News has been coming at a frantic pace about the reopening of Walt Disney World, which will be happening in just three weeks. And though we learned all about the Disney Parks Pass reservation system earlier this week, more information has been released about what attractions will be open and how guests will queue for them when Disney begins its reopening next month
No virtual lines will be used
Though many thought Disney would roll out a larger version of their virtual queue system (which was previously used on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance), it looks like Disney is going back to the good old days of standby-only confirming that they will not be using any kind of virtual queue or FastPass+ when Disney parks reopen, for any attraction, including the aforementioned Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
While this may come as bit of a shock (Universal Orlando Resort has made extensive use of virtual queues since their reopening) Disney appears confident that it can control attendance at the park with its new Disney Parks Pass reservation system (as well as the ban on park hopping), which will hopefully lead to manageable queues at rides.
Almost all attractions will be available
One of the big questions many have had about Walt Disney World’s reopening is what attractions will be open. And it looks like the vast majority of popular attractions, including Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Space Mountain, Dumbo The Flying Elephant, Avatar – Flight of Passage and more will all be open. The only attractions that will not be reopening with the park are the following:
- Beauty and the Beast “Sing-Along”
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing a Long
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
- Enchanted Tales With Belle
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- The Boneyard
- Primeval Whirl
- Finding Nemo The Musical
- UP! A Great Bird Adventure
- Turtle Talk With Crush
- Festival of the The Lion King
Characters will still be around even if they aren’t meeting directly with guests
Though Disney has confirmed that character meet and greets will not be a part of the park reopening, characters will still appear in new and different ways while also being mindful of physical distancing. From special cavalcades down the Magic Kingdom Park parade route and friends sailing the waterways of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, to processions along the World Showcase promenade at Epcot and motorcades on Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Hollywood Boulevard there will be plenty of ways for guests to see and interact with their favorite characters, including the following:
- Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland
- Captain Jack Sparrow in Adeventureland
- Queen Anna and Elsa in the World Showcase
- Members of the Resistance and the First Order throughout Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu
Buffets are being converted to family style experiences
And speaking of experiences that will be different when Walt Disney World begins welcoming guests once again, it looks like a number of buffets are stated to reopen as “Family Style” eateries, where guests are brought a full skillet of some of the restaurant’s most popular selections, with the option for unlimited “refills” of either the skillet as a whole or specific items. This modified dining experience will be available at several former buffet-style eateries including Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Biergarten at Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
Walt Disney World’s reopening plan is starting to really come together, and though there are some concerns about rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida, right now it looks like the plan is to go full steam ahead with the planned theme park opening next month.
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.
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