What Is WDW Doing To Ensure Guest Health & Safety?

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

As Walt Disney World prepares to reopen their park doors to guests on July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and then on July 15th for Epcot and Hollywood Studios, they are taking great steps to help ensure the safety of their guests and cast members. Here is what Disney is doing throughout the resorts, restaurants and soon parks to keep everyone as protected as possible.

Face Masks

All Disney cast members will be greeting guests while wearing face masks.  This is to help protect guests as well as the cast members themselves. It is Disney’s policy that all guests 2 and older wear face masks while visiting Walt Disney World Resort.  Guests will be expected to wear masks at all times except when dining, swimming or in one of the rest areas in the parks. There are specific guidelines regarding what type of masks guests are expected to use as well. The biggest requirement is that masks do have to be secured with ties or ear loops. Keep this in mind when purchasing and planning for vacation.

Temperature Checks

Guests coming to Walt Disney World can expect to have their temperatures checked prior to being allowed into the parks or Disney Springs.  Disney is saying they will be using “no-touch thermometers” in order to ensure those having a temperature of 100.4 F or above will not be allowed into the parks.  This will also be used for cast members each day they come to work.

Social Distancing

As we are experiencing throughout the country right now, Walt Disney World will also be implementing social distancing.  Not only will signs be up and around to help remind guests to keep their distance from others, but from what we have seen from Disney Springs as well as Disney’s international parks ground markers will be used throughout queues.  We believe that social distancing will also be used on rides.  Social distancing will also be used in restaurants throughout property as a limited number of guests will be seated and tables will be spread apart to allow distancing.

Hand washing

Prior to the parks closing we started to see Disney implement more hand washing stations throughout the park.  This will be a trend that continues once the parks open again in mid-July.   Disney will have more hand washing options as well as hand sanitizer throughout the park giving guests more opportunities to wash hands and keep themselves safe.

Resorts

Walt Disney World DVC resorts were able to open earlier this month allowing guests to come back and enjoy the magic.  With this opening, we were able to see and learn more about what steps Disney is taking to protect guests at the resorts.

  • Guests are highly encouraged to use online check-in limiting face-to-face interactions and allowing guests to head right to their rooms.  Disney is also going to a cashless system right now asking that guests have a form of payment such as credit card, gift cards or MagicBands set up to reduce contact.
  • Disney has also announced enhanced cleaning methods will be used during this time at their resorts.  Not only will high-touch areas such as railings, elevators, benches and tables be cleaned often, but new measures will be taken in guests’ rooms.
  • Attention to high-touch items in guests’ rooms will be a focus of cleaning.  Items such as remotes and door handles will be cleaned with great care.  We have also seen items such as remotes wrapped in individual bags following cleaning to help ensure safety.  Floors will be cleaned in between each guest and housekeeping will only come every other day to limit access to the room.  
  • Finally, if guests need something while staying at a Walt Disney World resort, guests can utilize the new chat feature on the My Disney Experience app.  This allows guests to communicate with cast members regarding needs, questions or concerns without having to have face to face contact.

Restaurants

Along with Disney resorts, a few Disney restaurants were opened throughout the property as well as at Disney Springs.  Disney has set up measures at these restaurants to help keep everyone safe.

  • Mobile ordering was a secret that many didn’t use in their My Disney Experience; however, now Disney is highly encouraging guests to use this service during vacation.  This again reduces the interaction needed between guests and cast members to keep everyone safe.
  • At table service dining, guests now can check in through the My Disney Experience app eliminating the need to check-in at the host stand.  Guests can now notify the restaurant through the app that they have arrived and will receive a push notification when their table is ready.
  • Also, at table service restaurants, beside limiting capacity and social distancing tables, guests will use QR codes to access a digital menu.  If this isn’t an option, then paper menus are given.  Both methods can help keep guests and cast members safe with less communal touching of materials.
  • Another step being taken at Disney food areas is regarding refills.  Guests will no longer be allowed to refill their own cups; however, cast members will be there to assist.  

Parks

Once the parks open in July, Disney has gone through great lengths to ensure protecting guests heading back to the magic.  Not only will Disney parks be taking the steps discussed above such as face masks, social distancing and temperature checks, Disney will be limiting park crowds.  To help keep guests and cast members safe and to help them following the above guidelines, Disney has put in place a new park pass reservations system.  This system has guests with tickets book a specific park for each day of their ticket.  By doing this, Disney is able to help manage crowd levels at their parks and keep guests and cast members safe.  

  • Along with the park pass reservation, Disney has stated that they will be diligently cleaning those high-touch areas throughout the parks just like in the resorts.  Railings, tables, benches and even park ride systems will be cleaned to help keep guests safe.

As guests start to head back to the magic, Walt Disney World is working hard to help ensure guests are protected and safe during their stay.  From new exciting systems to help manage crowds, to face masks and social distancing, Disney is ready to welcome guests back and help them have a magical and safe time in their favorite place.

Disney Makes Changes To Its Mobile Ordering To Promote Social Distancing

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Disney recently announced that with the phased reopening they would be working on “Limited-Contact enhancements,” that would help reduce the contact between Cast Members and guests in dining and retail situations. Disney has now added a couple of great new features to its Mobile Order service to encourages guests to use the service. One of the new features is one that guests have been asking for a long time! Catch all the details below.

D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs is currently offering Mobile Order service, so we can see what the new enhancements are. First up, is a new “Arrival Window” selection. Previously, when you arrived at your quick-service location you would tap the “I’m Here” button. Now, you’ll choose an arrival window of 30 minutes.

What guests have long been asking for were more ways to pay with Mobile Ordering. Now Disney Gift Cards and Apple Pay have been added as payment options. This will allow for more contactless purchasing.

Guests can now add Disney Gift Cards and use Apple Pay when completing a purchase with Mobile Order.

Mobile Order will be the preferred way to dine at quick-service restaurants and we’re excited to see the changes within the app.

Shanghai Disney Setting up Social Distancing Queues For Reopening

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Stateside, we’re looking at everything from financial projections to medical models for hints at potential reopening dates for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland resort, but with regards to actual protocol once the parks and resorts do open, we look to Shanghai Disney Resort. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, Shanghai Disney Resort has been closed since late January. However, the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Disneytown, and Wishing Star Park resumed limited operations on March 9, with health protocols in place to keep guests safe and prevent the further spread of the virus.

Photos Credit: Twitter user @gourmetdyy

New photos show various ground markings and signage installed along the security checkpoints for the resort.

The signs show guests where and where not to stand in order to maintain social distancing at all times within queues.

According to recent talks from the Re-Open Florida Task Force, it’s likely that we’ll see similar social distancing measures throughout queues to enter the parks and within attractions, restaurants, and shows.

Additional reports from @gourmetdyy show that testing within indoor theaters took place this week at Shanghai Disneyland. Cast Members and their guests were seated at every other row, with each party separated by a few seats in order to maintain their distance. Testing also took place yesterday for parades and shows, however details on how guests will be distanced for parades and nighttime spectaculars have yet to be released. So far, character dining has resumed at Lumiere’s Kitchen in Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, and we’ve also seen the use of expanded Health QR Codes at all resort venues.

No official reopening date has been released for Shanghai Disneyland, but with schools set to reopen across Shanghai from April 27 through May 11, many are anticipating a full reopening soon.

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.