During this difficult time, we know that many of our readers want to be kept up to date on news that may speak to the Disney Parks closures. This is why you’ll see this type of content on our blog. But if you only come to our site from social media, this may be all you see. The majority of our content continues to focus on Disney vacations, restaurants, attractions, and, of course, food. Please head to our latest posts here to see what we’re writing about today!
The Disney parks aren’t the only places closed for business due to the global health crisis. Much of the country is currently contending with closures and economic pause on an unprecedented scale.
Disneyland Main Entrance
Many around the nation are turning to health and government officials for guidance, and today the Federal has issued its “Guidelines: Opening Up America Again,” a phased approach to drawing back current recommended restrictions.
We’ve identified some specific points in the guidelines that may give more insight into what would need to happen before the Disney Parks can safely resume operations. Let’s take a look.
Responsibility Falls To the States
Possibly the most important point coming out of the Federal Guidelines is that the guidelines themselves are “implementable on a statewide or county-by-county basis at governors’ discretion.”
Throughout this crisis, Disney has made closure decisions with guidance from state and local health and political officials…and, it seems, will likely continue to do so.
Disney World During Closures ©WESH 2
This means that the reopenings of Disney World and Disneyland — from dates to procedures to health screening approaches — could look very different based on the state crisis profile and the cautionary approach taken by state officials.
For example, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has noted that mass gatherings likely won’t be happening in the state for several months. When asked for specifics, he stated “When you suggest June, July, August, it is unlikely.” And Florida’s Surgeon General would prefer to wait for a vaccine before allowing mass gatherings.
Phase 1 Allows Restaurants And Other Large Venues To Operate, But Bars Should Remain Closed
To enter Phase 1 of the new Federal Guidelines, states have to fulfill “gating criteria,” including sustained reductions in symptoms and cases as well as the ability for hospitals to treat all patients without crisis care. But once states enter Phase 1 of “Opening Up American Again,” things look very different than they do now.
In Phase 1, maximizing physical distance from others is still important, but “Large Venues (e.g. sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under strict physical distancing protocols.”
Topolino’s Terrace in Disney’s Riviera Resort
However, the Guidelines also state for Phase 1 that “All individuals, when in public (e.g. parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others. Social settings of more than 10 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practical, should be avoided unless precautionary measures are observed.” And they clarify that people should “Avoid socializing in groups of 10 or more people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing (e.g. receptions, trade shows).”
If California and Florida generally follow these guidelines and enter into Phase 1, that means we could see the Disney Parks slowly reopen with an approach similar to what we currently see in Shanghai Disneyland.
Shanghai Disneyland
The Parks themselves opening may not suit the guidelines in Phase 1 (due to the difficulty of ensuring physical distancing in so many circumstances), but opening shops and restaurants — and possibly even movie theaters — could be conceivable. So we may see Disney Springs and Downtown Disney reopening before we see the parks open their gates.
Employer Guidelines Suggest Temperature Checks and Screening in All Phases
Currently, Shanghai Disneyland is requiring temperature checks from guests, and Bob Iger has discussed potentially doing so in the domestic parks.
But the Federal Guidelines for employers, as essential employees begin to return to work, recommend social distancing and protective equipment, temperature checks, testing employees and isolating those who are ill, sanitation, disinfection of common and high-traffic areas, and best practices for business travel — for ALL PHASES.
Disney World during closures ©WESH 2
This means that even when states are in Phase 3 of the “opening” plan — which includes states meeting the “gating criteria” three successive times with no rebounds — the recommendation for employers seems to be continuing temperature checks.
If guidelines are followed, Cast Members and potentially guests would quickly experience a new normal — including various potential health screenings — when Disney World and Disneyland reopen.
Phase 2 Addresses 50-Person Social Gatherings and Fewer Limitations on Large Venue Operation
To enter Phase 2 of the Federal 3-Phase plan, states or local areas will need to achieve the “gating criteria” (including sustained reductions in symptoms and cases as well as the ability for hospitals to treat all patients without crisis care) two times and see no evidence of a rebound in cases, at which point recommendations for social settings change significantly.
