In case you missed it, this week we shared some big news about Walt Disney World Resort, including plans to welcome guests back to the theme parks as part of a phased reopening beginning July 11, pending state approval.

We know many of you are excited to return to the magic and make new memories with your family, friends and loved ones. As we previously shared, as we take these next steps forward, we are introducing enhanced health and safety measures reflecting guidance from health authorities and appropriate government agencies. 

When our theme parks reopen, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system on DisneyWorld.com that will require all guests to make a reservation in advance for theme park entry. Over the coming weeks, we will be making some necessary updates to prepare for the launch of this park reservation system. Here’s some important information to help you plan ahead:

• New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations: At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make a theme park reservation before new tickets are sold; we will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new sales of tickets and Disney Resort hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. 
• Dining and Experiences: In order to foster physical distancing during this time, upon reopening, our offerings, restaurants and other experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours will be limited in capacity, and other experiences may remain closed. As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, through the end of the year. We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.
• FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours: As a result of the COVID-19 impact, the FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as we plan to use additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing. We will automatically cancel existing FastPass+ selections and share any future updates on the service at a later date. Also, please note that upon reopening, Extra Magic Hours will be temporarily suspended.

We are reaching out to guests affected by these updates with additional information and details on options, including refunds. We understand how much excitement, thought and time goes into planning a Disney vacation and realize some of these changes may be disappointing. Please know we will be here to help you, as we remain focused on delivering a wonderful experience for everyone who visits. 

You can visit a new “Know Before You Go” hub at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you can find the latest updates on our operations and offerings, including details on how to modify your plans. If you booked through a third-party, we recommend you reach out directly to your travel professional or ticket seller.

We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to keep the well-being of guests and cast members in mind. Stay tuned for more information over the next few weeks on how to use the theme park reservation system and other tips to be aware of prior to your visit.

Now there are even more ways to take advantage of Mobile Order at Disney World!

For years, Mobile Order has allowed guests to use the My Disney Experience app to pre-order and pre-pay for their food at select quick-service locations. Yesterday, we shared that they had added a new pick-up time feature to Mobile Order. Now, they have added new payment options.

Guests now also have the option to pay with Apple Pay, Disney Gift Card, or a Disney Reward Card! For guests with Apple Pay set up on their mobile device, they will see the option to use Apple Pay on their order summary page.

By continuing to Checkout, you’ll also see the option to pay by Disney Gift Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card!

By clicking on the “Add a Card” link within the Disney Gift Card section, guests can then select which type of card they’d like to enter.

Note that only one Disney Gift Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card can be applied per order. We love using Mobile Order to bypass long lines at quick-service dining locations, so we’re excited to see there are even more ways to take advantage of this feature!

With the parks looking to reopen in July, they have mentioned that they will be pushing for contactless payments and Mobile Order is one easy way to do that.

We will continue to keep you updated as new changes are implemented around Disney World!

Click here for more information about Mobile Order in Disney World!

Have you used Mobile Order in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

Yesterday, Disney World shared that they plan to reopen Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom July 11th followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15th.

Today, in a press conference, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings provided updates on the reopening of businesses and theme parks.

Mayor Demings began the conference by addressing the fact that hurricane season begins this Monday, June 1st. He acknowledged that this could cause further complexities to other health and reopening initiatives in the future.

See why Hurricane Season could be EXTRA active this year here! 

Demings also noted that both SeaWorld and Disney World submitted reopening proposals yesterday. He has submitted letters of endorsement for both and is awaiting a response from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Mayor Demings said that in the last hour, he has heard that 12 smaller theme park reopening plans had been approved, and he suspects Governor DeSantis will get back to him “soon” regarding the larger theme parks.

Mayor Demings also addressed a question about how they will balance safety with the need for business in an economy dependent on tourism. He said that tourist attractions will reopen with reduced capacity and increased sanitation measures, and noted that the theme parks will “look drastically different.”

See what Disney has said about their new reopening procedures here!

He also said that multiple organizations could be involved in maintaining compliance, including the Department of Health, Department of Business Regulations, local law enforcement, and more.

We’ll continue to keep a close eye out for any updates from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding approval of the reopening proposals put forth by Disney World and SeaWorld. And we will keep sharing news and information regarding new Disney World processes and regulations as they are released.

Click here to learn more about Disney World’s reopening proposal!

Which Disney park are you most excited to visit upon reopening? Let us know in the comments!