We all know the world is very different this year and that includes Disney World.
There are tons of Disney World tips on this blog, but unfortunately, not all of them are relevant in the current times.
While I am not going to Disney World this year, I did have a trip on the books that I just moved. So, I’ve been staying up to date with everything going on.
Things are changing regularly, so you should definitely double check this before your trip.
But with that said, if you do have a Disney trip planned in the next year, here are eight tips to help you out with your vacation.
Don’t forget your mask–and bring several
You can’t get into the park without a face covering. What constitutes a face covering?
According to Disney’s policy:
“All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) must:
- Be made with at least 2 layers of breathable material
- Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the Guest to remain hands-free
At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.”
And because Florida can get hot, it’s a good idea to bring a few just in case a mask gets too sweaty and you’d like to swap it out, or if you lose one.
You can still see some characters from afar
There aren’t character meet and greets right now, but you can still see characters from afar.
Disney is doing “character cavalcades” at random points throughout the day. These are essentially mini-parades.
They’re random because Disney is trying to cut down on crowds gathering at any given time or place, but from what I’m reading, they appear at very regular intervals–especially in Magic Kingdom.
If you hang around Main Street for anything length of time, you’ll likely catch one.
Make your park reservations
It’s not enough to have a park ticket right now, you also need to get a Park Pass Reservation.
This is a free pass that essentially reserves your spot in that park for the day.
This is designed to keep crowd sizes down so guests can social distance effectively.
Park hopping is not an option right now, so you’re going to be committed to a single park for the day.
You can book your park pass in the My Disney Experience app.
Make your dining reservation
You can still make your Dining Reservations inside the My Disney Experience app.
However, right now, you can only book 60 days prior to the start of your trip (which has been reduced from the 180-day window of simpler times).
Disney has many indoor and outdoor table service dining options, but not everything is open.
This is because reduced crowds has reduced demand.
This also applies for counter service restaurants and festival booths.
A lot of locations simply aren’t opening or are only opening on select days because of the reduced capacity restrictions.
Use mobile order
Mobile order has been around for a while, but now it’s become “strongly encouraged” and almost essential.
Mobile order reduced direct contact at Disney’s counter service locations. You can order your meal on your phone and then simply go pick it up at the pick up window.
There are some places that aren’t letting people inside until their food is ready. This helps to manage the crowd inside and reduces the risk of people gathering at the pick up window.
However, if you don’t have a smartphone or you have a special diet, a cast member should be able to help you. They’re stationed at the door of most locations.
You can learn more about mobile order in this post on the my Disney Experience app.
Double-check park times
Park times are changing constantly right now, so it’s a good idea to double and triple check them–both before you leave and before you head to your desired park for the day.
Also, most of the parks have a staggered opening and closing, so some are opening later and closing earlier than they have in the past.
While this may mean less time in the park, keep in mind that there aren’t any shows or parades to give your time to. And with reduced crowds, there are also reduced wait times. This means you should still be able to maximize your park time.
However, if you think this is going to be an issue for you, see the last point of the post.
Not everything is open
If there’s a restaurant or experience you’re seriously looking forward to, you should double and triple check that it’s open and is going to be open for your trip.
Somethings are closed because of the reduced capacity. Other things are closed because the conditions aren’t friendly for social distancing.
If you find that the thing you have your heart set on isn’t available, this next tip may help.
You can cancel at any point prior to your trip without a fee
If you’re on the fence about visiting Disney World at all this year, I feel you!
Maybe you’re not really feeling being in such a public place during a pandemic.
Or maybe you don’t love the idea of spending the money when you can’t get the full Disney experience.
The good news is, Disney has made canceling or modifying your vacation as easy as possible.
They’ve waved their cancellation feel through the rest of 2020. You can cancel up until the day you check-in with no fees. (This may be extended beyond 2020, so if you come across this post in 2021, be sure to check!)
I personally modified a vacation a few weeks ago and found even the phone wait times are back within a normal, reasonable range.
So, if Disney World simply isn’t the best choice for you and your group or family this year, that’s okay.
If you’re having a hard time deciding, here’s a post on the pros and cons of visiting Disney World this year.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: Are you going to Disney World in 2020? What are your tips? Tell us about it in the comments!