What's Open at Walt Disney World Now? (June 2021)
The United States is entering a weird time in the pandemic. The country is opening up, but the pace at which this is happening is dictated by each state, and then within states, sometimes for each business. It's a time of rapid change so we're going to take another look this week at what is open and what still is not open at Walt Disney World going into the Summer 2021. Please note, change is the constant, so we expect this list to be outdated shortly after it is published. We put it out there more as a public service announcement to check the Know Before You Go section of the official Disney World website before going.
But let's tackle the most pressing question on many a guest's mind first...
Do I still have to wear a mask?
The answer, at this moment, is "yes". You should bring a reusable or disposable mask and it is required indoors, except when actively dining at a stationary and socially distanced dining location, and it is required upon entering and throughout any attraction, including theaters and outdoor rides. Face coverings are no longer required in outdoor common areas (aka walking around the park or resort) and are not required on pool decks. The most recent change to this policy, which was announced yesterday, is that as of 6/15, vaccinated guests will not be required to wear masks indoors. Unvaccinated guests are still expected to wear masks indoors.
Performers in Africa at the Animal Kingdom. Many performances are still not happening on a regular basis.
Now, about social distancing - Disney says it is still enforced. However, guest reports indicate it has been relaxed in some ride queues, and social distancing markers have been disappearing from the park.
Additionally, and as always, guests should not enter the park with any symptoms of COVID 19 or a fever.
The Park Pass system, in which a guest must both purchase valid park tickets AND make a reservation in advance to whichever park they wish to enter, is still in effect, and modified park hopping is also in effect in which guests with the park hopper can only enter a second park after 2:00 pm. Guests must have visited the reserved park first, and if the second park is at capacity, hopping guests may be denied entrance.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as seen form Liberty Square
The (Speculative) Deal with FastPass +
A major change when Walt Disney World first reopened in July 2020, was the removal of the FastPass system. This is because FastPass queues usually run alongside standby queues, and this space needed to be utilized to allow for social distancing while in queues.
The surprise was that with everyone riding standby, posted wait times often appeared much longer than the wait times the guests actually experienced. Could it be that removing FastPass made shorter lines for all (speculation alert).
FastPass is still not back.... and nobody knows if it will be back. Some claim that a brief leak of an update to the MyDisneyExperience app indicated FastPass would be returning because the functionality recently returned for a brief window. It was immediately removed again, which causes some to think that development to enable FastPass is underway and that something was pushed prematurely.
Others note that FastPass return signs have been totally removed from some attractions, and that with Disney Genie coming out soon, and the success of the virtual queue/boarding pass system for some attractions, there is no more need for FastPass+.
In our opinion, we hope something like FastPass (including possibly a virtual queue system) returns, but we do hope for changes. We weren't huge fans of FastPass+ in that many rides had all their FastPasses taken 60 days before the date in question because of the ability to book these so far in advance. We much prefer a system similar to what Disneyland California employs, aka "legacy" FastPass. But we can also see virtual queueing being the way of the future.
What are the Major Things Still Closed?
The lobby of the Polynesian Village Resort
Many attractions, resorts, experiences, and dining locations remain closed. We're going to attempt to highlight those that seem to be important to many guests here, but please know this is not a definitive list. Why not? Well, Disney has devoted 8 subpages of their website to these lists which would make for a very long blog. And it's going to change quickly, as we said before. So here are the major things still closed as of early June 2021:
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Harmony Barbershop (on Main Street), and all spas and salons
Tea parties and fireworks experiences (like the pirate adventure cruise or fireworks cruise)
Basically all the special tours that are not VIP tours (VIP tours are taking reservations)
Dining celebrations, fireworks or show dining packages, and dine with a [insert role] (for example, dine with an Imagineer)
Dessert parties
Parades and fireworks (though EPCOT HarmoniUS was just tested again, so we expect an announcement in the not so distant future)
Character greetings
Playgrounds
Walt Disney World railroad and Hall of Presidents (though not closed due to COVID, but due to refurbishment)
Enchanted Tales with Belle, Pirate Adventurer's League, and Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor
Turtle Talk with Crush
Star Wars Launch Bay
Catalina Eddie's, Dockside Diner, and Kat Saka's Kettle quick service dining at DHS
Restaurant Akershush, Monsieur Paul, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Nine Dragons at EPCOT
Pizzafari, Restaurantasuaurus, Kusafiri Coffee Shop, Eight Spoon Cafe quick service locations at DAK
Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom (but it is scheduled to re-open June 20th)
Casey's Corner, Columbia Harbour House, Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Diamond Horseshoe, and Tortuga Tavern quick service dining locations at the Magic Kingdom
Tree of Life Awakenings
All Stars Music and Sports resorts, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter
Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk Inn, and Polynesian are currently closed but all will be open by the end of July.
Dining at many resorts. Check before going. Most recently, Disney announced Ohana at the Polynesian and Sebastian's Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort will be reopening in July.
Additionally....
Disney Dining Plans cannot be added to reservations at this time.
A guest must have a room or dining reservation at the resort to enter a given Disney resort hotel at this time.
Package delivery to the front of the theme park or a resort while shopping is not available at this time.
Balloons on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney Hollywood Studios
So, When Is It All Going to Open????
Friends, your guess is as good as mine right now. What we've endured in the last year has been a (hopefully) once in a lifetime experience. The last such devastation in the United States may well have been in 1918, well before Disney World was a glimmer in anyone's eye. What seems to be evident is that the pandemic is getting better... in the United States. It is NOT getting better in some other countries, and it's important to remember that Walt Disney World is a global destination.
Which is all to say that for as long as this thing rages in the world, it can rage here again. You hear it over and over again at EPCOT especially... we are a global community. Not countries, not states, but a spaceship Earth. So until the world finds relief, until a Fall and Winter come and go without a resurgence, I am hesitantly optimistic, at least for myself, here, in the United States, but I am prepared for future changes as well.
So, again, the Know Before You Go site is your friend. Check it before making plans, and then check it again before traveling to make sure your plans haven't changed.
Whoops, we got a little somber there. But were are truly overjoyed to see things begin to open up more. And while it may look like a LOT is closed, for every closed attraction or location, there seem to be five more open. Disney is still Disney, and it is still going to be a good time. In fact, some guests don't even want things like character meet and greets to return because they preferred the spontaneous cavalcades and appearances characters are making instead. Some guests don't want FastPass back because they preferred making plans spontaneously within the park and the shorter standby lines that result from not allowing 10 Fast Pass holders through for every standby guest. What are you most looking forward to returning and what can you do without? Let us know by joining a conversation over on our Facebook page, where you can follow us to see updates each week! Until next time...
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