So much Disney World news has been announced this week! Big changes are coming! Face coverings are no longer required for certain guests, fireworks are making a come back and one of the most popular Disney World restaurants is reopening!
Let's look at all the exciting news and updates and see how this will impact your upcoming visit to Disney World.
Face Coverings No Longer Required For Fully Vaccinated Guests
The BIG news is that Disney World announced that fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear face coverings in Disney World.
Face coverings are still required by everyone on all forms of transport, including the Disney Buses, Disney Boats, the Monorail and the Skyliner.
Unvaccinated guests are required to wear face coverings in all indoor areas and in queues and on rides. They aren't needed in outdoor areas or whilst seated and actively eating and drinking in an indoor restaurant.
Disney World are not seeking proof of vaccination and are working on an honour system, that unvaccinated guests will still wear face coverings in the areas they have stipulated.
For fully vaccinated guests it is optional as to whether they would like to wear a face covering or not and down to your personal preference and comfort level.
Physical Distancing Being Reduced
Another update to the Covid-19 policies that were in place at Disney World is that physical distancing signs and floor markers are being removed throughout Walt Disney World.
The markers on the floor ensured parties were kept a safe distance apart. Following the recent update from the CDC Disney have started to reduce the distance and remove the markers.
Plexiglass Dividers Being Removed
We are also starting to see plexiglass dividers on rides, in queues and on Disney complimentary transportation being removed.
Disney World are removing a lot of the healthy and safety measures they put into place due to Covid-19 and returning to the systems they had in place previous to the pandemic.
Fireworks Returning To Disney World!
In other big news Disney World have announced fireworks are returning! The Happily Ever After firework show in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Forever firework show in EPCOT will be performed once again from July 1st!
This is exciting news for fans of the Disney World nighttime spectaculars. These shows are world famous and such a big part of any trip to Disney World. Guests will be being wowed and entertained once more starting next month!
Boo Bash Tickets Are Now On Sale!
This May Disney World announced that a new Halloween event would be coming to Magic Kingdom this year. The After Hours Boo Bash is replacing Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2021. So what can you expect from this new event?
The Boo Bash will feature character cavalcades with everyone's favourite Disney Villains and Disney characters dressed in their Halloween costumes, spooktacular treats and merchandise for sale, haunting music and trick or treating!
Adults are allowed to dress in costume for this event which is one of the most exciting parts of the Halloween parties at Disney World!
Included in the ticket price are certain soft drinks and snacks, such as popcorn.
Unlike Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party a parade, show and fireworks will not be making an appearance at the Magic Kingdom After Hours Book Bash.
The Boo Bash starts on August 10th and runs until Halloween night on October 31st! Tickets cost between $129 - $199 depending on the date you attend. Some dates in October have already sold out!
You can purchase your tickets directly from Disney. To find out more information, and the number to call to buy your tickets, check out the Disney World Boo Bash website.
Keep in mind tickets are non-refundable. If you are unsure if your trip may go ahead, particularly if you live outside the US, you can purchase tickets through companies such as Attraction Tickets, where for an additional fee, you can get a full refund if you need to cancel your tickets.
Ohana Reopening!
One of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World will be welcoming guests back very soon!
Ohana, at the Polynesian Village Resort, will open once again on July 9th!
Reservations are already being accepted so be sure to get yours as soon as you can. This restaurant is famous for being one of the most sought after dining reservations at Disney World so be sure to book your reservation as soon as you can, 60 days before you want to dine.
Ohana will be serving both breakfast and dinner. At this time the character dining experience at breakfast will not be running.
Ohana is famous for its delicious food! At this restaurant you get served a platter of Polynesian and American cuisine. You certainly won't leave here hungry! Plus the famous Ohana noodles are back on the menu!
Tusker House Returning With Characters
Another character dining experience will be returning! Tusker House Restaurant, in Animal Kingdom Park, is reopening on June 20th!
Tusker House will return with a new menu and a modified character dining experience.
Formally a buffet, Tusker House will now serve family-style platters. Come here for delicious African and American fare. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available.
You can now see Donald, Mickey and friends in the safari costumes once more at this character dining meal! You will get to see and meet the characters from a safe distance at this modified event.
Reservation are open now!
Sebastian's Bistro Is Reopening With A New Family-Style Menu
Sebastian's Bistro, at the Caribbean Beach Resort, will reopening its doors on June 24th! This restaurant will be returning with a new family-style menu. Serving Caribbean fare the new menu sounds delicious!
You will be served a platter that includes Rolls served with Guava Butter and Caramelized Onion Jam, a Salad appetizer of Mixed Greens, Spiced Candied Walnuts, Grilled Pineapple, followed by the Taste of the Caribbean main course where you will get a sampling of tasty Caribbean delicacies. The dessert is the famous Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding. Yum!
The great news is this is the first Disney World restaurant where the plant-based menu is a reflection of the main menu! Now everyone can enjoy a version of the Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding dessert!
You can make reservations for Sebastian's Bistro right now for dates from July 5th. From June 24th until July 4th Sebastian's Bistro will be a walk-up only restaurant.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Is Fully Reopening in August
Disney just announced that Animal Kingdom Lodge will be fully reopened on August 26th! This is one of the most unique and beautiful Disney World Resorts to stay at and is often on people's list of dream hotels to stay in.
Currently DVC rooms have been available to stay in but now booking are opening up to stay in the normal resort rooms. This is fantastic news for everyone who has been waiting for the opportunity to stay at this resort, famous for its rooms overlooking the savannah where you can watch all of the incredible animals!
Will this mean Boma and Jiko will also reopen? There have been rumours that Boma cast members have been recalled so would be very exciting news!
Club Level Returning To The Disney Resorts
Select Deluxe Disney World Resorts will have Club Level once more starting this September.
If you opt for a Club Level room you will get access to a private lounge, where you can dine on continental breakfast items and coffee at breakfast time, snacks throughout the day and hor d'oeuvres and desserts in the evening.
You will also have a Club Level concierge who can book dining reservations (even ones for restaurants that are fully booked!) and can help with scoring FastPasses (although the FastPass+ system is currently suspended at this time).
These are the dates, and resorts, where club level will be returning:
Grand Floridian Resort - September 16th
BoardWalk Resort - September 23rd
Contemporary Resort - September 26th
Wilderness Lodge and Coronado Springs - December 16th
What do you think of these updates? Are you excited for the fireworks to return? Will you be making a reservation for Ohana? What do you think about the new face covering policy? Are these changes too much too soon?
Let me know in the comments below, on Instagram @most.magical.guides or on Facebook!
To know everything you need to know about visiting Disney World in 2021, including the most up-to-date information such as mentioned above, be sure to purchase my 92 page Guide To Covid-19 Updates at Disney World!
Inside this guide you will find out the latest operational updates at Disney World, including which rides, entertainment and tours are running, which restaurants are currently open, which hidden gem restaurants you should get reservations for, what alternative entertainment you can enjoy in the evenings, how to book Park Pass Reservations and much, much more! This is a must have guide for everyone visiting Disney World!