Though Walt Disney World hasn’t quite reopened all the way yet, early previews for Cast Members and annual passholders have been going on all week, and so far, the news has been fairly positive, with the vast majority of guests adhering to mask rules, staying socially distant. and acting responsible. However, as we get closer to Walt Disney World’s big reopening for all guests this weekend, there are some last-minute changes that Disney is making right now that you might want to know about!
1. Annual Passholder resort glitch fixed and new “rolling” reservation system implemented
One of the big issues that annual passholders found initially with the the Disney Park Pass reservation system was that it limited all annual passholders to three reservations each, regardless of any hotel stays. So if an annual passholder had a 7-day resort stay booked, they could only make three Disney Parks Pass reservations. However, this issue has been fixed and annual passholders staying at select Disney Resort or other select hotels with valid theme park admission are now able to make theme park reservations for each day of their stay.
In addition, all Annual Passholders are now eligible to make “rolling: theme park reservations for up to 3 days at a time, which means once a passholder uses a theme park reservation, they can make another reservation for a future date, potentially giving these guests a way to use their pass to the fullest extent and visit the theme parks every day, as long as they can find a park that doesn’t have its reservations sold out.
2. VIP Tours return next month
Though most ticket add-ons and upgrades are not available for purchase, big spenders visiting Walt Disney World will be happy to know that Disney is now accepting reservations for VIP tours, which will resume on August 16th. And though regular guests are not able to move from park to park, guests who book these special tours (which are private and led by a special tour guide Cast Member) will be able to book itineraries that include experiences at multiple parks including the “Ultimate Day of Thrills”, which includes experiences at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
3. Luggage delivery service for Mickey’s Magical Express has been permanently discontinued
Image via Flickr user PrincessAshley
Though complimentary airport transportation via Disney’s Magical Express service for Guests arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport is continuing to operate, Disney has announced that beginning next week on July 16, 2020 Disney’s Magical Express service will no longer be providing luggage delivery service for those arriving to and departing from the airport, and guests who use Disney’s Magical Express will be responsible for picking up any of their checked luggage from the airport’s baggage claim area and traveling with their bags to their hotel. This also applies for return trips, as guests will be responsible for getting their luggage from their room, to the bus, and then to their flight.
4. Fingerprint scanners have been turned off at entrances
While it might not come as a big surprise, Disney has confirmed that when guests return to the theme parks they will no longer be required to scan their fingerprint at park entrances when their MagicBand is scanned, and all fingerprint scanners have been covered up to prevent guests from accidentally trying to scan their fingers. This new policy is expected to stay in effect for the foreseeable future as Disney tries to make their experiences across the theme parks as touch free as possible.
As always, while this situation is evolving, all travelers should check out the CDC’s official site here, which has information on the virus and how to prevent its spread.
Theme Park Tourist COVID-19 Complete Coverage: Walt Disney World Tickets Back on Sale Right NOW, With Restrictions I Here’s How Every Ride Operating at Magic Kingdom is Handling Social Distancing I 14 Important Changes That Will be in Place When Walt Disney World Begins Opening This Week I The 18 Major Theme Park Projects Now Officially Cancelled, Delayed or Slimmed Down (July 6, 2020) I 4 Walt Disney World Dining Changes You Need to Know About Before Reopening I No Parking Trams or Minnie Vans at Walt Disney World Reopening I Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life Still Hoping to Debut This Year at Disney Springs I Walt Disney World is Making HUGE Changes Right Now in Preparation for Reopening
