June 19, 2020 - On the Go in MCO

We are getting closer to the reopening of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and today the Disney Parks Blog shared some really helpful information about the reservation system.

The Resort’s reopening strategy includes limits on attendance and controlled guest density to align with guidance from health and government authorities on physical distancing through a reservation system.

Below is information directly from the Disney Parks Blog along with information from other official Walt Disney World websites about how the reservation system will work!

To manage attendance during this reopening period Walt Disney World is 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 you’ve logged into your My Disney Experience account and linked your ticket, you’ll have access to a calendar of available reservation dates for each theme park.

If you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.

Families and friends can link their tickets together and look to arrange theme park entries at the same time.

Important things to note about the system:

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.

While you will not have the ability to visit more than one park per day right now, Walt Disney World is going to continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases.

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.

They will open the Disney Park Pass system to these guests in phases, beginning with those with future Disney Resort and other select hotel stays as follows:

Beginning June 22, 2020, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests with a valid theme park admission can make reservations.
Beginning June 26, 2020, Annual Passholders without a Resort stay can make reservations.
Beginning June 28, 2020, existing ticket holders can make a reservation

Later this summer, sales of 2020 tickets and Disney Resort hotel arrivals, based on the availability of park reservations, will resume with existing tickets and Annual Passholders.

By June 28, all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages, theme park tickets, and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as the phased reopening of Walt Disney World continues.

Guests will be able to view park reservation availability on DisneyWorld.com prior to purchasing their tickets.

As you begin planning your upcoming visits, you will find new engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the magic – particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve.

In 2021, the My Disney Experience app 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, Walt Disney World will be discontinuing the complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning January 1, 2021.

Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and we’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.

However, you’ll still find MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

So this is where the information ends today, but we will continue to bring you all the information about the reopening as it becomes available!

You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Yesterday’s announcement was a bummer for Walt Disney World fans who typically flock to the Resort for all of their fall celebrations.

Before we go any further…

All of these decisions are firmly set in logic and continue to show how Walt Disney World is committed to putting guest and Cast Member safety first, and I absolutely appreciate and support the hard decisions that have been made.

That being said, cue the sad trombone as we go over yesterday’s announcement.

5 Things to Know About the Walt Disney World Seasonal Event Announcement

2019 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party — David Roark, photographer

1. BooHoo to You

Let’s just rip the bandaid off of this one….

This year Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom has been canceled.

“While assessing another fall special event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we determined that many of its hallmarks – stage shows, parades and fireworks – are unable to take place in this new, unprecedented environment. With that in mind, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”

I wish there was more to say, but here we are.

If you had already purchased Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets, you will receive a refund over the coming weeks.

A Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2020 Walt Disney World

2. Sort of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

This year Walt Disney World will debut their longest festival ever, the new ‘A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival’ that will begin on July 15 and continue into “fall”.

The foodie festival will feature 20 signature global marketplaces like Hawaii, Hops & Barley, and Islands of the Caribbean spaced out around the park.

EPCOT will sprinkle in some Flower & Garden goodness with Food & Wine, as guests will be able to see the newest topiary, Remy, in the France pavilion and find Flower & Garden merchandise available.

I am excited that Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt will be returning as that ‘Tiny Chef’ is one of my faves.

And don’t fret, this year the Food & Wine merchandise will join the fun later on after the festival begins.

Epcot International Food and Wine 2019 Walt Disney World

3. Eat to the Beat

You’ll notice I didn’t mention that the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series in the new festival line-up, and that’s because in an effort to accommodate proper physical distancing, these concerts will not take place this year.

But this announcement has a bit of a silver lining as local EPCOT entertainment such as Mariachi Cobre, the JAMMitors, and more will get their time to shine on the America Gardens Theatre Stage!

“These fan favorites will spread out their performances throughout the day, giving audiences more options to enjoy them.”

Amazing!!!!!

Summer 2019 Theme Parks Central Florida Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom Hollywood Studios Epcot Typhoon Lagoon LEGOLAND Florida SeaWorld Orlando Electric Ocean Illuminations Universal Orlando Resort Universal's Islands of Adventure Harry Potter Wizarding World Hogsmeade Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Summer Nights 2019 — Photo: Walt Disney World

4. Glow is a No

Unfortunately, Disney H2O Glow Nights, the nighttime special ticket event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, will also not take place for the remainder of 2020.

If you had already purchased Disney H2O Glow Nights tickets, you will receive a refund over the coming weeks.

I have my fingers crossed that this event returns in 2021 because it is sooooo much fun to slide under the stars!

Christmas 2019 Walt Disney World Holidays 2019 Christmas in July Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2018 — Ryan Wendler, photographer

5. Soooooo…

What about the holiday season at Walt Disney World?

Unknown.

“Looking ahead to the holiday season, this may spark questions about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which includes the Candlelight Processional. We are monitoring our new environment closely, and will make a decision on these events as we continue to learn more from government and health officials.”

Let’s be real for a moment.

Fall is my favorite time of year at Walt Disney World Resort, I am super sad about these announcements.

However, I am beyond happy that this shows that Walt Disney World is dedicated to safety (even if it means canceling profitable events) and finding ways to keep the ‘Disney Magic’ we love during these unprecedented times.

We are all going to get through this together.

I promise!

Wear your masks, wash your hands, love each other, and I’ll see ya real soon!