Walt Disney World has finally reopened! What Your Family Can Expect at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has finally reopened! Now that the longest historical closing of Disney has come to an end, you might have a lot of questions. I know that we certainly did!

Did you have a trip that needed to be rescheduled and you’re deciding whether to pull the trigger? Maybe you’re an Annual Passholder and are wondering if renewing your pass will be worth it. Or, it’s totally possible that you’re just trying to see what this mouse-buzz is all about.

Disney Has Finally Reopened

As Orlando locals and Disney Annual Passholders, we were really saddened by the closings of the Disney Parks. (Although, we completely understand the reasons for doing so!) Like many of you, Disney is our happy place and not being able to spend our time there felt really weird.

With the many different changes that have been taking place, we decided to check out Magic Kingdom. We’ll share our experiences so you’ll know what to expect if you’re planning a trip during these very unprecedented times.

Armed with masks, loads of hand sanitizer, and an open mind, we set out “into the unknown.” Here’s what happened…

Making Our Park Pass Reservations

A major change is the addition of the park pass reservation system. This is one of the first things you’ll need to do before visiting any of the Disney parks.

You won’t be allowed entrance until you have these two things:

1. A valid park ticket or current Annual Pass.
2. And a park pass reservation to reserve your spot on the date for which you plan on visiting.

The park reservation system is one of the new procedures that Disney has rolled out. This is to limit the number of guests at each park. This allows there to be enough space to physically distance out the line queues, attractions, and dining areas.

Even if you are staying on property, you still need to plan ahead. Decided what parks you would like to visit each day. You can then make those park reservations in advance.

If you’re staying on property, you can make park pass reservations for the number of days that have been purchased. Disney recommends that you make these reservations as soon as possible. Reservations can fill up quickly and are not guaranteed.

Annual Passholders may make up to three park passes at one time. These can be made up to 60 days in advance.

To be sure we had everything in order, I called Disney to make sure our Annual Passes were up-to-date. While speaking with a Cast Member, I was also able to discuss the pass renewal options. (Cuz apparently that’s all different too!) You can find more information about that here.

I then headed over to the My Disney Experience app and made our park reservation for the day. We chose Magic Kingdom for July 13th…just two days after the official opening day.

Double Check the Park Hours

Before you make your way to any of the Disney Parks, I highly recommend checking the park’s hours. Since the reopening, all four parks are operating at reduced hours. Magic Kingdom seems to be changing these often. I’d even check hours each morning before you head out. That way you won’t be thrown off guard if something were to change.

Arrival at the Transportation & Ticket Center

When we arrived at the Transportation and Ticket Center, we were shocked! Look at how empty the roads were leading up to the parking entrance. We arrived a little later than the park’s opening that day. And we’ve consistently experienced that this is the best time to arrive. The initial crowds have already died down, making it much quicker to get through the parking gates.

I’ve never been to Magic Kingdom where there weren’t at least multiple lines of cars waiting to park! WOW!

Parking

As in the past, Cast Members were guiding cars to the lanes and specific parking spaces. We noticed that they were directing vehicles to park in every other space and we thought this was awesome! We were able to get out of our vehicle and remain physically distanced from other park guests. This also gave us plenty of space to put on our masks and grab bags. We didn’t have to worry about bumping into other cars or guests.

Once guests had parked and were away from the vehicles, Disney allowed other cars to fill in the spaces between. Guests could continue to be physically distanced but still park as close as possible to the TTC entrance.

On our way in, we saw friendly and excited Cast Members waving and welcoming guests as they arrived!

Disney has created a new team of Cast Members called the Incredi-Crew. You’ll recognize them by their bright yellow shirts and blue masks. Their job is to welcome guests but to also ensure that everyone is following the safety guidelines.

Make sure to give this new crew a wave when you see them! I know they’d love it, especially since they are working so hard to greet you and keep everyone safe!

Temperature Checks & Security

Upon entry to the TTC, we spotted several Health and Safety Notice Signs. We also noticed white tents where the temperature screenings were being conducted by Advent Health. There weren’t any lines on this particular day. We were able to walk right up and get our temps checked. This process was very quick.

