We’re live from Disney’s Animal Kingdom today for the grand reopening of the park. We have already shared a first look at some of the changes during the Annual Passholder preview (which you can see below).

Today, we’re taking a look at new procedures, crowds, wait times, and more!

We will be updating this post throughout the day, so be sure to check back. And if you have any questions about the changes and the new procedures, please let us know! We will do our best to get you the answers you need.

Reopening Day

Parking

The first cars were able to pay and enter the parking lot at 7:40AM this morning. As we’ve seen previously, Disney has signs reminding guests to use cashless payments when able.

We were directed to park our cars in every other spot. This has been a standard procedure since Disney Springs reopened. Cast Members will fill in the spots near your car after you have after you exit the car.

Rideshare is still an option, but just as a reminder, Minnie Vans are unavailable at this time.

Bag and Temperature Checks

The bag and temperature check operated the same as it did during the Annual Passholder preview. The only thing we were instructed to remove from our bags were umbrellas.

Read more about bag checks below or by clicking HERE!

Entering the Park

A few hand sanitizer locations are available as you enter the park.

Today, we scanned our MagicBands like normal but we did not scan our finger. 

Read more about Disney removing finger scanners here!

Wait Times and Crowds

Crowds were pretty light this morning.

Once inside the park, a large majority of the group headed straight for Flight of Passage.

The wait time was posted for 10 mins when we arrived at the entrance around 8:05 this morning.

You can read more about the changes to Flight of Passage here!!

Crowds continued to stay light throughout the day.

Here’s a look at wait times around 9:10AM.

Overall, they have remained pretty low so far.

Wait times later in the morning (around 11AM) were still low. Times fluctuated between 5 and 15 minutes.

Wait times have continued to stay relatively steady throughout the afternoon — as of 2PM, all available attractions had waits of 5 to 10-minutes.

And wait times continued to stay low throughout the rest of the day as well! At 5PM, all of the open attractions had a 5-minute wait.

With the park closing at 6PM today, wait times have stayed consistently low all day long.

Attractions Updates

Even with a party of one, we had a whole row to ourselves on Kilimanjaro Safaris for social distancing.

Even with social distancing measures, the wait times for Expedition Everest stayed low throughout the day.

Table Service and Lounge Updates

We received a QR code menu when dining at Tiffins.

Some tables had signs that indicated they were intentionally left empty for the purpose of social distancing.

Nomad Lounge is not offering drinks to go — guests must sit at a table either inside or outside. There is no bar seating, and guests can’t be served at the bar.

Quick Service Updates

We spotted a sign outside of Restaurantosaurus reminding guests about Mobile Order.

Even around lunchtime, the lines seemed to stay short at the quick service locations we passed.

Annual Passholder Preview

Parking

Passholders were permitted to head into Animal Kingdom parking at 7:30AM for the preview. Attendants were parking cars in every other space so that guests can physical distance as they get out.

Bag and Temperature Checks

Temperature checks are done with handheld infrared thermometers in large white tents. Remember, these checks are administered by AdventHealth professionals.

Then it’s onto bag check. The new process here has you keeping all items in your bags and carrying them through the detectors.

If your bags trigger the sensor, you may be subject to a no-touch bag search.

Health Measures

There is signage regularly placed to remind guests to physical distance from one another.

The Disney trash cans even had some health reminders. Note that the trash can lid is pulled back so you don’t need to touch it when throwing something away.

All around the park, we noticed physical distancing and directional stickers on the ground.

Note that water fountains were in operation.

And we found a water bottle refill station at Avatar Flight of Passage that was working.

Several interactive experiences were unavailable in Pandora. The drums had stickers saying, “Please do not touch.”

Colors of Moara face painting was closed.

The seed pod was roped off to keep guests from interacting with it.

Photopass photographers were out and about! They have distanced queues and we were told that you do need to wear your mask in photos.

Relaxation Stations

There is one Relaxation Station (where guests can remove masks) at Pizzafari.

Crowds and Wait Times

Right at the start of the day, Avatar Flight of Passage was registering a five-minute wait. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this wait time as more guests arrive at the park.

As we expected, wait times had gone up a lot by the time we got off Flight of Passage. The queue wrapped into the outdoor portion and was marked at 50 minutes.

In general, though, wait times in the park were pretty low around 10AM.

Attraction Updates

There have been a number of changes so that attractions comply with safety measures.

Avatar Flight of Passage

In the queue, the restrooms for Flight of Passage were available.

We noticed physical distancing stickers and plexiglass barriers throughout the queue.

The pre-show WAS operating, but when we went in there were only three parties (five people) in the room. The biggest difference we noticed was that guests were not matched with an Avatar.

Possibly because of how early we were there we were only with the other two parties from our pre-show in the ride room.This is where we were handed 3D glasses and hand sanitizer was stationed nearby. We were seated at least two banshees apart.

Click here to learn more about riding Flight of Passage in a reopened Disney World!

It’s Tough to Be a Bug!

The pre-show for It’s Tough to Be a Bug had dots for distancing. It’s one party of four or less to each dot. In the theater, parties of four or less can sit together but the seating is every other row and there are seats between parties.

Wilderness Explorers

You can still gather Wilderness Explorer badges around the park.

Quick Service Updates

There are a good number of changes to quick service dining too.

Satu’li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen wasn’t quite open when we got there this morning, but we did spot Mobile Order signs outside.

Some of the outdoor seating was marked as unavailable for physical distancing.

Creature Comforts

You can still get your caffeine fix with physical distancing stickers and tables at Creature Comforts.

Flame Tree Barbecue

Flame Tree Barbecue heavily encourages Mobile Order and a distanced queue is used for pick-up.

Pongu Pongu

Pongu Pongu featured distancing stickers, hand-sanitizer stations, and plexiglass dividers at the counter.

Table Service and Lounge Updates

Here’s a look at the changes we’re seeing in table service and lounges.

Tiffins

Tiffins wasn’t open yet when we stopped by but we noticed distancing stickers and hand sanitizer.

There is also signage here to encourage the use of the Mobile Dine Check-In option.

Nomad Lounge

Nomad Lounge wasn’t open yet either. We spotted a marked out queue.

Plus, the seating on the patio is spaced out.

Shopping Updates

The way we shop in Animal Kingdom has changed.

Discovery Trading Company

Stores have lowered capacity. If there are too many people inside a Cast Member will control entry.

There are directional signs in most of the stores. Discovery Trading Company had a designated entrance and exit and signs directing guests to checkout.

There was sanitizer as you left the shop.

Windtraders

Windtraders in Pandora had some similar distancing markers to other shops and some altered offerings. The Create Your Own Na’vi Action Figure offering was unavailable. While we were there, guests were limited to one banshee when adopting because there was a line.

Remember, we will be updating this throughout the day and the WEEK, so be sure to check back.

Follow along with us LIVE from Magic Kingdom here! 

When are you planning to visit Disney World? What questions do you have? Let us know in the comments below.