On May 15, Disney announced they were no longer requiring Guests to wear masks outdoors. On June 15 face coverings became optional both indoors and outdoors for fully vaccinated Guests in most areas except on Disney transportation. Disney did not require proof of vaccination but did expect unvaccinated Guests to keep their masks on particularly while indoors. Unfortunately, with the rise of COVID cases, Orange County (which encompasses much of Walt Disney World) is in a state of emergency. Disney responded on July 30 by once again requiring masks to be worn at all indoor locations as well as outdoor queues, attractions, and theaters. Today, we’re learning that beginning August 19, face masks will now be optional for Guests when riding outdoor attractions, standing in outdoor queues, and while seated in outdoor theaters.
As reported by InsideTheMagic: “Per Disney: Since May, face coverings have been optional for Guests in outdoor common areas, and beginning Thursday, August 19, face coverings will also be optional for Guests in outdoor attractions, outdoor queues, and outdoor theaters at Walt Disney World Resort. As a reminder, face coverings remain required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) while indoors and in Disney buses, monorail, and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.”
With Walt Disney World’s Extra Magic Hours gone, Disney is preparing to release two new early entry and extended hours options that differ from Extra Magic Hours. First up, beginning October 1, ALL Walt Disney World Resorts will have a chance to experience the new “Early Theme Park Entry”. This new perk will allow all Disney Resorts Guests a jump-start their day inside the Park with a 30-minute early entry to ANY theme Park, EVERY day. If you’re staying as a Disney Deluxe Resort Guests you’re eligible to spend TWO extra hours in select Parks on select days! This new perk is called “Extended Evening Theme Park Hours“ and is only available to Disney Resort Guests staying at select Deluxe Resorts. While we previously shared that Disney released some October dates for extended evening hours, we’re now seeing even more October dates have been added to the calendar.
When visiting the Walt Disney World website, you’ll see in the screenshot below, Disney’s October Extended Evening Theme Park Hours include:
October 4 at EPCOT (10pm – midnight)
October 6 at Magic Kingdom (9pm – 11pm)
October 11 at EPCOT (10pm – midnight)
October 13 at Magic Kingdom (9pm to 11pm)
October 18 at EPCOT (10pm – midnight)
October 20 at Magic Kingdom (9pm – 11pm)
October 25 at EPCOT (10pm – midnight)
October 27 at Magic Kingdom (9pm to 11pm)
Unsure if you’re staying at one of the participating resorts? Extended evening theme Park hours is a benefit for registered Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, which include the 24 Resort selections below:
Disney Deluxe Resorts
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Select Hotels
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World®
Guests staying at these resorts will still need a valid theme park ticket to gain access to the park, as well as a theme park reservation. If you’re visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom for example but still want to enjoy staying up until midnight at EPCOT and have a valid park hopper ticket or annual pass, you can hop to EPCOT as long as you entered your first park where you made your reservation earlier in the day. For all the details about Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, visit Disney’s website.
The third quarter of the fiscal year has closed, and Disney has released their Q3 2021 results. In the earnings call this afternoon, the company announced a $17.02 billion revenue, higher than the expected revenue of $16.76 billion.
Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products reported revenue of $4.3 billion, an increase of 100% versus Q3 2020 and $1 billion more than last quarter.
Domestic parks posted a profit of $2 million, marking the first quarter with a profit since the pandemic began in March 2020. Meanwhile, international parks had a loss of $210 million.
Disney Parks worldwide were all open during Q3, and domestic parks increased capacity, leading to higher attendance and guest spending.
Following Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney over Black Widow‘s release on Disney+, Disney is cutting all ties with the actress and canceling projects involving her.
This would not have been the first attempt at a Tower of Terror film adaptation. As part of The Wonderful World of Disney, a TV movie called “Tower of Terror” starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst aired in 1997. Last December, screenwriter John August shared details and illustrations from his pitch for a new film that he presented in 2015. No details about Johansson’s version of the film had been made available.
The Reedy Creek Fire Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Office were called Monday night to the parking lot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios after a small dog was noticed left inside an unattended vehicle.
Ultimately, the fire department was able to enter the vehicle to rescue the canine, who eventually recovered from the incident and was returned to their owner, who left the theme park. The whole thing was reportedly posted to Facebook, garnering thousands of comments before the poster who notified Walt Disney World security confirmed that the dog was rescued. According to the Sheriff’s Office, no charges against the owner have been filed, though historically, they have filed charges against owners whose pets had been harmed or killed by being left in unattended vehicles.
