Disney World News: Face Mask Strike Team Success, High-Speed Train Coming, 2021 Hours
It’s time for another Walt Disney World news & rumor round-up. This one covers visits to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs by Orange County’s face mask strike team, new park hours for February 2021, park hopper transportation resuming, and high speed rail coming to Walt Disney World!
Let’s start with park hours. While there were no noteworthy extensions this week (still crickets for New Year’s Eve) more hours have been posted to the calendar on DisneyWorld.com for January 31 to February 6, 2021. Added hours are the same for all dates that week:
- Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 6 pm
- EPCOT: 11 am to 7 pm
- Hollywood Studios: 10 am to 7 pm
- Animal Kingdom: 9 am to 5 pm
Once again, Walt Disney World has returned to its normal, pre-closure practice of releasing boilerplate hours in advance. Those hours are then later extended based on Disney Park Pass bookings and hotel occupancy projections closer to the dates…
Next, an interesting tidbit in terms of health safety rule monitoring. We’ve offered several stories on mask-wearing at Walt Disney World, including our most recent update and a park by park mask compliance report. Those generally reflect our latest observations, with the only changes being worse compliance on weekends and during the Cinderella Castle Christmas projections.
According to MyNews13 reporter Ashley Carter, the Orange County strike team that checks for rule violations visited Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs within the last couple of weeks and found both to be in compliance with health safety measures. However, a note in the report stated, “guests have been more non-compliant with the wearing of the face masks but employees seem to still be enforcing the wearing of them.”
Orange County’s strike teams do surprise visits on a variety of businesses. In addition to the theme parks, they dropped in on 11 bars on a Saturday night and found 0 in compliance, per Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “Our strike teams found no masks, no social distancing, no hand sanitizers and no disinfecting at every one of the bars visited…We have a few people who are probably more motivated by profit than they are about protecting their own customers,” Demings said.
Demings made his comments at a briefing he conducts regularly with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Dr. Raul Pino, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. They also indicated that most of the community has been cooperative, despite strike team members receiving rude receptions from some bar patrons. Overall, the strike teams have seen 86% compliance in visits to 4,910 businesses.
Mostly strong compliance and cooperative customers coupled with rude rule-breakers is not a huge surprise to us. While we haven’t visited any Orlando bars, we’ve noticed a similar trend at the grocery stores in the last several weeks. An employee at Trader Joe’s actually thanked us for wearing masks last night, which is odd in that it’s required by the store’s rules. The approach is also understandable–positive reinforcement is easier, and kicking out noncompliant customers is a lot to ask of employees.
For its part, Walt Disney World has done exactly that of Cast Members, and they’ve risen to the challenge. While sometimes they’re fighting a losing battle–like on weekends in World Showcase or evenings in front of Cinderella Castle–we’ve found them to be diligent about politely but firmly reminding guests of the rules. (In our anecdotal observations, we’ve also seen many Cast Members do so with increased finesse.)
Let’s turn now to the first of two transportation stories. After announcing that Park Hopping Will Return in 2021, Walt Disney World updated its page that previously indicated the parks had temporarily suspended monorail service between the Transportation & Ticket Center and EPCOT.
Now, that page states “park-to-park transportation is planned to resume in 2021, with operations beginning each day shortly prior to the start of Park Hopper hours.” No word yet as to whether this will include the EPCOT monorail. As before, our guess is that it doesn’t come back right away–and instead returns around Spring 2021 when crowds pick up.
Finally, some very exciting news. Walt Disney World plans to significantly expand its transportation network by adding a Brightline train station at Disney Springs. The parties issued a joint announcement today revealing that Brightline and Disney formalized plans and entered into an agreement on station construction.
Frankly, there’s only one explanation for this: Walt Disney World read our effusive praise for the Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian walkway, plus the outpouring of excited comments (seriously cannot remember the last review I wrote that garnered unanimously positive reader feedback) and decided to prioritize infrastructure projects. We did it, everyone! High fives all around!!!
Brightline’s high-speed rail is slated to run from South to Central Florida with a potential Orlando to Tamp extension once the line is fully built out. Brightline is already operating West Palm Beach to Miami service, with new lines and stations connecting Orlando International Airport to Miami now under construction with a planned 2022 opening.
You might recall that this project was previously rebranded as Virgin Trains, but the partnership between Richard Branson’s group and Brightline ended over the summer, with the latter terminating the relationship. (No word as to why, but Virgin has had significant woes this year, so no surprise there.)
