Disney World Resort Reopening Changes & Know Before You Go Info
Walt Disney World has released new “Know Before You Go” temporary policies and operational changes for its resorts reopening in June. In this post, we’ll share the latest news and offer speculation about what this means for other WDW hotels. (Updated June 16, 2020.)
This comes after Walt Disney World allowed guests with reservations between now and June 21, 2020 to modify their reservations, and change their trip with check out dates up until December 31, 2020 (meaning the vacation must be completed by the end of this year). This allows eligible guests to retain their 35% resort discount, but with the colossal catch that they need to opt for either Fort Wilderness or a Deluxe Villa Resort.
Today’s update starts with a list of resorts that are reopening on June 22, 2020. These select Deluxe Villa Resorts include Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort, Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom — Kidani Village, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Riviera Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, and the Villas at Grand Floridian Resort.
As expected, Walt Disney World indicates that both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required–and confirms that a Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access.
However, still no info on how park entry reservations will work, when they’ll be released, or if resort guests will have priority access (which is how prior capacity restrictions have worked). This is one of the big question marks about Walt Disney World’s reopening for many readers and, unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer for the answers.
We are closely watching for any updates about the park entry reservations, monitoring both the official app and website for the slightest changes and will immediately send our subscribers a heads up when the new theme park reservation system launches. (Sign-up for our free email newsletter here!)
Hotel Cleaning
The resort Know Before You Go page does offer new info about resort cleaning. Walt Disney World indicates that there will be increased cleaning in high-traffic common areas areas such as public elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms and more.
As for guest rooms, those will undergo thorough pre-arrival cleaning, with special attention paid to high-touch areas, like TV remotes and door handles and floors, which will be steam cleaned and vacuumed between guests.
Inside guest rooms, there will be extra linens and towels wrapped in single-use packaging, individually wrapped glassware, double-cased pillows, and additional items that have been cleaned and wrapped in single-use packaging.
During guest stays, rooms will receive a light cleaning service every other day, which will include removal of trash and used towels, replenishment of towels and amenities throughout the room and bathroom, wiping and cleaning of the vanity and counter surfaces, as well as vacuuming (as necessary).
Hotel Transportation
Transportation has been a common question, and we also have an update on that. First, Disney’s Magical Express service will be available as normal for guests arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport.
Bus transportation to Disney Springs will operate once the hotels open. Transportation to theme parks will operate once those reopen in July. The page does not specify whether the monorails, Skyliner, or boats will run once the parks reopen. (We assume they all will, albeit with reduced capacity.)
Transportation will operate with physical distancing measures in place, which will reduce capacity. As a result, you may experience delays. Minnie Van Service will not be available during the initial reopening period. Self-parking will be available; valet parking won’t be available.
Hotel Pools
Whether hotel pools will reopen has been another common question, and we now have some answers to that. Feature pools may operate with reduced hours; leisure pools will be open 24 hours a day.
Pools will operate with reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing, and select poolside activities may not be available. Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will not be available during the initial reopening period.
Other Amenities & Entertainment
Some Disney Resort hotel services will be modified or unavailable during the initial reopening period, based on physical distancing and health guidelines.
Changes include:
- Bell Services will deliver luggage to rooms
- Club-level service will be temporarily unavailable
- Deliveries will only be made to occupied rooms
- In-room celebrations will not be available
- Dry-cleaning and valet laundry services will be temporarily unavailable; self-service laundry will remain available
- Shipping services will be temporarily unavailable
- Resort airline check-in service may be temporarily unavailable
- Fitness centers will operate with reduced hours and capacity
The following amenities and experiences will not be available during the initial reopening period:
- Arcades
- Campfires
- Character experiences
- Dog parks
- Electrical Water Pageant
- Marina rentals
- Pin trading
- Playgrounds
- Spas, salons and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Additionally, the following special offerings and childcare services will not be available during the initial reopening:
- Fireworks voyages and tasting cruises, including the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
- Fun runs
- Wonderland Tea Party at Park Fare
- Hula lessons
- In-room childcare services
- Mermaid school
- Special classes and programs–including culinary, cultural and animal programs
The rest of the “Know Before You Go” page for resorts covers familiar territory. Info about face masks being required everywhere except while swimming or dining, wellness (temperature) screenings, plus a reminder to make sure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to Florida. (As far as entry to Florida goes, the tri-state quarantine order expires on July 7, 2020–that’s the only one that would impact arrivals.)
If you want to know about dining modifications, consult our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reopening ‘Know Before You Go’ Info post.
Commentary
Unfortunately, we still don’t have info on which regular hotels will reopen, or when reservations will be accepted. A big part of the delay is undoubtedly Walt Disney World’s ongoing negotiations with the NBA. (We now know that Major League Soccer is Coming to Walt Disney World, and they’ll use the Swan & Dolphin Resorts.)
