Disney Parks Guest Relations has released a statement regarding the ongoing park closures. You can read the full statement below.
An update from Guest Relations at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort
Dear Guests,
It’s an understatement to say that the past few months have been a challenging time for us all. As we navigate the longest park closures in our histories, we’ve loved hearing your kind words of hope and seeing how you’ve made your own Disney memories at home has uplifted and inspired us all.
During this time, we know it can be difficult to plan your Disney vacation. Now more than ever we’re longing for the opportunity to come together with family and friends to escape, to celebrate, to re-do missed milestones, like birthdays and anniversaries and to make new Disney memories.
Given the current uncertainty as to when we will reopen Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, we’ve had to periodically adjust the schedule for the ability to book hotel reservations at our resorts. While we’re currently accepting reservations starting in July 2020 at both resorts, as this situation evolves, timing may continue to shift.
As we continue to follow guidance from government and health care officials regarding how we’ll be able to reopen our parks and resorts in a responsible way, we may also need to make real-time adjustments to booked experiences, park tickets and park passes.
Please know that if any reservations you may have made need to change, we will work with you to make the necessary modifications.
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out the recent blog post from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, on how we’re planning for re-opening our parks and resorts.
Our focus remains on the safety of the entire Disney community.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unprecedented time together. We continue to be moved by the incredible support and passion our guests have shown for our Disney family, and we hope to see you real soon.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, a re-opening date for most parks is still unknown with the exception of Shanghai Disneyland, which reopened on May 11, and Disney Springs, which began its phased reopening yesterday. As a result, many lingering resort reservations and vacation packages are slowly being cancelled on a week by week basis. Latest reports indicated cancellations up to June 8, but now Disney has issued an official email notification indicating that reservations through June 13 are also being cancelled.
Walt Disney World Resort guests with resort hotel bookings during the week of June 7 to June 13, 2020 are receiving notifications that their stays will be impacted by temporary closures, and they may modify or cancel their Disney Resort hotel reservations or Walt Disney Travel Company packages. Guests who didn’t book directly with Disney should contact their Travel Professional.
To provide guests additional flexibility, all Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through June 30 have been waived. For further assistance with cancelled reservations or to modify an existing reservation, Disney is directing guests to call in or use the chat feature on the Disney World website.
Walt Disney World recently announced that it would only begin accepting reservations for dining and resorts for travel dates starting July 1 and later. However, that is not necessarily indicative of a reopening date for the resort, as has been reiterated by parks officials. Cancellations may continue to occur on a week-by-week basis as the extended closure continues.
Former Walt Disney World President Josh D’Amaro has been named Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, succeeding Bob Chapek, who was recently named CEO of The Walt Disney Company in February.
Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), today announced that Josh D’Amaro has been named Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and Rebecca Campbell has been named Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International. Mr. D’Amaro and Ms. Campbell will report to Mr. Chapek.
“I am certain he will take Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products segment – home to some of our company’s most iconic and beloved businesses – to exciting new heights in the years to come.”
“Our company is very fortunate to have a deep bench of talent and we’re extremely pleased to welcome these two exceptionally qualified Disney veterans to our senior management team,” Mr. Chapek said. “Both Josh and Rebecca have more than two decades of leadership experience with the Company, a keen understanding of our brands and businesses, and a shared passion and vision for delivering extraordinary entertainment and one-of-a-kind experiences.”
Mr. D’Amaro, who most recently served as President, Walt Disney World Resort, succeeds Mr. Chapek as Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In his new role, Mr. D’Amaro will oversee Disney’s iconic travel and leisure businesses, which include six theme park-resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business across toys, apparel, home goods, digital games and apps; the world’s largest children’s print publisher; Disney store locations around the world; and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.
“Josh is an exceptionally talented, enthusiastic and innovative leader, consistently delivering strong results while demonstrating his unwavering commitment and care for our cast members, and a genuine appreciation for the importance of the Disney Difference to our guests,” said Mr. Chapek. “I am certain he will take Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products segment – home to some of our company’s most iconic and beloved businesses – to exciting new heights in the years to come.”
Said Mr. D’Amaro: “I want to thank Bob for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to following his record of driving innovation, value and growth as we deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests. It is an incredible honor to lead our team of talented and dedicated cast members around the globe, who go above-and-beyond every single day. Even during this challenging time, their enthusiasm for what we do is unwavering, and my goal is to bring our cast members back to work as soon as possible so they can continue to create that magic.”
We’re halfway through the year to Halloween and Disney has shared a “shriek peek” at new products themed to “The Haunted Mansion” coming soon, available at shopDisney.com and Disney Parks just in time for the ghoulish holiday. New this year is a set of Funko Pop! figures themed to a variety of characters depicted throughout the attraction, from the organ player to the stretching room victims. Check out the full collection below.
You may have 999 Funko Pop! figures at home but there’s always room for one more! Exclusively made for Disney Parks and shopDisney, you’ll definitely want to make room on your shelves for an all-new Funko Pop! figure featuring the Organist from The Haunted Mansion.
