Hotels at Disney World Closing
Walt Disney World has announced that all resorts in Florida will close at 5 pm on Friday, March 20 due to the ongoing public health crisis. In addition to WDW hotels, this also means Vero Beach Resort will be closing. That leaves only Aulani Resort in Hawaii and Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina are the only Disney destinations in the world that are still operating (for now).
Additionally, Walt Disney World will be closing all of its own and operated locations at Disney Springs beginning March 17, which means spots like D-Luxe Burger, NBA Experience, World of Disney, and other stores will all close. Third party tenants will make their own decisions on whether to continue operating or adjust hours.
This follows the closure of the theme parks at Walt Disney World last night, which are tentatively scheduled to remain shuttered through the end of March 2020. Here, we’ll cover what else is closing, what’s staying open (at least as of right now), and other updates from Walt Disney World…
For starters, here’s the bulletin that was posted to the official Disney Parks News Twitter account shortly after midnight. It also discusses the impact on Disney Stores, in case you care:
While not reflected there, Walt Disney World has also updated the list of transportation options will be available to on-site guests in light of this latest operational update. All Walt Disney World transportation will be temporarily suspended starting the morning of Wednesday, March 18 through (at least) the end of the month.
Until then, transportation options include buses to Disney Springs as normal, plus resort-to-resort buses. Additionally, the resort loop of the monorail will be operating on a reduced schedule and without stops at the TTC or Magic Kingdom. The Skyliner, boats, and other monorail loops will not be running.
While the vast majority of businesses at Disney Springs are third party owned and operated, it’s hard to imagine that many of them will continue operating beyond this week. Even if they’re not causing due to public health concerns, there simply will be no business rationale for remaining open.
Locals do make up a good chunk of Disney Springs’ clientele, but many are practicing social distancing and not going out. More importantly, the resorts not operating means the bulk of customers these outlets would depend upon will not be there. By next week, the last business standing will probably be Lefty’s – The Left Handed Store or some other random (but essential!) kiosk.
Despite all of this, Cirque du Soleil is plowing ahead with the debut of ‘Drawn to Life’ this Friday at Disney Springs per their most recent tweets. This is even after cancelling all of its other shows around the United States, including its Las Vegas resident shows. This stance could change with Walt Disney World taking a harder line on closing resorts and its own Disney Springs storefronts.
We’ve received several reports from readers who are not being offered refunds on Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life tickets. If this is still the case going forward and you paid via credit card, we’d recommend initiating a chargeback. While we don’t condone liberal use of chargebacks for buyer’s remorse or in lieu of seeking a refund through traditional means, this is one good use of the consumer protection tool.
If you’ve read any of our other coverage, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve been hammering home our belief that Walt Disney World’s current closure through the end of March 2020 is only tentative, the first wave of a rolling ‘assess and adjust’ plan. That approach is easier to manage, and projects optimism to the public.
Until now, that has been our prediction based upon past precedent at international Disney parks and patterns of containment measures taken in other countries. Last night, the Centers for Disease Control revised its recommendation about mass gatherings.
Now, the CDC is recommending that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Quite simply, Walt Disney World is not going to go against the recommendation of the CDC. It’s certainly possible that something will change and the situation will dramatically improve, but we wouldn’t count on that. At this point, we think Walt Disney World’s theme parks reopening at some point in May 2020 is the optimistic scenario.
If you’ve followed the barrage of news, none of this probably comes as much of a surprise. It was pretty much a foregone conclusion before Walt Disney World officially announced it all. Unless there is some radical development, this is probably about it for our coverage (outside of updating our Walt Disney World Closure FAQ).
We spent the weekend practicing social distancing while mostly glued to the television. This morning has been more of the same, alternating between the regular news and the financial market news. We’d imagine many of you did the same. Obviously, it’s important to engage in best health practices and keep apprised of current events but…this can’t be healthy.
As such, we’ll be resuming regular, non-virus posts this week in an effort to establish some sense of normalcy. I’m trying to think up some upbeat topics (meaning no deep dives into the backstory of Dino-Rama!), which will probably include some top 10 lists, photo tours, random bizarre stuff, and more.
