After the latest closure extension “until further notice” due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Walt Disney World has now announced that they will only begin accepting reservations for dining and resorts for travel dates starting June 1 and later.
The key wording here is: “As always, Guests are able to modify these bookings if Walt Disney World Resort opens before or after that time.” So clearly, after yesterday’s vague announcement, whether or not Walt Disney World will remain closed until June 1st is still undecided.
This comes on the heel of an announcement offering Free Dining to most guests with reservations directly impacted by the unprecedented Coronavirus closures.
Even though we do not know when the parks will open yet, Disney World has just released a special Free Dining Offer for guests who booked a vacation package or room reservation to stay at a Disney Resort hotel from March 16th through May 31st, 2020.
Here are the official details:
Eligible Guests can take advantage of a vacation package offer that includes accommodations at a select Disney Resort hotel, park admission and a FREE Disney Dining Plan – valid for arrivals most nights June 1st through September 30th, 2020 when you book through May 31st, 2020.
This offer is valid only for Guests who booked a vacation package or room reservation to stay at a Disney Resort hotel from March 16th through May 31st, 2020 (even if the park opens before then). Offer not valid for reservations canceled before March 1st, 2020.
The Disney Free Dining Package offered depends on the level of the resort you are staying in.
The breakdown is as follows:
Value Resort – Quick Service Dining Plan
Moderate Resort – Quick Service Dining Plan
Deluxe Resort – Disney Dining Plan
Guests wishing to upgrade your dining plan can do so for an additional fee.
Important Details
Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Advance reservation required.
Length of stay is 2 nights-14 nights
Ticket requirements: 2-day minimum; all ticket types included (i.e., Base, Park Hopper, Water Park & Sports, Park Hopper Plus
Offer excludes the following room types: campsites
Children ages 3 to 9 must choose from the children’s menu, if available.
Gratuities are not included.
Theme park admission is required for some dining locations.
This offer is subject to availability. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Theme park tickets valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on the length of stay and ticket.
For more information contact Disney or your travel agent.
Disney has long-supported charitable organizations in their parks’ communities, donating to causes like Second Harvest among others. And this is set to continue during the temporary closure of Walt Disney World in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And none too soon, with thousands of workers across the Orlando area displaced, and many living paycheck-to-paycheck.
According to Disney Parks Blog, Disney will donate various items as part of the Disney Harvest program:
Walt Disney World Resort will donate excess food inventory like fresh salads, greens and expertly cooked hot items to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, as part of the ongoing Disney Harvest program. Launched in 1991, Disney Harvest collects excess and unserved food from locations throughout Walt Disney World, delivering it to feeding programs across Central Florida.
The Walt Disney World Resort donates over 823,000 pounds of prepared but unserved food to Second Harvest annually. These meals are distributed to over 40 Orlando-area nonprofits, and helped provide over one million meals last year, according to Disney.
Disney has clarified policies on how the closing will impact tickets, resorts, and dining at Walt Disney World. Get the latest information below.
Here is the information posted on Walt Disney World’s Website:
Update on Walt Disney World Resort Operations
In an abundance of caution, and in the best interest of our Guests and Cast Members, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, beginning March 16, through the end of the month.
The Walt Disney Company will pay its Cast Members during that closure period.
Disney Resort hotels and Disney Springs will remain open until further notice.
We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts.
Below, you’ll find information on impacts to current and upcoming plans. Please continue to check this page for additional updates.
TICKETS
May I get a refund on my ticket? Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before March 31, 2020 will automatically be extended to use any date through December 15, 2020. If you are unable to visit by December 15, 2020 you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.
Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through July 31, 2020.
Guests who have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours and Disney Early Morning Magic from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 will be automatically refunded.
ANNUAL PASSES
How does the closure of Walt Disney World impact annual passes? Walt Disney World annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed, March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
RESORTS
I have a future stay at a Disney Resort hotel while the park is closed. What does that mean for my vacation? Guests who have not checked in for stays between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 may modify or cancel their Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to their original check-in date. If no action is taken, Disney will automatically process a refund to the original form of payment within seven days of the original check-in date. If you did not book through Disney directly, please contact your travel professional.
What if I want to cancel a Disney Resort hotel reservation after the parks reopen? We will waive all Disney imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in through June 30, 2020.
DINING & OTHER EXPERIENCES
I have a pre-paid dining reservation or experience reservation like Droid Depot during the time when the parks are closed. Will I receive a refund? Yes. All pre-paid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
What happens to dining reservations that required a credit card at the time of booking? Reservations made at locations impacted by the closure will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.
With Space 220 Restaurant already looking to hire a General Manager––a Captain, if you will––it seems more details are being finalized for the upcoming restaurant, which is set to debut adjacent to Mission: SPACE at EPCOT. Everything from cutlery to a final, updated opening month is being established for the upcoming restaurant.
In an article posted by Total Food Service, the procurement team at Patina Restaurant Group talked about the power of story with any restaurant concept, even when it comes to cutlery. Patina Restaurant Group, who owns more than 10 restaurants across Disney’s properties in the United States, including “The Edison,” and “Via Napoli,” among others, went over their choice of cutlery for their upcoming Space 220 restaurant in EPCOT.
The procurement team chose the “Tilia” pattern which they thought, would launch their new space-themed restaurant, off the ground:
“Tilia by Studio William really caught our eye due to its elongated shape. The line was extremely modern and had a space-age quality we couldn’t resist,” says Jaclyn Lerner, Art & Style Director for PRG.”
For those that are bored by details, there was a tiny bit of a hint of an opening date for the Space 220 restaurant hidden in the article. Total Food Service, when talking about the upcoming restaurant did mention a planned opening in April 2020:
“Next month, Patina Restaurant Group (PRG) is set to launch into space with the opening of Space 220 inside EPCOT Center.”
