Planning a visit to Walt Disney World during the phased reopening? A lot has changed since COVID-19 hit and the way we experience theme parks is no exception! With all the changes, it’s best to be prepared going into your trip so you know what to expect. Using our personal experiences visiting the Disney World theme parks, here are our best tips for visiting Disney World right now!
1. Get Comfortable Wearing a Mask in Advance
Masks are required for all guests (age 2+) at Disney World. While we hope by this point of the pandemic that most people have some experience wearing masks in your daily life, you may not be accustomed to wearing it for long periods of time. This was the case for us before we visited Disney and Universal. If you can relate, we recommend practicing wearing your mask for longer periods of time before your trip. Wear it around the house for a few hours or go for a walk with it on; a bit of practice can make a world of difference. This can be especially helpful for kids, too.
This will also give you the chance to make sure you have a mask that is comfortable for you. Different fabrics and brands will be more comfortable for different people. We personally love these Athleta masks and these Bioskin masks and found they worked best for us. We also tried the shopDisney masks but personally we didn’t find them comfortable. The ear loops are not adjustable and they are very thick, making them pull on our ears. We saw many people wearing them around the parks though, so just because they didn’t work for us doesn’t mean they can’t work for you.
Click here for more about our experience wearing a mask at Disney World!
2. Review Disney’s Know Before You Go Information Prior to Travel
Disney has a very helpful webpage where you can find all the most up-to-date information for your trip! We highly recommend you review this thoroughly so that you know exactly what to expect. Disney can announce changes at any time, so it’s best to read through the information again right before you go.
From guidelines for face coverings, to which resorts and restaurants are open, to Disney’s COVID-19 warning and health acknowledgement, this webpage has a ton of information! We found it super helpful for our trip and I’m sure you will too. Here is the link to Disney’s “Returning to a World of Magic: Know Before You Go” webpage.
3. Keep an Eye (and an Ear) Out for Character Sightings and Cavalcades
One of the most magical parts about the reopening are the new character cavalcades. While there are no parades or character meet-and-greets right now, you won’t find yourself missing the characters in the parks. We actually found we saw MORE characters on our latest trip than we usually do. The character cavalcades bring all the joy and excitement of a parade, but with more spontaneity. We love that they just ‘pop up’ at any point throughout the day (unscheduled). If you hear the beginning sounds of music playing, take a look around you and you just might see some of your favorite Disney characters pass by on parade floats! We hope character cavalcades stick around long after the phased reopening.
Disney has also added plenty of opportunities to see characters around the parks too, not just in the cavalcades. From Stormtroopers patrolling in Galaxy’s Edge, to Stitch hanging out in Tomorrowland, to Pooh frolicking in Epcot, there are plenty of opportunities to see your favorite Disney friends. Even though you can’t get close to them, these are still so fun! These are great opportunities to wave, say hi and take a physically-distanced photo with characters.
Click to read our blog post all about character experiences during the phased reopening!
4. Familiarize Yourself with the My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience app has been used by Disney World guests for years now, but never has it been as essential as it is now. Disney has implemented and expanded many uses of My Disney Experience during the phased reopening. Disney has been able to reduce contact between Guests and Cast Members and promote physical distancing in several key ways through this technology. Here are two common examples:
- Online Check-In at Disney Resort Hotels:
- Skip the front desk and check in to your resort in your My Disney Experience account. When your room is ready, you’ll receive a text message telling you your room number. You can head straight there without having to interact with a Cast Member, and you can even use the app to open your room door!
- Mobile Food Ordering:
- Many quick service restaurants and snack locations throughout the parks and resorts have offered Mobile Ordering for quite some time. However, during the Phased Reopening, many locations now require the use of this feature. All guests wanting to place an order must do so within the app (a Cast Member is always available in case you need assistance). Click here for our complete guide to Mobile Food Ordering!
In addition to these, the app also has many other features that will be extremely useful for you during your trip. The app is quite user friendly, and you shouldn’t have any trouble figuring it out even if you aren’t the most savvy with technological. However, even for those tech whizzes it can still be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the tools and features that are available to you. By doing so in advance, you’ll be a pro in time for your trip and easily know how to navigate the app when you’re on vacation!
5. Embrace the Changes
Our last tip for visiting Disney World is to just EMBRACE the changes! This trip will not be the same as a pre-coronavirus trip, and that is okay. Some things will be different (in fact, many things will be different), but that special Disney magic IS still there. Try not to compare to what a Disney World vacation was like before the world changed, and just enjoy the magical vacation you’re getting to experience!
Disney has done an amazing job making sure that every guest has a wonderful time and stays as safe as possible during the phased reopening, so the best thing you can do is just be prepared and take the necessary precautions, then embrace all the changes and enjoy yourself!
We hope these tips for visiting Disney World right now are helpful as you plan for your own visit! Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about the phased reopening.
Further Reading
- All About the Disney World Phased Reopening (& What It’s Really Like!)
- Wearing a Mask at Disney World
- Is Memory Maker Still Worth it During the Phased Reopening?
- Characters at Disney World During the Phased Reopening
- What It’s Really Like to Visit Disney World Right Now
- How to Plan a Trip to Disney World During COVID-19
- How to Travel Safely During COVID-19
- Hollywood & Vine – Modified Character Dining Review
- Walt Disney World Reopening Questions and Answers (FAQ)
- Easy Steps to Making Your Park Pass Reservations
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