Additional Funko Pop! figures inspired by The Haunted Mansion are coming soon to shopDisney.com as well, perfect for any grim grinning ghost! These figures include two of the characters depicted in the attraction’s infamous stretching room, including the man standing over a keg of dynamite and the old widow sitting on top of the tombstone of her axe-murdered husband. Sound familiar? That’s old Constance Hatchaway, the bride pictured in the attic scene. Her husband is George Hightower… presumably related to Harrison Hightower III, the millionaire who built the Hotel Hightower in New York that disappeared on December 31st, 1899. Similarly, the hotel is now considered haunted, under the name of Tower of Terror (in Tokyo DisneySea.)
We can’t wait to be back in the pumpkin-lined streets of the Magic Kingdom, however the Disney Parks remain closed due to COVID-19, and no official reopening date has been announced. No release date has been announced for these upcoming new Funko Pop! figures or the new apparel and accessory collection that was also revealed this morning.
We have some exciting news today as we learn that Shanghai Disney Resort is scheduled to reopen on Monday, May 11! Shanghai Disney Resort closed in late January as the COVID-19 pandemic hit China hard. After several months, we are excited to see a reopen date. There will be a controlled capacity and detailed operations as you’ll find below.
Shanghai Disneyland theme park will officially reopen to the public on May 11, 2020. The initial park reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, drawing on the experience from the successful reopening of Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel in early March, and implement enhanced health and safety measures.
During this initial reopening phase, the park will institute new measures and procedures, including opening with limited attendance and required advanced ticketing and reservations, accommodating social distancing in queues, restaurants, ride vehicles and other facilities throughout the park, and implementing increased frequency of sanitization and disinfection.
Ticket sales will be available via the resort’s official online channels and official travel partners’ channels beginning on May 8 at 8:00 a.m., with a limited number of tickets available each day during the initial reopening. Guests are required to purchase dated admission tickets prior to their arrival, and Annual Pass holders must make a reservation for their visit date and time through the resort’s official online channels before their visit to the park. During this “Advanced Reservation Period,” General Admission tickets for Shanghai Disneyland will not be accepted.
Please read the press release for detailed operation measures and ticketing information below:
Shanghai, May 6, 2020 – Shanghai Disney Resort today announced that the Shanghai Disneyland theme park will officially reopen to the public on May 11, 2020. The initial park reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, drawing on the experience from the successful reopening of Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel in early March, and implement enhanced health and safety measures.
During this initial reopening phase, the park will institute new measures and procedures, including opening with limited attendance and required advanced ticketing and reservations, accommodating social distancing in queues, restaurants, ride vehicles and other facilities throughout the park, and implementing increased frequency of sanitization and disinfection.
Ticket sales will be available via the resort’s official online channels and official travel partners’ channels beginning on May 8 at 8:00 a.m., with a limited number of tickets available each day during the initial reopening.
On May 11, the majority of Shanghai Disneyland’s attractions, rides, some shows and shopping and dining locations will resume operations, with controlled attendance. Some interactive attractions and experiences, such as children play areas, and theater shows will remain closed. Guests can check the availability of attractions and entertainment through the resort’s official website and app.
To accommodate social distancing, parades and nighttime spectaculars will also return at a later date. During the initial reopening phase, a special Disney character procession, Mickey and Friends Express, will take place several times daily, and the Enchanted Storybook Castle will come to life with light and music at dusk each day with Evening Magical Moments. Beloved Disney characters will appear in the park in a new way, as they make appearances in each of the themed lands, greeting and welcoming everyone back to Shanghai Disneyland. Close interaction and close-up photos with characters will be suspended during the initial phase of reopening.
The frequency of sanitization measures will be increased in order to augment the standards of cleanliness already in place throughout the park, and hand sanitizers will be available at attractions, restaurant and stores.
The resort looks forward to recognizing and celebrating medical professionals who helped make our reopening possible at an appropriate time in the near future.
***
Based on the additional measures and procedures, we ask for guest understanding of and compliance with the following requirements when Shanghai Disneyland reopens:*
Purchase dated admission tickets for Shanghai Disneyland prior to their arrival, as on-site sales will not be available. Annual Pass holders must make a reservation for their visit date and time through Shanghai Disney Resort’s official online channels before their visit to the park. During this “Advanced Reservation Period,” General Admission tickets for Shanghai Disneyland will not be accepted;**
Provide basic personal information for each guest visiting the park, including name, phone number, ID type and ID number via Shanghai Disney Resort’s official online channels after purchasing a ticket and prior to arriving at the resort. A Shanghai Disneyland Reservation QR Code will be provided after the successful submission of the required identification information, and guests will be required to present the code before entering the theme park;
Register for the Health QR Code prior to their arrival, which will be required to be presented upon entering any location at Shanghai Disney Resort. Only guests with a green Health QR Code will be allowed to enter the resort;
Be prepared to present a China government ID card, or valid travel document, for each guest at the park turnstiles (photos or printed copies will not be accepted);
Undergo temperature screening procedures upon arrival; and
Wear an approved mask during the entire visit to the resort except when dining.
*These measures will continue to be reviewed as the situation warrants, and may be further adjusted.
**The validity period of a Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass will be extended for the number of lost days falling between the park’s closure date of January 25, 2020 and the end of the “Advanced Reservation Period.” A Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass that expired before January 25, 2020 or that was purchased after the end of the “Advanced Reservation Period” will not be extended. The same extension policy will apply to the validity period for General Admission tickets for Shanghai Disneyland. The detailed extension policy, including block-out days, will be communicated with Pass and ticket holders separately.