As you’re probably aware, the NBA is coming to Walt Disney World to finish its regular season and playoffs, and will likely be staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and Gran Destino Tower (for more, see our recent post: Coronado Springs Likely Host Resort for NBA at Disney World Starting in July).
Disney Vacation Club has now confirmed that Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo House will not reopen immediately (despite being available for booking). Here’s the warning you receive when attempting to book Jambo House on DVCMember.com:
“Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House will not be open during this initial period. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village will initially welcome home Members and Guests. Member Services will contact Members with confirmed reservations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House to transfer their existing reservations to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village.
Over time, as the volume of reservations increase, inventory will be expanded to include Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House. Upon the reopening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, some amenities such as restaurants and merchandise locations will likely remain closed until the rest of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens. However, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village, merchandise locations and restaurants will be available.”
It bears underscoring that not every Walt Disney World resort hotel is going to reopen with the parks. This is even absent the NBA, Major League Soccer, and whichever other professional sports end up coming to the ESPN Wide World of Sports and renting out entire resorts. (We’re hoping for Jelle’s Marble Runs, a competitive marble-racing league.)
Disney CEO Bob Chapek stated that not all resorts would reopen right away. The least likely resorts to remain closed are those within walking, monorail, or Skyliner distance to the parks and Deluxe Resorts with Disney Vacation Club add-ons. The most likely to stay shuttered are resorts that only offer bus transportation to the parks or those that do a lot of special event business.
All of these new Walt Disney World resort hotel policies are a lot to digest, and still leave a lot of unanswered questions. On the plus side, Walt Disney World recognizes this and is waiving change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through October 3, 2020.
This makes it more or less risk-free to maintain your reservation until the last possible minute, assessing new info and future policies once they’re released to determine whether it’s the right time for you to visit, or if all of the changes are “too much” (and that might already be the case for a lot of people). Regardless, we’ll keep you posted and share more details on all of this once specifics are confirmed!
If you have questions about the closure, including policy changes and what we know thus far, please consult our Walt Disney World Reopening FAQ & Info, which should answer most inquiries. If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be booking a resort reservation for Walt Disney World this summer or fall, or are these rules/restrictions/policies going to cause you to postpone? Still waiting until more is known about the theme park entry registration? Surprised that Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House is not going to reopen? Do you agree or disagree with our speculation? Other thoughts or concerns? 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!
Is WDW going to release a timeline of openings and what experiences will be available when? Or have they and I’ve missed an email? Me and a few friends are doing a girl’s trip in October and we’d all like to know exactly what will be available for us.
It all depends on state and CDC health guidelines and reopening phases. There is no way for Disney to predict as far as October at all. They will open as the virus conditions permit.
We have been planning for a year to go in September and are so sad at the thought of not going on a trip we have been counting down for! However, with the changes and restrictions in place there are many activities and experiences that we will not get to do and I question if it is worth my money to go. My family does not have the finances to make this an often trip, so that’s a big deal to us. Hoping as they open some things will change and it will be worth it.
Everyone if affected by Covid, with great luck and the grace of God, not directly.
For the people that are complaining about taking precautions, as Disney requires, please stay home like you say you will. It makes more room for those who want to make the best of a not so perfect situation.
We go every year, sometimes 2x. We won’t make it this year, so sad.
Unless they change the face masks policy. I don’t blame Disney for the virus, but the over reaction is their responsibility. We feel like we lost a family member, I hope common sense kicks in soon..
How dare people wear face masks so you don’t actually lose a family member.
State government is the one dating people should were face masks. Not sure if this is the same in Florida but it is in my state
The Tri-State order states that it expires when Order 20-52 which is set to expire on July 7 does. That’s where the July 7 date comes from.
we just booked a stay in sept/oct for Jambo House. it was a points transfer but was acknowledged by WDW.
I was curious so I looked up where the 98.6 F temperature came from. It was discovered in 1851! The medical world has changed alot since then. Don’t doctors think humans’ temperatures might have changed as well.
Disney isn’t the only place that is checking temperatures. Most places are and that number is no longer accurate. So it really won’t help at all.
But I believe Disney is allowing up to 100.4 temp. Plus you can sit in a cooling tent and try again after several minutes. Seems reasonable to me.
Do you think Disney will offer discounts once the parks re-open for existing reservations, to match their existing modifications? I am hoping they do!!!!
After much deliberation we decided today to cancel our yearly holiday to Orlando. We’re from the UK and we are mightily upset. But there is too much uncertainty as to whether we would be able to even get into the park we wanted ( fast pass is nigh on impossible) and we don’t relish walking around in the Florida heat with face masks. As it would have been the first visit for one of our party we didn’t think it would be a good introduction to Disney. We are also worried that the wonderful restaurants around but not in Disney will be difficult to get into. We spend so much in the outlets too. Hope Disney can get a swift solution to this problem but so long as face masks are compulsory we will not return.
