Though Walt Disney World is finally reopening its parks to the public today, the experience inside the gates of the Most Magical Place on Earth will be a lot different than what theme park fans have come to expect over the years. And while there’s no telling when the effects of COVID-19 will subside, there are some changes happening now in response to the pandemic that could stick around for the foreseeable future.
1. The end of FastPass+
Though some were shocked when Disney announced that they were not reopening with FastPass+ service, many thought this seemed like an appropriate action from Disney, as FastPass+ has long been blamed for long wait times and congestion inside attraction queues.
Guest opinion has always been sharply divided about FastPass+ service, but as guests get used to the “new normal” at Walt Disney World and touring around the park without the need to make attraction reservations in advance could simply become habit.
And with Disney beginning the phase out of MagicBands beginning next year, they could simply never bring back FastPass+, returning the parks to a simpler time, or replacing this service with something newer and better down the line.
2. The first-come, first-serve virtual queue
Before Walt Disney World theme parks closed back in March, the hottest ticket in central Florida was a boarding group reservation for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. These boarding groups were tough to get, and guests ended up lining up hours in advance of park opening in order to snag a boarding group, which were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
However, with social distancing and park passes required, it wouldn’t be very fair if Walt Disney World kept this system, which is why Disney has announced that when Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopens next week Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will use staggered booking windows to distribute boarding passes, which will now become available starting at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, giving everyone a chance to experience this attraction, no matter when they arrive.
And while this is another change that has been brought about by necessity, a more equitable distribution model for guests seems like a common sense change that could stick around for the foreseeable future.
3. More characters out and about in the theme parks
Because in-person meet and greets have been cancelled due to social distancing requirements for the foreseeable future, Walt Disney World has been forced to get a little creative with how it creates magical character moments for guests. Instead of waiting an hour or more to see characters inside an indoor meet and greet, Characters will now be seen around the parks, greeting guests from rooftops, floats, stages, and other areas where they can remain socially distant.
And while we have no doubt that in person meet and greets will resume at some point to Walt Disney World theme parks, having characters around the theme parks definitely adds some magic to the environment, and would be a great change to keep in the future!
Though we know that at some point, social distancing inside the theme parks will end and we will be able to see fireworks, parades, and more again, not all of the changes made at Walt Disney World have been bad. Which of these changes would you like to see stick around?
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: 4 Last-Minute Changes Walt Disney World is Making RIGHT Before Reopening I 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
