According to new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fully vaccinated Americans can travel both domestically and internationally “at low risk to themselves” provided they are taking precautions including wearing a mask, physical distancing, and washing hands often.
Specifically, vaccinated Americans don’t need to get a COVID-19 test before traveling unless it is required by the destination country. They do not need to quarantine after returning to the United States unless required to do so by local ordinances. However, they should have a negative COVID-19 test result before returning to the United States from another country and they should get tested again three to five days after arrival.
Travel guidelines have not change for unvaccinated people. The CDC discourages non-essential domestic travel by those who are unvaccinated. Those who must travel should be tested one to three days before their flight and again three to five days after. They should self-quarantine for seven to ten days if they don’t get tested.
Someone is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or after the single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
No airlines currently require travelers to be fully vaccinated, although some countries, including Iceland, do. Cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, are also beginning to implement vaccine requirements. Disney Cruise Line has not yet made any announcement regarding a vaccine requirement but expects sailings to resume this fall.
Increased travel could see increased crowds at theme parks. Presently, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort both restrict their maximum capacity. California theme parks will be able to operate at a maximum of 25% capacity when they reopen this month, although neither Disneyland Resort nor Universal Studios Hollywood have announced their restricted capacities. With more people becoming vaccinated, and case numbers dropping in California, it’s possible theme park capacities will be raised in time for the busy summer months.
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.
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.
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.
Today was a big day in Central Florida. The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force held a meeting this morning (April 28) to discuss guidelines for reopening businesses which would include Walt Disney World. Below you will find what WDWInfo.com has pulled from the video meeting as to what the task force discussed. Details include how the day-to-day workings may look for the Disney parks, hotels, and restaurants upon reopening.
Theme Parks
Guidelines:
Tape marking of 6 feet apart in ride/attraction queues
Staff to regularly wipe down surfaces at random
Phase 1 and 2:Staff who are 65+ are encouraged to stay home
Mandates:
All employees required to wear facemasks
Touchless hand sanitizer at each ticketing entry and turnstiles
Touchless hand sanitizer at each ride/attraction entry and exit
Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temp above 100.4 must not enter premises)
Wipe down of all railing and surfaces regularly
Phase 1:50% capacity
Phase 2:75% capacity
Hotels
Guidelines:
Phase 1: Housekeeping services to be limited and allow for minimal guest and employee exposure
Phase 1: Promote, if available, mobile check-in
Phase 1: Housekeeping services only clean upon request, or when guests depart
Phase 1: Allow employees to work from home if not playing a critical role in serving guests
Phase 1: Only deliver room service to guests’ doors
Phase 1: Provide self-parking
Promote social distancing for all guests and staff
Recommended touchless sanitizer at entry
Increase cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
Phase 1 & 2:Staff who are 65+ are encourage to stay home
Mandates:
All employees required to wear facemasks
Hand sanitizer at entry to be in plain visible sight
Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temp above 100.4 must not enter premises)
All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
Front desk to sanitize themselves on a regular basis
Consistent cleaning of all guest areas
Front desk to utilize sneeze-guards
Remove all service items in guest rooms to include glassware, coffee cups etc.
Mini bars not to be stocked
Do no offer self food services
Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines
Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitized regularly
Door handles, elevator button and railing to be sanitized regularly
Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms
Remove all guest collateral items, except for those that are single use
