Walt Disney World has made a significant announcement ahead of their first theme parks reopening on July 11. All FastPass+ selections, dining reservations, experiences and dining plans have been cancelled due to the new capacity restrictions that will be in place when the parks reopen. In addition, Extra Magic Hours have also been suspended.
The full announcement, which you can read here, outlines that reservations for dining and experiences will shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window. There is no timetable for the return of FastPass+, Extra Magic Hours or the Disney Dining Plan.
Disney notes that select third-party dining reservations and experiences may not be cancelled and will be handled by the managing groups.
This is a huge announcement for guests planning to visit Walt Disney World. Previously, a significant amount of preparation was required to ensure you’re able to experience the best attractions and dine in your preferred restaurants. Now, Disney will remove FastPass+ reservations in order to give them more room to distance guests in attraction queues and to prevent guests from making FastPass+ selections when there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to enter the park.
All of these cancellations also demonstrate just how intricate and complex planning the average Walt Disney World vacation has become. It’ll be interesting to see how Disney reflects on this experience and if they will simplify the experience in the future.
The Walt Disney World experience is going to be vastly different compared to just a handful of months ago. Virtual queues, adjusted character experiences, social distancing and required masks will be the new normal when the parks reopen. Are you planning to visit?
