Disney World and Florida Theme Parks Could Open “Some Time in June or Thereafter,” Says Florida’s Orange County Mayor

Oh, the places you’ll go and the things you’ll see! Florida’s theme parks have started to begin re-openings! (Yes, we’re proud of that almost rhyme.)

CityWalk

This week, we went to the official re-opening of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk to see the new dining, retail, and entertainment procedures. Plus, we let you know about all the restaurants and shops opening in Disney Springs soon. But, while places have started to re-open, there isn’t a set timeline for when the actual parks will greet guests again.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings believes that Florida’s biggest theme parks won’t be opening until June or later, according to Click Orlando News.

Cinderella Castle with Clouds
Magic Kingdom

Although Governor Ron DeSantis plans to move into a “full phase one” soon, and asked theme parks to submit their re-opening plans with opening dates, new health and safety guidelines, and an endorsement from an elected official– Mayor Demings — starting Monday, May 18th.

However, Demings hadn’t received any re-opening plans from Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld as of Friday. Theme parks will be allowed to open during Phase Two of Florida’s re-opening plan whenever the state decides to proceed.

Universal Orlando

At this time, Demings has stated that he thinks that Florida’s large theme parks are “looking at later dates to reopen and…They will likely start with smaller business units, maybe hotels and resort-type areas before the major, massive theme parks themselves will reopen but in any case I suspect that that is going to be, clearly, some time in June or thereafter before that occurs.”

Disney Springs

Smaller theme parks like Gatorland Orlando and Fun Spot America are planning to present their re-opening procedures and hope to welcome guests within the next few weeks. Representatives from both parks will be presenting their health and safety plans to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. Demings stated that Gatorland and Fun Spot America’s re-openings will be further discussed with state officials if it’s deemed necessary.

©Fun Spot America

Right now, Florida and Demings are concerned with opening “as many business units reopened as [they] can but safely so.”

Universal CityWalk re-opened on Thursday, while Disney Springs is slated to open on May 20th. The restaurants and stores will follow new health and safety protocols on top of having limited capacity and hours.

Will you be visiting Florida theme parks when they re-open? Let us know in the comments below!

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Rachel Franko has been going to Disney Parks since she was a baby, and her love of Disney has only grown into a SLIGHT obsession since! She's been writing for AllEars since 2019 and loves sharing the magic with all the readers. When she's not writing, you can catch her heading to Disney and Universal Studios with a heart full of dreams and a backpack full of themed ears!

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One Reply to “Disney World and Florida Theme Parks Could Open “Some Time in June or Thereafter,” Says Florida’s Orange County Mayor”

  1. What I can’t figure out is how the hotels are going to make any money if there is nothing open? Why would anyone spend that kind of money to stay in a Disney resort with no parks to go to? I guess we’ll have to see how this unfolds.