Fortunately, my procrastination powers have resulted in a backlog of tens of thousands of unedited photos along with roughly one-dozen incomplete restaurant reviews. Beyond that, I’m totally open to suggestions. If there’s a topic you’d like to see tackled, feel free to share in the comments below. I can’t make any promises about what will be covered, but I’ll try!
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 all this news? When do you anticipate that Walt Disney World will reopen? Any blog post content requests? Do you agree or disagree with our 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!
Thank for this info, Tom! I’m wondering what your thoughts and predictions are then, based on the CDC’s guidance, on Disney canceling more cruises beyond their current mid-April time frame?
what your thoughts and predictions are then, based on the CDC’s guidance, on Disney canceling more cruises beyond their current mid-April time frame?
I would not expect cruises to resume before Walt Disney World reopens.
We have a trip planned for June 13th – 20th. Our fingers are crossed they will be open when we go. We are staying club level at the Beach Club and are wanting to buy the extra fast passes for three days. We would need to call and set that up on March 22nd. Will there still be people manning the phones or will they not be working as well? Just want to make sure. Do you have any info on this. Thanks.
Will there still be people manning the phones?
I assume so.
Tom,
I know you don’t have a crystal ball to see the future. BUT… would a early June opening of Disney World be possible or would you think it would be later in the year?
I understand there is no way to predict how this virus will go…
Any incite would be welcomed.
I’ll just say this: if the parks are not open by July, we (the entire world) have much bigger problems than Walt Disney World not being open.
Exactly! It’s so unpredictable for all…reports show that…I would think even Disney is right in holding off any second guessing when it will get back to normal.
i look forward to whatever you might have planned, tom. maybe a deep dive into the muppets history with the walt disney company? a review of “the muppets at walt disney world” tv special (i cherish my taped-off-tv-vhs-coverted-to-dvd copy). a list of what muppet attractions never materialized?
but we all have to try for some sense of normalcy and maybe try getting something productive done at home. my list includes reading my daily blogs, which are this one, and a coupel sports one, both of which are going to get very creative i think, as well as potty training my toddler and trying to check off long-standing items on the to-do list.
“a review of “the muppets at walt disney world” tv special (i cherish my taped-off-tv-vhs-coverted-to-dvd copy)”
I like all of your ideas, but this is especially good!
i had a feeling you’d know and love that special!
We last visited in January and glad we did. I have many great memories of our annual visits especially those when our son was small; he was 18 months old on his first visit and visited with us for many years after; we celebrated his 21st birthday drinking around the world! I can’t wait to return. Please continue your posts as they always stir up a fond memory
I second a history of River Country! Know nothing about it, but am soo curious.
How about a series of “Non-Disney things to do around Central Florida that are, coincidentally, inherently anti-social” posts? River paddling, fossil hunting, trail hiking, animal photography, ‘gator wrassling, fishing etc. All kinds of things to do around here while avoiding the masses.
they waited too long to do all this. i saw photos yesterday online of tens of thousands of people crammed into magic kingdom last night for fireworks, at the same time the CDC is recommending gatherings of less than 50 people.
Yeah, those images were a bit disturbing. I was particularly shocked that the presidents of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World were out at the end of the night (at their respective parks) seemingly encouraging it all.
Ditto.
Thanks for all the updates Tom! I’m clinging onto hope that 1) Disney World will be open by May 29th, the start of our trip and 2) Crowds won’t be absolutely insane once the park reopens. If Disney isn’t going to go against CDC recommendations, it sounds like they may be closed for the next 8 weeks, or until the CDC reverses its recommendations. If this is the case, I hope they get a lot of work done at Epcot in the meantime!! If they don’t open back until sometime in May, do you think they’ll still have the rest of the F&G festival? I was really looking forward to catching the tail end of that…
Thanks Tom….any uplifting news and articles would be great! As a grandmother Who lives 15 miles from DW (with grandkids here for spring break this week) we have had to really adjust our schedule. Yes we are all disappointed but trying to stay positive. At Disney Springs today and tomorrow the beach.
Please stay home. Seriously. Stay home and help stop this.
