Wow! There have been a ton of Walt Disney World updates released in the last few days. I’m working hard to collect them all here, and give you best practices for things that have changed, and you will encounter as you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World. I will do my best to keep this page updated. Currently this is updated through June 20, 2020.
Seasonal Event Changes
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Unfortunately, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for 2020 🙁 I LOVE this event but honestly, without the parade, character intreactions and the fireworks it wouldn’t be worth the cost of admission.
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
The annual EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will become A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. This new take on the foodie festival will debut July 15 and continue through the fall, offering over 20 signature global marketplaces like Hawaii, Hops & Barley, and Islands of the Caribbean, spaced out around the park. And, if you’ve ever imagined a world where the floral fun of Flower & Garden is sprinkled in with the global goodies of Food & Wine, here’s your chance – guests will be able to see our newest topiary, Remy, in the France pavilion and find Flower & Garden merchandise. For scavenger hunt fans, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt returns. And stay tuned as Food & Wine merchandise joins the fun later on after the festival begins.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Due to social distancing guidelines the popular Eat to the Beat concert series which is usually held during the Food and Wine Festival has been canceled. We have been told that instead, EPCOT entertainment such as Mariachi Cobre, the JAMMitors and others will spread out their performances at the American Gardens Theater throughout the day, giving audiences more options to enjoy them.
Disney H2O Glow Nights
Disney H2O Glow Nights, the nighttime special ticket event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, will not take place for the remainder of 2020. I was really hoping to finally attend one of these this summer 🙁
Christmas Events
Currently, no decisions have been made effecting Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, and Candlelight Processional. Disney is constantly monitoring the directives and suggestions by state and local governments as well as health officials.
New Disney Park Pass System
To be able to enter one of the four Walt Disney World Parks you will need a valid ticket AND a park pass for the day(s) you want to visit. The new Park Pass System went live this morning for guests with a Disney hotel reservation and valid theme park admission linked in their My Disney Experience App. The system will continue to roll out availability to other guests over the next weeks.
Park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the reservation is finalized. At this time, guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations.
Due to the new waiver that must be agreed to when making your Disney Park Pass Reservation, your travel agent cannot do this for you. The person in your party making the reservation agrees to the waiver for the entire party.
STEP ONE Link your resort reservations and tickets in the My Disney Experience App. Make sure your entire party is linked so that one person can make the Park Pass reservation for your entire party.
STEP TWO Plan which park you want to visit which day. Go online and make your reservation for the day and park you want. Hopefully it will work smoothly.
I highly recommend that everyone in the party who owns a smartphone set up the My Disney Experience App. This way if one person or part of the party needs to leave the park for any reason, they will have their reservation to show for park reentry.
This is all new for everyone. I attended a travel agent webinar about the new park pass system and it is a bit overwhelming. Buying your tickets and choosing and reserving your park days are now the most important parts of your trip planning and they need to happen as soon as possible. It used to be your dining plans were first and then you decided your park plans. Now you can’t make ADRs without park tickets and your park pass for that day.
With all the new updates and things changing almost daily, I highly recommend you use an Earmarked Travel Agency to plan your 2020 or 2021 Walt Disney World vacation. I’m available to help you have the most magical vacation possible. Just Email me and we’ll get started.
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