Special Info for these Crazy Times:
- Walt Disney World Starting to Discount 2021
- Will There Be a 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discount? When Will Disney Announce a 2021 Salute Room Discount?
- Our Return to Walt Disney World
- Shades of Green Re-Open at Walt Disney World
- Planning and Executing Your Walt Disney World Vacation During These Trying Times
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
- Military Ticket Sales Resume
- 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Are Back
Yes you read that right, “Dates!”
Walt Disney World just briefed the Orange County Taskforce on their Re-Opening Plan.
(UPDATED – 5/29) – Dining, FastPass, Extra Magic Hours Info
HOT NEWS – Disney Has Extended the Expiration Dates for the 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
(Updated 28 May 2020)
Theme Parks
Walt Disney World will be Re-Opening the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on 11 July 2020.
This will be followed by Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios on 15 July 2020.
Disney will be instituting an Advance Reservation System, where you will get a reservation to enter a specific theme park on a specific day.
Parks will be kept to a low level of attendance via this system. Disney will provide details on how this will work later, but suffice to say you might not be able to go to the park of your choice on your desired day or in fact go to a park every day of your vacation!
Disney says:
At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations (Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations). Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; we’ll be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new ticket sales and hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.“
Park Reservations – You will be advised by Disney if you qualify for this first round of park reservations (you already have to have a resort reservation and linked tickets (vouchers)). Then when allowed you will be given the chance to make park reservations for your dates through My Disney Experience. Think of it like making a fastness but for a park vs a ride. (just 1 park per day). You will know right then what park if any you can get in on each day.
The second and continuing round of park reservations will be after they reopen reservations and ticket sales.
During this time masks and temperature checks are a given.
Update 5/29 – Disney has changed their Mask Guidance fro required for 3 and up to now requiring them for 2 and up.
Disney says there will be no “High Touch” experiences or mass gatherings, such as makeovers, parades, fireworks, meet & greets, playgrounds or splash areas.
But here is an interesting development. Disney has created a new job for some cast members, they call these Social Distance Squad Cast Members! These CMs have the task of reminding (nagging) you to social distance and wear masks. But if that’s what we have to put up with to get the parks open so be it…
Prior to the official re-opening dates, Walt Disney World will host a series of Cast Member previews and soft opening days for select audiences to ramp up operations.
These were the big Theme Park takeaways from the briefing. Disney said that the Disney Springs opening has gone well and they were using lessons learned there.
Military Ticket Issues
HOT NEWS – Disney Has Extended the Expiration Dates for the 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets.
Still no official word from Disney on what they will do for military families that pre-purchased Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets that they planned to use during the closure period!
After attempts to resolve in other ways, I have written to Disney CEO Bob Iger about the problem and will report if I hear back.
Also, it is not yet know if Disney considers those who have pre-purchased Armed Forces Salute Ticket Exchange Vouchers to be existing ticket holders. One would hope so as you can make fastpasses with them.
Disney World Resorts
There has been no announcement yet when Walt Disney World Resort Hotels will open. But expect it to be a few days prior to the Theme Parks.
Disney has stated (in the quote above) that they have halted taking new reservations for the time being. Expect them to start taking new reservations for July in June and for later in July.
However Disney Vacation Club Resorts will be opening on 22 June to DVC members and their guests.
Dining Changes
Update 5/29 – Disney has made this announcement about dining:
In order to foster physical distancing during this time, upon reopening, our offerings, restaurants and other experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours will be limited in capacity, and other experiences may remain closed. As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages. We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.“
- All current Advance Dining Reservations – Cancelled – You must re-book closer to when the parks re-open
- All Dining Plans Cancelled
- 60-Day booking window instead of 180-Days
FastPass+ Changes
Update 5/29 – FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as Disney plans to use additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing. Disney will automatically cancel existing FastPass+ selections and share any future updates on the service at a later date.
Extra Magic Hours Changes
Update 5/29 – Extra Magic Hours will be temporarily suspended after re-opening!
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Disneyland Re-opening Announcement
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Read about the Temporary Changes to Disney World during their Post-Lockdown Re-Opening
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- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
- Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
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Any mention of resort openings and guidelines?