The history of any ride, past rides that have been replaced, River Country? I’m always fascinated in the history.
LOL I remember River Country! I also remember and loved the Nature Island that you could boat over to from the campground area. Lovely pink flamingos and those huge tortoises! Think they did some Swiss Family Robinson(not the original movie part) Disney shots there(?).
I can still remember how the water tasted from River Country back when we stayed at Fort Wilderness as a kid.
How about any “History of…” or “funniest thing that happened at…” (each park” or Best Disney Memory…
Anything light hearted or fun!
No fun reading restaurants reviews if you can’t eat there 🙁
Thanks for helping us all stay positive.
I think that’s a good idea! Face it…most that follow the blog by Tom are fans of Disney or just learning the ins & outs of Disney for their visits.
I can say I’ve never been to CA park(just because I’m on the East coast and have been told it’s not “all that”), but I’d say probably have gone to WDW almost yearly(sometimes twice a year or skip a couple years)…mostly from being fortunate enough to have travels that take myself/family there or near by. And I will always love Disney! Loved the big Kansas City celebration like 30 years ago there to honor Walt having started out there with his sketching(lived there at the time of the event). Feel like I know the ins and outs enough from single life, married life and raising kids thru those years. Now as 60 yr old adults, hubby and I find so many ways to “waste our time” there. LOL. He just completed the February half marathon there and I took yet another cake decorating class. Loved the newer(last October) “Enchanted Rose” cocktail/tapas bar in the Grand Floridian. So pretty, elegant, and almost like a retro “speakeasy” on the second floor. Was social enough for even a couple without feeling like you’re being intruded on yet allows you to mingle easily. There is even a bigger, quieter space adjoining the main bar area for even quieter conversations and space for groups of (6-8) friends/business colleagues meeting up. It’s above the Tea Room(Mrs. Potts!)…it’s a nice addition when you don’t want to be over in busy nightlife of Disney Springs.
I look forward to your upcoming content! Your articles are always smart and informative. Since you are asking for suggestions, I would love to read an article which provides background on Expedition Everest with regard to its cultural connection to Nepal and the artifacts from Nepal it incorporates. I have been trying to find this information but I can’t find any good info.
In the name of normalcy please don’t go away too! I am home watching tv and already board.
I have a trip planned for September but I wonder what you think about what this is going to do to the crowds.
How about a post on the best or easiest WDW recipes to make at home.
I am wondering the same thing. I also have a trip planned for late September.
I’ve read before mixed reviews about the WDW Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Custom Astromech Units. I have activity reservations for my 9 year old granddaughter and 6 year old grandson on June 13th. I’m optimistically still planning our trip on June 10th. I’d appreciate any feedback concerning time allowed, whether 6 is still too young, it’s worth the cost, they only work in the park, etc. They begged to do this and haven’t asked for much more. They even said they’d give up rides to do it. What’s a grandmother to do?
Here’s our review of that: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/review-droid-depot-star-wars-land/
The droids are definitely lower quality than they should be, but the process is fun and we’ve seen many kids have a blast playing with them in the parks. (They work at home, too.)
I’d say that the end product is definitely not worth the money, but the experience might be–especially if this is what your grandkids are really looking forward to doing. I’d keep the reservation. 🙂
my 6 year old LOVED making hers, it was one of the highlights of the trip for all of us!
Thanks.
I’ll take a review of the newly expanded Beaches & Cream please.
That is actually already written! It was going to be published while we were in Japan for the opening of Beauty and the Beast, but who knows if we’ll even end up doing that. Look for it later this week or next.
Tom, I’d be curious to know what your wishlist for WDW would be. Top 10 things you’d want to see added/improved at the resort: a new land/pavilion, a new ride, new themed hotel, new method of transport ….
