Disney News

Tag: disney world

  • BREAKING: Disney World Announces Reopening Date After Months-Long Coronavirus Closure

    BREAKING: Disney World Announces Reopening Date After Months-Long Coronavirus Closure

    Walt Disney World has announced a phased re-open plan and date for its Florida theme parks.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Park are targeting July 11, 2020 as an opening date. Epcot and Hollywood Studios are targeting July 15, 2020.

    The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force met May 27 to hear the plans put forth by Walt Disney World and SeaWorld.

    The plans were approved by the task force. Now they need approval from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    Jim MacPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World Resort made the virtual presentation on behalf of Disney. The proposed opening will take place in phases and will require a reservation for park entry to limit park capacity. There will be physical distancing; guests and cast members will be required to wear face masks; and plexiglass at registers and other places where distancing is difficult will be installed.

    Parades and fireworks will temporarily suspended to enable distancing. Character meet and greets as well as playgrounds are also temporarily suspended. Temperature checks will be conducted for both staff and guests.

    There will be more options for mobile food ordering and cashless payment will be encouraged.

  • Walt Disney World Parks Reportedly to Reopen at Only 20-30 Percent Capacity

    Walt Disney World Parks Reportedly to Reopen at Only 20-30 Percent Capacity

    Disney Springs began it’s phased reopening last week, but when Disney World’s theme parks will reopen is still a mystery. Once they do reopen, you can expect substantially lower crowds than you are accustomed to seeing, according to recent reports.

    Disney World could reopen with crowd sizes somewhere between 20 to 30-percent of regular capacity, according to a recent report from WESH.

    Following the coronavirus crisis, Florida has become one of the first states in the nation to reopen its economy. Resorts like Disney World can reopen to the public if they submit a plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force and it is approved.

    Disney World has yet to submit a reopening plan to the Task Force. News has since surfaced suggesting Disney will submit the report this week, according to Flordia Governor Ron DeSantis.

    “Disney has given an indication that next week, they will submit their plans, and once they do, then we will schedule that for a full briefing before our Economic Recovery Task Force as well,” he explained. “So at this point, it’s an undefined time or date, but we do look forward to seeing that sometime next week.”

    Disney World – and Disneyland, for that matter – have been closed since March 15th when the company issued the following statement.

  • DIY Kitchen Sink Sundae Recipe Released by Disney Parks

    DIY Kitchen Sink Sundae Recipe Released by Disney Parks

    The Kitchen Sink sundae from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is a Disney classic and now they have released the original recipe for it and how to make it at home!  

    If you’ve never tackled it before, be warned, this over-the-top indulgence includes everything and the kitchen sink – enough for your entire family to share! 

    Take a look at the ingredients and instructions below:

    Kitchen Sink from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
    Serves 4 to 6

    Ingredients: 

    • 1/2 cup warm fudge topping 
    • 1/2 cup warm butterscotch topping
    • 1/2 cup warm peanut butter topping
    • 1 medium banana, sliced in 1/2-inch slices
    • 1 cinnamon spice cupcake (2 ½ x 1 1/4-inch), quartered
    • 1 angel food cupcake (3 x 1 1/2-inch), quartered
    • 2 generous scoops vanilla ice cream
    • 2 generous scoops chocolate ice cream
    • 2 generous scoops strawberry ice cream
    • 1 generous scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
    • 1 generous scoop coffee ice cream
    • 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup 
    • 1/4 cup marshmallow cream
    • 1/4 cup strawberry topping
    • 1/4 cup pineapple topping 
    • 14-ounce can dairy whipped topping 
    • 1 large brownie (6-inch x 6-inch), quartered  
    • 1 regular-sized candy bar, quartered
    • 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling
    • 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds 
    • 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
    • 1 tablespoon crushed chocolate cookies with cream filling 
    • 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slices, about 2 large slices
    • 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
    • 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
    • 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
    • 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles 
    • 1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries 

    To Serve:

    1. Pour hot fudge, butterscotch, and peanut butter toppings into bottom of large bowl.  
    2. Layer banana slices and cupcake pieces over toppings. Top with all ice creams.  
    3. As quickly as possible, spoon chocolate syrup, marshmallow cream, strawberry, and pineapple toppings over ice cream.
    4. Cover completely with dairy whipped topping. Tuck brownie pieces, candy bar pieces, and cookies in whipped topping.
    5. Sprinkle with toasted almonds, dark and white chocolate shavings, crushed cookies, jellied orange slices, milk chocolate chip morsels, peanut butter morsels, chocolate sprinkles, and rainbow sprinkles. Top with cherries.
  • NBA and Disney Confirm Talks to Restart Season at Florida Complex

    NBA and Disney Confirm Talks to Restart Season at Florida Complex

    The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company to use the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to resume the season in late July.

    The National Basketball Players Association is also part of the talks with Disney to use the massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando.

    NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “exploratory,” and that the site would be used not only for games but for practices and housing as well. Take a look at the post below:

    “Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all involved, and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place,” Bass said.

    The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 255-acre campus with multiple arenas that could host games simultaneously and has been home to, among other things, the Jr. NBA World Championship in recent years. ESPN is primarily owned by Disney, one of the NBA’s broadcast partners.

    Space won’t be an issue, even if Major League Soccer — which is also in talks to resume its season at Disney — is there at the same time as the NBA. The entire Disney complex is roughly 40 square miles, with nearly 24,000 hotel rooms owned or operated by Disney within the campus.

    The NBA suspended its season March 11, becoming the first of the U.S. major pro leagues to do so after it became known that All-Star center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. The list of NBA players who were known to test positive eventually grew to 10 — not all were identified — and Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the actual total was even higher.

