7
Credit: DisneyDisney World may be open, but things are, of course, not yet back to normal. Operating a theme park during a pandemic has meant that many operations, rules, and regulations have had to change, and for Disney, that has meant removing a lot of classic offerings.
For example, entertainment has been almost fully removed from the Walt Disney World Resort. There are no more firework shows or nighttime spectaculars such as Happily Ever After or Fantasmic!. Guests can interact with characters, but there are no traditional meet and greets. And there are almost no shows available for Guests to watch, although Festival of the Lion King is returning to Animal Kingdom. Tie that to social distancing measures, mandatory mask wear, and lowered capacity, and Guests are experiencing a very different Disney World.
Related: Park Hopping Returns, But Disney Hasn’t Increased Capacity
That being said, a big question many Guests have is, “Is it worth it to go to Disney World right now?” Because things are so different, some may think that these changes could remove the magic. To combat those thoughts, Disney has put together a promotional commercial where Guests are discussing what the magic is like today.
Check out the trailer on the Disney Parks YouTube channel below.
In the commercial, Guests can be heard saying things like, “I think the magic’s still here. We just missed Disney,” as well as Guests discussing how Cast Members are always reminding people to “follow their social distancing rules.”
Guests continue to discuss how Cinderella Castle is always just as magical, no matter if you are wearing a mask or not, and that they are thankful Disney is still open during these times.
The commercial is a great way to have Guests who may be on the fence about visiting whether it be for safety reasons, or because they are worried it won’t be worth it, feel reassured from others who did take the leap to vacation in Disney World during a pandemic.
Personally, speaking as someone who visits every week, I would say that I agree with the Guests in the commercial! Some things may be different, but the feeling you get when you hear the Disney area music playing as you enter a theme park and see Spaceship Earth or the Tree of Life for the first time is a type of magic that will never go away.
Disney also has quite the lineup in terms of new offerings coming out over the next while at each Disney park. The 50th-anniversary celebrations will begin on October 1 at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and will last for a total of 18 months. Guests will get to see new decor at every park, new attractions, such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure coming to EPCOT’s France pavilion, and more.
All of this said, traveling amid a pandemic — even with safety rules and regulations in place — does leave Guests with an inherent risk, which Disney notes on their website. Also, before traveling, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the CDC guidelines — click here to check them out.
Have you been to Disney World during the pandemic? How do you feel about how the parks are operating? Would you say it is worth it to visit?
If you want to book a trip to Orlando and experience sunny Central Florida, why not take a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort? With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse awaiting your arrival and the 50th anniversary celebrations around the corner, the parks are getting even more magical! Click here to get started today, and you will be on your way to your Disney Resort!