Walt Disney World: reopening on July 11th

27 May Walt Disney World: reopening on July 11th

Here are the plans for the gradual reopening of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.

Resort Hotels and Disney Stores:

Throughout these past few months, we have been touched by the outpouring of support from our Guests and fans around the world who have shared their favorite Disney memories and even replicated their favorite attractions at home. Everyone who has visited a Disney theme park has their own special connection to these magical worlds and the incredible cast members bring that magic to life.

Following the recent reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World® Resort, we are pleased to share that more Disney magic will be returning. 

Today Disney submitted a proposal to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida outlining our approach to a phased reopening of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks planned to begin July 11.

Pending Orange County and state approval, our proposed Walt Disney World Resort plans: Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Animal Kingdom will begin a phased reopening to the general public on July 11, followed by EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios on July 15 preparing to reopen during this unusual time, we have to manage our theme parks in a very different way than we have known before. 

As we begin to reach out to our Cast Members and call them back to work, they will focus on operating our parks responsibly, which continues to provide our Guests with opportunities to create magical Disney memories.

This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing. That means that certain experiences that we know attract large groups, such as parades and Fireworks nights will open at a later date. In addition, "high-touch" experiences such as costumes and makeovers, playgrounds and character meet-and-greets will be temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests.

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited as we welcome returning guests, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all Guests to obtain a reservation to enter the park in advance. At this time, we have paused new ticket sales and hotel reservations at Disney Resort so that we can focus on Guests with existing tickets and reservations (Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations). 

Existing and annual pass holders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; we will be reaching out to these Guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new ticket sales and hotel reservations after that time period. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance and will be subject to availability. More details on this new reservation system will be available soon.

In addition, Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will reopen to members and guests and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin reopening June 22.

Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will also open to members and guests beginning June 15. Plans to support the required physical distancing as well as enhanced housekeeping measures, along with a number of other safety and housekeeping protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening.

Today, our World of Disney retail store reopened at our Disney Springs shopping and dining complex in Walt Disney World. And in the coming weeks, Disney Stores will begin a phased reopening of operations globally, starting with a select number of stores in the United States, in addition to stores in Europe and Japan.

We look forward to reopening our Disney Resort theme parks, hotels and stores and doing so responsibly. In this spirit, our destinations will continue to follow enhanced safety protocols based on applicable guidance from health authorities and government agencies. As we must all work together to promote the health and safety of all, cast members (workers in the parks), as well as guests ages 3 and older, will be required to wear appropriate face coverings in the theme parks and resort hotel common areas. All guests will also undergo temperature checks prior to entering a theme park; Cast Members will also have temperature checks. Cashless transactions are recommended, and cleaning and disinfection procedures will be increased in high traffic areas.

Additional information on enhanced health and safety measures and operational changes for reopening locations will be shared soon. These policies are under continuous review and are subject to change as we monitor conditions and receive guidance from health and government authorities.

We are being deliberate during these staged reopenings, and we are encouraged by how our Guests at Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs are responding. We are doing our part, and we need our Guests to do their part as well, as we work together to focus on safety.