Disney World News: Reservation Reminder, Profanity Warning, Cast Recall, Magical Express Update
It’s time for another Walt Disney World news & rumor roundup! This one covers a reminder issued about reservation availability at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, Cast Members being recalled or hired at numerous locations, a profanity warning, new monkey at Animal Kingdom, and more.
First, Walt Disney World has issued a reminder about park attendance and the need to make Park Pass reservations, encouraging guests to check reservation availability before purchasing theme park tickets, and noting that availability of park reservations is limited, not guaranteed, and subject to change.
Additionally, it states the following: “with school holiday periods occurring throughout the next several months, Disney Park Pass reservations are no longer available on select days for the Walt Disney World theme parks. In particular, reservation availability at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is limited. As a reminder, capacity in our theme parks remains limited as part of our ongoing health and safety measures. Theme park reservations will be verified as Guests go through the auto plaza at each park.”
This comes less than a week after Walt Disney World added hundreds of hours for Summer 2021. Since that prior update, Walt Disney World released even more park hours for June 27 to July 3, 2021. Here are the hours for this newly-added week:
- Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 9 pm
- EPCOT: 11 am to 9 pm
- Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 7 pm
- Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 6 pm (5 pm on 6/27 for some reason)
- Blizzard Beach: 11 am to 6 pm
- Disney Springs: 10 am to 10 pm (11 pm on weekends)
The only noteworthy changes as compared to the week prior are that Magic Kingdom opens an hour later (9 am v. 8 am) and Hollywood Studios closes an hour earlier (7 pm v. 8 pm). There’s also some variance in Animal Kingdom closing times in late June, but I believe those are errors that will be “smoothed out” closer to those travel dates. As always, hours are subject to change and extension, which usually happens.
The warning about attendance and reservations also comes just days after Walt Disney World added tons of Park Pass availability for Summer 2021. That essentially turned the calendars green from Memorial Day weekend through the end of summer, although it’s already yellow once again.
As we discuss at length in that post, our expectation is that Walt Disney World is gearing up for some significant changes to its operating protocol. That includes potentially following Orange County’s lead with a relaxation of physical distancing guidelines.
On those notes, we’re hearing a ton of rumblings about Cast Members being called back for a range of positions at Walt Disney World that are currently closed. I wouldn’t call these rumors since they’re coming directly from Cast Members, but some of the recall locations I’ve heard also don’t make complete sense to me, honestly. (Walt Disney World is also hiring new employees for roles that they’re having trouble filling via recall.)
Either Walt Disney World is presently gearing up for a dramatic acceleration of its phased reopening plans, or some of those Cast Members will be reassigned into new roles. My guess is a little of both. With that said, the sheer volume of this ‘recall chatter’ suggests that something pretty significant is on the horizon. Accordingly, the upcoming couple of weeks could be big in terms of announcements from Walt Disney World.
Since we know people will ask in the comments, it’s unclear whether any of this will mean the return of FastPass+ or the Disney Dining Plan. The analysis in our posts discussing what needs to happen to enable FastPass+ to return (and predictions about that) and for the Disney Dining Plan (plus predictions for that) remains unchanged.
This recall almost certainly means more restaurants returning, which does bode well for the Disney Dining Plan. More hotels and Typhoon Lagoon are other possibilities. Beyond that, the totality of all this could mean a limited slate of nighttime spectaculars–our guess is that EPCOT Forever and Fantasmic will be first to return–as well as additional entertainment beyond just Festival of the Lion King. What and when is anyone’s guess.
We’d caution against getting excited or expecting imminent changes. If you’re traveling in the next month or so, you probably will not see the fruits of this. While Cast Members are being recalled and hired right now, many will need to go through orientation and be trained. It takes time to scale back up, and we’re probably looking at Memorial Day (roughly) to start seeing the results of this rehiring blitz.
Regardless, this is great news for guests hoping for a return to normalcy. It’s even better news for Cast Members being recalled, and ones currently working who have been stretched too thin and/or whose morale has dropped due to the last year. A positive development all around!