There were markings along the ground to prompt guests where to stand. This kept guests distanced while waiting for temperature screenings. Be sure to look out for these if you do experience a line on the day of your visit.

Temperature Guidelines

With the Florida heat and the amount of walking, you may end up feeling warm. If you do end up showing a higher than normal temperature, Disney does allow for you to cool off. You can chill in one of the tents and try again once you’ve cooled down.

Anyone with a temperature reading higher than 100.4, will not be allowed entry into the park.

We also noticed hand-sanitizing stations upon entry and exit of the temperature screening tents.

Security was also very quick. We were allowed to keep everything in our bags, with the exception of aerosol cans and umbrellas. I did set off the metal detector though! I was asked to move to the side. Security used a metal detection wand to wave over me. It was the button on my shorts that caused all the commotion!! The officer did look in my bag and searched through with a gloved hand, but did not take everything out. Even with the extra check, we were in and out of security in less than five minutes.

MONORAIL & FERRY BOAT

Both the Monorail and Ferry boats were running to transport guests to the Magic Kingdom. The Monorail’s only destination was the Magic Kingdom. The Monorail line to EPCOT was not running this day. The best option would be to take a Disney bus from your resort or to drive your own vehicle.

At the boys’ request, we decided on taking the Monorail! There were several safety measures set in place both at the Monorail station and in the Ferry. There were floor markers, reminding guests where to stand to maintain at least six feet distance. At first, the line looked really long as it went past the ramp and out past the Monorail entry sign. Thankfully, this was only due to the physical spacing out of the lines. In reality, our line moved very quickly and we were on the Monorail in no time!

Once inside the monorail station, we were directed to stand on a number. There was only a max of two parties allowed in each Monorail car. We were seated across from one other party, and we were more than six feet apart on opposite benches. We also noticed that there were screen partitions between guests that were seated back to back to one another.

Hand-sanitzing stations were located at both entry and exit points and we made sure to utilize these often!

It felt so magical to be back on the Monorail!

Turnstiles

Once we exited off of the Monorail, we noticed crowds and congestion. We decided to wait a minute or so until most of the crowd had already made their way down. We made sure to keep a safe distance from others.

Isn’t she a sight for sore eyes? The Main Street Train Station was such an exciting sight to see and one that we’ve really missed!!

At the turnstiles, we noticed Cast Members wearing both masks and visors. We tapped our Magic Bands as we normally would. (That sound never gets old!) The finger touchpoints were not used at this time.

CINDERELLA’S CASTLE

Cinderella Castle got a makeover during the closures. This is part of Disney’s preparation for its 50th Anniversary coming October 2021. We couldn’t wait to see it!!!

Here she is!!

What do you think?!

I personally love the pink, but it’s the rose gold detail that’s my favorite!

This is what Main Street, USA looked like at opening. It looked a little crowded here, but we had plenty of space to keep our distance from others.

The area around the castle had so much empty space! We were able to take solo castle pictures and soak up all the details without being close to anyone else. It was a real treat!

PHOTOPASS

PhotoPass is available in all the parks since the Disney reopening. You can find photographers located all around the parks. We saw several lined down Main Street and in front of the Partners Statue on our day in Magic Kingdom. Disney photographers would normally be able to snap a few photos using your phone. They can no longer do this in order to reduce contact. The photographers will scan your Magic Band so that your photos can load onto your My Disney Experience account. Magic Shots are also still happening. So if a photographer asks you to do something that sounds silly-JUST DO IT! 🙂

Keep in mind:

• You will need to keep your mask on, even for pictures.
• Even on a ride, masks are required to be worn properly. You won’t be allowed to purchase the ride photo.

CROWD LEVELS

Overall, the crowds were very low during this visit. We were shocked to see areas that looked like this…

There were areas in the park that were busier during the opening morning hours, such as Main Street and Fantasyland. The crowds did reduce over the course of the day. Only a few parties scattered around by late afternoon and around closing.

