Disney is currently trying to come up with a variety of reopening plans that would allow guests to safely return to Walt Disney World. While none of these plans have been officially released, insiders have reported that they may include limiting the number of guests into the theme parks, cancelling fireworks shows and parades, sanitizing ride vehicles after each ride and much more.
What would those reopening guidelines mean for a special event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
To be totally clear, Disney has not made any formal decisions at this time. Everything below is subject to change based on what happens over the next few weeks and months.
Currently, the reports suggest that Disney is optimistically aiming at a mid to late-summer reopening plan for the Magic Kingdom. This plan, which would see the Walt Disney World theme parks reopening in phases, would encroach on the 2020 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties that are set to begin in August. The reopening plans – as they are rumored to stand today – would dramatically alter Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and may force it to be cancelled.
A Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party without a parade, fireworks show or stage shows would remove some of the event’s most iconic and highly-anticipated elements. All that would remain would be the reduced lines for the Magic Kingdom’s attractions, special character meet and greets, and the ability to trick-or-treat around the park. But, even those elements could have issues (congested lines for trick-or-treating, unprotected face characters meeting guests) that would need to be altered.
Disney may realize that guests won’t be willing to pay an additional ticket price for an event that’s missing key elements. They may also choose to instead focus on bringing back regular park visitors in a safe fashion than trying to figure out how to pull off a special ticketed event that’s void of entertainment.
Stay tuned. The effort to reopen Walt Disney World is a challenging one that could take on many forms as time progresses.
