Update – A Walk With The Mouse

Update to Disney Cruise Line Health & Safety Policies

Posted on September 1, 2022September 1, 2022 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Beginning Sept. 23, 2022, for sailings aboard the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Wonder and beginning Nov. 7, 2022, for sailings aboard the Disney Magic, fully vaccinated Guests are no longer required to participate in COVID-19 testing in order to sail. Guests who are NOT fully vaccinated must continue providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken one to 3 days before the sail date. However, Guests who are not fully vaccinated will no longer be required to complete a second test at the terminal on embarkation day.

The following SeaMail will be sent to guests who have booked through travel agents on impacted sailings:

Dear [Guest Who Booked Through A Travel Agent],

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 testing requirements for your sailing.

Earlier this month, we communicated that beginning on September 2, 2022, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, Disney Cruise Line will only require Guests ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Additionally, beginning September 23, 2022, for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings departing the U.S., fully vaccinated Guests are no longer required to participate in COVID-19 testing. Unvaccinated Guests (ages 11 and younger) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-3 days before the sail date. Unvaccinated Guests will no longer be required to complete a second COVID-19 test at the terminal on embarkation day. Acceptable vaccines and testing information for Guests ages 11 and younger can be found in the Know Before You Go section of DisneyCruise.com.

	*COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings from the U.S. beginning September 23, 2022*	*Face Coverings*
Fully Vaccinated Guests(All guests ages 12 and over)	No testing required.	Optional
Not Fully Vaccinated Guests(Ages 11 and younger)	Pre-Embarkation Testing:COVID-19 test 1-3 days before the sail date. The test must be a rapid or lab-based PCR test, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.	Optional, Highly Recommended

Upload Proof of Vaccination and/or COVID-19 Test Results

In order to sail, all guests 12 and older (who are required to be vaccinated), plus those under 12 that are vaccinated, must upload their proof of vaccination to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Unvaccinated Guests must upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Uploading these documents is a requirement for adults and children, regardless of age. A parent or legal guardian will need to use their own account to provide this information on behalf of minors. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.

The Disney Dream docks at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. In a setting of crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white-sand beaches and lush landscapes, the 1,000-acre island offers one-of-a-kind areas and activities for every member of the family. (David Roark, photographer)

After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the words “Clear to Arrive” or “Clear to Sail” in the Pre-Sail Screening section when they log into their Safe Passage account before arriving at the port.

It is also recommended that Guests bring a copy of their proof of vaccination or negative COVID- test result with them to the port. Guests who fail to upload proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results may be delayed or denied boarding. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at 877-250-5132.

Back-to-Back Sailings

Guests who are not fully vaccinated and traveling on back-to-back sailings will be required to complete a COVID-19 test between sailings, paid for by Disney Cruise Line.

Guests Recently Recovered from COVID-19

In some cases, people who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If Guests have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date, they may qualify to be considered as “90-Day-Recovered,” with the appropriate documentation and subsequent approval. Not-fully vaccinated Guests who are considered “90-Day-Recovered” are not required to participate in COVID-19 testing during the pre-embarkation phase of their voyage. For details on what documentation is required, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.

Online Check-in

You must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to your sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Please be aware that Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time, and Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish September 23, 2022, through December 31, 2022 may modify or cancel their sailing by September 12, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after September 13, 2022.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Makes Major Update to Controversial Genie+, Lightning Lane Service

Posted on February 1, 2022February 1, 2022 by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort Guests have been getting used to a brand new system over the course of the last few months.

Disney unveiled Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane services as its new fast pass system last fall, meaning that Guests could pay an extra $15 per person to book reservations for attractions and use the ‘lightning lane’ instead of waiting in the regular queue.

However, the returns have not been great.

Many Disney Park Guests have been upset that they haven’t been able to book the attractions they’ve wanted to get reservations and some have noted inflated wait times on rides. Others have reported problems and glitches within the app and on Disney Genie’s opening day at Disneyland Resort, the feature crashed.

However, the latest feature should prove to be one that is both convenient and necessary for groups traveling to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort alike.

Theme Park Reporter Scott Gustin shared on Twitter that the Walt Disney World app had been updated to now include a linking code feature. This means that Guests who travel with a party, whether that be family or friends, can now easily link their accounts to book Disney Genie+, lightning lane, and dining reservations using a simple QR code.

The Walt Disney World app has been updated and now includes a “linking code” feature to make it easier to connect with family and friends. After you open your QR linking code under My Profile, a friend can scan and link your accounts to book Genie+, Lightning Lane, etc.

The Walt Disney World app has been updated and now includes a “linking code” feature to make it easier to connect with family and friends.

After you open your QR linking code under My Profile, a friend can scan and link your accounts to book Genie+, Lightning Lane, etc. pic.twitter.com/IJWuu8MD1o
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 31, 2022

If you’ve ever attempted to add family or friends in the previous way, you know that the app can be difficult and locations can be spotty at best. This new feature will make connecting a breeze!

Imagineering the Disney Wish: Construction Updates

Posted on December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via Disney Destinations

Guest staterooms are truly a home at sea — they are peaceful, calming, functional and infused with enchanting details that make them uniquely Disney. The story of how the staterooms came to find their home on the Disney Wish is nearly as magical as the end result!