    But the league has been working on countless return-to-play scenarios for several weeks, all with the caveat that testing would be an integral part of any resumption of the season. Teams have been allowed to welcome players back to their training facilities for voluntary sessions since May 8, and more than half of the league’s franchises have taken advantage of that opportunity.

    The next steps would likely include a loosening of the restrictions for those voluntary workouts — no more than four players are currently allowed inside any facility at a time — and then a plan for when training camps could open. If the league plans to resume play in late July, then camps conceivably could open around the start of that month.

  • Disney World to Submit Reopening Plans and Date Next Week

    Disney World to Submit Reopening Plans and Date Next Week

    Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings shared that Disney World be submitting their proposed reopening plan and date next week, in an interview with CNBC.

    “Disney has given an indication that next week, they will submit their plans” Demings said. “At this time it’s an undefined time or date but we do look forward to seeing that sometime next week.”

    Once the plans have been submitted they will schedule a full briefing with the Orange County Task Force, and then Mayor Demings and Governor DeSantis, must sign-off their approval.

    Universal presented their plans to the Orange County Task Force on Thursday, saying they would like to begin reopening in phases starting on June 1st. They said the opening would be gradual and would manage capacity across the entire resort, including within attractions, restaurants, and stores.

    Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has approved Universal Orlando Resort’s reopening plans and has sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis for the final signature.

  • Disney Issues COVID-19 Disclaimer Ahead of Reopening

    Disney Issues COVID-19 Disclaimer Ahead of Reopening

    Ahead of Disney Spring’s reopening on Wednesday, Disney has put out a disclaimer about the coronavirus.

    while Disney has made it clear that “enhanced health and safety measures” will be the utmost importance — guests still assume all the risk. 

    “An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death,” reads a disclaimer on the Disney World website.

    It concludes: “By visiting Walt Disney World Resort, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.” 

    On Wednesday, shops will be open at Disney Springs. The next phase will start seven days later when Disney retail shops, such as World of Disney Store, and Disney eateries reopen.

    Among the new safety measures include all guests and employees being required to wear masks. Guests will have their temperatures checked, and plexiglass dividers have been installed at registers.

  • Disney Announces First Shops and Restaurants to Reopen at Disney Springs

    Disney Announces First Shops and Restaurants to Reopen at Disney Springs

    On May 27, three Disney-owned and -operated stores and venues at Disney Springs will reopen: World of Disney, D-Luxe Burger (mobile order) and the Marketplace Co-Op.

    Wednesday, May 20, will be the first step in the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, as Disney Springs begins its initial reopening that morning. 

    Matt Simon, Vice President, Disney Springs said, “With the safety and well-being of our guests, cast members and third-party operating participants at the forefront of our planning.”

    It said parking at Disney Springs will be limited and fewer entrances will be open.

    Employees and visitors will have their temperatures screened prior to entering and face coverings are required, the company said.

    “We are eager to begin welcoming you back to this part of Walt Disney World. While our theme parks and resort hotels remain temporarily closed, the phased reopening of Disney Springs is a welcome milestone as we navigate through this unprecedented time together as responsibly as we can,” Simon said.

  • Disney World Given Green Light to Submit Plans to Reopen by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

    Disney World Given Green Light to Submit Plans to Reopen by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

    On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave Disney World the green light to submit their plans for reopening to the state.

    DeSantis said the parks should submit the date they believe they can resume safe operations.

    “They have to provide how they are going to do it, how they’re going to accommodate the guests, how they’re going to protect the staff and then they need to have an endorsement from the local official in their locality,” DeSantis said.

    Disney World and Universal Orlando have both been closed since mid-March.

    Disney plans to reopen Disney Springs next week.

  • Disney World Now Only Accepting Reservations Beginning in July

    Disney World Now Only Accepting Reservations Beginning in July

    Disney World is now only accepting reservations beginning in July 2020.

    Reservations are currently available for travel dates on July 1 and later, according to Disney’s website.

    Previously, Disney World had stopped accepting reservations before June 1 during the coronavirus closure of the Central Florida theme park.

    Disney has been closed since mid-March and has not announced any plans for reopening theme parks in Central Florida.

    Shanghai Disneyland reopened on Monday. Disney is limiting visitor numbers, requiring masks and checking temperatures at the gate.

    Disney said last week that it will begin a phased reopening of Disney Springs May 20 with enhanced safety measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

    Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel gave an update on what people can expect once its other parks, resorts and stores reopen.

    The company is looking into phased reopening at all locations, whether it be a gradual reopening or partial for certain areas.

    Hymel said Disney is working to manage guest density and social distancing with not just restaurants and hotels, but queues and ride vehicles. The measure will likely include guest capacity that matches state and federal guidelines to keep visitors and employees safe.

    Disney is also looking into virtual queues for Disney World and Disneyland with the help of their app.

  • Disney World FastPasses Now Available for June

    Disney World FastPasses Now Available for June

    With no idea when Disney World will finally reopen, many fans are looking for a little magical news and they may have just gotten some. It appears that you can now book Fastpasses for June on the My Disney Experience App.

    If you take a look at the app, guests with a valid park ticket – including Annual Passholders – can select FastPasses 30-days in advance beginning in June. This goes for guests with or without a Disney Resort room reservation.

    Take a look below at the FastPass availability we were able to find:

    There has been no official word from Disney on when they plan to reopen, but a task force referred to as the Orlando County Economic Recovery Task Force, made up of appointed officials, met up virtually last week to develop a preliminary set of guidelines that will be implemented when the parks eventually get the green-light to resume operations.

    Some analysts suggest the the parks may not reopen until Jan. 1, 2021. Stating that, “all aspects of Disney are at risk because of COVID-19, from their movie releases to their theme parks.”

    Again there is no official word from Disney so we’ll just have to wait and see.