food IS a theme park
This past week has been FULL of crazy and hard-to-understand announcements from Disney, as well as other major Orlando theme parks! It seems like every day, another MAJOR headline drops!
Walt Disney World
Let’s recap ALL of the news you may have missed this week as the summer season kicks off!
This post will be updated with new information and questions as we get them.
Disney World is set to begin a phased reopening of the theme parks on July 11th, and things certainly won’t be like they used to be.
Magic Kingdom
In light of the impending reopening, Disney has made some MASSIVE changes to the way things are done. They’ve canceled what feels like everything for everybody — no FastPasses, no dining reservations, no new ticket sales, and more.
From a guest perspective, it can feel a little bit like the folks at Disney have TOTALLY lost their collective mind. We know MANY of you are affected by these sudden changes, and we’re here to help. We’re taking a look at what you should do if you’re impacted and answering some big questions.
The past few days have revealed a lot of information in light of Walt Disney World’s proposed reopening starting with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on July 15th.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder
In order to promote physical distancing as part of the new safety measures upon reopening, the parks (as well as restaurants within the Resort, among other venues) will reopen with limited guest capacity. And Disney is beginning to send out communications to Annual Passholders about changes being put into place that will help implement these measures. [Read more…]
We just shared the news that Disney will temporarily suspend FastPass+ and has canceled all FastPass+ reservations.
Haunted Mansion
This announcement was made out of the need for “additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing,” per Disney’s announcement. This is all in preparation for Disney’s proposed reopening, set to take place mid-July.
UPDATE: As of 3:20PM, our FastPasses reservations have returned to My Disney Experience. At this time we are still unable to make new FastPasses and we cannot currently modify our existing FastPasses.
Disney World proposed their reopening plan yesterday and since then they’ve been working out the details.
Magic Kingdom
Disney is set to introduce a new reservation system for their theme parks and right now, they are no longer accepting new reservations. Yesterday we even spotted that Advance Dining Reservations were unavailable. Well today, something a little surprising is happening for folks who had FastPasses scheduled for July.
Everyone seems to have an opinion when it comes to planning that PERFECT Disney vacation. And while we know that our friends and relatives have the best of intentions, they could actually be passing along tips that are not only unhelpful, but simply WRONG.
Mickey Mouse
Today, we’re sharing eight tips that we hear ALL. THE. TIME. that are flat out wrong! There is certainly a reason why some of this advice is given, but we’re going to break each one down and explain why you should throw these tips out the window — or at least think long and hard before following them — when you’re planning your next Disney World vacation!
There’s a LOT to accomplish in a single day at Disney World! Between all the rides to ride, shows to see, and characters to meet, FastPass+ is an excellent way to do it all.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
With park crowds being relatively low in the morning, it may be optimal for you to make FastPass+ reservations in the late morning and early afternoon. This gives you the chance to ride some prime attractions in the morning before the lines build up, AND leaves the possibility to score MORE FastPasses later in the day.
But as you’re planning your FastPass selections, you may find that this strategy leaves little time for lunch. And keeping your energy up is critical to check all those boxes off your “to do” list!
FastPass+ sign at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
With that in mind, we have six lunch suggestions for you to consider. These lunches will get you to your FastPasses on time, while still giving you a delicious meal. We cover all four parks in this list, so let’s jump right in!
Today, Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pam Hymel outlined a series of potential options they are exploring ahead of the parks reopening. At this time, only Shanghai Disneyland has announced a reopening date.
Shanghai Disneyland
Disney is unsure at this time when their other parks will reopen. However, when the remaining parks do reopen, there may be many new measures in place to ensure guest and Cast Member safety. One of these measures is one we have previously talked about as a possibility once the parks resume business operations: Virtual Queues.
We’re pretty much always planning our next trip to Disney World (whether it’s wishful thinking or actually on the books). If you’re lucky enough to be doing the same, we’ve got some tips for you!
Magic Kingdom
There’s a lot going through your head when you plan a Disney trip — everything from what Fastpass+ reservations to make (or maybe even what a FastPass+ even IS!) to where you’re going to stay. When you’re making those big decisions, it can be easy to forget some details. So, don’t let these seven VERY important things slip your mind!
Ah, FastPass+, we love you so. But, BOY, can it be stressful to decide what FastPasses to choose for your next trip to Disney World!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
There’s a lot to know about FastPasses. Trust us, even WE’RE still learning! Having the right FastPasses can help to make or break your Disney day. And there might be some things you’re skipping over when it comes to thinking about your FastPass+ reservations!
Well, we want you to have the BEST. TRIP. EVER. So we’re going to make sure you know everything you need to know to pick the right FastPasses for YOUR family!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