In Phase 2, “Social settings of more than 50 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practical, should be avoided unless precautionary measures are observed,” “Large Venues…can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols,” and “Bars may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy where applicable and appropriate.”
Nomad Lounge in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In this situation, there may be potential for the actual Disney theme parks to open…with several capacity limitations and physical restrictions for guests.
Here we might see social distancing protocol required in the parks, phased reopenings for some sections of the parks, and modifications made to some attractions to avoid congregating in the same area groups of over 50 people at once.
Click HERE to See Capacity Limits, Modifications, and Phased Openings We Might See When Disney World Reopens.
Phase 2 Addresses The Re-Introduction of Non-Essential Travel
Finally, Phase 2 of the Guidelines is also the first mention that non-essential travel could resume safely. This is crucial for Disneyland and (especially) Walt Disney World when it comes to the bottom line.
The Disney park closures are costing the Walt Disney Company millions each day. And despite the debt Disney is assuming, it will still take a significant amount of time to recover financially from this massive hit across their entire multi-media enterprise.
Orlando International Airport
If non-essential travel begins to increase, guests could again feel comfortable traveling to the parks, which could help the company begin to recoup at least some of its financial loss during the crisis.
But Is This How It Will Go?
Again, the Federal Guidelines clearly state that the matter is in the hands of the local and state governments, and that they are free to implement these guidelines as they see fit.
We’ve already seen very different approaches to current and future protocol in Florida and California, so we can only speculate whether or not these guidelines will factor into their upcoming strategies.
As always, we here at Disney Food Blog will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated on the latest information. We have readers e-mailing and messaging us every single day asking about our predictions for the reopening of the Disney parks. And while we cannot make predictions, we can report facts and information. Hopefully this will help guide you as you determine the best next steps for your Disney vacations.
More Disney Park Closure Details and Info
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Lots of luck with food festivals!! 😕😕😕
As long as there are temperature checks we won’t go.
This is not in protest but simple risk/reward
You risk losing your entire trip if one person happens to have a high temperature. It could be high for any reason.
Say bye bye plane tickets, money wasted, bye to the enjoyment of the entire trip.
Disney is ridiculously expensive, I can’t imagine taking that risk. We’re not locals nor rich, so it’s not as simple as driving home.
@DebC — You are woefully misinformed. Disney absolutely has the right to set any type of guidelines they wish regarding access to their parks except in the case of protected categories — race, religion, sex, age, and sexual orientation. Just as you are required to wear appropriate clothing, have a ticket, not bring certain items into the parks, undergo metal detection and bag checks, and follow rules of behavior, they absolutely have the right to require a health screening to enter the park. No one has the right to enter a theme park. Disney is not obligated to anyone. It is not public land or public access. It is a private business that is permitted to have whatever operational restrictions and guidelines they deem appropriate. In accordance with your argument, most people don’t bring weapons into the park, so we shouldn’t have bag checks. Most people are honest, so they shouldn’t check to make sure you have a ticket or a FastPass. Most people know how to behave appropriately, so there shouldn’t be barriers like ropes or signs. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? So does your argument. You don’t get to decide that people with health problems should just be rejected from life because you feel you are too important to be held accountable. Your right to “freedom” stops at my right to life.
Per Dr. Fauci, 25% to as many as 50% of those infected with COVID-19 could be asymptomatic. Temperature checks in and of themselves is NOT a guarantee a person is free of the virus. I believe that Disney has the right to at least check temperature and I would not be surprised if they require proof of vaccine inoculation when that becomes available.
So it looks to me like with a little creative thinking Disney could open up in phase 1. At the entrances to the line simply monitor the amount of people to pass, and then have the next group stand 6 to 10′ behind the 1st group. Phase 2 and 50 people can enter, same thing 50 people enter ask the next group to stay 6 to 10′ away problem solved. The already assign groups of people to staging platforms on the rides, it seems like this would be a simple work around.
Absolutely Disney, or any other large gathering or lodging space (Stadium, Church, Convention Center, Hotel, Resort) have the right to take your temperature and refuse entry. Same with the airlines. Your illness can affect hundreds if not thousands in a single day.
