Updated News On Disney Resorts For Reopening

Hold on tight Disney fans! We have a LOT to share with you as Disney just released breaking news for Walt Disney World Resorts! As we previously learned, on June 22 select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will reopen. This will be taking place prior to the Disney Parks phased reopening which begins July 11 for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and July 15 for EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As we gear up for the June 22 reopening of the Deluxe Villa Resort & Fort Wilderness, Disney has released several new guidelines and details as a “Disney Resort Hotels: Know Before You Go”.

The Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts opening at Walt Disney World on June 22 include:

  • 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 – 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
  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Top Things You Need To Know:

Before traveling to Florida, please make sure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to Florida. Visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/travelers/ for information. Guests who are under isolation or quarantine orders must not enter Walt Disney World Resort.

Please be aware that you’ll also need:

  • A confirmed room reservation for your stay. Be sure to link your reservation to your Disney account to receive important information prior to your arrival—visit My Plans to get started
  • A confirmed dining reservation if you’re a day Guest (not staying overnight)
  • Face coverings for each Guest age 2 and up—which must be worn in all public areas, except while swimming or seated for dining
  • To enter a park beginning July 11, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required (a Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access)

Also, it’s highly recommended to have:

  • The latest version of the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device, with location services and notifications enabled
  • Cashless or contactless forms of payment, including MagicBands, which Disney Resort hotel Guests can use to charge purchases to their Disney Resort hotel folio

Wellness Screening:

Persons who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a 14-day quarantine, or are under quarantine orders must not enter Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney World Resort Guests may be subject to additional screenings. Before you leave home, please check the temperatures of everyone in your party—including yourself—as an extra layer of precaution.

Disney Resort Hotel Guest Benefits:

During the initial reopening period, some benefits may be modified or unavailable.

Disney’s Magical Express® Service: Complimentary airport transportation via Disney’s Magical Express service will be available for Guests arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport. Many airlines have modified their flight schedules, so please confirm your flight information. If you plan to use Disney’s Magical Express service, contact your room reservation booking agent, or call (407) 939-1936 to make any updates to your flight information on file.

FastPass+ Service: As a result of the COVID-19 impact, FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as we plan to use additional queue space to manage capacity for attractions and maintain physical distancing. With that in mind, access to FastPass+ planning is temporarily unavailable. We will share updates at a later date.

Extra Magic Hours: The Extra Magic Hours benefit is unavailable until further notice.

Cleaning:

When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, enjoy peace of mind knowing that your room will be thoroughly cleaned prior to your arrival and serviced during your stay. Plus, common areas will receive enhanced cleaning.

Common Areas: We’ve increased cleaning in high-traffic areas such as public elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms and more. 

Housekeeping: Prior to your arrival, your room will undergo thorough cleaning—with attention to:

  • High-touch areas, like TV remotes and door handles
  • Housekeeping tools will be cleaned between rooms
  • Floors, which will be steam cleaned and vacuumed between Guests

Inside your room, you’ll find:

  • Extra linens and towels wrapped in single-use packaging
  • Individually wrapped glassware
  • Double-cased pillows
  • Additional items that have been cleaned and wrapped in single-use packaging

And during your stay, your room will receive a light cleaning service every other day, which will include:

  • Removal of trash and used towels
  • Replenishment of towels and amenities throughout the room and bathroom
  • Wiping and cleaning of the vanity and counter surfaces
  • Vacuuming if needed

You can also decline every-other-day service.

Please note that:

  • If you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member using your Membership to stay, you’ll receive service on the 4th and 8th days, unless you decline that service.
  • If there is more than one room on your reservation and you choose to decline service, your selection will apply to all rooms on the reservation.
  • We reserve the right to enter any room at a Disney Resort hotel for maintenance, safety, security or any other purpose, even if the Room Occupied sign is displayed on the room door. View Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules. Learn more about housekeeping service.

Transportation & Parking:

Learn about parking and transportation options at Walt Disney World Resort.

  • Complimentary Resort Transportation: Before the theme parks reopen, bus transportation will be available between your Disney Resort hotel and Disney Springs area. When the theme parks reopen, complimentary transportation will also be provided between your Disney Resort hotel and Disney theme parks. Transportation will operate with physical distancing measures in place, reducing capacity. As a result, you may experience delays.
  • Minnie Van Service: Minnie Van Service will not be available during the initial reopening period.
  • Parking: Self-parking will be available. Valet service is temporarily unavailable, with the exception of Guests with disabilities who may require parking assistance. A valid disability parking permit is required. Parking fees apply for Disney Resort hotel Guests. 

Resort Services:

Some Disney Resort hotel services will be modified or unavailable during the initial reopening period, based on physical distancing and health guidelines. Changes include:

  • Bell Services will deliver luggage to rooms, but will not escort Guests
  • Club-level service will be temporarily unavailable
  • Deliveries will only be made to occupied rooms
  • In-room celebrations will not be available
  • Dry-cleaning and valet laundry services will be temporarily unavailable; self-service laundry will remain available
  • Shipping services will be temporarily unavailable
  • Resort airline check-in service may be temporarily unavailable

Resort Amenities & Recreation:

Amenities and recreation will be modified based on physical distancing and health guidelines.

Dining Experiences: Select dining locations will be available at Disney Resort hotels. Learn about updates to dining experiences.

Pools:

  • Feature pools may operate with reduced hours; leisure pools will be open 24 hours a day
  • Pools will operate with reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing
  • Select poolside activities may be available at select Resort hotels
  • Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will not be available during the initial reopening period; Guests of this Disney Resort hotel may enjoy the leisure pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Fitness Centers & Sports Courts

  • Fitness centers will open in alignment with state and county regulations, and may have reduced hours
  • Fitness centers may have reduced hours and capacity
  • Instructor-led fitness classes will not be available
  • Fitness and sports courts will be open, and Guests must maintain physical distancing

Available Recreation: Activities and schedules will vary. The schedule of activities for your Disney Resort hotel will be shared during your stay.

Merchandise Locations: In merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Guests will continue to discover favorite Disney items, with some modifications to the shopping experience that will help us manage capacity and foster physical distancing.

  • New Product Launches: New collection product launches and limited-edition merchandise will not be available for in-person purchases at Walt Disney World Resort until further notice. As always, Guests can find these items on shopDisney, subject to availability.
  • Pin Trading: We will continue to offer Guests the opportunity to pin trade with Cast Members through the use of pin boards in select locations. Cast pin trading with lanyards will not be available at this time to maintain physical distancing.
  • Delivery Option: Package delivery to the front of our theme parks or to Disney Resort hotels will be suspended. However, shipping merchandise to Guests’ homes continues to be available.
  • Dressing Rooms: For the time being, dressing rooms will not be available.
  • Returns: In-person returns will be available upon the reopening of our merchandise locations.

Temporarily Unavailable: The following amenities and experiences will not be available during the initial reopening period:

  • Arcades
  • Campfires
  • Character experiences
  • Dog parks
  • Electrical Water Pageant
  • Marina rentals
  • Pin trading
  • Playgrounds
  • Spas, salons and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Additionally, the following special offerings and childcare services will not be available during the initial reopening:

  • Fireworks voyages and tasting cruises, including the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
  • Fun runs
  • Wonderland Tea Party at Park Fare
  • Hula lessons
  • In-room childcare services
  • Mermaid school
  • Special classes and programs—including culinary, cultural and animal programs

Check In Online:

To aid in physical distancing efforts, we strongly recommend that you use Online Check-In Service in advance—online or with the My Disney Experience app. When your room is ready, you’ll get a room-ready notification. Then, you can use either a MagicBand or the My Disney Experience app digital key feature to enter your room! If you don’t receive your MagicBand(s) prior to your vacation, simply use the My Disney Experience app as a digital key to enter your room. At your convenience, you can visit the Front Desk to pick up your MagicBand(s).

Automatic Checkout

On your scheduled checkout day, you’ll be automatically checked out of your room—so you don’t have to visit the Front Desk (unless you have unresolved charges to your Disney Resort hotel folio).

Virtual Chat With a Resort Cast Member:

Beginning June 22, you can chat with a Resort Cast Member via the My Disney Experience app for assistance during your stay. This new feature will offer convenient support nearly anytime—so there’s no need to visit the Lobby or stand in line.

Disney Transportation Will Be Available On A Limited Basis

Additional logistics details are being sent out to Cast Members ahead of the planned June 22 reopening for DVC resorts and July 11 reopening for select parks and resorts throughout Walt Disney World.

Upon reopening, transportation will be available for resort hotel guests, albeit on a limited basis. Transportation will be available via Monorail and ferry boat. At this time, it is unknown whether transportation options will still include resort buses or the Disney Skyliner.

Plans to support required physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning measures, along with a number of other safety and cleanliness protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening. 