Next, a minor housekeeping update. We previously reported that Disney’s Magical Express is ending in 2022 with service for airport transportation stopping for new arrivals on January 1, 2022.
Now, we know that guests who arrive at Walt Disney World before January 1, 2022 will still be able to utilize Disney’s Magical Express for transportation to Orlando International Airport following their hotel stay until January 10, 2022.
Following that, guests will need to utilize private transportation or ride-share services. Disney’s Magical Express will also have a spiritual successor in Mears Connect, which begins service in 2022. At this point, we highly doubt that Walt Disney World will start a “competing” service. Mears Connect is probably it.
Some heart-warming news: a baby mandrill has joined the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The little girl was born on April 10 (a fitting arrival during Earth Month!) to first-time mom Hazel and dad Linus. Cast Members named the infant Ivy to fit in with the rest of her colorful family: Olive, Scarlett, Snow, and Hazel.
If you’ve visiting Animal Kingdom, be on the lookout: both can be spotted on Kilimanjaro Safaris. You might see the shy baby clinging to Hazel’s stomach, a natural bonding behavior. This will soon change as the baby begins walking within weeks of being born, spending most of the time underneath mom. The baby joins the troop of seven other mandrills that call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.
Walt Disney World has announced that now through September 2021, Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs will sell exclusive Disney Cruise Line merchandise including the traditional Wave and Sail Away Minnie Mouse collections and items from Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. Be prepared to “sail away” with trendy and nautical-themed spirit jerseys, T-shirts, and matching styles for adults and kids so you and the family can all match.
There’s already a place to buy Disney Cruise Line merchandise in Orlando: Disney’s Character Warehouse Outlet. This is a little better than that, I guess, but I still wouldn’t want to buy Castaway Cay merchandise at Walt Disney World. For me, it just isn’t the same. I’ve always thought it’s odd how the outlet store sells sailing-specific items, like stuff from certain Alaska or Europe cruises. Back where I’m from, people who wear clothes from places they haven’t been are called Notre Dame fans. 😉
Finally, an interesting tidbit that Disneyland has updated its health safety protocol page with the following: “Disney reserves the right to require a Guest to leave if they are (i) not properly wearing an approved face covering, (ii) using profanity or offensive language towards our Cast Members or other Guests and/or (iii) violating any other Park Rules.”
Most of that page includes verbiage identical to Walt Disney World, but that’s notably different. In particular, giving guests the boot for using profanity or offense language towards Cast Members is not something explicitly prohibited by Walt Disney World.
In the months following Walt Disney World’s reopening, we saw rule and signage verbiage become more forceful, for lack of a better term. This occurred in response to guests trying to exploit loopholes, flaunt the rules, or deliberately break them for the sake of social media clout.
More recently, we’ve heard countless horrific anecdotes from Cast Members and reports that Walt Disney World is having trouble filling certain guest-facing positions because dealing with problematic guests is too dispiriting–to put it mildly. Suffice to say, if this “profanity or offensive language” rule were actively being enforced at Walt Disney World, dozens of guests would be kicked out daily.
Honestly, I don’t know how Cast Members do it–I’d be fired my first shift. (Slightly off topic, but all Americans should be “required” to work for a year in a service industry so they “learn” how to treat others.) For those who have wondered why Cast Members aren’t as cheerful as normal, or why the “Disney Look” is being relaxed…there’s your answer.
A quick website housekeeping note before concluding this Walt Disney World news & rumor roundup. I’m aware that the “reply” feature in comments is not working. This happened last weekend while making a range of other improvements to the site. On the plus side, the site should now load faster and content shouldn’t shift around, among other less noteworthy enhancements. It wasn’t immediately evident to me since my reply option still exists on the backend, so I’m not sure which upgrade broke it. Two steps forward, one step backwards.
