What is Disney Like During a Pandemic?
The most frequently asked questions within the last year have been “What is Disney like during COVID?” and “Is it worth going during a pandemic?” While everyone has different comfort levels with the pandemic, I thought it would be helpful to explain what we experienced back in October and what you may find if you are planning a trip to Disney World soon.
Disney is committed to making changes to ensure the health and safety of their guests. In doing so, they have implemented enhanced cleaning procedures in Parks and Resorts, physical distancing markers and reduced capacity to promote social distancing, and updated operations to reduce contact between guests and cast members via the My Disney Experience app. To learn more about all of Walt Disney World’s COVID procedures, click here.
Face coverings and temperature checks are required
Face Coverings are required for all guests ages 2+. This is one of the biggest considerations you should make while determining if now is the right time to travel to the most magical place on earth. For us, we weren’t that concerned. Our kids have been going to daycare since it reopened back in July of 2020 and they wear a face mask every day. Yes, even my 2 year old. I was a little nervous for him, but he really did so well. Pro-Tip – Let your kids pick out their mask or find a matching one for their outfit. It becomes a fun game to accessorize and they feel more excited about the mask rather than annoyed. Another factor to consider is the heat with masks on. Florida weather is so hot and unpredictable. If wearing a mask is hard for you in a temperate climate, it will be really hard for you in the heat and humidity of central Florida. There are a few exceptions to when you need to wear a mask. 1) If you are in the pool area of your resort or water park 2) Eating and drinking while stationary and physically distant from others and 3) In a designated relaxation station. Pro-tip – bring more than one mask to the park. Between sweating and eating or drinking, masks can get pretty gross. Not to mention make your face break out. Trust me on this one, you will thank me later!
Another thing you will have to get used to is getting your temperature taken. Temperatures will be checked before you get on the monorail, prior to park entry, and entering any table service restaurant. Should you have a temperature of 100.4 or above, you and everyone in your party, will be denied entry.
Physical distance markers and hand sanitizer everywhere
Green physical distancing markers are EVERYWHERE around Disney World. You are reminded constantly to keep your distance in line, elevators, in shows, etc. We always felt very safe during our trip and never really felt like there were people in our personal bubble. One thing that is worth noting is that due to the physical distancing, lines are REALLY long. At least, they appear to be really long. Average wait times are lower than this time last year pre pandemic, but the lines can look very intimidating. Don’t let the length of lines fool you. They move quickly and personally, I liked it better. Lines to me are like Chicago traffic, as long as I’m moving, I don’t mind! Another thing that is everywhere you look are hand sanitizer stations. You can find them before and after you exit rides, restaurants, and scattered throughout the park for anytime you feel like you need a refresh.
Lower Capacity
Disney is currently operating at a reduced capacity. The last announcement made by Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, mentioned they were currently running at 30% capacity. In order to manage this, you are now required to have a Park Pass to enter the park. What is that, you ask? It’s simply a reservation for which park you are going to any given day. This does require some pre-planning on your end to decide where you are going to start each day. It is important to note that as of January 1st, 2021, park hopping has returned to WDW in a modified way. If your ticket is eligible to park hop, starting at 2pm you may head to a different park and even park hop to all four parks in one day if that is something that interests you.
Some hotels/restaurants/experiences are still closed
While Disney is still in its reopening phase from the park closures in March – July, there are some hotels, restaurants, and experiences that are still closed. For a complete list, visit Walt Disney World’s website. Some of my favorites that are currently closed are Disney’s Boardwalk Resort (hotel side), Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom, Top of the World Lounge in Bay Lake Tower, Bippity Boppity Boutique, and all Disney firework shows are not currently running. To stay updated, make sure you keep checking back here or any of your other favorite Disney information sites.
Modified Experiences
In order to keep up with the above safety guidelines, some experiences are currently being offered in a modified version. One of the biggest examples is character dining. Restaurants like Chef Mickey’s, Garden Grill, and Topolino’s Terrace are currently offering character dining, but characters are not going around table to table and they are not serving food in a buffet style anymore. Characters do come out, walk around, and pose for a physically distant selfie, but you cannot hug characters or get your autograph book signed at this time. In lieu of a traditional buffett, these restaurants are now offering family style dining where they bring out enough for everyone to share and will bring as many refills as you request. Another big difference in the parks right now are the modification to parades. Parades like Move it, Shake it and Festival of Fantasy are not currently running. However, they are doing character cavalcades. This is essentially a ‘mini parade’ where just one float comes by at random times. This is to prevent overcrowding in the hub area. Honestly, I hope cavalcades are here to stay. Parades are long and suck a lot of time out of your day by the time you wait for a spot and watch the show. Cavalcades are happy accidents that you run into multiple times a day and feel more special than a traditional parade, IMHO.
Should you go to Disney during a pandemic?
The answer to this question will be different for everyone. If you are asking me – it totally depends! If your comfort level with crowds, dining inside, etc. are pretty low, then I would say skip it. If you are local to the parks and want to pop over for a walk outside and dine on a patio? I would say do it! One thing I will say is that if you are planning your first trip right now, I would maybe push to 2021. I would hate for you to spend all of this money to get a modified experience and never be able to fully get immersed in the magic. However, if you go yearly like we do, it was interesting to see how Disney is handling all of the safety precautions and I would say if you need an escape – go for it!
If you are wondering if the magic is still alive at Disney during a pandemic, it definitely is. It may look a little different, but it’s very much present. A big part of this is the Cast Members. They have been through a whirlwind of process changes and layoffs, not to mention the stress that COVID has had on all of us. But when you see them in the parks, they truly are what makes the parks so magical. So make sure you are nice to them, treat them with respect, and even thank them for showing up and making your vacation special.
So tell me, are you planning a trip to Disney in 2021? Did you go down in 2020? What was your experience like? Would you do it again? Would you recommend it to a friend? Leave a comment below and until then, stay safe and healthy!
-Melinda