Hi Kelly,
Disney has been vague on this. They did not specifically mention the non DVC resorts so I did not include. Here is what they said:
“Additionally, Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will reopen to members and guests and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen on June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will also open to members and guests starting on June 15. Plans to support required physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning measures, along with a number of other safety and cleanliness protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening.”
They mentioned everything but non-Dvc, so I wonder if it was a mistake and regular resorts will be 22 June???
So, we were going to go in June and because I have 7 military salute tickets…I did have to jump through some hoops to get these tickets. But, the parks will still be closed during the time we wanted to go and I will be unable to use them by the Dec 18th expiration date. Do you think I should wait to see if Disney allows refunds or should I reach out to my ticket sales sooner rather than later to try and get it settled?
I would check with your Ticket Office now about a refund. There is also the option of going by the Disney Springs Ticket Office when there to see what Disney will do for you Dennis.
We have a trip planned for late Oct-early Nov… during the shutdown I have reached out to customer service a few times asking about traveling from afar and then not being able to enter parks… our concern is being out the $ for AFS tickets, travel and accommodations. The last communication I had with someone I was encouraged to cancel my plans… so discouraging:(
I know Kelly,
I have big concerns for those who have saved (sometimes for years) to go who are turned away at the gate due to a high temp (maybe from a cold). What about the airfare, hotel, and other expenses. Is Disney going to cover a return trip?
I thought about the temperature thing, too. I ran a runDisney race with a 100.4 temp once due to a clogged milk duct after traveling threw off the baby’s feeding schedule. That’s not going to be contagious, but it is still going to get a person turned away at the gate.
Disney announced the DVC resorts will be opening, but said nothing about modifications at the resorts, only at the parks. I’m guessing the swimming pools will be closed, but I’m not positive. And knowing whether they will be closed or not will definitely impact our decision on whether to cancel or not. If we can’t get in the parks AND can’t go swimming, we’ll be pretty much confined to our rooms the entire trip.
Also, do you have any idea what’s going to happen with the buffets? We have several ADRs for buffets (made before everything shut down). I can’t imagine they’d keep having buffets, but they haven’t changed the restaurant menus, either. Any news on that?
Great point about the pools. I’m sure more info will be coming out.
I imagine self serve buffets will be a no no for a while, SeaWorld said they were not going to do them. Perhaps there could be a cast member served option?
We have a trip planned for October..we’ve purchased our hotel reservation (Animal Kingdom Lodge) & plane tickets…the only thing we haven’t bought is our park tickets. Our base ITT office has been closed and honestly, we’ve just been saving up because we thought we had the time to purchase later.
After reading Disney’s most recent announcement, is it true (or I guess possible) since we do not have tickets and are not annual pass holders…we may have our reservations cancelled??
I’m hoping we’re okay, since ours is a later date. But I can’t imagine how that will work for everyone starting in July and later dates.
Hi Chelsea,
I think this stop of reservations and ticket sales is to get through the initial period. By fall I truly hope they’ll be somewhat closer to normal ops. I imagine by mid-summer they will be selling tickets again.
Hi Steve! Thanks for all your helpful advice over the years! We have a trip planned for late July (7/27-8/2). Have you heard if the folks with salute passes are considered “existing ticket holders” by Disney? I’m concerned because technically the salute passes are exchange certificates that we have to redeem in person when we arrive. Thanks again!
Hi Kate,
Thanks so much!
That’s a great question. I’m going to reach out to a knowledgable friend with this for their take.
Steve,
Thanks so much for your help! I received an email from disney this morning stating they had to cancel our current FP & dining plans but it does say that we have valid tickets and we will be one of the first to try the new system. I’d still be interested if you hear anything though! I’d hate to spend all the time and money to get there and be denied at the gate! Thanks again!
My understanding Kate is that in the “near” future you (because you have room and linked tickets) will be given the chance to make park reservations for your dates through My Disney Experience. Think of it like making a fastness but for a park vs a ride. (just 1 park per day). You will know right then what park if any you can get in on each day. No guessing or finding out different upon arrival. The only way you’d be denied entry is a high temp for someone in your party.