Unfortunately, I’ve tried to remedy this and have hit multiple dead-ends. The site needs an ‘aesthetic overhaul’ that would also fix this and other lingering issues, but that won’t happen until this summer at the earliest. For now, preface a comment with “@username” if you’re trying to reply to someone. Comment notifications work the same as before, so they’re equally likely to see your follow-up as they would’ve been previously. Sorry about that!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this Walt Disney World news? Thoughts on the Disney Park Pass availability for summer? Excited to hear that Cast Members are being recalled and hired for additional locations? Think this bodes well for more returning this summer? Disappointed you won’t be able to swear like a sailor at Disneyland? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? 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
Recently booked a couple of three day trips for October and December. A few days later I received an email from Disney Destinations wanting me to fill out a survey about my upcoming trips. I’ve never received a “pre” trip survey before and I generally fill out any survey I get. Some of the questions included : “How likely are you to keep your reservations?” “What one thing would you like to see return that would help you decide to keep your reservation(fp+, more park hours .etc)”
I agree that something is fixing to happen and they are trying to figure out what guests would like to see return to keep them from cancelling trips
Do you think the 180-day dining reservation window will return, or is the 60-day window here to stay? Any reason to think it could be linked to the return of the Dining Plan?
I worked at Universal Studios Hollywood for several years when I was in high school. It was my first lesson in how truly entitled people can be. It was bad enough telling people to not let their kids climb something or that they couldn’t smoke (it was the 90s), I can’t EVEN imagine how awful it must be to enforce mask wearing. My heart goes out to those poor cast members. Hopefully they get some loosening restrictions soon and won’t have to keep it up too much longer.
Tom: Totally agree about how working in a customer service industry really makes you appreciate the work of others and how to treat them. My experience in hospitality and housekeeping were a huge benefit to me regarding learning respect and appreciation.
Kimberly Voskeritchian: The DVC villas aren’t on the same schedule or pattern as the resort renovations. So, no, the villas are not being renovated to match the hotel rooms. They might have a soft goods renovations planned for the near future, but that would only be the bedding, curtains, etc.
This is off the subject but I’m wondering if someone can answer this. We are coming next week and my daughter uses a wheelchair but can transfer. She had foot surgery 2 months ago and is only 50% weight bearing. She loves Space Mtn. But I’m afraid I won’t be able to get her out of the ride vehicle. My hubby doesn’t ride coasters but if he wants in line with us to help me get her in will a cast member be able to take him to the end of the ride to help me get her out. Shes 19 so it’s not like trying to lift a little kid
That might be a question for Disney, directly. They generally try to “sweep” the unload area of guests immediately after they disembark the ride vehicles, so I’m not sure that will be possible–but they will give you an accurate answer rather than just my best guess.
I am holding out hope for a MNSSHP announcement soon?!?
Same here! Think we might be waiting until June/July for that this year, though. Hope it happens earlier.
Tom, thank you so much for your posts. My sister and I are traveling the week after Thanksgiving and I’ve got her hooked on your posts. She loves them, finding them very informative as well as enjoying your sense of humor! keep up the good work — i need to know what you are expecting for that period of time! Keeping fingers crossed that the meal plans will be back.
I like how you specifically point out that *she* enjoys my sense of humor. It’s okay, Kim, you can say you don’t find me funny. Most people don’t! 😉
My niece was called back to work a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, she had to turn it down. She moved back to Texas months ago when unemployment ended. Luckily she found a great job there.
She was an Ohana seater. I wish she would have thought to ask where she would be offered a position. Just curious!
Your niece’s story is very similar to many I’ve heard.
No wonder Disney is already talking about bringing back the College Program later this year.
Any rumblings on annual passes returning for Florida? Still waiting patiently for this..excited for what’s next.
I haven’t heard any new developments–sorry! Hopefully with increased capacity, though…
I am just hoping that the Dining plan comes back in time for my trip in September!!
If they announce October, we will push trip back!!
