Walt Disney Company Operational Responses to COVID-19

Theme Parks

Closed on March 16, until further notice: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

All Fastpass+ reservations for closed dates will be automatically canceled.

Water Parks

Closed until further notice: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon has been closed for its annual Seasonal Refurbishment since early this year.

Closed on March 16, until further notice: Disney's Blizzard Beach.

Tickets & Annual Passes

Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a valid use period during the period March 12, 2020 through the end of the actual closure period will automatically be extended to use any date through December 15, 2020. If you are unable to visit by December 15, 2020 you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.

Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through July 31, 2020.

Guests who have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours, Disney Early Morning Magic, and Disney H2O Glow Nights from March 16, 2020 through the end of the actual closure period will be automatically refunded.

For ticket orders, note that express shipping and standard shipping will be delayed due to the closure.

Walt Disney World annual passes:

• Passholders who have paid in full for their Walt Disney World Resort annual passports can either opt to have the expiration date of their passport extended based on the length of the closure, or can request a pro-rated refund of the amount paid. Passholders must call 407-939-7277 to request a refund.

• Disney stopped collecting automatic payments for passholders on the monthly payment plan effective April 5, 2020, and will retroactively refund payments collected between March 14 – April 4, 2020. Payments will resume when the parks reopen, and passes will expire on the original date. Alternatively, passholders can call 407-939-7277 to request to have their contract extended. In this case, payments will resume when the parks reopen, and the expiration date will be extended based on the length of the closure. Payments will continue through the end of this new term.
• While the theme parks are closed, Disney is not accepting new MagicBand orders linked to Annual Passes.

Pass blockout and admission calendars will not be updated during the closure period. Additional details may be posted later.

As of March 20, 2020, all Disney Springs shops, restaurants and entertainment are closed. A phased reopening will begin on May 20.

The Walt Disney World Resort announced on May 7 that it will begin a phased reopening of its Disney Springs shopping and dining district on May 20. The remainder of the Florida resort, including the theme parks and hotels, will remain closed until further notice. Disney's announcement states that the retail stores and restaurants included in this first phase are owned by third-party operating participants, though the company has not named any of the establishments that will reopen. When it reopens, Disney Springs will have reduced operating hours, restrict capacity and offer limited parking. Customers and employees alike will use “appropriate face coverings,” though the policies will likely differ between retail and dining venues. Disney says additional information will be released closer to the May 20 reopening date.

As we learn which individual operators have announced reopening dates, we will detail them below:

• AMC Theaters announced it has closed all North American theaters for six to twelve weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It previously had sought to continue operating at limited capacity. A-List Members may put their account on pause.

For other operational and venue information, Disney Springs website is: DisneySprings.com.

The new show “Drawn to Life” by Cirque du Soleil and Disney which was to have debuted April 17, 2020, is currently selling tickets only for June 2, 2020 and beyond. Tickets and show information are available at CirqueDuSoleil.com and at this page of DisneyWorld.com.

As of March 20, 2020, all Disney-owned and operated hotels at Walt Disney World, Disney's Vero Beach and Hilton Head Island Resorts are closed.

These closures are now until further notice.

Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through June 30 will be waived. If no action is taken before a check-in date during the closure period, Disney will automatically cancel the reservation within 7 days of the original check-in date and process any refund due to the original form of payment. Cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers and non-refundable products like travel protection plans will be deducted from refundable amounts for Walt Disney Travel Company Packages. If you did not book through Disney directly, please contact your travel professional.

For guests that have placed orders and received notifications that MagicBands have already been shipped to their homes, those guests will still receive their orders. For those that arranged for upgraded MagicBands be delivered to Disney Resort hotels for check-in dates between March 20 through the closure period, those orders will be automatically canceled and refunded. While the hotels are closed, no new orders for Magic Bands linked to Annual Passes or hotel reservations will be accepted.

