What to Expect When Disney World Reopens

When Disney World reopens the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11 and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15, things will look a little different. From reservations to get into the parks on a specific day, to no Fast Passes, to guests and Cast Members wearing masks, it will definitely be a new experience.

Before you go, make sure to book a reservation through Disney's Park Pass System. Reservations can be made beginning June 22 for resort guests, June 26 for Annual Passholders, and June 28 for existing ticket holders. All guests must have a Park Pass and ticket to enter the Parks and can only select one park per day, no park hopping. All guests may be subject to a touchless temperature check and must wear a mask to enter the Parks.

Once you enter the Parks, most attractions will be available including:

• Magic Kingdom - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, and Avatar Flight of Passage
• EPCOT - Spaceship Earth (the refurbishment has been delayed), Soarin' Around the World, Frozen Ever After, and Test Track 
• Hollywood Studios - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

There will be characters in the Parks, although Meet and Greets have been suspended for the time being. Some characters can be seen in surprise parades while others might pop up in unexpected locations. Here are a few ways the characters will appear:

• Magic Kingdom - cavalcades down the parade route, perhaps a captive Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue (I've seen Cap'n Jack in the queue before and it's hilarious!)
• Animal Kingdom - characters sailing the waterways 
• EPCOT - processions along the World Showcase promenade, Queen Anna and Elsa may cross your path in the World Showcase
• Hollywood Studios - motorcades on Hollywood Boulevard, Resistance members may be hiding from the First Order in Black Spire Outpost

Several music groups will also be returning, such as Mariachi Cobre and JAMMitors at EPCOT and the Main Street Philharmonic at Magic Kingdom.

While it will be different, I can't wait to return to Walt Disney World this summer!