Not only is it safe to visit Disney, this might be the best time to go.
There are no fast passes, because you don’t need them. I’m serious.
There are no lines. The longest line we stood in on a Friday in August was 30 minutes.
You can get a seat at any outdoor dining venue. No circling tables like a vulture looking for an empty seat.
No character meet and greets, so no arguing with your child about standing in a long line just to get Pluto’s autograph.
You can easily enjoy rides like “Rise of the Resistance” that don’t even have lines but rather virtual boarding queues where you aren’t even guaranteed a seat.
The only place I felt uncomfortable was shopping in a few of the gift shops where people mingled freely. Excellent reason not to buy yet another lightsaber.
Safety Protocol at Disney World
Crowds are limited because every guest needs a reservation in addition to an admission ticket.
Every guest (except very small children) must wear facial coverings. Trust me, no one so much as lowered their mask to speak.
Every line is marked with six feet intervals, I didn’t see one single guest ignore the rules.
Cast members politely, but firmly, enforce every rule. If they ran the country, we’d be done.
Rides are cleaned frequently and there is hand sanitizer available everywhere.
Where social distancing isn’t possible, there are 10 foot tall plexiglass barriers.
Every guest has their temperature taken at the park entrance.
How to Make a Disney World Reservation
Guests can only visit one park per day. No park hoppers are being sold.
Park reservations can only be made after you have purchased an admission ticket.
You can check to see that a park has availability before you buy your ticket by checking here:
Disney World Theme Park Reservation Availability
Reservation availability varies depending on whether you are an annual pass holder, staying at a Disney resort, or just have a theme park admission. There is currently plenty of availability, though the park did hit their limited capacity over Labor Day Weekend.
Know Before you Go
Masks are required at all times except when you are eating or drinking. You can’t walk around eating and drinking, you need to find a place to sit away from other people. This is easily done and there are many places to rest and take a mask break.
Masks can be hot and uncomfortable, but in our opinion, well worth the ability to spend a day in the happiest place on earth. We found the Disney masks to be surprisingly comfortable, soft and breathable. You can buy one before you go at ShopDisney. Order one size up from what you think you need, the ear loops can be tighter than you would expect. They are $19.99 for a pack of four.
Make sure you have downloaded the MyDisneyExperience app. Use it to order food for pick up while you are in the parks, and at many hotels. You simply order your meal, click when you are near the restaurant, pick up your meal and go.
Check park hours before you go. Disney World has recently reduced some park hours. There are no nighttime spectaculars and no lines, so a long day at the park isn’t actually necessary.
You May Never See Disney Like This Again
Standing almost alone in the middle of the Main Street that runs through Hollywood Studios I felt a mixture of joy and sadness (cue Pixar’s Inside Out). We are living through historic times, visiting a nearly empty Disney is an experience we’ll never forget.
Keaton and I were the guests of Disney World to experience the park and their new safety protocols. We drove to Orlando, stayed at the new Riviera Hotel and were given one day park admission. I agreed to this trip because of the deep trust I have in Disney. My expectations were not only met, they were exceeded.