Walt Disney World has posted a Special Offer for Guests who booked a vacation package or room reservation to stay at a Disney Resort hotel during the dates Walt Disney World Resort is closed and had not canceled. reservations before March 1, 2020. These Eligible Guests can take advantage of a special vacation package offer that includes accommodations at a select Disney Resort hotel, park admission and a Disney dining plan—valid for arrivals most nights June 1 through September 30, 2020 when you book through May 31, 2020. Details are posted: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/dining-resort-stay-offer/ Call (407)939-4251 to learn more about this offer, check availability and book.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is closed through May 19, 2020. Further information about existing and making new reservations is available and updated at: https://swandolphin.com/importantinfo/index.html.

Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort, the hotel for U.S. Military Members and Families, is closed. Shades of Green will accept reservations for new arrivals after May 31st. More information on the resort's COVID-19 Update webpage at: ShadesOfGreen.org/your-stay/travel-information-covid-19-update. Guest questions may be emailed to: guestsupport@shadesofgreen.org.

Five of the seven Disney Springs Area Hotels are now closed and not accepting reservations through the near term: DisneySpringsHotels.com.

• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area

Orlando Sentinel reports that B Resort & Spa in the Disney Springs Resort Area is offering qualified essential workers and others that are displaced or traveling due to the pandemic a room for $79/night (and no resort fee) when booked before May 15 for a stay before June 30. Qualified guests are:

• Healthcare professionals and first responders
• National Guard members, law enforcement, state or federal government employees Airline crewmembers
• Journalists and others responding to COVID-19
• Displaced residents, visitors or college students
• People unable to return to their home due to COVID-19 travel restrictions including those who had to vacate their home due to an emergency

For more information and reservations visit: https://www.bhotelsandresorts.com/b-resort-and-spa/offers/b-community.

The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort (adjacent to Golden Oak on Disney Property) is now closed, and will not accept reservations for guests arriving prior to June 1, 2020. More information is available on its website: FourSeasons.com/orlando/

We are not tracking the individual status of the 53 Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels. You can find contact information for these off-property hotels on their association website: WDWGoodNeighborHotels.com

Neither Flamingo Crossings (which is on Disney Property but has hotels that are not Disney-owned and operated), nor Bonnet Creek Resort (which is not owned by Disney but is completely surrounded by Disney Property) have official websites that we have identified.

All active Tables in Wonderland members will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed.

Pre-paid dining and experience reservations (like Droid Depot) will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16, 2020 and the end of the closure period.

Guests with dining reservations guaranteed by a credit card will not be charged cancellation or no-show fees during park closure.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and all miniature golf locations at Walt Disney World Resort closed on March 16. These closures are now until further notice.

Walt Disney World Golf, including FootGolf operations, remain available on the regular schedule at all Walt Disney World Golf courses. Walt Disney World Golf is operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management and its team says it is continuing “to closely monitor recommendations by health officials and have implemented measures to help ensure the well-being of all who visit and work at Walt Disney World Golf. For more information and updates, visit GolfWDW.com. Additional operational details released by management follow:

Due to the closure of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, there will be a restricted access policy for Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course commencing Saturday March 21st. If a guest plans to visit this facility, they will be required to have a confirmed tee time reservation before entering the property. Access to the property will only be allowed from the security guard gate located across the street from the entrance to the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace resort. Guests that would like to make use of our driving range facilities, or purchase items from our golf professional shop are being redirected to visit Disney’s Palm, Magnolia, and Oak Trail Golf facility instead.

Due to the restricted access policy for Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, we are inviting Player’s Club members to contact our reservations team within an hour of an available tee time, and pre-book at the Walk-up rate. This will add your name to the tee sheet, and therefore, security can grant you access to the property.

For those that are here in Orlando currently, and interested to play, please contact our reservations center at (407) WDW-GOLF to request additional information, or to confirm a suitable tee time. We recommend continuing to visit our website for further updates to our schedule.

