What’s Open & What’s Not When Disney World Parks Reopen
Disney on Parade for Weekend of June 20th, 2020
Key Messages Around Park Experiences
- Spaceship Earth will reopen with Epcot on July 15th. The planned refurbishment is “on pause”.
- Virtual queues, to include Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will not be in play.
- FastPass+ service is suspended as management utilizes all queue space to manage capacity at attractions while maintaining physical distancing.
- Single riders will not have an optional queue for the above reasons stated for FastPass+
Attractions Not Open:
Magic Kingdom
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘n Soak Station
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
- Main Street Vehicles
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Walt Disney World Railroad (was suspended for construction prior)
Epcot
- Advanced Training Lab
- Image Works–The What If Labs
- Beauty and the Beast Sing Along
- Kidcot will be modified
- Museum Galleries?
- Turtle Talk with Crush. Note: Since the podcast, Disney has removed this attraction as well from its offerings in the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Jr. Live
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along
- Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Droid Depot Experience and Store was mentioned but not Savi’s Workshop
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (forgot to mention this in the podcast)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- The Boneyard
- Fossil Fun Games
- Finding Nemo the Musical
- UP! The Great Adventure
- Primeval Whirl (was suspended prior)
- Festival of the Lion King. Note: This has subsequently been removed as a show after I recorded the podcast. So it too will not be performing.
New Character Cavalcade Entertainment
All traditional character greetings will be on temporary hiatus. This includes getting personal 1:1 photos and autographs. But guests will be able to see characters from a distance in special spots around the park. Entertainment will focus on special cavalcade and motorcades featuring Disney characters and musical groups. This includes:
Magic Kingdom
- The Royal Princess Processional
- Mickey & Friends Cavalcade
- Fantasyland Friend Cavalcade
- A Goofy Cavalcade
- Tinker Bell & The Lost Treasure
Epcot
- Frozen Promenade
- Mickey & Friends World Tour
- Princess Promenade
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney Junior Stars Motorcade
- Mickey & Friends Motorcade
- Pixar Motorcade
- Missing–Star Wars showcase of any kind
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Discovery River Character Cruise
- Discovery Island Drummers
- Donald’s Dino Boat Bash
- Mickey & Friends Flotilla
Booking a Hotel in 2020
Later this summer, we will resume sales of 2020 tickets and Disney Resort hotel arrivals, based on availability of park reservations, while we continue to provide Guests with existing tickets and Annual Passholders the opportunity to make park reservations for 2020 dates.
Booking a Hotel in 2021
Visiting Magic Kingdom Park by June 28, all Guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as Disney’s phased reopening continues. Guests will be able to view park reservation availability online prior to purchasing their tickets.
If Guests have a room-only reservation at a Disney Resort or other select hotel for a stay in 2021, guests are invited to call the Disney Reservation Center or call your travel professional beginning on June 24 to upgrade to a vacation package with tickets—and then make your theme park reservations.
Annual Passholder Preview
Weekday Select, Theme Park Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Passholders will have the opportunity to register for a special preview at Magic Kingdom park or Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park on July 9 or 10. Email invitations with registration details will be sent out soon.
- During the limited capacity period, it may be difficult for Annual Passholders to get park reservations to visit on certain dates.
- All Annual Passholders are eligible to make Theme Park reservations for up to 3 days at a time, or Annual Passholders staying at select Disney Resort or other select hotels with valid Theme Park admission are eligible to make Theme Park reservations for their entire Resort length of stay. All reservations are subject to availability and applicable pass blockout dates.
- Guests should ensure their pass type is valid for park entry prior to making a park reservation.
Cast Member Previews
Disney World cast previews will be on July 7th & 8th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and July 13th & 14th for Hollywood Studios and Epcot. This is for working and furloughed cast members, but they can only pick one park on one day. Cast members will be able to bring up to 3 additional guests or the total number of eligible dependents on your Main Entrance Pass. This is a first come, first served offer. More details to follow on when to register and how.
Making Park Reservations
- June 22: Disney Park Pass system opens to guests with a confirmed Disney Resort Hotel reservation and linked valid theme park admission (including Annual Passes).
- June 26: Disney Park Pass system opens to all Annual Passholders.
- June 28: Disney Park Pass system opens to all other existing ticket holders.
Park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, based on your Resort stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window.
If you booked a vacation package, your ticket eligibility is tied to your package travel dates. To make a park reservation for a different date, be sure to modify your vacation package dates.
Key Details:
- It is believed that for all three dates access to making reservations will happen at 7 am ET.
- Reservations are limited and subject to availability and are not guaranteed until a reservation is finalized.
- At this time, Guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations.
- A park reservation must be made for each day of entry. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.
- We highly recommend that you make your park reservation as soon as you complete your ticket purchase, as availability can change until the reservation is finalized.
- There is no park hopping at this time.
Share Your Opinion–You Might Win!
In the days to come, I’ll share with you my time at Walt Disney World and beyond. The best thing I ever did was work at Walt Disney World. The second best thing I ever did was leave. But more about that on another day.
Meanwhile, we need your input about our podcasts, posts, videos and more. Please take the time to share with us your insights and opinions about Disney at Work and Play. It will only take about 8-10 minutes and it will offer us important feedback about how we could provide you a better experience. Take our survey by June 30th. One lucky individual will win a Disney at Play Prize Package to include:
- Copy of The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember
- Copy of The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World
- Copy of The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney
- Copy of Everything I need to Know I Learned From a Disney Little Golden Book
- Disney Animal Kingdom Cast Member Carry Bag
- 2005 Walt Disney Company Annual Report with Disneyland 50th Anniversary Cover
- Character Stickers
- Book Marks
- Bumper Stickers
- Park Brochures
- So Much More!
We assure you that you’ll have fun plowing through this Disney at Play Prize Package. So please share with us your input! Visit us below:
