Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are officially reopening today after being closed for nearly four months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will follow four days later.
Disney has a new way for guests to gain entry, developed in the midst of the pandemic. It’s called the Disney Park Pass. Guests must follow four steps to use the system:
1. Get a valid park admission linked to a Disney account you’ve set up online.
2. Register the members of your party.
3. Select a date and a park to attend.
4. Finally, review and confirm your reservations.
Upon arrival, guests will find a very different Disney World in the short term.
Guests will be required to have their temperature taken when they arrive to the park. Face masks are mandatory, except when eating or swimming. Hand-sanitizing stations are sprinkled throughout the park and new signage is everywhere, stressing the mask requirement and social distancing.
These new rules are not suggestions, but mandatory. Disney World’s website makes clear that visitors are expected to follow the rules.
“You must follow all posted instructions while visiting Walt Disney World Resort,” it says, even going so far as to spell out which kinds of face coverings are and aren’t acceptable.
Earlier this week Disney hosted cast member and annual passholder preview days, where they tested out the new safety measures that are now in place. Annual pass holders who do not already have a park reservation this month may be out of luck, as Disney’s park availability calendar shows the company has hit capacity. However, there are still reservations available for other ticket holders and Disney Resort guests.