The following experiences are all temporarily canceled.:

• All fireworks cruises
• Highway in the Sky Dine Around
• Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage
• Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
• Celebration at the Top – Savor, Sip, and Sparkle
• Day Cruise Around the World
• Disney Vacation Club Seven Seas Tasting Cruise
• Grand 1 Yacht Rentals

All Disney transportation will be suspended beginning the morning of Wednesday, March 18, 2020. These closures are now until further notice.

Disney's Magical Express concluded transfers to and from Orlando International Airport on Friday, March 20.

Non-essential cast furloughed

The Walt Disney Company announced on April 2 that it will furlough non-essential Cast Members based in the U.S. The furlough is effective April 19, 2020. In a written statement, Disney said, “all impacted workers will remain Disney employees through the duration of the furlough period,” which means the workers are still eligible for health care benefits; Disney additionally said it will cover the employee's healthcare contribution at this time. Furloughed cast will also retain access to the Disney Aspire education program.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our world with untold suffering and loss, and has required all of us to make sacrifices. Over the last few weeks, mandatory decrees from government officials have shut down a majority of our businesses. Disney employees have received full pay and benefits during this time, and we’ve committed to paying them through April 18, for a total of five additional weeks of compensation. However, with no clear indication of when we can restart our businesses, we’re forced to make the difficult decision to take the next step and furlough employees whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time. The furlough process will begin on April 19, and all impacted workers will remain Disney employees through the duration of the furlough period. They will receive full healthcare benefits, plus the cost of employee and company premiums will be paid by Disney, and those enrolled in Disney Aspire will have continued access to the education program. Additionally, employees with available paid time off can elect to use some or all of it at the start of the furlough period and, once furloughed, they are eligible to receive an extra $600 per week in federal compensation through the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill, as well as state unemployment insurance.

The Service Trades Council Union, a coalition of the six trade unions which represent over 40,000 workers at Walt Disney World, announced on April 11 it had come to an agreement with the Walt Disney Company regarding Disney's furlough of non-essential workers. Per an STCU press release, “The Union Agreement provides stronger protections and benefits for 43,000 Union workers at Disney than virtually any other furloughed or laid-off workers in the United States.”

Executives take pay cut

Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced he would take a 50% reduction in salary, and Disney executive chairman Bob Iger will waive his entire salary and car allowance. Senior executives in the company will also take pay cuts of 20% to 30%, depending on their role. The pay cuts are effective April 5, 2020.

College and International Programs Suspended

Major news outlets report that Walt Disney World suspended its College Program, Culinary Program, Cultural Exchange Program, and Academic Exchange Program effective March 16, 2020. Participants in Disney housing must move out by March 18, will be paid through March 31, 2020, and will receive certificates of completion that give them the opportunity to seek future employment with the company.

On Sunday, Disney published an updated letter to their College Program participants, and encouraged those who would like to return to work for the company at a future date to keep in touch.

On March 16, Josh D'Amaro, President, Walt Disney World Resort further explained in a “MouseMail” email:

I want to acknowledge our hardworking college, culinary and exchange program participants. We made the difficult decision to suspend these programs, based on guidance from leading health agencies as these participants live in dorm-like housing here at our Resort. We believe it's the right thing to do and is consistent with the way college and university programs are prioritizing social distancing. We are actively working with each individual to help them get home, including finding the right solution to each of their unique circumstances.

Disney College and International Programs suspended

Walt Disney World announced on April 6 it is working to help remaining participants in the Cultural Representative Program to return to their home countries by April 17, 2020. The participants will be paid through April 18, 2020, and will receive a lump-sum payment on April 9. Disney also said it will waive housing payments immediately.

On April 6, Disney announced that the Internship, College Program and Cultural Representative programs scheduled to start through early June, 2020 have been canceled. These participants will receive a refund of their program fees. Cultural Representatives will be invited back to complete their programs “when the time is right.” Disney says the eligibility requirements for all programs will be amended so that participants affected by this cancellation can reapply, even if they have already graduated from college.

