The biggest question surrounding Walt Disney World right now is the safety of returning to the parks. Honestly, I can’t answer that question for you. Whether or not you find it to be safe will depend on your comfort level with traveling and being around people you don’t know. I can however give you information about how Walt Disney World is taking precautions and handling the virus. You can then make your own informed decision. So, what is Disney doing to help ensure the safety of its guests?
Disney Park Pass System
As the parks have reopened, Disney has turned to a new reservation system to control crowds. You have to have a valid ticket AND a park reservation before you will be allowed to enter the park. There is currently no park hopping (meaning you can only visit one park per day, however you can leave the park to go take a nap, eat at a resort, visit Disney Springs, and then come back to the same park). This new system allows Disney to set limits on the number of people entering the parks from day-to-day.
Backpack Screenings and Temperature Scans
Disney’s efforts to keep guests safe in the parks start with a mandatory temperature screening and a touch-less backpack screening. If a guest has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher they will not be allowed in the park nor will any member of their party. The temperature check is touch-less as is the backpack screening. Currently, guests do not have to take their backpacks off or take anything out of it. They must simply walk through a screening and are good to go unless the sensor is set off. If for some reason they do set off the sensor their backpack WILL be searched more thoroughly, but still with minimal interaction. Personally, I hope this method of backpack screening sticks around!
Mandatory Masks
Everyone above the age of 2 (cast members and guests alike) MUST wear a mask. I don’t mean it’s a recommendation and they want guests to wear a mask, I mean a mask will be worn and if they refuse the guest will be asked to leave the park. There are currently cast members dedicated to making sure you are wearing a mask and wearing it correctly. (Over your nose AND your mouth!) To deter guests from taking masks off cast members will not allow you to have your attraction pictures when anyone in the picture removes their mask. If the mask is really bothering you, not to worry there are relaxation stations throughout the parks where guests are allowed to take their masks off for a brief break.
No large gatherings
Large gatherings are currently not allowed on Walt Disney property. This includes large groups of people randomly congregating in one area, shows, parades, and fireworks. You will not be able to catch your favorite shows such as Festival of the Lion King in Disney’s Animal Kingdom or Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Magic Kingdom Park. Disney finds these large gatherings too risky. Those same cast members walking around making sure masks are being worn appropriately will also be breaking up any large groups!
Mobile Ordering
Disney is really pushing mobile ordering for quick service restaurants right now. Not only does mobile ordering speed up the process (major win for you, you’ll get your food faster!), but it also keeps guests from having to stand in line next to each other. After all, there is only so much room for social distancing inside a restaurant! Mobile ordering is super easy to follow through the My Disney Experience app. Open the app and follow these steps!
Click on Mobile Food Orders. 
Click Create New Order. 
Select your desired time and restaurant. 
Choose your meal. 
Customize your meal if needed and add to order. 
Review or modify your order. 
Purchase your order and head over to your quick service location!
Frequent Bathroom Cleanings
Walt Disney World is already known for maintaining high standards of cleanliness around the park. Fun Fact: you are never more than 30 feet from a trashcan! Walt Disney was determined to have the cleanest of parks! Anyways, Disney has stepped up their game with more frequent bathroom cleanings.
No Character Meet and Greets
Unfortunately, for the safety of characters and guests alike character meet and greets are currently unavailable. Not to worry though! Disney has created a new magical experience in Character Cavalcades. These Cavalcades are super fun for kids who can see many of their favorite characters smiling and waving at them all at once (from a boat, a trolley, or some other form of transportation)! I actually lucked upon one of these cavalcades (they weren’t called that back then and it wasn’t really on purpose) many years ago in Epcot and seeing so many characters all at once is one of my most treasured Disney memories to this day!
Social Distancing Queues
If you have been out to the grocery store recently you have probably seen those social distancing markers on the ground prompting you to stay 6 feet away from others. Disney has implemented these same markers across the parks in their standby queues for attractions. This allows you to safely wait in line (if you even have to wait! There have been some record LOW wait times even for major attractions in the parks!)
Plexiglass or Space Between Riders
On some attractions like Expedition Everest cast members are filling the rides to capacity, but there is plexiglass between you and the guests in front and behind you. The ride may be full, but you are still pretty isolated in your seats. Other rides are leaving empty seats between riders to distance them.
Disinfected Rides
Attractions are being disinfected every so often, but if you are concerned that every so often is not often enough you can disinfect yourself! My family was actually in Walt Disney World at the beginning of this pandemic (before we knew how serious it would become and before the shut down) and we brought our own Lysol wipes into the parks. Being the germaphobes that we are we would wipe down our seats and handles before the rides started. This is definitely something you could still do to give yourself peace of mind if you’re concerned.
Hand Sanitizer Stations
There are hand sanitizer stations located at the exit to many attractions and scattered around the parks. If you do decide to go to Walt Disney World right now, I would recommend taking advantage of these as well as bringing some of your own. Hand sanitizing after every ride, before meals, and sometimes just randomly was another strategy my family and I used while we visited Disney in March.
Hollywood Studios
Although most parks throughout Walt Disney World have short wait times and are social distancing friendly, Hollywood Studios has been a different story. For this park, in particular, I would say that if you are at all concerned just skip it. The layout of this park (several dead ends instead of a loop) can make social distancing hard and can cause you to get stuck in a large congregation of people that you may not want to be in. Not to mention, ride wait times in this park have been considerably higher than the others. Wait times of up to 2 hours first thing in the morning and it can be very difficult to get a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance. I’m not telling you not to go, I would just personally skip it and focus on the social distancing friendly parks and low wait times elsewhere. (I mean who doesn’t want to walk straight onto Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or enjoy the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot with minimal crowds?!)
Overall
I do think Walt Disney World has done a great job of making the parks as safe as they possibly can for guests. However, they can’t ensure without a doubt anyone’s safety against this virus. Again, I can’t tell you whether or not you should take a trip to Disney right now. All I can do is give you the information to make your own decision. Choosing whether or not to go to Walt Disney World right now is an extremely personal decision based on what is best for you and your family!
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