Where is the most magical place on earth? It’s Walt Disney World, hands down! I grew up going to Disney every year and loved the magic that it held. No matter what age, I truly loved it. So naturally when I had Lizzie, heading to Disney World was on the top of my list.
Planning a Disney trip could easily be an Olympic sport. There are so many resources out there on how to book dinner reservations, how to maximize fast passes and booking the best hotel reservations. Well all of that goes out the window because of COVID. Things are completely different now. There is a new set of rules and today I’m sharing my tips on visiting Disney World during COVID.
Tips For Visiting Disney World During COVID
Plan Ahead
In order to enter any Disney park you need a ticket and a reservation. The system is a bit backwards, where you have to have a ticket prior to booking your reservation. You will need your ticket number when you book your reservation. My tip is to check out the reservations, see if there are openings, if there are then purchase your ticket immediately and book your reservation.
Skip the Park Hopper Option
They recently opened back up the park hopper option, however your times to “hop” are limited. I would skip the park hopper and plan a full day at each park. This allows you to fully enjoy each park without the constrain on time.
Park Entry and Capacity
Temperature checks occur prior to entry into the parks. All modes of transportation to the park are open, but you are spread out. For example on the monorail you will only share a car with one other group, depending on their size. You aren’t smashed in anymore, its actually nice!
Capacity for our visit was at 30%. To be honest I thought it was way more crowded than 30% though. I was still comfortable with it, but it seemed more like 50%.
Download the My Disney Experience App
This app offers you a map of the park and more importantly a view into wait times and food options. I found that wait times for rides were pretty accurate on the app. From this app you can also order food from any restaurant in the park. You simply find the restaurant, order your food and select a pickup window. You can even push back the pick up time before you enter the start of your original window. Meaning you can wait in line for a ride, schedule your next meal and pick it up when you are done on the ride. It does require a little faith and coordination, but we were able to time our lunch perfectly. The app is a must for visiting Disney World during COVID.
Limited Capacity at Restaurants
All restaurants that are open, have capacity limitations due to COVID. You may have to walk around looking for a table to eat. I suggest splitting up your party. Have someone go hunt for the table while someone else picks up the food.
Pop Up Parades
The traditional parades during the day and night at Disney are no occurring. Instead they are offering pop up parades, which start quickly and are more condensed. They are still equally as fun and I personally preferred them. You no longer have to line up multiple people deep to catch a glimpse of a character. It’s actually very ideal for small kids.
They also offer character sightings now, which again is way better. You don’t have to wait in line to meet each character. Instead they are located on a balcony or a designated section of the park and with proper social distancing you can see them. They make every effort to wave and make eye contact with each child.
Social Distancing and Masks
Masks are a requirement for anyone over 2 years of age. And they enforce this rule. If you take your mask down for a quick picture (like we did) they will advise you to put your mask up. And they don’t miss a beat in finding you. They do have designated mask free spaces, where you can sit and take a breather.
Social distancing is strictly enforced as well. This makes for really long lines, meaning distance wise. You might be in line for the haunted mansion in frontier land, as the line weaves in and out all over the place. There is always a cast member standing at the end of the line with a sign for each ride.
Souvenirs
If possible, buy souvenirs at the end of your visit. They limit the amount of people in the stores and lines do form. They also weren’t offering to have items shipped to your hotel room or held for later pick up. If you don’t want to lug it around all day, save it for the end.
Disney isn’t for everyone and if you have serious concerns about traveling and attending large gatherings, do not go. You need to be comfortable with the idea of heading there during COVID. I would say 99% of the guests followed the rules and were respectful of social distancing and mask wearing.
If you want to extend your trip, you can also take the short drive to Marco Island and enjoy the beach. Check out my post here.
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