The design process begins with collaboration. Walt Disney Imagineering spent years working with designers and artists to examine every detail; carefully considering how color, light and shapes interact to ensure the environment we create is both restful and magical. Since the majority of the finished pieces for the Disney Wish were fabricated offsite, our team built hundreds of mockups prior to final construction in order to visualize how everything is coming together. It is all about the attention to detail!

Once the design is finalized, we hit “full steam ahead” on the production line! The 1,254 staterooms are manufactured on an assembly line, where each piece is carefully installed on a conveyor belt. That includes everything from furniture and walls to artwork and lighting.

The final magic touch is when the staterooms are placed on the ship. That’s right – a crane lifts each one and places it on the Disney Wish.

Staterooms are the perfect blend of what Imagineering does best: artistry and technical perfection. It is a priority for every aspect of our design to be both narratively beautiful and highly functional to provide Guests with the best experience! Everything we do is with our Guests in mind.

When the Disney Wish sets sail next June and Guests are finally at rest after a day of adventure and enchantment, we hope they can feel just a little more magic knowing each piece was carefully designed to bring Disney stories to life.

Phased Reopening Update

Posted on April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via DisneyLists.com

During the phased reopening of Walt Disney World, Disney has publicly stated that it has been operating around 35% capacity. In the last month, with spring break crowds, the parks have been nearly full, and park reservations have been more and more difficult to come by. We have received many messages from guests who were unprepared and did not have park reservations for their upcoming vacation that was days away. It’s terribly disappointing, but it is avoidable with a little planning.

1 – Check Park Availability First and Check Often!

We cannot stress enough how important it is to make your park reservations as soon as possible (like immediately) after purchasing your tickets. As noted above, we’ve received messages from guests disappointed and upset that they couldn’t get park reservations for their upcoming vacation. Don’t let that happen to you. Before you purchase tickets, check park availability! (Click here to view). You may be surprised at the lack of park reservations for the days you are planning on visiting. For example…

You can make a park reservation under three different categories: Theme Park Tickets, Select Resort Hotels, and Annual Passes. As of writing this article, for both Theme Park Tickets and Select Resort Guests, the next day that park reservations are available for Magic Kingdom is June 19—just under two months away. The next time a Disney’s Hollywood Studios park reservation is July 3! That park has the most demand because of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Generally, Magic Kingdom, then Animal Kingdom fill up next, and usually, EPCOT is the easiest park to get a reservation.

Once you see what parks are available or not available, you can decide the dates you want to visit. Perhaps your dates are flexible. It’s easier to move your dates around if you have not booked a resort or purchased date-specific tickets. With park reservation availability in mind, you can then decide what kind of ticket you should purchase, which leads us to…

2 – Purchasing Tickets – Consider the Park Hopper Option

Under “normal” operations, a Park Hopper Option may not be the best purchase because it adds a lot to the overall cost of tickets. However, you should seriously consider paying for the Park Hopper Option during the phased reopening. That option will allow you to visit other parks after 2:00 pm that you may not be able to get a park reservation. If you can only get park reservations for EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, you could then at least plan to visit the other two parks after 2:00 pm, allowing you to visit all four parks. Do note that if you park hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you will not be able to join the Virtual Queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Again, you’ll need to check the park availability calendar to see how limited park reservations are and decide if it is needed.

3 – Purchasing Tickets – Annual Passes Still Not Available

Disney has still not resumed sales for annual passes, although current passholders may renew their passes. Many people canceled their passes last August, so passholders have the best availability options for park reservations. Even during the busy holiday season last year, I was able to get same-day or next-day park reservations. The last month during spring break was a different story. Now, as a passholder, park reservations are full for multiple weekends and full for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom during the week. If you are an annual passholder, you, too, will need to plan ahead. Do note that passholders are still limited to only have three park reservations at a time, which makes it even more challenging to get those high-demand park reservations!

4 – Park Hours and Capacity

Recently, park hours and park reservation availability were expanded for the month of June. Rumors are swirling that Disney is about to raise capacity for the summer due to demand. We do expect that capacity will be increased soon as more and more people get vaccinated. When capacity limits are raised, more park reservations will be available. But demand is so high that those spots will fill quickly. When availability was added to June, new park reservation spots filled up within hours. You will need to check the park availability calendar regularly if you are looking for a reservation on a particular day for a specific park.

5 – What to Expect as 2021 Rolls On

Everyone is yearning to “get back to normal,” but of course, no one knows when that will be. As we noted, as more and more people get vaccinated, Disney may alter their modified operations. They recently allowed guests to remove facial coverings while stationary for photos. We noted that capacity limits will likely get raised. But many, many restaurants still remain closed, making dining a challenge, whether it’s getting a Mobile Order spot or a getting a table service reservation. As more people come, wait times have steadily increased, and FastPass+ is still temporarily suspended. Most resorts are still closed, and only four have been given reopening dates. There are a lot of unknowns but a lot to look forward to as well! The Festival of the Lion King is returning in May, the 50^thAnniversary Celebration kicks off on October 1, 2021, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open also on October 1. Visiting during 2021 will still have its challenges, but it can still be magical if you plan ahead.