Disney News

Tag: disney world

  • Man Found Camping at Disney World’s Discovery Island During Coronavirus Closure

    Man Found Camping at Disney World’s Discovery Island During Coronavirus Closure

    A man has been charged with trespassing after he was found camping on Walt Disney World’s Discovery Island, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

    Police arrested Richard McGuire, 42, after he was allegedly caught camping out by Disney World security. McGuire told police he was “unaware” that his visit to the abandoned island was trespassing, while describing the island as a “tropical paradise.”

    McGuire is from Mobile, Alabama, according an arrest affidavit. He told authorities that he had gained access to the island on Monday or Tuesday and planned to camp there for about a week. He was later spotted by security and before being detained law enforcement had searched for him using helicopter and boats, as well as on foot.

    Numerous “no trespassing” signs are said to be visible on and near the island. Before he was arrested on Thursday, deputies used a loudspeaker system at the resort to inform him he was trespassing and needed to leave, with no response.

    Discovery Island has been closed to the public since 1999, having been used as a Disney wildlife park for the previous 25 years. However, the company left all of the original buildings on the island, one of which McGuire was believed to have been staying in when he was discovered.

    All Disney parks have been closed indefinitely since March 16 due to public health concerns caused by the pandemic. Although it is unclear when Disney World will be back in business, on Tuesday a Florida task force recently gave the company guidelines to reopen in phases, beginning at 50 percent capacity.

    McGuire was charged with one misdemeanor count of trespassing and banned from Disney properties.

  • Disney World Receives Social Distancing Guidelines for Reopening Once Coronavirus Crisis Improves

    Disney World Receives Social Distancing Guidelines for Reopening Once Coronavirus Crisis Improves

    The “happiest place on Earth” has been closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since early March and now Walt Disney World has been given Social Distancing Guidelines for reopening once Coronavirus Crisis improves.

    A task force referred to as the Orlando County Economic Recovery Task Force, made up of appointed officials, met up virtually on Tuesday to develop a preliminary set of guidelines that will be implemented when the parks eventually get the green-light to resume operations.

    In Phase 1, the parks would be allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity. In Phase 2, operational capacity would be bumped to 75-percent capacity.

    The other guidelines seem to adopt best practices used by grocery stores and essential businesses since the pandemic began spreading.

    Tape markers will encourage social distancing of six feet for park-goers waiting in line for rides.

    Staff will be required to wear face masks and manage the cleanliness of the park by regularly wiping down surfaces and railings used by park-goers.

    Prior to starting their shifts, employees will have their temperatures taken. Anyone who has above 100.4 degrees will be sent home.

    Employees with flu-like symptoms will be encouraged to stay home. Also encouraged to stay home will be visitors who are 65 and older or with pre-existing conditions that put them at a higher risk for contracting the novel virus.

    To ensure everyone’s safety, touch-less hand sanitizing stations will be added to every ride’s entrance and exit, ticketing area, and turnstile.

    Since the pandemic is so unpredictable, it’s hard to establish a time frame for re-opening.

  • Online Check-In Now Required for Walt Disney World Resort Vacations

    Online Check-In Now Required for Walt Disney World Resort Vacations

    Changes at Disney World due to the coronavirus pandemic are inevitable and it seems Disney is already getting a head start maintaining social distancing once they reopen by now requiring resort check-ins to be done online.

    Many guests have seen that their Disney World reservation on The Disney World app it now says, “Now Required: Complete Online Check-in, then go direct to room on arrival.”

    Nothing has been confirmed by Disney, but it’s clear this is one of the changes people can expect. One guest took to Twitter with a screen shot of the new policy as you can see in the post below:

    Reopening Florida’s theme parks, among the world’s most visited attractions and one of the state’s biggest economic engines, could be a long process fraught with logistical and public health considerations.

    Visitors should brace themselves for alterations, for everything from how to buy admission tickets to spread-out seating arrangements aboard park rides and in restaurants.