Historically speaking, we’ve never seen crowds this low at Walt Disney World. To say that we felt extremely blessed and privileged to experience Magic Kingdom in this way is an understatement.

When we were in line for Peter Pan’s Flight, we realized we were the only ones in the Darling’s bedroom. That’s the part where Tinker Bell goes jingling across the room. Many of you know that this attraction is one of the most coveted FastPass+ selections. The standby line always has long wait times. For our family to be the only ones in this attraction was VERY SURREAL! I won’t ever forget it, that’s for sure!

**UPDATE** Over the course of the four months that Disney has reopened, crowd levels have increased especially in Hollywood Studios. Disney does state that they are still only operating at a 25%-35% capacity level. Even though crowds are increasing, you can still expect crowds to be lower in comparison to pre-Covid times.

WAIT TIMES

If you don’t already know, FastPass+ has been suspended until further notice. You can no longer use FastPass+ to skip the Standby line to your favorite attractions.

Disney is currently using the FastPass+ line for the DAS card, guests who need additional assistance, or for Rider Switch. Because crowds were so minimal, most of the wait times were almost nonexistent.

The use of FastPass+ wasn’t even needed! We were able to ride every attraction, and see all of the shows that we wanted! The only two attractions that we actually had to wait for was for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. But both of these were under thirty minutes.

In the afternoon, my oldest son and I split off and headed over to Space Mountain. We got to ride it several times in a row with no wait! My youngest and husband ended up over at Peter Pan’s Flight. They were able to get on this attraction multiple times.

All of the attractions had wait times posted. We found that most of the wait times were far less than posted, even if the line queue looked long.

QUICK-SERVICE DINING PROCEDURES

We really worked up an appetite exploring the re-opened Magic Kingdom. We decided on Pecos Bill Tall Tale & Inn Cafe for lunch. Disney is requiring you to use Mobile Order in order to reduce crowds and lines in the Quick-Service dining locations.

Using the My Disney Experience app, we ordered our lunch from Adventureland after we stepped off the Jungle Cruise. We picked our arrival time window on the app and then made our way over to Pecos Bill’s.

Mobile-Order

Once we arrived, we hit the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button. Cast Members greeted us outside and checked the status of our mobile order. Normally, we would have had to wait outside until our order was ready. But because the restaurant wasn’t very busy, they allowed us to step inside and wait off to the side. (Out from the Florida sun until our order was ready.)

Our order only took a few minutes to prepare. A Cast Member directed us to a designated counter to pick up our lunch. Even though it was hot, we opted for sitting outside. This was so we could keep our distance and stay out in the fresh air.

Pecos Bill’s has a covered outdoor seating area that worked out perfectly for this. There was a Cast Member wiping down tables and chairs with disinfectant as guests were leaving which was really helpful.

Sitting outside worked to our advantage as the Character Cavalcades made their way right past our table! This is a really great tip to keep in mind! If you want prime viewing for the Cavalcades, try eating a meal in Pecos Bill’s covered seating area. The cavalcades start at the back of Frontierland!

One thing that was a little disappointing was that the Pecos Bill toppings bar was not available. You can still get toppings for your tacos and burgers. You’ll just have to ask for these when you pick up your meal from the counter.

CHARACTER INTERACTIONS

Character interactions are very different with the reopening of Walt Disney World. You won’t be able to participate in the traditional meet & greets or get hugs and high fives from the characters. Instead, Disney has rolled out its Character Cavalcades as an alternative. Cavalcades sound like a new thing, but they really aren’t. Disney has used these in the past when weather permitted the afternoon parade from operating on a normal schedule.

The Character Cavalcades are sort of like a mini-parade. Characters such as Mickey, Goofy, Tinker Bell, princesses, make their way down Main Street on a parade float. There aren’t any schedules or specific times that these appear. But having them pop up randomly is a lot of fun and adds to the surprise element!

The Wicked Step-Sisters might be found on the balcony of Cinderella Castle. Winnie the Pooh has been spotted on Crystal Palace’s front porch. Other Disney Favorites can be found at the top of the train station in Town Square.