Disney is temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations in order to focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations. Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations.

New Type C Monorail Spotted Testing @ Tokyo Disney Resort

While the Tokyo Disney Resort theme parks remain closed through at least mid-May due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, operations on other segments, such as the Disney Resort Line monorail system, continue. And in preparation for the launch of the new Type C monorail trains this year, the Oriental Land Company has taken advantage of the reduced schedule on the Disney Resort Line to test the first new train!

Twitter user @peenattsun was at Tokyo DisneySea Station today when he spotted the Type C train testing during operating hours! Previous tests only took place in the late night after hours. Inside, we can see the new Mickey-inspired interior, complete with larger windows. Below, you can view the concept renderings for these new trains.

The Type C trains are scheduled to enter service sometime in 2020. They were previously scheduled for May 21st, but have since been delayed due to the ongoing disruptions related to COVID-19.

Transportation Still Available In Limited Capacity

The Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that select transportation options will be available to Guests staying on property after all the theme parks and water parks close due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Here is what the transportation situation will look like starting Monday, March 16:

OPERATING:

  • Resort Monorail
  • Buses connecting on-site resorts to Disney Springs
  • ​Buses between Disney Resorts (a new service)
  • Resort Boats

NOT OPERATING:

  • Disney Skyliner
  • Express Monorail connecting the Transportation & Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom Park
  • Buses connecting on-site resorts to the parks

New Book To Release On Sept 1st On Disney Monorails

A new book all about Disney’s monorails is pulling into stores on September 1st, 2020!

The book, The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky, by Jeff Kurtti, Vanessa Hunt, and Paul Wolski, looks back at the creation of the Disney monorail and its impact on transportation systems across the globe.

Here’s the official book description:

All aboard a lavish visual celebration of one of Disney’s most iconic and beloved creations: the Disney Monorail. Through a lively and succinct narrative and a stunning collection of unique historical photographs and rare concept and development art (much of it never before published) readers will be transported through the imagination of one of the great twentieth century geniuses, and into a future where yesterday’s dreams are tomorrow’s realities!

Walt Disney is renowned as a cartoonist, filmmaker, showman, and entertainment icon. But he was also a far-sighted futurist, a transportation buff with practical roots in the past, and visionary sights set on the future. In imagining his Disneyland park, Walt saw it not only as a destination for diversion and entertainment, but also as a means of presenting practical demonstrations of new ideas and new technology with real-world applications. As Walt said, “Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure, and ideals . . . and the hope for a peaceful and unified world.”

In The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky, readers will discover the parallel stories of the development of a new form of transportation and the evolution of Walt’s prophetic creative mind, which resulted in the first daily operating monorail in the Western Hemisphere. From that day in June 1959, this mid-century modern marvel has captured the hearts and imaginations not only of theme park and Disney fans everywhere. It has also inspired, as Walt had hoped, the creation of working monorails in practical transit applications in varied locations all around the world.

And if you want to know more about the authors, here are their official bios:

JEFF KURTTI is a leading authority on The Walt Disney Company, its founder, and its history. He is the author of more than thirty books, a writer-director of award-winning documentary content, and a respected public speaker. A Seattle native, he worked for Walt Disney Imagineering and the Corporate Special Projects department of Disney. He was creative director, content consultant, and media producer for The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and a producer of The Boys: The Brothers Story, a critically acclaimed documentary about the famed songwriters.

VANESSA HUNT is a Walt Disney Imagineer and a lifelong Disney aficionado. Her education is in art history, and she is part of the group responsible for the more than 160,000 pieces of original artwork preserved in the Walt Disney Imagineering Art Collection. She has been curator of several Imagineering exhibits featuring many of the works from the Art Library collection, and has consulted for The Walt Disney Family Museum. Vanessa is also the coauthor of the wildly popular Poster Art of the Disney Parks (2012) and Maps of the Disney Parks (2016) as well as the designer on Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks (2019).

PAUL WOLSKI is a graphic designer, creative director, and illustrator whose career began in environmental graphics with Walt Disney Imagineering. He served as character illustrator for all signage in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland and provided character graphics for Tokyo Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After two decades of working in publishing and retail design, Paul has returned to Disney as a book designer, collaborating with Jeff Kurtti on From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card (2018) and working with Vanessa Hunt on Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks (2019).

The book’s list price is $40.00, but as of the writing of this article, you can pre-order it for $32.99 at Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.

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