Government Social Distancing Guidelines Extended And How They Effect Disney Parks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

On March 29th, President Donald Trump announced that the government will be extending the national social distancing mandate through April 30th. In addition, the need to avoid any and all discretionary travel was heavily stressed.

In other words, if you’ve been counting down the days till your April Disney parks getaway… it may be time to stop counting and start unpacking. This furthers the notion that Disney Parks will remain closed through April, if not well into May. Yesterday, Walt Disney World announced that at this time, it would begin only accepting bookings for travel starting on June 1 or later. As stated within the offer’s fine print, whether or not Walt Disney World will remain closed until June 1st is still undecided.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland will remain closed until May 1st, at the very least.

Shanghai Disney Resort Resumes Limited Operations

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, Shanghai Disney Resort has been closed since late January. However, March 9th saw the reopening of some of the resorts operations. While Shanghai Disneyland Park will remain closed, the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Disneytown, and Wishing Star Park have resumed limited operations.

The full statement from Disney is as follows –

Shanghai Disneyland remains closed as we continue to closely monitor health and safety conditions and follow the direction of government regulators. However, as the first step of a phased reopening, Shanghai Disney Resort will partially resume operations on March 9, 2020 with a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Each of these resort locations will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation. The Disney Car and Coach Park and the Disneytown Parking Lot will also reopen.

The resort will provide an extensive range of measures, designed to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all guests, Cast Members and Disneytown tenant employees, including strict and comprehensive approaches on sanitization, disinfection and cleanliness. In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures upon their arrival and will need to present their Health QR Code when entering dining venues, and are required to wear a mask during their entire visit. Guests will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants.

Please refer to the Shanghai Disney Resort official website and app for the operation hours of Disneytown and Wishing Star Park.

As they said, Shanghai Disneyland Park will remain closed until further notice. There’s still no new information regarding Hong Kong Disneyland operations, and Tokyo Disney Resort is tentatively scheduled to reopen March 15th. We’re pleased to see operations inch towards normality once again and hope this situation will come under control soon.

Be sure to keep your eyes on a trusted global news source and check with your doctor and the US State Department before travel to Japan and China. If you choose to come, wash your hands as often as possible, use hand sanitizer, and consider wearing a mask and/or touching your face as little as possible.

We’ll keep our eyes on developments here as well as in Tokyo and Hong Kong regarding the COVID-19 situation’s effect on Disney Parks operations.

Disney Releases Official Message Regarding Questions About Coronavirus

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The widespread concern of Coronavirus/COVID-19 has many of us Disney fans asking questions about Disney Parks and Resorts. DisneyParksBlog released the following message from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel:

As you may know from the news, COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus 2019, has become a more widespread concern. As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies.

Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all of our parks and resorts around the world have high standards of cleanliness, which assists with illness prevention, and we have health and safety protocols in place, such as:

  • Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
  • Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
  • Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
  • Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
  • End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
  • Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues

Additionally, our onsite health teams and leaders are communicating with our cast members about illness prevention, including the guidance of the CDC. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, such as staying home when sick, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, following proper respiratory cough etiquette, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

The CDC provides more detailed coronavirus information on its website and as always, your personal physician is a valuable resource for specific medical questions you may have. If you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort, please call 407-WDisney.

Please visit Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort to learn more about our health and safety measures for the coronavirus.

Thank you, Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Customize Disney Merchandise With MADE

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

What’s better than a Disney souvenir? How about a Disney souvenir that has been personalized! Disney is sharing exciting news with the launch of MADE – the perfect way to add your personal touch to one of Disney’s many trending merchandise. Check out the details below from DisneyParksBlog:

The Marketplace at Disney Springs has always been the go-to destination for personalized Disney merchandise. From talented customization artists at Disney’s Days of Christmas (who hand-paint and hand-letter the most beautiful ornaments) to Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories where you can get your favorite pair of Mickey ears embroidered, there are so many fun ways to add a personal touch to your Disney finds. One favorite personalization experience is D-Tech on Demand at Marketplace Co-Op. This unique tech boutique opened as one of the original six stores in 2014 and continues to be the ultimate destination for customized mobile phone cases, MagicBands, accessories and more.

The Disney Parks Merchandise Team has continued to evolve the D-Tech on Demand experience and is now offering MADE—a new and expanded way to customize and create your own Disney merchandise. With MADE, you’ll now be able to create customized apparel, including short and long-sleeved T-shirts, (even Disney Springs designs) from a library of Disney art to celebrate everything from family vacations, birthdays, seasonal holidays and more. (Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to customize phone cases, MagicBands, magnets, and commemorative bricks as well.) Creating your design is as easy as selecting the accessory or apparel item you’d like to customize, Disney art, choosing a color, and adding your name. Purchases are ready for pick-up in just a few hours or conveniently delivered to your Disney resort or shipped home.

Guests will start to see this new brand transitioning at current D-Tech on Demand locations inside our retail stores including:

  • Magic Kingdom Park – Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.*, Frontierland Trading Post, and Curtain Call Collectables
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Star Wars Launch Bay and Celebrity 5 & 10 Shop
  • Disney Springs – Marketplace Co-Op* and NBA Experience
  • Disneyland Resort – Star Wars Launch Bay and Star Traders

(*At this time, customized apparel options are available exclusively at Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. and Marketplace Co-Op.)

New designs and art will be continually added to the MADE experience throughout the year so be sure to always check and see what’s new. I’m so excited to see what you create! Share your photos with us using #DisneySprings for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.

Book A Disney Vacation Today!

Sneak Peek of Onward Now Showing @ Disney Parks/Cruise Line

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney is now showing a sneak peek in the Disney Parks and on the Disney Cruise Line. Check out details below from DisneyParksBlog:

Guests visiting Disney Parks over the next few weeks can get an early glimpse of scenes from Disney and Pixar’s original adventure, “Onward.” Sneak peeks of the film are now showing in the Tomorrowland Theater at Disneyland park and as part of the Walt Disney Presents attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests aboard Disney Cruise Line can also catch this special look at a part of the film, during select sailings in February and early March.

Set in a suburban fantasy world, “Onward” introduces two teenage elf brothers– Ian & Barley – who embark on an extraordinary quest after being given the chance to spend one more day with their father.

Book A Disney Vacation Now!