Brightline signed signed a letter of intent with Walt Disney World nearly two years ago, and has indicated that they’ve had an excellent relationship with Walt Disney World. The company has secured rights to issue $1.75 billion in tax-free bonds, and the 170-mile Central Florida corridor has 35 miles of new train right-of-way, built alongside the Beachline Expressway.
Despite some setbacks this year, Brightline has powered forward. The latest development is the company’s statement that Brightline and Disney had entered into a formal agreement for the station. The design concept for the proposed station at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World includes a lobby on the ground level, passenger facilities and an upper level train platform, Brightline and Disney revealed in a press release.
“Brightline will offer a car-free connection to the millions of visitors from around the state and the world who plan to make Walt Disney World Resort part of their vacation plans,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Our mission has always been to connect our guests to the people and places that matter, and Walt Disney World Resort is a tremendous example of this.”
“We’re excited to work with Brightline as they pursue the potential development of a train station at Walt Disney World Resort, a project that would support our local economy and offer a bold, forward-looking transportation solution for our community and guests,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort.
Brightline indicated that the Disney Springs location is in centrally-located near the four theme parks, water parks, and hotels. Building the station near Disney Springs rather than by the All-Star Resorts or ESPN Wide World of Sports, which are arguably more logical locations, is an interesting choice. However, this avoids the need to create something of a second Transportation and Ticket Center at Walt Disney World. Instead, guests arriving via Brightline will be able to use the existing bus hub in place at Disney Springs.
The rail company did not provide an estimation as to when construction may begin, or how the Walt Disney World component of the project is being funded. Crews are targeting a 2022 completion for the South Florida to Central Florida link, which will be anchored by a station at the new Terminal C at Orlando International Airport. Our expectation is that this should be done shortly after that.
Our thoughts on high speed rail connecting Walt Disney World to South Florida have evolved from “we’ll believe it when we see it” to “we can’t believe that, despite all of the potential 2020 roadblocks, we’re probably about to see this!” Between Brightline having to temporarily suspend operations earlier this year to ridership woes to the Virgin fallout, we expected this to quietly fizzle out. Just like past high-speed rail proposals for Florida.
Moreover, the United States’ record with high speed rail infrastructure is far from good, which is attributable to a variety of reasons, including population density, our suburban-urban model, and obsession with the automobile. There’s also the sad reality is that most people either don’t care or actively dislike the projects. The public perception of rail projects is often tainted by targeted campaigns that focus on their cost, despite Americans not batting an eye at the untold billions spent on roads each year.
For our part, we are incredibly bullish on high speed rail, having spent extensive time in places where public transportation doesn’t absolutely suck. Projects like the Brightline high-speed rail have the potential for transforming the way Americans think about public transportation, especially when paired with Walt Disney World’s other transit. While we don’t see the United States ever rivaling Europe or Asia on that front, this could help evolve perception and spur further development. Suffice to say, we’re optimistic about the long-term implications of the Brightline high-speed rail, and how it could facilitate travel throughout Florida.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on any of this Walt Disney World news? Surprised by the Orange County face mask strike team visits and results? Excited for the Brightline train station at Disney Springs? Are you a fan of high-speed rail? Hopeful that holiday hours will be extended more? Do you agree or disagree with our advice and commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom, this is great news and I loved your article. BUT your comments on transportation funding ignore some really big points — roads are paid for by GAS TAXES at the Federal and local level, which is really a use tax. It’s not like we take school funding and build roads. It’s not that we favor the automobile its that the AUTOMOBILE WORKS AND THE TRAIN DOES NOT in most circumstances. If I want to go from downtown Miami to MCO a train is great. If I want to go from Vero Beach to Universal or Kennedy Space Center to . Plus, as someone with three children, taking the train — which I love — is a DISASTER with luggage and strollers for multiple kiddos. Urban youngsters who go from one overpriced urban area to another spending all their money on, say, overpriced Downtown Disney restaurants, 20 buck cocktails, etc love trains. Those of us who have to travel efficiently and cannot afford high speed rail travel don’t want our tax dollar diverted from the only transportation system that will get by daughter to Tae Kwon Do practice or our entire family to church on Sunday — our cheap to operate Toyota — diverted to overpriced high speed rail. If high speed rail could pay for itself (ha!) it would not be so hated. Something that is expensive, cannot be used by families, and requires government subsidies is ridiculous. We love taking trains for fun but we could not live without our car and the roads our fuel taxes pay for.