A trip isn’t quite the same without Dining plan!! Since we eat at LeCellier, California grill, Narrcoosses etc. Hopefully some Character dining will come back. My son enjoyed 1900 park fare breakfast
With some of these inklings, any more rumors on the return of Annual Passes?
Signed, a very anxious new Floridian come July
Notre Dame fans.
Tom, this is an off subject question but do you know if the vacation villas at the polynesian will get the refurbishment that the hotel rooms have gotten and when? We are planning our next visit and want to stay in the villas if there the refurbishment has been done. Thank you
Per the DVC Condo Association Meeting last December, the Poly Villas are slated for a soft goods refurbishment at some point this year (I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t started yet).
However, that usually means a light refresh–I highly doubt it’ll look anything like the new Moana rooms. Maybe some Moana decor, though?
It’s been over 30 years since I waited tables and worked as a bank teller through Highschool and college. I’ve never forgotten how I felt or was treated by some people who came in seemingly prepared for a bad experience. This lesson on how to treat people is one I’ve never forgotten and is probably more important than half those college courses.
Disappointed in the end of the Magical Disney Express and leaving the transportation in the hands of Mears–I have never had a good experience with the Mears shuttle service–rude drivers and overcrowded vans with marginal air conditioning (terrible situation in mid summer in Orlando).
Disney’s Magical Express is Mears.
Love the ND burn! Keep up the good work Tom.
Just throwing this out there regarding park reservations. Don’t just look at the availability calendar and give up. Try anyway. I was rearranging some dates for our trip next month because dining reservations are almost harder to get than park reservations. I was changing the date of my 2nd Epcot day. According to the calendar, Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios weren’t available. I was bored, so I tried MK anyway, then got the notice that it wasn’t available, so try a different day or park. Then I figured, “What the heck?” and clicked on HS, expecting the same message, but (again) I was bored and just playing around. You could have knocked me over when it came up as available! We now have a park reservation to Hollywood Studios on a day that’s been sold out for nearly a month. So if you’ve got the time to play around, try to reserve an unavailable park anyway. No harm it’s still unavailable, but you just never know when you’re trying right after someone somewhere has cancelled theirs.
This is a great tip, and one I should reiterate more regularly in Park Pass updates.
The Park Pass calendar does not reflect real-time inventory, meaning cancellations are NOT shown on there (at least, not right away). If someone cancels, that goes back into the system for someone else to book. With diligent refreshing, it’s often possible to book dates/parks that are otherwise unavailable.
“but all Americans should be “required” to work for a year in a service industry so they “learn” how to treat others.”
I could not agree more. I spent a summer caddying at an exclusive country club in high school. I’ll never forget how poorly I was treated. It still astounds me that people that had so much could be so mean to someone helping them. The money couldn’t be beat for a high school kid, so I stuck with it. I’m still thankful I did it because that experience still guides how I treat others.
Starting at age 12 (no one report my parents!), I worked in a food truck on weekends and then at a Subway sandwich shop throughout high school. It never ceased to amaze me the sense of entitlement that people thought $5 bought them.
I can only imagine how exponentially worse it is at a country club or with people dropping thousands of dollars on a vacation.
Tom, don’t do this to me man. Don’t get my hopes up like this! My trip in late August hinges on heavily relaxed restrictions and/or way more entertainment options coming back. I was very hopeful a month ago but the silence since then has had me concerned.
I am excited to see CMs hired back regardless, because more jobs are always a good thing.
“I was very hopeful a month ago but the silence since then has had me concerned.”
Same–and I’d also caution against getting overly excited yet. I feel like Disney is at least a month or two late to the party on this, as it’s been evident for at least that amount of time that vaccinations and pent-up demand are going to fuel a strong summer.
Part of this could be a matter of Disney realizing that if they don’t hire now, they won’t have the opportunity later. Unemployment is still high (relatively) in Central Florida, but a lot of people have left the area or found other jobs. It’s not going to be easy to find thousands of people to rehire or hire.