Guests are excited to start being able to once again stay at the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels and some may do so beginning June 22, with Disney Vacation Club Resort Hotels and Disney’s Fort Wilderness reopening on that day. In order to accommodate Guests following the coronavirus closure and to follow CDC and other health organization guidelines, there will be a number of changes that will need to occur at the hotels. Here’s what you can expect moving forward.
General Resort Hotel Knowledge
If you are traveling from a state where there are quarantine orders from, unfortunately, you will not be able to enter the Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll want to visit here to find out additional information and if your state is listed as one of the ones listed.
Those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a 14-day quarantine, or are under quarantine orders will also not be able to enter the Walt Disney World Resort. Prior to leaving home, you should check the temperatures of everyone in your travel party—including yourself to make sure you don’t have a temperature of 100.4 or higher.
Those looking to visit a resort hotel will need to have a confirmed room reservation or a confirmed dining reservation for those not staying overnight. Face coverings are required for each Guest age 2 and up and they must be worn in all public areas of the hotel, except while swimming or seated at a dining location.
When the parks reopen, if you wish to enter a theme park, you will need to have both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required. A Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee a Guest theme park access.
Check In/Check Out Process
It is recommended that Guests use Online Check-In Service in advance. That way, when your room is ready, you’ll get a room-ready notification and can simply head to your room without stopping at the front desk. You can use either a MagicBand or the My Disney Experience app digital key feature to enter your room.
When it’s time for you to checkout, you’ll be automatically checked out of your room, so there will be no need to visit the Front Desk (unless you have unresolved charges to your Disney Resort hotel folio).
Cleaning
Hotel Guests will be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing that their rooms will be thoroughly cleaned prior to arrival and serviced during your stay. Additional attention will be paid to:
- High-touch areas, like TV remotes and door handles
- Floors will be steam cleaned and vacuumed between Guests
- Guests will find in their rooms extra linens and towels wrapped in single-use packaging, individually wrapped glassware, double-cased pillows, and additional items that have been cleaned and wrapped in single-use packaging.
- Housekeeping tools will be cleaned between rooms
When Guests stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, rooms will receive light cleaning service every other day. Service will include:
- Removal of trash and used towels
- Replenishment of towels and amenities throughout the room and bathroom
- Wiping and cleaning of the vanity and counter surfaces
- Vacuuming if needed
Guests can choose to decline every-other-day service.
For the common areas of the hotel, there will be increased cleaning in areas like public elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms and more.
Parking and Transportation
For Guests arriving or departing from Orlando International Airport, Disney’s Magical Express will still be available and will remain complementary.
For those who drove to the Walt Disney World Resort, self-parking will be available. Parking fees will still apply for Disney Resort hotel Guests. Valet service is temporarily unavailable, with the exception of Guests with disabilities who may require parking assistance.
For those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel prior to the theme parks reopening, bus transportation will be available to and from Disney Springs. When the theme parks do officially reopen, complimentary transportation will also be provided between your Disney Resort hotel and the theme parks. Transportation will operate with physical distancing measures in place and there will be a reduction in capacity, which may mean it may you may have a longer wait for your bus to arrive.
Minnie Van Service will not be available during the initial reopening period.
Resort Services
Some Disney Resort hotel services will be modified or unavailable during the initial reopening period. These will include:
- Bell Services will deliver luggage to rooms, but will not escort Guests
- Club-level service will be temporarily unavailable
- Deliveries will only be made to occupied rooms
- In-room celebrations will not be available
- Dry-cleaning and valet laundry services will be temporarily unavailable; self-service laundry will remain available
- Shipping services will be temporarily unavailable
- Resort airline check-in service may be temporarily unavailable
Amenities
Guests will still be able to access feature pools, but they may operate with reduced hours. The leisure pools will be open 24 hours a day, however. Pools will operate with reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing. Unfortunately, Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club will not be available during the initial reopening period. Guests staying at these hotels may enjoy the leisure pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas.
Fitness centers will open in alignment with state and county regulations, and may have reduced hours and capacity. Any instructor-led fitness classes will not be available. Also, sports courts will be open, and Guests must maintain physical distancing when using these.
The following amenities and experiences will not be available at the resort hotels during the initial reopening period:
- Arcades
- Campfires
- Dog parks
- Electrical Water Pageant
- Marina rentals
- Pin trading
- Playgrounds
- Spas, salons and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Additionally, the following special offerings will not be available during the initial reopening:
- Fireworks voyages and tasting cruises, including the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
- Fun runs
- Wonderland Tea Party at Park Fare
- Hula lessons
- In-room childcare services
- Mermaid school
- Special classes and programs—including culinary, cultural and animal programs
Other Things to Know
It was previously announced that FastPass+ will not be available for Guests, as the additional queue space that was used by FastPass+ will be used to manage capacity for attractions and maintain physical distancing. This means that Guests staying at Walt Disney Resort Hotels will not be able to make FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance. In addition, Extra Magic Hours is also currently unavailable for Guests of the resort hotels.
Stay tuned for more information as we learn it about all the upcoming changes that you’ll need to know in order to successfully visit the Walt Disney World Resort during these health and safety conscientious times.
