Epcot will reopen on July 15th with a BUNCH of new health and safety protocols.
Epcot
While guests can expect dining, shopping, and waiting in line to look different, a reported new union agreement suggests that World Showcase could have a BIG change as well.
One of the most unique parts about Epcot’s World Showcase (beyond all the food, of course!) is that each pavilion is staffed by cultural representatives from each country. These Cast Members help to immerse you in each country and can teach guests fun phrases and facts about that location!
Takumi-Tei Cast Members in Epcot’s Japan
But according to LaughingPlace.com, when Epcot reopens, these cultural representatives may be missing from World Showcase. A reported agreement between the Walt Disney Company and labor unions states that Cast Members who “do not meet the culturally authentic theming at Epcot may be temporarily assigned to work in positions which are otherwise reserved for cultural representatives.”
Rose and Crown Outside Bar
Disney previously suspended the cultural representatives program in March and furloughed non-essential employees. And with travel restrictions in place around the world, it may be hard for some of these Cast Members to return to Orlando.
Mexico Pavilion
Of course, we will be sure to check out this situation once Epcot reopens (because situations can always change, especially in Disney World) and we will report back on our findings. What Epcot and the rest of Walt Disney World will look like upon reopening is yet to be seen, but be assured we’ll be there when it happens!
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How do you feel about cultural representatives possibly missing from Epcot? Will that affect your enjoyment of the park? Let us know!
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I wonder how Biergarten will be handled since it is family style dining? It’s one of our favorite places to eat at Epcot.
Tony, we’re also curious if there will be changes to buffet/family style/all you care to enjoy dining. We will be looking into it!
This was confirmed by a UK pavilion CM I know who went back to Scotland. This was conveyed to the international CM’s via their union. She wrote that they honestly are not optimistic that the group that was there in March will ever be back . With no flights, limited duration visas, life moving on etc. it just isn’t feasible for many to return, and those who are able and willing were told it may be a while before they are back.
To be honest, this is just one of many reasons why I won’t be going back to WDW any time soon. Having an American serving me Fish & Chips or letting me on the Frozen adventure sounds like a bad joke. I’ll hold off on Disney until this is all done and it’s more or less back to normal.
Folks,
The only way that Disney is going to return to normal or close to it in any resonable time frame is to withold your money. If you have reservations, cancel them. If not, wait until they get reasonable. Remember, they don’t care anything about you; they only want your money.
The cultural representatives/ambassadors add a wondered charm to the EPCOT experience.
For the safety of these individuals and for the guests now may not be the best time to ask people to travel.
Certainly guests will be understanding of the situation and be patient until until long distance is conserved safe again.
Doug, you’re correct…money talks. It appears there are many people who for a variety of reason will be holding off with their trips. Changes will come based on the bottom line
I hope the parks and resorts open successfully, I won’t be surprised though if they close again based on performance. I dont get the feeling that Disney Springs is overly crowded now that the initial rush to get back has passed.
We love EPCOT and will visit regardless. Awesome opportunities for local cast members. We will enthusiastically welcome back the the cultural reps when they are able to return!
For participants it will be difficult to find enough locals to staff the locations
I just think Disney is in a hole and they are digging themselves in deeper. Not going for a while
Doug says
May 31, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Folks,
The only way that Disney is going to return to normal or close to it in any resonable time frame is to withold your money. If you have reservations, cancel them. If not, wait until they get reasonable. Remember, they don’t care anything about you; they only want your money.
I have posted Far Less Critical comments, and my posts are censored W HY
Disney is just not Disney with all these changes. I don’t like any of them but requiring face mask is an absolute deal breaker for our family and friends. I know a huge network of Disney fans who feel the same.
If the magic of Disney will not be there for you with all the changes, by all means, stay away. There will be enough other people who will come. As a CM, I may be asked to do some things out of my comfort zone, but I will gladly do whatever I need to do to bring back as much magic as I can. We want happy people there, not those who will complain about all the changes that have to be made. If you don’t want to wear a mask and practice social distancing, and you can’t enjoy the parks without parades, fireworks, and character meet and greets, then please stay away until these things return. We’ll be glad to welcome you back then. Thanks.
DFB, now that the WDW is reopening, would you consider running a poll or posing a question asking your followers of this blog how they feel about going to Disney with all the new rules in place? I think it would be interesting to know what other Disney fans are feeling.
Questions like
Did you have a trip planned for 2020
If you had a trip planned are you still going
If you have cancelled your trip was it for:
A- safety reasons
B-financial considerations
C-reduced experience opportunities (no fireworks, character interactions, etc)
D-won’t/can’t wear a mask
E-other
Would you prefer to see the resorts and parks be closed until they can open again without all the restrictions in place
FL residents have you been to Disney Springs since it reopened
DFB, if you did consider doing a pole like this, would you please make sure to include it in your newsletter? Love your Instagram posts, but don’t always check Instagram as much as I read through your newsletters.
Thank you in advance for your consideration my question
Aloha, Poly Lady 2020! We actually have been polling our social media followers and reporting on their perspectives. Here’s one post about it, but if you search “We Asked Our Readers” on DFB, you will find six or so posts. I’ll share your suggestions for topics with the team.
Poly Lady 2020, some of these questions have been in polls before. AJ has referred to them in some of her YouTube videos. Judging by her statements that she won’t hold her viewers to their responses and her tone, I suspect she shares my view that many people’s responses may not reflect what they will actually do or how they might feel. A majority say that they are ready to go on opening day, don’t mind the restrictions, would feel perfectly safe, etc. However, I personally doubt that most of those voting yes would actually go next month, even if they could. My suspicion about why people who vote yes even if they can’t/won’t go is that many of us who do these polls want the parks to reopen/don’t want to Disney to fail and kind of hope that by saying yes Disney and others will see the polls and lead to parks reopening sooner.
My strong hunch is that this summer will be mostly locals, Disney hyper-fanatics and people who already had reservations. With all the restrictions/limitations and with the economic situation I just don’t see most people going. There are several people in my neighborhood who are AP holders (and I asked for a refund on mine), and none of us want to go any time soon. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes and get reviews from “regular” guests (i.e. not just the social media influencers).
Aloha!
Thanks DFB Sarah!
Kris R, I guess I was more curious about how people were feeling now that it is a reality that the parks are opening.
Excellent point about people responding to poles in such way as to support their desire for the parks to open. I hadn’t considered only because I sense many are disenchanted with the potential for their park experience will not be as it has been in the past.
We will be at Disney in October. Whatever the guidelines are at Disney…we are there. Their house, their rules, same as my home. Disney did not ask for the virus. They are following guidelines so they can open for those of us that want to go. We will go and make the best of it.
I’m kinda interested in how the stores will handle crowds, especially those that are an exit for some of the attractions.