Full Park Pass Availability Replenished Once Again for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders Through August 28

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Another day, another change in the Disney Park Pass Availability calendar. However, this seems to be another rare instance of good news, as Disney has quietly added availability at all four parks for Annual Passholders in August—yes, again.

To check for the most current and up-to-date Disney Park Pass availability, you can take a look at the calendar here. As a reminder, Annual Passholders are limited to three rolling Park Pass reservations at a time, in addition to any acquired via a Disney Resort hotel stay.

August – Disney Park Passes for Annual Passholders

We now see most of the month replenished with full availability for Annual Passholders starting tomorrow, August 22, through Friday, August 28. These dates include Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Once we get to the weekend, however, it’s fully booked up, and only EPCOT is available on August 31.

As a reminder, Magic Kingdom is now fully booked for Annual Passholders on Halloween, and Labor Day weekend is also fully booked across the board for Theme Park Ticket guests, guests with room reservations, and Annual Passholders.

Cast Members Patrolling Cinderella Castle Area Now Equipped with Signage Reminding Guests to Keep Masks on for Photos

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Face masks are the new norm at theme parks, and even the Most Magical Place on Earth is no exception to the rule, with guests required to keep their face masks on throughout their time in the Magic Kingdom—even for photographs. Earlier in the week, a new audio reminder informing guests that face masks must be worn during photos was heard. Now, Cast Members patrolling Cinderella Castle have been equipped with signage reminding guests to keep masks on for photos.

The sign is outlined in the familiar forest green being used on Health & Safety signage throughout the parks. It reads, “Wear a Face Covering While Taking Photos” with the icon of a camera and a person wearing a mask. Cast patrolling the castle hub area remind guests to adhere to the face mask requirements at all times, unless actively eating or drinking while stationary. Keeping face masks on for photographs, be it ones you take yourself or through a PhotoPass photographer, has been an established rule since the reopening of the parks.

You can hear the new face mask audio reminder in the video below:

This is one of the more recent efforts by Walt Disney World to ensure health and safety guidelines are being met throughout the parks. Other recent changes to the Magic Kingdom include new physical distancing barriers in the queue for “it’s a small world” and even preliminary distancing markers along the sidewalk of Main Street, U.S.A. for current cavalcades and eventually, parades.

Walt Disney World Adds Park Hours Through November 7

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

With park calendars previously only populated through October 31, park hours have now been added through November 7. These park hours are the same reduced hours we’ll see go into effect starting in September:

  • Magic Kingdom: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • EPCOT: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Hours from November 8 onward have yet to be added to the calendar:

Back in June, Disney Parks made the following announcement regarding the fate of popular holiday events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays:

We are monitoring our new environment closely, and will make a decision on these events as we continue to learn more from government and health officials. As always, our goal is to explore every option and look at ways in which we can still host events and festivals full of Disney magic, while still operating responsibly with the health and safety of our guests and cast members in mind.

If Disney follows a similar pattern as to what it did with the reopening events, they may decide to cancel Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, while keeping the Festival of the Holidays, albeit with a socially-distanced Candlelight Processional, or no Processional at all, given reduced operating hours. 

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa Cancels Reservations Through September

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

With a reopening date still yet to be announced, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa has cancelled reservations through the month of September.

Disney sent this message to guests, noting that their room reservation cancellation penalties would be waived for those affected.

Aulani Resort remains closed and a reopening date has not been identified. We will continue to follow guidelines from government and health officials as we plan our reopening.  

As a result, reservations at the resort throughout the month of September will be cancelled. We understand that some guests may have reservations booked at Aulani Resort during this time. For stays occurring during the month of September, room reservations can be cancelled and Disney will waive Disney-imposed room reservation cancellation penalties.

Upon reopening, Aulani Resort rooms, restaurants and other locations may be limited in capacity and subject to restricted availability or closure based on direction from health experts and government officials to promote physical distancing. Furthermore, experiences, services and amenities may be modified, have limited availability or may remain closed. Offerings are not guaranteed. Aulani Resort reserves the right to cancel any reservations or purchases and provide applicable refunds.

The resort closed on March 24th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, reservations through August were cancelled.

Currently, guests can save up to 35% on select rooms for stays of 5 or more consecutive nights most nights October 1st through November 22nd and November 28th through December 21st, 2020, with check-out no later than December 22nd, 2020, when booked by October 24th through the resort’s Summer and Fall Offer.

NEW Limited Release and Limited Edition Baby Yoda “The Child” MagicBands

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Two new Baby Yoda (a.k.a. “The Child”) MagicBands are floating into Walt Disney World!

This first limited release band has a red base with mountain ranges and orange clouds in the background. Baby Yoda floats in his crib on one end of the band.

This MagicBand was $29.99.

The band itself is purple with more yellow stars and the Star Wars logo.

This MagicBand was $34.99.