What Walt Disney World’s ‘new normal’ look likes

As Cast Members and their family and friends walked into the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 7 they were the first to get a look at what a visit to a theme park looks like for the near future.

Face masks, physical distancing markers, hand sanitizers and plexiglass dividers are just some of the changes that met the guests as they entered the park.

“This is our new normal. Our new reality,” Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s theme park chairman, said in an interview with the New York Times. “Covid is here, and we have a responsibility to figure out the best approach to safely operate in this new normal. Businesses across the country are open, whether it’s a local pizza shop in Orlando or an airline taking on new guests.”

The first difference guests are supposed to experience is the lower crowds. Having an annual pass or ticket is not good enough to get you into the park. You need to also have a park reservation.

Disney is not saying how many people it will allow in each park at a time, but only says it will be significantly lower than normal crowds. This should help create the ability for social distancing. In addition, Disney is not having parades, live indoor shows and nighttime spectaculars like fireworks to cut back bunching people together.

There were numerous changes that were unveiled during the preview. Here was what was reported from various people who attended:

Parking: When arriving you will find you are parked in every other space. Once the area is clear of people. The remaining spaces are filled with other cars. This is done to help cuts back on bunching people together as they get out of the cars and walk towards the entrance. By having cars parked in every other space it also cuts back on first bumping into people in the car next to you.

Temperature check: Your temperature will be checked prior to entry.

Security check: There are some changes to try and cut back on touching. You will be asked to place all electronics you have into plastic bags and walk through the new system with your bag. If the system goes off, you will need to remove the articles of the bags yourself instead of having a security guard search them.

Face masks: You must wear these everywhere and can only take them off if you are eating or are in Relaxation Stations.

Relaxation Stations: These areas in various locations around each park will allow people to sit down, a distance from others, and remove your mask for a break.

Character cavalcades and locations: While there will be no meet and greets and parades, there will be opportunities to see characters as they walk through the park on floats and horses or stand atop balconies.

Queues altered: Makes sure you look down for the social distancing markers and you might feel a bit claustrophobic as plexiglass shields have been erected in some lines to help create safe separation between people.

Hand sanitizing stations: Disney has added some 4,000 hand sanitizers for the entire resort. You will see these stations throughout the park.

Virtual shopping lines: Due to capacity requirements even inside shops, you might find yourself on a virtual line to do some shopping. It’s quite easy, you provide your name and phone number. When a spot opens you will be texted.

Limited pre-shows: Some of the pre-shows are limited, such as the first pre-show area of the Flight of Passage ride at Animal Kingdom has been limited, but the second area is operational. In the case of the Haunted Mansion, you will be walking through the stretching room straight to the ride.

PhotoPass photographers: They are still there and taking photos, but are not allowed to take your camera or phone and take pictures.

We are scheduled to attend the Annual Passholder preview and will provide additional information, photos and thoughts on what this “new normal” looks like. If you’ve attended a Cast preview or the AP previews, please, share your thoughts with us.