Coronavirus is not Disney’s problem to solve. The best way to limit the spread is to wear a mask. Until we have a vaccine or effective treatment (again, not Disney’s responsibility), you’re going to have to wear a mask.
We cancelled our August trip, annual passes and Tables in Wonderland membership today. Not sure when we will return. Walking around feeling a bit like a family member has passed. We’ve spent so many annual vacations, special celebrations including our honeymoon, and watched our kids grow up at WDW over the past 34 years. Sadly Disney does not seem to care and loyalty to a memory is just too expensive.
@brighter I completely agree. I don’t understand why people act as if Disney is doing this out of some kind of spite. They didn’t make this virus to ruin people’s vacations. And they have to follow health guidelines. What a disaster if they didn’t.
I do think the way they release info in dribs and drabs is super annoying though!
I am no mathematician but for some reason when I see the 6 feet distancing and assume the rides will also try to honor that how is the wait times less? Normally in a 6ft line you may have say 5 or 6 people now you will have just 1 every 6ft. When you get on the ride that may hold 100 people they will now hold about 16. I need someone smarter than me to explain how less crowds will make for faster wait ride times. Even eating in restaurants the percentage per people per restaurant s that are open would be about the same without the new regulations. Please someone tell me I am wrong in my thinking.
Parties must stay six feet apart, not individual. If I go with my husband and child, then we stay six feet apart from other parties. It would be pointless to make the three of us stand six feet apart from each other, since we live in the same house, ride in the same car, etc.
Capacity reductions will vary by attraction, but generally speaking, I’d assume a 50% reduction (i.e. only loading every-other row). Tower of Terror may be a bigger reduction because all 21 people are so close together. Toy Story Mania and the Fantasyland dark rides may not be affected at all, since each party already gets their own private vehicle/row. All that is to say, some wait times might be higher as a result of dramatic capacity reduction, but *most* wait times will be lower as the reduction of crowds more than compensates for the capacity issue.
The big kicker, though, is the temporary-but-indefinite elimination of fastpass. In “normal” times, you may enter the Soarin queue with hundreds of people in front of you. The posted standby wait is based on those hundreds of people AND the potential thousand-plus people who are going to cut in front of you via fastpass. With fastpass gone, the wait time is defined solely by the actual number of people in front of you, and not all the people who are going to cut you. This should significantly reduce wait times across the board.
I figured it out. The original Executive order that contained the tristate quarantine was extended for 60 days on May 8th. The extension is here:https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/orders/2020/EO_20-114.pdf. Hopefully it will not be extended again.
Just came here to say that I’m also hoping for Jelle’s Marble Runs! Hahaha! Love their vids!
I’m thinking about booking a trip when they open up the ability to do so. If they are keeping the parks at 20-30% capacity, they shoudl be basically empty and since it is just my husband and I, we don’t care about charater meals or meet and greets. heck we don’t care about most of the “little kid” stuff so I’d be happy to go if it means I won’t be in long lines and struggling for walk through people. It sounds like it will be like the “After Hours” ticket but minus the food. Perfect in my mind.
I have a reservation for 4 nights beginning Dec 8. I am concerned about 2 big things:
Inability to make Park reservation for anything other than 1 park per day. My plans are off if I cannot visit 1 park in the morning then a second later for dinner and fireworks. Rumor is Park Hopping not an option thru 2020.
Waiting to hear confirmation that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Candlelight Processional will be presented. If so hoping Separate Ticket event MVMCP won’t require a Park Reservation.
Kate, I went to myDisney experience and my hopper passes are still showing nor did they reduce the amount I owe if they had taken away the hopper passes. We are going in November. If you go to my experience click on tickets and passes it should show your hopper passes if you have already reserved them, We are staying at the Boardwalk so lucked out there for an open hotel.
We have a trip planned for mid-August. Because we rented vacation club points, we still don’t know what our options meaning will we have to go as scheduled or lose our money, or will we have the opportunity to postpone. Assuming we have to go, my major concern is that we have Disney resort reservations, but have not yet purchased our park tickets. All of our dining reservations were canceled so we need to start that process over. We should be able to start that process 60 days out, which would be next week for us. BUT, no park tickets means no park reservations and no park reservations means we cannot book reservations for in-park dining. And park tickets, I’m told, will be sold again sometime before the July 11 reopening. Essentially that means I won’t be able to book in-park dining until around July 11. I’m concerned about what park admission choices AND in-park dining choices will be left at that point. I understand the attendance will be much lower, but so will the availability of reservations due to social distancing restrictions. I’m really hoping we don’t find ourselves having to go as scheduled but then not being able to get any desired reservations for the parks or the restaurants. I am trying to be optimistic and assume it will all work out, but this is a BIG family trip to make two very special milestone birthdays and it’s looking like it may not be the trip we envisioned.
