It’s been a HUGE WEEK for Disney World news (our heads are still spinning a bit).
Walt Disney World Resort entrance
On top of the announcements that Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival would be coming back with a new twist and the new Disney Park Pass Reservation System’s launch dates, Disney has just dropped ALL kinds of details about what will be reopening in the parks!
MOST of your favorite rides, shops, and attractions as well as entirely new entertainment will be opening up in Disney World starting July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and July 15th for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
But remember — at press time we have confirmed the following important information about the parks reopening:
- Guests will not be able to park hop (i.e. go to more than one Disney World theme park on any given day)
- Disney World will not be using virtual queues, FastPass+, or Single Rider Lines, so guests will only have the option of standing in standby lines for rides and attractions
- Guests are required to wear masks at all times in the theme parks
- Guests’ temperatures will be checked before entering Disney World parks, but not at the resorts
- Guests are required to have both theme park tickets AND a theme park reservation to enter each Disney World park
- Guests will be required to have an Advance Dining Reservation to dine at any Disney World theme park table-service (sit-down) restaurant when the parks reopen
Whew! OK, now that you’re fully ready to go, let’s dive into what you’ll be able to ride and do in the parks when they reopen!
Haunted Mansion
Reopening Disney World Rides and Attractions
The good news is that most Disney World rides and attractions will be available when the parks reopen! (We’ve missed you, Haunted Mansion!). Click the links below to see the full lists!
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Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions Reopening in Disney World
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EPCOT Rides and Attractions Reopening in Disney World
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Animal Kingdom Rides and Attractions Reopening in Disney World
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Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions Reopening in Disney World
By the way, we’re SUPER excited that Spaceship Earth has been officially confirmed as returning to Epcot at the park’s reopening. The ride’s refurbishment has been postponed.
Spaceship Earth Queue
Check out all the details about Spaceship Earth’s re-opening here!
Reopening Disney World Entertainment and Shops
We’ve been grabbing Disney-themed face masks, Minnie Ears, and all sorts of goodies in Disney Springs since the shopping and dining district re-opened. But, Disney World will also be opening multiple stores again in the parks so you can peruse those souvenirs! Click the links below for the full lists!
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Magic Kingdom Entertainment and Shops Reopening in Disney World
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EPCOT Entertainment and Shops Reopening in Disney World
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Animal Kingdom Entertainment and Shops Reopening in Disney World
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Hollywood Studios Entertainment and Shops Reopening in Disney World
Memento Mori
NEW Character Entertainment in the Disney World Parks
Magic Kingdom will get five brand spanking new cavalcades that will go along the parade route, including the Royal Princess Processional, Mickey & Friends Cavalcade, Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade, A Goofy Cavalcade, and the Tinker Bell & the Lost Treasure Cavalcade!
You can also watch a new set of Character Cruises that will make their way around the Discovery River in Animal Kingdom throughout the day! The line-up will include the Discovery River Character Cruise, Discovery Island Drummers, Donald’s Dino Boat Bash!, and Mickey & Friends Flotilla.
Donald Duck at the Dino-Bash
While you’re walking around in EPCOT, you can spot the Frozen Promenade, Mickey & Friends World Tour, and Princess Promenade parading through the World Showcase.
Elsa and Anna Topiary
Since Hollywood Studios has a lot of shows that will be suspended during the initial re-opening, new Character Cavalcades can be spotted instead! You can wave to your favorite characters during the Disney Junior Stars Motorcade, Mickey & Friends Motorcade, and Pixar Motorcade (hiya, pals!!).
What Will Character Interaction Be Like When Disney World Reopens?
Since the parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets will not be returning at this time, we’re really excited to see the new Character Cavalcades in the parks.
Kylo Ren
However, Disney will also be featuring multiple characters who will be roaming through different areas. So, you might spot Kylo Ren trying to pull someone towards the Dark Side at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or Elsa making some icy magic in EPCOT (anything can happen, folks!).
Take a look at what character experience may be like in Disney World here!
Musical Groups Returning When Disney World Reopens
Disney World will also have musical performers and entertainers in the parks, too (even though they’ve only given us “just a few” examples).
The Story of Coco told by Mariachi Cobre
Guests can groove along to the Main Street Philharmonic in Magic Kingdom and the Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors in EPCOT too!
Read more about Disney World’s musical groups returning here!
Reopening Restaurants and Festivals in Disney World’s Theme Parks
While Disney World hasn’t confirmed any Disney World theme park restaurants returning just yet, we have a good idea of some that could be returning. Recently, the Union that represents many Disney World food and beverage cast members published on their facebook page the Disney World theme park restaurants for which Cast Members have recently been called back to work.
Popcorn Carts will for sure be open!
Disney has also begun to list many theme park restaurants on their Mobile Dine Check-In maps on the Disney World website. (FYI, Mobile Dine Check-In is a new, contactless way for guests to let Cast Members know when they’ve arrived at a sit-down restaurant in Disney World.)
Mobile Dine Check In Screenshot
While these restaurants are not confirmed to be opening with the parks, it could be a good sign of the locations Disney is prioritizing. We’ll be here reporting all the latest details on Disney World’s theme park restaurants as soon as they’re announced!
Click Here For Details On Which Disney World Restaurants Have Called Cast Members Back To Work
Whew! OK, hopefully that brings you up to speed on everything reopening in Disney World’s theme parks on July 11th and July 15th!
We’ll be there, opening day (and hopefully before at Annual Passholder previews!) to share the experience with you LIVE! Stay tuned as we update this post with details as they’re announced. Be sure to FOLLOW OUR NEWSLETTER to get all the details sent straight to your inbox as soon as they’re released!
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I just checked and Festival of the Lion King is NOT on the list of returning attractions.
Lois, that’s correct. Having the team update.
So far I haven’t seen Savi Workshop (my daughter wants one thing and ONE THING ONLY and that’s to build her own lightsaber 😆) Do you know anything about its opening? 🤞🏼We will be there first day
Jessica, we haven’t seen any changes yet. We’re watching for info on Savi’s.
I have my fingers crossed for Savi Workshop as we are flying from the uk at the end of August 🤞
i just saw about aulani opening in latest video, Hawaii now has a covid test requirement to enter the state
Any idea when we’ll be able to make dining reservations for July trips? We’re going July 17th and starting to get nervous with no reservations.
Katie, no info yet. We’ll update.
I thought the readon they did away with passfast was because they neen it for the virtual queues they were installing.
It looks like they are pulling bait and switch.
Paul, at the time Disney said they were cancelling FastPass, they said it was in order to use the queue to expand Standby and promote more physical distancing.
I think there WILL be virtual queues for rise of the resistance only.
Annie, yes, Rise will use a modified Virtual Queue.
Any word if Columbia Harbor House reopening soon?
Fred, no word on this yet.
When will Artist Point opening?
Lauren, no word on this.
WE ARE COMING IN feb. OTHERS LIKE TO HAVE BREAKFAST AT TRAILS END IN THE CAMPGROUND. ANY WORD ON OPENING?
TtR
Bob, not yet. We will update as things change!
Is there any info on when and if Harbour House will reopen? It’s my must stop lunch spot at MK! (crying silently)
Danielle, not that I know of!