    Though it is not clear when Walt Disney World theme parks will reopen in Orlando, Florida, as the coronavirus has shut down most nonessential businesses, Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger says he has a plan in mind that may include temperature checks.

    “One of the things that we’re discussing already is that in order to return to some semblance of normal, people will have to feel comfortable that they’re safe. Some of that could come in the form ultimately of a vaccine, but in the absence of that it could come from basically, more scrutiny, more restrictions,” Iger explained in an interview.

    Disney parks in the United States, Disney World and Disneyland, are still closed indefinitely and have no set reopening date. Disney recently furloughed 100,000 theme park and hotel workers amid the coronavirus shutdown.

  • 43,000 more Disney World workers will be furloughed April 19

    43,000 more Disney World workers will be furloughed April 19

    Starting April 19, about 43,000 unionized Disney World workers will be furloughed in the wake of the closure of the park due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The announcement was made during a Facebook Live stream by the Service Trades Council Union. This furlough is the largest wave of Disney employees at the resort to be sent home without pay because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

    “This is a decision that the union doesn’t like, however, it is within the company’s right to lay off and furlough employees in this situation,” a union representative said.

    The union coalition said that Disney had agreed to provide free health care benefits for a year and extend other benefits, including its Aspire education program.

    The union said about 200 union workers are deemed essential employees will stay on the job.

    Walt Disney World recently announced that they would begin furloughs of park employees at its parks in California and Florida beginning on April 19 because of the coronavirus pandemic. For those employees, the company will continue to pay for health insurance and a program that gives free education to hourly employees. 

    “The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our world with untold suffering and loss, and has required all of us to make sacrifices. Over the last few weeks, mandatory decrees from government officials have shut down a majority of our businesses,” the company said in a statement.

  • How to make Disney’s Dole Whip at home

    How to make Disney’s Dole Whip at home

    Disney parks are temporarily closed, but you can still bring home the Magic of Disney with this delicious Disney Dole Whip recipe!

    After sharing their churro bites recipe earlier this week, Disney is now delighted fans by sharing the recipes for making Dole Whips at home.

    The park released the recipe for its famous Dole Whip on its app on Wednesday. Take a look below:

    Recipe:

    • 1 big scoop of ice cream
    • 4 oz of pineapple juice
    • 2 cups of frozen pineapple
    • Add all ingredients to a blender until it’s a thick drink.
    • Add your swirl and then you’re done.
  • Disney World Operations Could Take Years to Return to Normal

    Disney World Operations Could Take Years to Return to Normal

    A securities analyst from Wells Fargo said it could take years for theme-park operations to get back to normal.

    Analyst Steven Cahall has downgraded the Walt Disney company mostly because of the impact COVID-19 has had on theme parks.

    He said this is not a demand-driven downturn like the parks saw in 2008 and 2009. However, the impact will still be big, according to WFTV.

    He said he expects no attendance for the rest of the fiscal year, and parks working at a 50% capacity in fiscal 2021.

    “Until the time at which there is significantly improved testing and/or a widely available vaccine it’s tough for us to imagine long lines for Rise of the Resistance, no matter how much folks might want to go to [Walt Disney World] deep down,” Cahall wrote.

    He also said that with no attendance at the parks, that means significantly lower occupancy at hotels and resorts, and almost no revenue coming in for the cruise line industry in the foreseeable future.

  • Temperature Screenings For Guests May Be Instituted When Disney Parks Reopen After Coronavirus Pandemic

    Temperature Screenings For Guests May Be Instituted When Disney Parks Reopen After Coronavirus Pandemic

    As the world remains shuddered in their homes waiting for the global health crisis to end, Disney fans are looking forward to the day that Disney parks reopen and they can return to their happy place. This begs the question, what does returning to normal look like at Disney Parks?

    Barron’s recently spoke with Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger about meeting the challenge of the virus, and how the entertainment industry might be left changed.

