Though Universal Orlando Resort’s June reopening caught many off guard, it has put Disney in an interesting position, as many will expect them to announce their own reopening date to follow their next door neighbor. And while we know that as of now Walt Disney World reservations through June 13th have been officially cancelled, could Walt Disney World be planning for a mid-June reopening?
Plans to be submitted to local government officials later this week
According to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Disney will be looking submit its reopening plans (which must include a target reopening date) sometime this week. This initial submission will be private, and will then be followed by a full public briefing before the Economic Recovery Task Force, which will be broadcast on YouTube and will include an approval vote on the plan.
The next meeting of the full Economic Recovery Task Force is currently scheduled for May 27, but depending on when Disney actually submits their plans, that could be too soon for us to get a glimpse at their reopening plans.
Disney has no comment for now
Last week, right after Universal Orlando Resort revealed their reopening plans, Disney shared an update of their own, saying that because of the current uncertainty given their reopening plans, they have no opening targets at the moment. Though the resort is now accepting reservations starting in July 2020 at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as this situation evolves, timing may continue to shift.
And while a mid-June opening could be possible for Walt Disney World with Florida’s current “Stage 1” guidelines in full effect, California Governor Gavin Newsom said that unless a massive drop of of positive COVID-19 cases happens in the near future, mass gatherings will not be possible in the state and herd immunity and large-scale events that bring in hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of strangers in June, July and August will be “unlikely” to occur. Though Newsom did not specifically mention theme parks, considering Disneyland Resort attracts thousands of guests per day, it seems like the resort won’t be able to open under these guidelines any time soon.
Disney will have to limit capacity severely, and could block out ticket-holders and annual passholders
Though we still don’t know exactly what Walt Disney World’s opening could look like, a recent statement from the park confirms that there will be strict capacity limits, and even if a guests has purchased a ticket to go to the Disney Parks or has an unblocked annual pass, they still may not be able to get into the theme parks.
Of course, Disney will work with guests affected by capacity limits, and we’d imagine guests will be spread out as evenly as possible between the parks (whichever ones end up opening) in an effort to keep distance.
We know that Disney is planning their reopening as we speak, and it looks like we should have some solid information in the near future about what exactly the park’s reopening will look like. When (and under what circumstances) do you think Disney will reopen?
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: Disney and NBA Confirmed to be Working on Bringing Games to Walt Disney World I LEGOLAND Florida, Fun Spot, Gatorland and More Announce Reopening Dates I Universal Orlando Plans to Reopen to the Public on June 5, 2020 I The 16 Major Theme Park Project Now Officially Cancelled, Delayed or Slimmed Down (May 20, 2020) I Efteling Theme Park In The Netherlands, Is Reopening TODAY, This Is What Guests Can Expect I Alton Towers Have Officially Announced That All Theme Park Bookings until 3rd July, 2020 must be moved
