I’ve received so many questions about our experience at Disney World when it came to their new health and safety protocols, so I figured it was time for a blog! Of course visits to Disney World are going to look a bit different as COVID-19 continues to be an issue. But one thing stays the same: there is still so much happy in the parks!
We were very impressed by all the changes that were made! I wanted to breakdown what ya’ll can expect if you’re able to grab a park reservation.
Masks Are Required
Everyone over the age of two is required to wear masks the entire time they are in the park. Employees were strictly monitoring mask-wearing. Masks must have loops that go around the ears. They cannot be a simple bandana covering the mouth and nose.
Having a three-year-old and a mask for the entire day in 96° Florida summer weather is not for the faint of heart. Every kid is different but mine did absolutely fine. My biggest tip would be to obviously make sure they stay super hydrated. Also, try to make sure the mask that they wear is very light material and breathable. Plus, be sure to take advantage of any of the rest areas as needed to give them a break.!
We found a lot of the shop Disney masks were made out of thick cotton. I bet they hold up well, but if you’re going to the parks when it’s still blazing hot in Florida, that’s something to think about. The ones I found on Etsy were all very thin material.
Right now, it’s hot. We gladly take a break from the parks in the summer during our usual visits because it can be so very hot.
Once you’re on an actual ride or inside the line for the ride it’s usually air-conditioned or well circulated with fans!
Temperature Checks
Everyone’s temperature is checked before entering Disney World with a touchless thermometer that provides immediate results. Anyone with a temperature over 100.4 is not allowed in the park.
Social Distancing is Made Easy
The lines were basically non-existent. The longest line we waited on for a ride was 30 minutes for Mine Train. Everything else was either 15 minutes or walk-on. No fast passes were allowed and lines weaving guests in close proximity have installed tall plexiglass barriers. If there was a line to wait in, there were ground markers in each line showing where people should stand to space out and maintain proper distancing.
Hand Sanitizer is Everywhere
We were able to sanitize our hands EVERYWHERE throughout Disney World, especially before and after rides.
Extra Cleaning Procedures are In Place
They close down many of the rides every 30 minutes for a 10-minute wipe down cleaning session. The monorail was extremely clean, had new dividers up and it smelled clean clean clean. My family was the only one in our monorail section! Everywhere I looked throughout the park – I saw cast members with cleaning supplies and a rag wiping things down.
A few additional notes:
- Parking: The parking lot is so empty the walk to the park is very short. It took us just a few minutes to get from our car to the gates. It took us just a couple minutes to get from the monorail to the main gate to inside the park. They parked cars in every other spot and waiting for guests to fully unload before parking cars right next to each other. I thought that was really smart. #disney
- Characters: You cannot meet the Disney characters. We missed being able to see them but made up for it by being able to do any ride we wanted. PLUS, Roux is finally tall enough for Mine Train – he was so brave and raised his arms!!
- Parades & Fireworks: There were no parades or fireworks, but we were able to catch a surprise mini-parade and it made Roux’s day! There were others throughout the park – we just happened to miss them.
We were so thankful for this experience. We were not expecting to return to Disney this year. I was so glad we got to enjoy such a great day with such safe new practices in place. Big thank you for Disney for giving us a much-needed family break! Now, if only Disney could control the Florida summer heat!
If you’re interested in learning more about our outfits + masks from the day, check out this post that details everything!
Thank you for the update! Can’t imagine visiting in this heat. Sounds like Disney is doing a great job. Not sure about light, breathable masks. Isn’t it the point for protection? Also, does Disney allow face shields in place of masks? Those have been great for my kiddos.
You’re right! The thick masks I guess would be doing what they think is best for transmission protection – who knows! I do not think shields are permitted but it would be interesting to see if anything adjusts over time!