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Disney Springs is gearing up to be the first Disney property in the U.S. to reopen its doors after the nationwide pandemic shutdown. With all the necessary protocols in place to keep guests and cast safe, this will be a new experience for everyone visiting.
So, what will it be like visiting Disney Springs in the near future? Here is what we know so far.
Disney Springs will be reopening to the public beginning May 20th. Disney is calling this a “Phased Reopening” starting with some third-party retailers and followed by Disney owned retailers in the coming weeks.
According to the official Disney announcement, “Disney Springs will have limitations on capacity, parking, and operating hours. Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can.”
Health and Safety Protocols at Disney Springs
Disney will be following the protocols set in place by the Reopen Florida Task Force. These currently include using paper/disposable menus, the encouragement of take out and online orders, touchless hand sanitizer at entryways, hand sanitizer at every table, all employees must wear face masks, temperature checks for staff prior to their shift, doors to be wiped regularly, seated tables six feet apart to encourage social distancing, and more.
Disney has also been following Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening closely to observe and replicate the operational procedures that have been successful. Shanghai Disney reopened Disneytown, and Wishing Star Park areas in early March, they implemented the following safety measures posted on the Shanghai Disneyland website:
Limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Each of these resort locations will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation. The Disney Car and Coach Park and the Disneytown Parking Lot will also reopen.
The resort will provide an extensive range of measures, designed to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all guests, Cast Members and Disneytown tenant employees, including strict and comprehensive approaches on sanitization, disinfection and cleanliness. In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures upon their arrival, will need to present their Health QR Code when entering dining venues, and will be required to wear a mask during their entire visit. Guests will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants.
Disney Springs announced they will be operating with limited hours but so far, those have not been posted. Disney is encouraging guests to check back as May 20th gets closer.
What Disney Springs Restaurants and Retailers be Open?
*Here is a current list of the Disney Springs restaurants opening May 20th:
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
- STK Orlando
- Wine Bar George
- Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
- YeSake
- The Polite Pig
- Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Co.
- Sunshine Churros
- Chicken Guy!
- Earl of Sandwich
- Planet Hollywood
- The Boathouse
- Frontera Cocina
*We will continue adding to this list as new locations make their re-opening announcements.
Disney Springs Dining Reservations
Currently, the Disney planning tool, My Disney Experience, is not yet showing available reservations. However, OpenTable.com, a third-party reservation platform is beginning to show availability for many of these locations. We encourage you to check both platforms frequently to see what availability shows up if you are hoping to lock in a dining reservation for the near future.
Disney Springs Restaurant Operational Updates
The Re-open Florida Task Force has set the following guidelines for restaurants to open their doors safely:
- Paper/disposable menus
- The encouragement of take-out and online orders
- Touchless hand sanitizer at entryways
- Hand sanitizer at every table
- Employees must wear face masks
- Temperature checks for staff prior to each work shift
- Doors to be wiped regularly
- Seated tables must be 6-feet apart
Disney Springs Following Shanghai Disneyland’s Lead
In keeping with Disney’s following of Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening lead, let’s take a look at their operational changes to get an idea of what will likely be implemented in Orlando at Disney Springs.
In the news report below shared on YouTube, you will see several different protocols being put into place including temperature screening tents, Cast Members wearing face masks, social distancing queue lines set up, and more. A possible future reality for U.S. Disney Parks,
Other reports are sharing the likelihood of plexiyglass dividers at points of purchase to encourage safe, touchless transactions. These dividers are becoming more common at big business retailers like grocery stores and big-box stores, so it’s no surprise Disney is including them in their new operational updates.
We will continue sharing updates on the information released regarding what to expect during your upcoming visit as we learn more. Be sure to keep checking back with us here at Inside the Magic for the latest in Disney news and for magical content.
Are you planning a visit to Disney Springs next week? What are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments!