Visiting Walt Disney World Post COVID

​When 2020 began, I, like everyone else, had no idea what I was in for.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be living through a pandemic or that it would last as long as it has.  The furthest thing from my mind was thinking of the changes it would bring.  But now nine months later, I found myself contemplating whether it would be safe to travel to Walt Disney World or not.  Ultimately, based on learning how Disney was handling COVID, I decided I would still take the trip. 
​
I had mixed emotions as I was packing for my trip.  I was excited to be going back to the Happiest Place on Earth.  But also, anxious, wondering if I was making the right decision.  While I know it is a personal decision based on individual circumstances, I quickly discovered after arriving, that I had made the right choice for myself.

Disney had done everything possible to make me feel safe and relaxed.  When they say masks are mandatory in ALL public areas, they mean it.  It was rare that I saw another guest not wearing a mask or not wearing it properly.  But it seemed almost instantly a Cast Member would approach them and ask them to put it on correctly.  To make sure masks are worn, Disney has prohibited eating or drinking while walking through the parks or waiting in line.   Guests are only allowed to eat or drink while seated and socially distancing from others.  To make this a little easier, Disney has created Relaxation Stations within all the parks.  These are areas where guests can take off their masks and relax awhile at tables six feet away from each other.  The only downside for me, is that masks were also mandatory when taking pictures.  But I guess one day I will appreciate those PhotoPass pictures when I talk about back in 2020…
​

Here is my take on the additional changes you should be aware of:

Park reservations are required for park admittance.  Reservations can be made as soon as tickets are purchased and guests can look at the reservation calendar prior to purchasing tickets, so they’ll know well ahead of time if they’ll be able to get into a park.

Temperature checks are taken with no-touch thermometers prior to park entry.  Guests with a temperature of 100.4 or higher are not allowed in the parks.  I thought this would add extra time to getting into the parks.  But went very smoothly and there was no waiting.  In addition to the parks, temperatures were also taken at resort restaurants and Disney Springs.
​
Fastpasses have been temporarily suspended due to capacity limits.  Now I have to admit, I was a little leery of this.  But I was pleasantly surprised how much I actually liked this change.  While wait times were higher on the weekends, during the week, most attractions had wait times of 30 minutes or less and it was nice not needing to look at the clock all the time to check on the next FastPass time.

Social Distancing is required when waiting in line for shows, attractions, etc.  and Disney has added floor markings to let guests know where to wait.  All attractions, restaurants and transportation has been set up for social distancing as well with staggered seating or plexiglass dividers.
​
Parades and Character Meet and Greets have been temporarily suspended.  I thought I would miss these entertainment aspects.  But the way Disney has modified things really worked for me.  Instead of waiting for parades to begin and waiting in lines to see characters, they now are coming to the guests!  Mini parades, cavalcades and character pop ups happened randomly throughout the day to avoid large crowds gathering.  I found this so entertaining!  The characters were so interactive, and it was always a pleasant surprise running into them rather than waiting in line.

Dining has had some changes as well.  Many of the standard sit-down restaurants and quick service restaurants have reopened or are scheduled to reopen soon.  But there is limited character dining right now.  Chef Mickey’s and Topolino’s are offering character experiences for breakfast and Garden Grill is offering lunch and dinner character experiences.  While the characters are not taking pictures with each table like before, they are very interactive and will take (socially distant) selfies with guests.  In addition, there are no longer buffets, instead many of the buffet restaurants have a pre-fixed family style meal.  Because of these temporary changes, Disney has suspended its dining plan for now.
​
Mobile Dining Orders are recommended by Disney for quick service meals.  I was a little leery of this change as well.  But by the end of my trip, I had become a big fan.  Disney’s app makes it easy to place orders including customizations and choose a pickup time.  Disney will send a text when a guest’s order is ready and lets them know which pickup window to go to.  Guests are not allowed in the building until the order is ready which makes it so much easier to find a place to sit while your meal is still warm.​

Visiting Walt Disney World may not for everyone right now.  But I was impressed with everything Disney was doing to make the parks and resorts safe.  While I am longing for the day that we no longer need to wear masks, I really enjoyed some of the changes they have made.  This trip was a little different than others.  But it was just as magical.
​

​Dreaming of your next trip?  I would love to help you design the perfect Disney experience for your family!  Click here to schedule a “Let’s Get Acquainted Session” with me so we can start planning your family’s next great adventure.