Personally I’d love to see:
1. Magic Kingdom: At least one more dark ride (of the lavish sort) in New Fantasyland – even without seeing it, I wouldn’t mind a clone of the Beauty and the Beast ride Tokyo has built
2. Magic Kingdom: The addition of a Jules Verne themed land – a cross between the never-built Discovery Bay and Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris
3. EPCOT: An attraction (ride or show) in every World Showcase pavilion that doesn’t yet have one
4. EPCOT: A Middle Eastern pavilion (Egypt or Jordan)
5. EPCOT: A Southeast Asian pavilion (Cambodia, Indonesia or Thailand)
6. DHS: Relocate Star Tours to Galaxy’s Edge, and a new Muppets ride in its place
7. DHS: A proper theater for play Broadway-caliber shows like the Hyperion in DCA
8. AK: An overhaul of Dinoland U.S.A. to represent South America’s Amazon region, with at least one new ride (a family coaster) and a reskin of the Dinosaur dark ride
9. AK: Revive the Discovery Boats around Discovery Island as a transportation mode with at least two stops
10. Hotel: The Persian Resort
That’s a fun idea, but maybe a poorly-timed one when in all likelihood we’re going to see previously-announced construction put on hold (never mind unannounced projects!).
On the plus side (at least from my perspective), if there’s one thing that’s already in-progress that I could see being postponed indefinitely, it’s Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge.
Do you think they’ll move forward with Spaceship Earth closure? Financially this is going to hurt, I’m wondering what they ax from the Epcot projects.
Tom, wondering if the delayed reopening will have any affect on the potential second wave of free dining historically released in April?
Good morning Tom. Thanks for your continuing update on the situation. My wife and I are both lucky enough to have jobs that we can work from home, which we are doing and now hearing my company is asking everyone to stay home for the time being. Trying not to watch the stock market (or peek at our 401k balances).
One of the things we will do is try to plan out our trips for the remainder of the year including at least two trips to Disney and a National Park trip. At this point it’s all contingent on when the crisis passes and travel becomes possible again. It’s hard to imagine how things will be after all of this, but I would like to think that things would get back to normal at some point.
Hopefully those that work in industries affected by this won’t take too hard of a hit, but we will do our part to help any way we can by getting back to travelling and things we normally do.
There’s nothing I’d love more than to take a National Park trip right now. Get totally off the grid, go backpacking, and be truly disconnected from the outside world.
Sadly, that would be irresponsible in a few ways, so daydreaming will have to suffice. Maybe I’ll edit some photos of Yosemite and Death Valley today, though! 🙂
That would be cool Yosemite is up next for us. Along with Sequoia and Kings Canyon. That was going to be our April trip but it’s obviously on hold. Hard to believe that a year ago we were doing the big 5 parks of Utah.
Ok…trust me…I live in Hilton Head…don’t come even here. Be smart and just stay home. With all the comforts and safety and amenities of our lives now(phones, internet, movies, gaming, etc)…why even chance it for yourselves or others in another location. Most everything here is limited and I doubt the living basics are any better available here.
I don’t think anyone is going to rush out to plan Hilton Head or Aulani trips now that everywhere else is closed. In fact, I’d expect both of those resorts to announce closures very soon, too.
LOL I sure hope not but I can tell you, Saturday is “check in day” for rentals etc on the Island…and there has been no slow down of tourists here. Insanity! And I had a friend that just went into Chicago(from WI) last weekend because knowing crowds were down…to take her grown daughter(nurse in a nursing home!) and granddaughter to the American Girl store. Ugh. And know another family of 9 coming still to HH especially knowing school is canceled in their OH area. People! Stay home and find your own entertainment! Wash your freaking hands!
We sure could use some laughter to keep us sane in the coming weeks! I’d love to read any posts on Christmas at Disney – can you post any videos of the Osborne spectacle of lights? Maybe a comparison of Disneyland versus Disneyworld at Christmas?
I want to do some upbeat posts, and I can assure you that cannot possibly include the Osborne Lights. Sorry, but going through those photos and writing about that would definitely not be uplifting for me.
Now, other Christmas stuff is definitely on the table! 🙂
Yes some Christmas stuff would be great! We had a trip scheduled for the end of April that we just rescheduled for mid November. We’d love to know more about some stuff to get excited about. Especially since we were really looking forward to the garden festival and will now have to miss it. What are some must dos/must sees at Christmas? Any thoughts on whether Remys will still be opening by then? Any tips for doing Christmas at Disney? We’re going November 15-25 so any advice for that time would be great.