We are at WDW now. People are following the regulations in most areas. However, at Disney Springs, few people were doing what they were supposed to. People weren’t social distancing at all. In fact, all of the stores were very crowded and the walkways were very conjested. It is hard to believe that there is limited compacity in that area. If you are worried about catching covid, I highly advise avoiding Disney Springs
Wonderful news! I hope it goes through and isn’t shelved due to economy/politics/resistance to public transit.
Now my big question. I heard rumbles from DVC when we did the sales pitch at Saratoga that there are/were plans for future Skyliner expansion, either running towards AK/Blizzard Beach, or to Saratoga/Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon.
I’m thinking Saratoga/Disney Springs as another Skyliner hub makes more sense to meet up with a train to funnel people out to their respective hotels and parks. Any rumblings or thoughts?
With the pandemic, IDK how excited people will be for mass transit, but Skyliner allowing a rapid deployment of guests and crowds with, basically, their own personal cabin — seems like a fortuitous arrangement if Disney can swing the cash outlay to make it happen.
Wishful thinking, but I’m with you on excitement for the train making it through Florida. Hope it happens. I loved taking the trains through Europe and immediately wanted to ditch my car and not deal with driving after experiencing it over there. So nice.
Having the highspeed rail connect Tampa to WDW and WDW to Southern FL opens up a lot of exciting options for vacation planning! Very excited about this!
Brightline will go through Brevard County, but sadly will not stop . Would love to take it to South Florida or Orlando.
While this is exciting news it does bring up a question on the Magic Bus (MB) and how Disney will eventually get us and our luggage to our room. With the MB my luggage is “magically” transferred to the MB and then to my room. And, with the MB I am dropped off at my resort. If I take the Brightline from the Orlando airport I’ll be dropped off at Disney Springs where I – and my luggage – still need to get transpiration to my resort. Hmmm.. Not sure of any win for me yet. I’ll wait and see how the details come out later.
I would think they won’t replace the magical express-too much influx from MCO to count on one train.
I really like DME and hope they never get rid of it. I see the train would drop you off at Disney Springs which is just like getting off a ride into a gift shop, lol. I can go an entire vacation never stepping foot into Disney Springs. While I see the upside to this option, like having a restroom easily available on the train, I don’t want to have to connect yet again from Disney Springs to a bus to get to my resort. Just saying.
Do you think Brightline could mean the end of the Magical Express? Replacing a free trip on the bus with a free trip on the train, and then you can go to your resort from Disney Springs with one of the normal buses?
I will get excited when/if they ever expand transit options connecting north Florida to the rest of the state. We love Disney too, but that drive is a doozy!
Fantastic news about the high speed train!! We would def use if!
The high speed train sounds amazing! Would love to be able to take a Disney Cruise out of Miami and pair it with a Disney World stay before or after without having to rent a car or take another flight.
I am so excited about the proposed Tampa extension. Being able to fly into Orlando, do both WDW and Clearwater, and flying home from Tampa, will be a dream come true.
Was there this weekend, and the mask compliance seemed fine. But the lack of any effort to control crowds at Disney Springs on Saturday afternoon was surprising and made me uncomfortable. I’m actually ok being outside even if people aren’t wearing masks -BUT even with everyone wearing masks, the crowds at Disney Springs made me uncomfortable. People were running into each other because the walkways were so packed.
The parks are closing too early. That sends everyone to Disney Springs. It was as crowded as a Saturday night last year. Nobody keeps their distance.
I agree with this assessment of Disney Springs. I felt totally safe in the park with reasonable care on my part, but Disney Springs and WOD were out of control. While it seemed everyone had masks, a majority were wearing them under their noses. The social distancing to get into WOD was fine, but it became total chaos when in the store. Seems to me that this defeats the purpose….
I agree with the parks closing too early. With many people, vacation means staying up later, not finishing your day like a normal work day. The logical place to go is Disney Springs and since locals can go too then I can see how it could become very crowded quickly. In fact, park hours would be one of two main reasons I would be hesitant to plan a long stay. The other of course being covid. When they get a vaccine mass distributed to the average Joe, then I think WDW will see record breaking numbers of visitors from inside the US. Everyone I know wants to do something fun and the main thing holding the ones back who have covid concerns, is lack of a vaccine.