Musical Acts End at Epcot

Orlando Sentinel tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil reports that Matsuriza, the drummers at the Japan pavilion, and British Revolution, the vocal quartet at the United Kingdom pavilion perform for the final time at Epcot, March 15, 2020.

Credible social media posts suggest that several other contract Epcot musical acts at World Showcase also had their final performances on March 16; credible social media reports that Epcot musical acts comprised of Disney cast members have not been impacted beyond the temporary park closure, but are subject to furloughs.

Passengers holding Disney Cruise Line reservations are justified in being concerned about their cruise being canceled or rescheduled, and MousePlanet unwittingly added to the uncertainty when we incorrectly reported that Disney had officially canceled the entire 2020 Alaska cruise season.

In fact, only a portion of the season has been officially canceled by the Disney Cruise Line, and the company is still accepting reservations for the nine remaining cruises of the 2020 Alaska season, currently scheduled to depart July 6 through September 7. We regret the error.

Though our reporting was inaccurate, there remains a very real chance that Disney will extend its cancellations well beyond the currently announced itineraries. When Disney first announced the change to the Alaska schedule back on April 6, the company cited a regulation put in effect on March 13 by the Canadian government that prohibits ships carrying more than 500 passengers from docking in any Canadian port until July 1, 2020 at the earliest.

Disney's Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver, BC, and the company said the cancellation of the May and June Alaska cruises was because “neither the Port of Vancouver nor an alternate home port is available.”

However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on April 9 announced an extension of its own No Sail Order, originally issued on March 14, which prohibits ships carrying more than 250 people (inclusive of crew and passengers) from operating in, to, or from American waters for 100 days from April 9.

This order is in effect until July 18, 2020, unless it is rescinded or modified by the CDC, or until the U.S. government declares that COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency. Even if Canada lifts its own restrictions on departures from Vancouver, Disney would not be able to sail to Alaska under the current CDC order.

Disney Magic sailings after June 7, 2020, have not yet been cancelled.

Guests booked on European sailings through the July 25 departure can change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date by calling DCL at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510 or their travel agent. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply. Guests currently booked on July 13, 18 and 25 European Sailings may also delay their final payment until 30 days before sailing.

Alternatively, Guests booked on the July 13, July 18, and July 25, 2020 European sailings may delay their final payment until 30 days prior to their sailing.

All Guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy between May 18 and May 31, 2020 can change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply. Those who booked with Disney Cruise Line may call (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510.

Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park closed March 14 and will now remain closed until further notice. Unused Parks tickets that expire during Parks closure will be automatically extended until March 31, 2021. Guests that hold an e-ticket must download it before its initial expiration date, and then present it at the entrance to the Disney Parks on the day of visit; those with paper tickets may present them on the date of the visit. The extended ticket validity will depend upon the calendar in effect for the purchased ticket type. More information is posted in English here. Group tickets will be canceled or rebooked for the group operator (contact the group you purchased through).

For guests holding a reservation for a Disneyland Paris holiday for arrivals while the Parks are closed, you are entitled to receive a voucher valid for 18 months for the full amount of payment already made for your booking. New bookings will be subject to conditions available at the time of booking. If you wish to maintain your current booking conditions, you can benefit from a special rebooking offer: If you hold a booking with an arrival up to June 30, 2020, you have the possibility to rebook at the same price until May 15, 2020 for an arrival before October 1, 2020.

Guests that bought a stay directly with Disneyland Paris are encouraged to fill out the electronic form at: contact.disneylandparis.com/en/. Guests may also call the telephone number indicated on their confirmation email, but call volumes remain extremely high due to the unprecedented circumstances. Guests that bought a stay through a travel provider (Travel Agency, Coach Operator, Online Travel Agency), should contact the travel provider.

Additional adjustments to booking and cancellation policies are posted: disneylandparis.com/en-us/guest-services/exceptional-measures-booking/

The shops and restaurants of Disney Village temporarily closed as of the morning of Sunday, March 15.

Disney Village will remain closed until further notice.

Buffalo Bill Wild West Show is closed until further notice.