We knew this day would come. A few of the COVID-19 precautions that Disney initially had in place in the July 2020 reopening have started to fade away. Certain attractions are loading at every row now, which has been happening in phases for a few months now. But this week our field team began noticing some merchandise shops changing their procedures. Let’s take a look.

As a refresher, for the past eight months shopping at Walt Disney World has meant lots of designated entrances and exits. This can be frustrating when dealing with larger stores that have multiple doorways. We’re seeing some of the larger stores at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios remove Exit Only and Entrance Only signage. Our team is also seeing fewer Cast Members stationed out front to direct the comings and goings of guests.

Smaller shops, like the fan favorite Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom, still have designated entrances and exits. Stores like this one are a little tricky to navigate given there are four doorways. At Sir Mickey’s our team noticed the Entrance Only sign was gone, but Exit Only remained. And at the massive Main Street Emporium, the designated entrances and exits remain, but without any Cast Members out front, guests are up to their own devices.

Also at Magic Kingdom this week Bonjour! Village Gifts at New Fantasyland as reopened. Here’s hoping other closed stores will reopen throughout Walt Disney World soon.

Over at Hollywood Studios our team noticed that the designated entrance and exit signs were removed at Hollywood 5&10, but remained in some place like right next door at the Darkroom.

So, be prepared for the continuation of designated entrances and exits at smaller, specialty shops. And at larger stores you will most likely no longer have to worry about finding the designated entrance or exit, and be free to spend your money with the Mouse.

Have you been shopping at Walt Disney World lately? What do you think of these changes?

The post Shopping at Walt Disney World Has Changed in Some Locations appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

After seemingly having paused for the entire week, exterior work has picked back up today at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Additional blue plastic sheeting has been added to the entrance façade, which serves as a barrier against the harsh Central Florida weather. Sheeting has now been applied along the entire length of the roof’s underside. The left side is now complete, after having been left exposed since the plywood panels were installed last week. The right […]

The post PHOTOS: More Blue Sheeting Added to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT as Construction Continues appeared first on WDW News Today.

Welp, it looks like spring break crowds have left Disney World, for now at least.

Spring Break Crowds in Magic Kingdom

Just as fast as the crowds flocked to the parks, they appear to have entirely disappeared! The only confusing part is that all four Disney World parks have no Park Pass Reservations left for today.

Spring break brought a surge of travelers to the parks earlier this month, and Park Pass Reservations have been going faster than bedazzled Minnie Ears! 

Mexico Pavilion Spring Break Crowds

Even into April, the Park Pass Reservation system shows that crowds are maintaining their presence in all four parks…but we have some QUESTIONS. 

Magic Kingdom Crowds

In theory, it makes total sense that Disney World says ALL the parks are at capacity today. After all, it’s a beautiful, sunny Saturday! 

Screenshot ©Disney

But while we were out exploring Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it certainly didn’t LOOK like capacity-level crowds! It’s not too often we get Cinderella Castle all to ourselves! 

A Quiet Cinderella Castle

In EPCOT, we could take our time shopping, because there’s literally no one else in sight. 

Shopping in the Japan Pavilion was chill

The Mexico Pavilion is usually a LOT busier than this in the middle of the day!

Where did everybody go?

At the usual lunch rush time, there is no wait to get our barbecue fix either!

No wait at Regal Eagle

This scene in EPCOT has more trashcans than people… .

A crowd-free EPCOT

Not a creature was stirring, not even a (Mickey) Mouse. 

“Capacity”?

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we could have our pick of benches! 

Hollywood Studios is wide open

Are those people or tumbleweeds? 

Hollywood Studios without the crowds

Although the lack of crowds is giving us mixed messages today, it’s pretty refreshing to have the parks basically to ourselves! Also, it’s an apt reminder to keep tabs on the Park Pass Reservations, because you never know what you’ll see! 

Going to Disney World in April? You NEED to See This Park Pass Update.

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Are you surprised by the lack of crowds in Disney World today? Let us know in the comments!

The post PHOTOS: Umm Disney World, It Doesn’t LOOK Like the Parks Are at Capacity Today first appeared on the disney food blog.

Over the past year, we’ve seen a LOT of changes at Disney Parks.

Tokyo Disneyland Resort Pre-Closures

Most of those changes were due to new health and safety guidelines and were implemented at Disney Parks worldwide, including a Park Pass Reservation requirement, a facial covering requirement for guests over two years of age, new social distancing protocols, and more.

But one Disney park recently got a change of a different kind. According to the Japan Times, Tokyo Disney Resort changed its park greeting! This is the greeting that guests hear as they enter the parks at Tokyo Disney Resort. The new greeting no longer greets guests as “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” but instead says, “Hello, everyone, ” as a more inclusive statement.

Beauty and the Beast Attraction at Tokyo Disneyland ©Tokyo

This new greeting went into effect as of March 18th. Guests can also expect that announcements on rides will also change to become gender-neutral, and there are plans to adopt this new phrasing across all attractions at Tokyo Disney Resort.

The Happy Ride with Baymax at Tokyo Disneyland ©Disney

Oriental Land, which owns Tokyo Disney said the change was made for “all guests to continue enjoying their time” at the resort.

Tokyo Disneyland

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more announcement changes from the Disney Parks.

Get More Info. On Tokyo Disney Resort’s Reduced Hours

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Have you been to Tokyo Disney Resort? Let us know in the comments.

The post NEWS: Tokyo Disneyland’s Announcements Now Use Gender-Neutral Terms first appeared on the disney food blog.

Welcome to another beautiful day at the Universal Orlando Resort. We’re ready to take on a full day in the parks, but first, we need a little caffeine to get us going. Heading in from the parking garage, we stopped at Fresh Eats for one of their new cold brews. We fell in love with the Unicorn Cold Brew recently, so today we decided to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cold Brew. This was a sweet way to start the […]

The post PHOTO REPORT: Universal Orlando Resort 3/24/21 (Universal Legacy Store Signage Installed, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cold Brew in CityWalk, Discovery Center Painting, Mardi Gras Merchandise on Sale, and More) appeared first on WDW News Today.