FYI — Addendum to my last comment — we went to all 4 parks — MK, HS, Epcot and AK.
We went to WDW in Oct for 9 days. We were pleasantly surprised with all of the mask compliance. Everyone, down to the little kids — were wearing masks without complaints. And social distancing. In lines, we pulled down masks to take a drink and put them right back on. We didn’t see anyone flagrantly walking around without masks or taking “extra time” to eat/drink while standing in line. We were glad, that being from California — wondered how it would be at WDW. We wrote an email to our governor about how good WDW was, and that it should be/could be an example for DLR. But DLR will not open until Spring most likely. Thanks for your updates.
We were at Disney last week and found mask compliance to be the worst at Hollywood Studios (we went to HS, AK, and Epcot). Guests were eating and drinking on lines in front of cast members with no “reminders”. I agree that some cast members are better than others at being effective at this task… and Disney would be wise to enlist those cast members that are blessed with the ability to be effective without being a jerk. I would be terrible at it, so I really admire those that can do this well. We found the degree of non-compliance (and the cast members ignoring it) frustrating because we are comfortable going to the parks because Disney has been so great about safety. If guests can ignore the rules with no consequences, they will just be more emboldened to continue and push the limits more. Other than that, we had a great time and lines weren’t too bad. Planning to go back after Thanksgiving.
Let’s get something straight here: WDW is a private company. They, and every other company gets to to make the rules while frequenting their businesses. Mayor Demmings and his task force have no power to enforce anything the governor has not mandated. So while they may try to encourage or bully people (depending on how you see it), these visits are pointless at this time.
Not true. Municipalities can set requirements above and beyond what is mandated at a state and federal level. For example, in our town we have noise ordinances and on-street parking permit requirements–I can be fined or arrested by local police for not complying with those even though they are set by town hall and not the state governor. And private businesses too have to comply with all kinds of local fire code and permitting requirements at the local level. Where I live also have Covid-19 requirements (limits in gatherings in private homes; mask requirements in private businesses) set locally rather than by the governor.
Yes, and they entered into a binding agreement with the unions that represent WDW employees to enforce mask rules regardless of what the county or state does. If Disney doesn’t enforce, employees can walk off the job.
You didn’t listen to what I said. WDW can enforce their mask policy and whatever agreements they entered into as a PRIVATE business. They can and should be enforcing their rules.
Local municipalities can threaten, issue ordinances and even issue citations trying to get unquestioning people to comply and pay them. But legally they cannot. The governor just renewed the no mask mandate. Task forces have no jurisdiction to enforce, just bully. Call the governor’s office and ask.
I am not making a judgment or suggestion either way on the wearing of masks. Just stating the correct facts.
It’s great to hear WDW is keeping on top of the “foolish” people that try to not wear their mask. Our family appreciated it and we even sent guest services an email thanking them, since I am sure they have been getting thousands of emails complaining about masks:(
Cool!!
Excited that the walkway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom is open. Changed one of my dining reservations to Grand Floridian just so I could experience the new walkway.
Oh I hope Brightline is a success and they continue the loop down to Ft. Myers. The extra three hours drive if I want to go to Orlando when I visit my family down there is juuuust enough to keep me away most trips. I’m definitely pro-train and ready to see this work! Clearly our excitement about pathways is an indicator of what we’re ready for next.
On the mask front, I’m so glad Disney is continuing their vigilance, and I hope Florida picks up more masking in general. A group of my local St. Louis counties have been part of a study about mask mandates, and although counties with mask mandates saw a 4-5x increase over a period of time, counties right next to them without mask mandates have seen a 13-17x increase. It’s just confirming what we already know, but it still seems like such an easy thing to do to help tide us over until the vaccines can be distributed.
I would love high-speed rail everywhere. I would abandon my car in a heartbeat. The main reason Americans oppose it, I think, is that public transportation here is often awful and they figure it would be more of the same.
I think that the US has many more square miles to cover than some countries who have a great mass transit. We are also very rural in many areas so you have to rent a car when arriving no matter how you arrive. For me, I would be concerned about luggage. I can’t carry anything heavier than four pounds for extended periods due to degenerative disc disease, arthritis and scoliosis.. So loading and unloading would be a major concern where as DME takes care of that for me and so do most of the airline workers. And I don’t lift my luggage, I put my luggage in my vehicle, then take each item to it, if no one is available to help me at the time. It’s very horrible at times.