast Members safe. Therefore, they’ve made some important updates based on guidance from health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appropriate government agencies.
Though it may be different from the last time you visited, these new measures are designed to offer a magical Disney experience in a responsible way.
Our Experience
- Crowds at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom were severely lowers than any other time we’ve ever visited. This allowed us to ride our favorite attractions multiple times in a row. It was truly magical!
- Crowds at Hollywood Studios and Epcot were a bit more than we had expected. With Hollywood Studios being a much smaller park and offering some of the hottest brand new attractions, I feel that Disney may need to reduce their capacity limits even further.
- Disney offers hand sanitizer both at the front and end of the queue.
- Be prepared to take part in temperature checks upon arrival to each park. If anyone in your travel party has a fever, everyone will be denied entry to the park.
- While parades, shows and character meet and greets have been paused, we found the frequent floats and character cavalcades extra magical!
- We truly enjoyed not being so scheduled and as park touring experts, we found our plans to allow us to maximize our time at the parks.
You have
As of today, this is correct. However, as you would expect from Disney, they’ve found very creative ways for you to interact with your favorite characters. Unfortunately, we do not have a timeline of when things will go back to the way you’ve become accustomed to it. What I can tell you is we truly enjoyed the popup character parades, scattered characters around every corner and the ability to just walk up and snap a picture. We have been provided with some truly unique ways to interact with characters and we found it charming.
Airline check in has been temporarily paused. In addition, Guests who choose to use Disney’s Magical Express service will be responsible for picking up any of their checked luggage from the airport’s baggage claim area, so that it can be loaded onto the motorcoach to their Disney Resort hotel. Please know that your luggage will travel with you to your Disney Resort hotel.
Upon your departure, please ensure your luggage is with you and is loaded onto the motorcoach, so you can check it in with your airline once you reach the airport. The resort airline check-in service will not be offered at this time.
You can still use your Magic Bands. It is important to know that as of 1/1/2021 Disney will no longer send you a complementary Magic Band with your booking. You will have the option to purchase a discounted band through your My Disney Experience account online, use a Key to the World Card upon check in, or use your phone as your room key. In addition, you may use an old magic band you have from a previous trip.
As to your phone, it is very important you have a full charged phone and battery back up as you will need your phone quite a bit for your Disney vacation.
As of right now, Disney is not offering a timeline of when these special experiences will be available. Due to the health and safety issues surrounding large groups, it is not possible for Disney to offer parades and fireworks. We will continue to keep you updated on any changes.
I am extremely impressed at the way Disney has been handling the queues for attractions. There are several things happening here:
- Disney cleans all high-touch points every 2 hours. However, I do feel it is our responsibility as a guest to bring what you need with you to maintain your own personal hygiene. For example, wipes, clean masks, sanitizer.
- Disney is offering sanitizing stations both at the front and end of the attraction.
- Disney has put a lot of effort into their distancing in queues. You will see walls and lines everywhere! We found guests were wonderfully following the lines and guidance from Disney. Cast Members are always available to guide guests to distance.
Disney is still offering the refillable popcorn in your previously purchased bucket. We did notice that they were not currently selling new buckets when we were there.
I felt very safe at Walt Disney World! I loved the level of crowds, I honestly feel that Disney knows what they were doing when they decided to reduce capacity. Not only did I feel safe, but my family had some much needed fun.
I was not as fond of the Disney Springs experience. I did feel that anything Disney owned was handled well but it did feel a bit more crowded than I would have preferred. I would probably skip going there for a bit going forward.
We learned a ton while visiting Walt Disney World for an entire week! Learn from us and don’t forget, we would love to work with you on your upcoming Walt Disney World Vacation!!!
- You need a full battery on your phone. From virtual queues to mobile check in for dining, you need to have a phone with a full battery. Bring an extra charger if needed.
- Masks are really not too bad! My husband who despises the heat, says wearing a mask would not detour him from coming again real soon.
- The magic is in full swing at Walt Disney World. While your experience may be different, it is wonderful! I have not had this much of a relaxed vacation at Disney in a long time. What a breath of fresh air.
- Hollywood Studios feels very normal when it comes to crowds. Be ready to wait in lines, join virtual queues, and stay hydrated!
- Speaking of staying hydrated, I loved having Liquid IV in hand to add to my water bottles. Do not visit Walt Disney World without a hydration plan.
- I prefer using Lyft for transportation on Disney property. If you decide to take Disney transportation, know in advance, they can only take 25 people on each bus or 6 groups. You will want to make a queue when you arrive at the bus stop.
- Parks are allowing people in about 45 minutes to an hour before posted opening. In some cases you can begin riding on attractions while in some cases, it will mean to queue up.
- Work with an expert! We know many of you know a lot about traveling to Disney but now is the time to ask us for help. We want to work with you and help you get the most from your experience. Allow us to shower you with extra magic!