    Take a look below at what he had to say:

    “We’re studying very carefully what China has been trying to do in terms of their return to normalcy” Iger said. “And one of the things that’s obvious is they’ve conscripted a large segment of their population to monitor others in terms of their health. You can’t get on a bus or a subway or a train or enter a high-rise building there—and I’m sure this will be the case when their schools reopen—without having your temperature taken.”

    Iger continued, “So we’ve asked ourselves the question, let’s prepare for a world where our customers demand that we scrutinize everybody. Even if it creates a little bit of hardship, like it takes a little bit longer for people to get in. Just as the case after 9/11 where people ultimately lived with the notion that in order for them to enter a building, if you’re in an office building you have to show a picture ID or get your picture taken and be screened. Or in order to enter a park you have to put your bags out there to be checked and you go through some kind of metal detector. Or certainly what’s going on in airports with the TSA.”

    So if you’re looking to return “home” after your allowed back into the world again, be prepared for longer lines. It’s a small price to pay to get back to the magic and to keep everyone safe.

  • Disney Suspends Annual Passholder Payments During Coronavirus Closure

    Disney Suspends Annual Passholder Payments During Coronavirus Closure

    Walt Disney World and Disneyland annual passholders will see their payments refunded or waived during the remainder of the parks’ closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Effective April 5, 2020, for Annual Passholders on monthly payments, we will automatically stop and waive all upcoming monthly payments while the theme parks are closed.

    Disney will also retroactively refund payments made between March 14 through April 4, 2020. Payments will resume on the Passholder’s regularly scheduled payment dates once the parks reopen. Please note, pass expiration dates will not be extended and passes will expire upon their originally scheduled expiration dates.

    As an alternative, guests who are paying for Annual Passes using their monthly payment program may choose to have their monthly payments postponed starting with payments due April 5 through the park closure period, and then resumed on the Passholder’s regularly scheduled payment date once the parks reopen. Postponed payments will be collected in the months following the end of the Passholder’s currently scheduled payment term. The pass will be extended the number of days the parks are closed. The new expiration date will be reflected on the Annual Passholder’s account prior to the reopening of the theme parks. Information will be provided soon on how to choose this option.

    If you have any questions, please contact V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at (407) 939-7277. We do anticipate heavy call volume and appreciate your patience as we answer all inquiries.

  • Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Thursday Disney announced that Disney World will “stop and waive” payments for its annual passes while the theme parks are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    The company said previously that annual pass payments would continue during the closure.

    With the updatied policy, Disney will stop collecting payments starting April 5. Disney will also refund payments that were collected between March 14 and April 4. Take a look at the announcement from Disney below:

    Monthly passes, however, will not be extended and instead expire on their original expiration date.

    For passholders who paid for their passes in full, they will be given the option of either extending their passes for the number of days the parks were closed or receiving a refund for those days.

    This news comes a week after Disney said its U.S. theme parks would remain closed indefinitely.

  • Disney World Still Raising the Flag in an Empty Magic Kingdom Every Day

    Disney World Still Raising the Flag in an Empty Magic Kingdom Every Day

    Walt Disney World is closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but cast members are making sure the flag at Magic Kingdom is still raised everyday.

    Video shared by Walt Disney World Resort President Josh D’Amaro on Instagram shows the security team still on duty at the Magic Kingdom raising the American flag. It’s a traditional they have kept up daily despite the park being empty.

    The video shows only the movement of the guards and the flag. Birds are heard in the background. Cinderella Castle stands at the far end of the street. Take a look at the video below:

    “While our world looks very different today, one thing endures…the American flag still flies over Walt Disney World,” D’Amaro wrote. “I’m inspired how our Security Cast Members continue to raise it each and every morning at Magic Kingdom while they are on duty protecting the magic. It’s a symbol that we’re still here and will not falter. I hope this inspires you as well. We will be back. Thanks to all our incredible Cast Members who continue to maintain the magic until that day. Until then, please take care of yourselves and your families. We will see you soon.”

    Disney World, which has been shut down only a handful of times in its 48-year history, is closed until further notice.