I am sorry everything is such a wait-and-see mess. I don’t know of anything to help, just wanted to express understanding your dilemma, and I hope it all works out well. How BIG is your family? That always makes getting dining reservations harder. It may not be what you envisioned, but I hope it is still wonderful.
I have a Walt Disney World package for December 9, thru December 16th, I received a bounceback free dining offer. Got an email from disney destinations offering a35% room discount on May 29. Checked my Disney Experience and my vacation was totally canceled!!!!! Called Guest Services and was told I called on June 6, to cancel!!!!! Never called. 45 minutes later was told it was partially canceled. They apologized but, could not do anything now. The system won’t let them place it back. They see it one area but, not on my end. They r suppose to call me back. What a nightmare! My advice check your reservations their system has done this to a few people who have not canceled. Oh and when I asked about the 35% discount I was told another division handles that! Stay tuned I will let you know what happens
YES PLEASE UPDATE! I HAVE RESERVATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER NOW. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MARCH, 2 DAYS BEFORE THEY CLOSED. I ALSO GOT THE DINING PACKAGE AND 2 WEEKS LATER THEY TOOK IT BACK. ALSO HAVEN’T SEEN ANY 35% DISCOUNT. I UNDERSTAND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER BUT WHY CANCEL ALL DINING. JUST WISH I HAD MORE ANSWERS FOR THAT TIME FRAME.
IT IS A PROCESS TO CHANGE EVERYTHING I KNOW!
Replying to myself! Disney called back and my reservation is back!. 35% was deducted. A savings of $1,445.84. My memory maker is gone though. Tom, do you know if the memory maker has been eliminated as was the dining plan? Love your blog and, your pictures they make my day
Hi – can someone please explain what this is: ” (As far as entry to Florida goes, the tri-state quarantine order expires on July 7, 2020—that’s the only one that would impact arrivals.)”? Not sure what that quarantine order is or would be?
There is currently an order in effect for people traveling from NY, NJ and CT to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to FL. I am in NY so following this closely. I have not seen where it expires July 7. Can someone point me to the source?
wow thanks for that info…very interesting and actually pretty closed minded of Florida…some of us live in New York STATE nowhere near the major outbreak in NY in rural areas with far fewer cases than Florida…seems ridiculous to me…too bad the rest of the country doesn’t understand at all that MOST of NY is NOT the city. For any of you reading this, take note. MOST of NY is COUNTRYSIDE, mountains, lakes, etc.
I am planning a trip and would dearly live to know the source of this information myself. That would be awesome if it’s true!
I’d like to know if the willnopen value resorts
Wondering if we will be able to visit other resorts come November for the holiday decorations. Disappointing if we can’t.
We have Animal Kingdom Lodge-Jambo House booked for Sept 13- 20th. We have heard nothing about our hotel reservation, only info sent to us from Disney has been canceling our Free Dining and all meal reservations. We would prefer to know now if they are just going to not re-open our resort so we can make other Fall plans…We have go to Disneyb2x in last 5 years, this would be third trip. Both my wife & I are hugely disappointed by how they handled DDP cancelations and now to hear our hotel might not re-open is extremely disappointing as well.
We are in same position. We have DVC reservations at AK lodge 9/15 to 9/22 for our annual fall trip. Made reservations 11 months ago as this is my home resort. And my sister is going too- she has reservations at Coronado. So she is worried also. It will be very disappointing if they move us out, unless of course they give us Poly or grand Floridian. But the way things have been going, pretty sure that won’t happen!
It will be very interesting to see what Park operations and crowd levels will be once they reopen! My guess is Not Very Attractive!
Tom, Any thoughts on Disney VIP tours? If/when they will be back and how they may work? I get it, pure speculation, but curious about that. Also, would love to see a post about how you think the virtual queues may work since fast passes will be gone. Do you think they will implement a paid way to cut the lines like Universal or Shanghai?
Actually when I talked a about Disney saying they would make it a magical experience I got the phrasing wrong. Here is what they are still saying… “…we can find new ways to create magical moments – and memories to treasure.”
Right now I’m just really frustrated. Because we were staying in Coronado Springs Destino Tower we honestly don’t know what’s going on. Disney hasn’t told us anything.
What has me really upset it that Cooperate Disney gave out this information Saturday evening. They took even more things away. Announced and went home. Leaving their poor employees to deal with very angry customers.
I know Disney likes to use the terms cast and guest, but that’s not how they are treating us.
Disney needs to do something to make this right. For everyone.
Very well put, Tiana. Especially those last 3 paragraphs. Hit the nail on the head. I hope you find out something soon. Let us know.