Walt Disney World (and most any other large gathering space) is private property. You enter by meeting the requirements set by the venue. ANY venue can refuse entry to you for any reason so long as they are not violating laws. If you refuse a temperature check, then no entry. You have no recourse.
People. Actually like less crowded parks
They cut down on. Wait times a win for them
Well Florida opened the beaches so they’ll undoubtedly be packed full of people. We’ll see in the next week or so how many of them will end up sick.
Personally I don’t have any more problem with the temp checks than the bag checks.
I don’t mind the temp checks, but I just don’t see them being effective.
1) I can run a temp just from park hopping. One morning, for example, I was at Hollywood Studios at 7 am to, hopefully, get a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance. However, I was only there that morning because the previous morning when I was at Hollywood Studios, I got a back up boarding group that I could not ride. So, I tried again – and got lucky! Boarding group 38 – rather early. I had planned that day to be in Animal Kingdom, though, and I had a Fast Pass for Flight of Passage at 8:30 am..so I left Hollywood Studios at 8 am (park open) and headed on a bus to Animal Kingdom where I ran to Pandora. I got there a bit early for my Fast Pass, so I rode Navi River Journey with its very short line, then got on Flight of Passage. As I exited, m boarding group got called, so I headed back to Hollywood studios where I walked with purpose to make it to Rise of the Resistance. I got on!…but there were delays, so by the time I exited, it was time for my dining reservation at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom…back to the bus then walking quickly since I only had about ten minutes to get to Africa and my reservation. I made it to the breakfast, but by then, I was exhausted. If you had taken my temp at any point in the entire morning other than, perhaps before entering Hollywood Studios the first time, I am fairly certain you would have seen a high temp. I wasn’t sick. I was hurrying to be able to ride the two ones I wanted that morning. (By the way, after that meal, I crashed, took a nap, and then went to EPCOT to ride Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, and Journey to Imagination, then I figured I might as well try for all 4 parks in one day, so off to Magic Kingdom for a ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and then Space Mountain. did I have fun?? YES! Was I moving a lot ? ABSOLUTELY?
2) I can cover up a fever with medicine. It is widely known that Tylenol, Advil, Bayer, and other over the counter medicines will lower fevers if you are sick. So, even if EVERYONE with COVID was running a fever the ENTIRE time they had it and NOT ONE COVID-infected person was asymptomatic, you would STILL be able to let sick people in by simply taking temps. Now, would I do this? No, since I’m not going to a park if I’m sick. I won’t have fun and I’d prefer to lie in bed watching tv and eating soup. Would a parent of a child who has been planning a trip for a year or more do this to avoid losing out on funds? Very possibly, even likely.
Although not considered here in this article, politics and agendas of state and local elected leadership will be factors in the “opening criteria”. Although the levels of COVID-19 impact varies between state to state and the major hotspot of New York, anyone who does not think that Left leaning politicians are not using this pandemic to impose their will on the people, are naive at best.
Ashley: No, Florida didn’t open all the beaches. Only Jacksonville opened beaches to people to go for a walk on the beach. No chairs, no blankets, only limited hours each day and they had to maintain six feet from others. My beach has been closed for about a month to any one who doesn’t live right on the beach and there is a private beach where they live.
DDS: The Federal Government did not shut down Disney World or Disneyland. Disney made the decision to shut them down. The Mayor of Orange County made the decision that Orange County would stay shut down, not the Federal Government. Being a Federal Republic, the states make their own decisions for the state and the Federal Government offers assistance. In the states where the citizens are protesting, they are protesting the governors’ overreach which violate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, such as limiting what people can purchase, what they can do outside and when they can do it outside or shutting down churches.
One cannot compare California, Florida and Shanghai as one COVID 19 group. It’s apples, oranges and grapes. The COVID numbers are so different to begin with and I have not heard of one. NOT ONE person that has contracted the coronavirus at Disney World(unless I missed something). We were there 5 days before closing and are perfectly fine. We were at Busch Gardens, Tampa, the day before. Nothing. Disney World should begin it’s soft opening by May 1st, then phase 1 and so on.