What stinks and is so confusing is I’ve seen so many people get that exact same email (stating they have tickets and get first dibs) including myself. People that have resort reservations but no tickets, people with no resorts resverations and no park tickets, & then people that do have both.
Makes me question the validity of the emails.
I was excited when I got mine…but now I’m still concerned (since I don’t have park tickets yet).
Hi Steve, I spoke with Camp Pendleton today as that was where we purchased our tickets for Disneyland for our vacation May 31st. They are not giving any refunds for the Military Salute tickets at this time and that they are also waiting to hear if any extension will be given for the tickets. We can not go later this year so we hope we’re not out $1300.
We are hoping to avoid Disney as long as the face mask rule is in effect. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old..I don’t want to wear a mask at Disney. I can’t imagine making them wear one, too. I will be calling them to change my October 2020 reservation to October 2021, as soon as the dates we want are available for reservation. Hopefully, they will update their Salute ticket policy now that they have suspended new ticket sales.
Two things:
I have a December resort reservation at Coronado Springs with DDP but have not purchased my park tickets yet, Do you think that we will be able to get the Disney Military Salute tickets in time?
Second, we are taking our 2 year old grandson and his parents, I see no way possible he will keep a face mask on. Is Disney serious about this? Does anyone at Disney making these decisions about this have a 2 year old so they can take a RATIONAL approach on what a 2 year will do? The excitement of WDW will have not only him but every toddler wound up to the max. Just keeping the child calm under normal WDW excitement is tough enough.
Hopefully by fall the wiser and calmer ideas will come forth.
Hi Dave,
We are so early in this and it will be a highly evolving situation especially at first, but also for months to come!
First we’ll have to see if Salute tickets even come back out of this.
Then, you’ve got till September/October till you need to buy tickets, or later if there are still no fast passes by then, you’d just need them to do the Park reservation at whatever the deadline will be for that (if they are still doing that by then).
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for your responses to mine and everyone else’s comments. You’re bringing some peace during this unprecedented and stressful time.
Do you think, with everything going on, deals/discounts being cancelled….do you think they will discontinue or stop military discounts/deals (resort and tickets like the salute and Stars and Stripes) for 2020 or even longer?
Hi Chelsea,
You are most welcome!
These are unprecedented times! And we are so early into starting this Disney comeback. So many things unknown and unsaid.
Big picture: for the time being as long as America as a whole goes along with the thought that social distancing is needed and corporations like Disney take actions to prevent lawsuits (about not acting correctly), attendance in the parks will be kept low using this reservation system.
The need to keep attendance low does not bode well for discounts, which are always offered to get more attendance.
Only time will tell in this highly evolving situation and things will change as time goes on.
Sorry, no great words of wisdom or clear insight…
p.s. I’ve thought for years they would stop the Salute as it was offered in the 08/09 financial crisis aftermath to boost attendance, but they haven’t seen a politically correct way to stop it as it went on longer and longer. Bob Iger is on record saying he wants to do away with all discounts.
Oh, forgot to answer: Yes the Stars and Stripes will still be around. We have had those forever through Shades of Green. They are not dependent on the Salute. I first used them in 2000 and they had been around a while then…
Thank you so much! I appreciate the time you take to respond to all these comments. I know we won’t know more until Disney themselves puts our more information, but your words have provided me some peace in all the uncertainty.
Thank you!
We have a resort reservation for December but have not yet purchased our park hopper passes yet because we didn’t have to make it part of our package with being able to get them from SOG with the military discount. Will we still be able to get those tickets? Otherwise our reservation for the resort would be worthless if we aren’t able to purchase tickets to get into the park.
Hi Monica,
First, you’ve got plenty of time for things to get more sane. Disney is scrambling now trying to rework all the reservations that they currently have. That’s why they paused ticket sales and new reservations.
Once they fix all the reservations that they have, issue needed refunds, and get park assignments in place for those with reservations they will restart taking new ones and ticket sales. This should take a few weeks to a month I’d say.
Whether they feel they need to offer highly discounted military tickets at that time (or later on) is in my opinion up in the air. We will just have to wait and see. Give it some time, you’ve got 5 months till you need those tickets, we should know well before then.