To check which Cavalcades will be making their appearance, use the Entertainment Section on the My Disney Experience app. Keep in mind that specific times won’t be listed.

SHOWS AND ENTERTAINMENT

All of the theatre shows were open and operational, with the exception of Enchanted Tales with Belle. We were thrilled that we could still experience our favorite shows, but with a few differences.

Cast Members were making sure to limit the number of guests permitted into the theaters. We were directed to the rows in which we were allowed to sit in order to keep distance between others. Guests were seated in every other row. There were seats that were marked off so that parties had a least four or more seats between them.

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Checking out Disney’s latest “merch” and shopping for our favorite souvenirs is something that we really LOVE! There were plenty of shopping opportunities still available in the Magic Kingdom.

Capacity is limited in each shopping location. There are designated entrances and exits labeled to keep the flow of traffic going in the same direction. Hand sanitizer can be found at the entrances, exits, and at the checkout counters. There are signs prompting guests to limit the handling of the merchandise items. Floor markers were also used throughout merchandise locations to space out guests.

BATHROOMS

From what we could see, all of the bathrooms in the Magic Kingdom were available to guests. There were custodial Cast Members in every bathroom conducting their routine cleaning procedures. There were line markers reminding guests where to stand should there be a wait for the restroom stalls. I didn’t experience any crowded bathrooms, so I felt safe using the facilities without feeling overly crowded. There weren’t any hand sanitizing stations in or around any of the bathroom areas. I would like to think that this was intentional as soap and water should be used after using the facilities.

Was it Still Magical? Did it feel Safe?

Even though Disney is different and there are new procedures in place, it still felt very special to us. The magic is still there and we ended up having an amazing day! We were able to ride all of the attractions and watch our favorite shows. Our lunch was delicious and we saw multiple characters throughout the day. We even caught the Philharmonic band marching down Main Street!

Many have asked if we felt safe visiting Walt Disney World during the pandemic. I’d be lying if I said that were 100% safe. (Because no place around other people really is.) Disney has done a ton of work to implement safety procedures. When used correctly, it will allow people to safely enjoy the parks with minimal spread of the virus. Temperature checks, mask mandates, and social distancing was in full effect. Hand washing stations, routine cleaning, and capacity limits were also being enforced on our visit to Magic Kingdom.

We just used our common sense and made decisions that made us feel more comfortable…like keeping our distance from others, avoid crowded areas, and limit the number of things we touched like railings. We also wore our masks properly and washed our hands often.

A Few More Tidbits

• Masks are required everywhere in the parks. Cast members are enforcing that guests wear these properly. They even asked my son, when his mask had slipped down, to properly place it back over his nose. We overheard Cast Members asking other guests to do this as well.

• Almost all of the attractions and shows were available during our visit. Check before you go so that you know what will be available and what won’t be. The Transit Authority People Mover, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Enchanted Tales with Belle, were not operational on the day of our visit. As with anything with Disney, this could change at a moment’s notice.
• Table service was available at restaurants such as Be Our Guest, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Skipper Canteen. I recommend making advanced dining reservations for these locations which you can do up to 60 days in advance.
• If you need a break from the mask, there are three designated Relaxation Stations in Magic Kingdom; there is one located in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Adventureland. Seating is spread out and you are allowed to take off your masks, eat, and relax without the masks. There is a limit of 30 minutes per party, and Cast Members wipe down these areas frequently.

Our Final Thoughts on Disney Reopening

We were so happy to be back at the most Magical Place on Earth! It was an amazing day. Hopefully, this information is helpful to you as you decide if a trip to Disney is right for you!!

Do you have any other questions about the Disney reopening? Have you been able to visit since the reopening? Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to follow me on my social media! Follow along in our Instagram stories and learn lots of tips and tricks for your upcoming trip! We are in the parks each week!

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More Magic Kingdom Posts:

10 Disney Reopening Changes We Love so Much that We Hope they Become Permanent!

The Absolute 10 Must-Do’s In the Magic Kingdom