Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will reopen starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The parks are working to keep guests safe by implementing new protocols including: limits on attendance and controlled guest density to align with guidance from health and government authorities on physical distancing. The parks are also using technology to power creative solutions as they develop new ways for guests to visit the parks in this unique environment.

To manage attendance during this reopening period Disney parks are introducing the new Disney Park Pass system. During this time, all guests with a ticket or Annual Pass will be required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, using this new online tool on DisneyWorld.com.

Here are a few important details to know about this new system:

• You’ll need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where your Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.
• You’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account.
• If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well.

Once guests have logged into their My Disney Experience account and linked their ticket, they’ll have access to a calendar of available reservation dates for each theme park. If guests have a multi-day ticket, they will be required to make a park reservation for each date of their visit. Families and friends can link their tickets together and look to arrange theme park entries at the same time.

Please note, park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the reservation is finalized. At this time, guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations. Guests with existing tickets that include the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option have options available to them for ticket modifications and cancellations, and can visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates for more information. Disney says they hope to bring back the ability to visit more than one park per day soon and will continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases.

For Existing Ticket Holders and Annual Passholders
Beginning this week, Disney will reach out to existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders with more information on when they will be able to check availability to make their park reservations. Disney will open the Disney Park Pass system to these guests in phases, beginning with those with future Disney Resort and other select hotel stays. Later this summer, Disney will resume sales of 2020 tickets and Disney Resort hotel arrivals, based on availability of park reservations, while they continue to provide guests with existing tickets and Annual Passholders the opportunity to make park reservations for 2020 dates.

Planning a New Trip for Next Year
By June 28, all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as the phased reopening continues. Guests will be able to view park reservation availability on DisneyWorld.com prior to purchasing their tickets.

As your clients begin planning their upcoming visits, Disney is also exploring engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the parks—particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve. In 2021, Disney plans to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature. With this new offering on the horizon, Disney will be retiring its complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and they’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. Disney will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

These updates may change the way you plan your clients’ visits to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and Disney Resort hotels for the time being. However, Disney says they are focused on making guests’ Walt Disney World Resort experience magical, convenient and enjoyable. To find out more information, please visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates.

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For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.