You Need to Plan a 2021 Walt Disney World Trip Differently — Here’s How.

Are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2021? Things are going to look a little different this year!

You might have been staying updated with all the Disney news lately, or perhaps you’re just catching up. Either way, the global health crisis has really affected the way guests experience a vacation to Disney World. A ton of health and safety regulations were implemented in the theme parks and resorts, and you’ll see the changes in restaurants, attractions, transportation, and pretty much everywhere else.

We’re recapping the major changes that you should be aware of when traveling to Disney World in 2021.

Mask Requirements

Disney is still requiring face masks to be worn by all guests ages 2 and up. The masks must fit Disney’s guidelines. For example, masks can’t have holes or valves, masks cannot contain mesh material, and gaiters and bandanas are prohibited. There are also specific rules regarding masks that have an integrated transparent plastic panel.

So, when can you remove your mask? The only time a guest may remove their mask is when actively eating or drinking while remaining stationary and physically distanced from others. You can also remove your mask at the designated Relaxation Stations in each of the four theme parks.

Masks can also be removed when swimming, and there are specific mask rules when it comes to Disney’s water parks.

Disney has also recently updated their policy to allow guests to temporarily remove their face masks when taking an outdoor photo — but you must be stationary, maintain physical distance from others, and place your mask back on immediately after taking the photo.

When it comes to dining, the mask policies in Disney World have also been updated. Previously, you could remove your mask as soon as you sat down at a Disney World restaurant. The current policy notes that masks must be worn when standing, waiting, or sitting in dining locations and can be removed only when actively eating or drinking.

A reminder that guests not properly wearing an approved mask will be asked to leave Disney World.

We absolutely advise buying and trying on your masks before leaving for your vacation. You should be able to comfortably wear your mask for several hours in different kinds of weather. You should also bring multiple pairs just in case your masks get dirty. Each Disney World resort has laundry services onsite so you can wash your masks at any time!

Read more tips about wearing a face mask in Disney World here!

Limited Capacities

Disney World is limiting guest capacities in just about every way. Restaurants, attractions, transportation, gift shops, and each theme park have a limited amount of people who can enter at one time. Even the pools at Disney World are limiting capacity and can sometimes have quite the line.

The point is to reduce crowding and provide enough space between travel groups. Out of all the recent changes, limited capacity policies have affected the Disney World experience the most.

The theme parks are operating at a 35% capacity and guests are required to make a Park Pass reservation in addition to having a valid ticket in order to visit the theme parks. The reservations allow Disney to control the number of people who enter the park during the day. You’ll want to make your reservation as far in advance as possible in order to assure you can enter.

Attractions are also recognizing limited capacities and practicing physical distancing on ride vehicles. You may notice that a ride is seating groups in every other row or have plexiglass barriers between seats.

The limited seating may extend the wait times more than what they may normally be.

Click here to see the health and safety procedures being used on every single Disney World ride right now.

Note that when it comes to physical distancing, there are specific rules that apply to those traveling in large parties (parties of more than 10), so keep that in mind.

Advance Dining Reservations can also be difficult to snag since restaurants are also limiting capacity. Much like Park Passes, you will want to make your Table Service reservations as far in advance as possible. Crowds may be lower than normal, but the lowered capacities can still make getting a reservation difficult.

You may also encounter virtual queues at various spots throughout Disney World. The virtual lines were implemented to reduce the long lines of people trying to enter a limited capacity gift shop or other buildings. Guests will receive a notification for when they can return to the location instead of having to wait in one location.

We’ve seen Disney relaxing certain entrance and exit store policies at some points, and even potentially changing the way that they control store capacity. But, physical distancing is still required in Disney World.

These are just a few ways we’ve seen Disney attempting to reduce crowding and control the theme park capacities. We might see these methods change in the future as the park adjusts to bigger capacities and increased crowds.

See what it’s like dining at Disney World with limited capacities and the new policies!

Travel Policies May Change

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuously updating its guidelines to reflect the current situation and the spread of illnesses. Travel companies generally use these guidelines to implement rules within their own industries. The companies will also use their own judgments and make policy changes on their own accord. We can’t predict what the CDC will advise in the next coming months or what airlines, hotels, and Disney World will do in response.

Since March, we’ve seen airlines reduce routes and limit flight capacities. Traveling has picked up a bit since then, and airlines are adjusting as they see fit. We’ve also seen that more airlines will start offering direct flights to Orlando soon. Recently, the CDC shared an update indicating that fully vaccinated people may “travel safely” throughout the United States. As the situation with the pandemic and vaccines continues to develop, rules and guidance may continue to change.

All Americans 16+ will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine soon. There has also recently been talks about vaccine passports and where/when they may be required. The Florida Governor has signed an executive order that bans Florida government entities from issuing vaccine passports and restricts local businesses from requiring them. But, the situation around vaccine passports continues to develop in the U.S.

It’s a very good idea to stay updated with your airline’s and hotel’s cancellation policies as well as other requirements dealing with the current events. You can also consider travel insurance for a little more peace of mind! 

Disney Event Cancellations

You should also be aware of possible cancellations inside the theme parks. So far, we’ve seen the 2020 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the 2020 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, various 2020 and 2021 runDisney events, and more major events be canceled (or, in the case of runDisney, become virtual events) since last March. Disney has not yet shared details about the potential return of some of these special events in 2021.

That said, Disney has also kept certain events with modifications. The Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival and the Festival of the Holidays returned in 2020 with a lot of adjustments. The Festival of the Arts and Flower and Garden Festival also returned in 2021, and dates for the 2021 Food & Wine Festival have already been announced.

Disney could bring back more events in 2021 with similar adjustments. Just be aware that your favorite events could be canceled or majorly modified. We’ll have to wait and see how Disney approaches more big events in the future.

FastPass+ is Temporarily Suspended

In the past, guests would plan most of their Disney days around their FastPass+ reservations. The system allowed guests to book a time for certain attractions and return to a designated line that usually had a much shorter wait than the general standby line. Guests would create their entire itineraries around these reservations.

As of now, FastPass+ is currently unavailable. Unlike Park Hopping, Disney has not announced when the system may return. This means that guests will have to plan their itineraries based on their attraction priorities and crowds.

Remaining flexible throughout the day while creating a barebones plan will certainly help when visiting the parks now. Keep updated with wait times on the My Disney Experience app and make sure you have enough time to accomplish all your Disney goals.

Click here to see how to shorten your wait time at Disney World WITHOUT FastPass!

Disney Dining Plan is Unavailable

Likewise, the Disney Dining Plan is also temporarily suspended. A lot of guests depended on the dining plan when creating food budgets. Guests would purchase the meal plans at a set price and attempt to get the biggest bang for their buck while dining at Disney World. Some Disney World restaurants are still closed, and most others are offering limited menus. Given these changes, Disney decided to put the Dining Plan on hold.

Guests who used the Dining Plan in the past may need to find other ways to budget their snacks and meals. There are plenty of snacks that are easily shareable and big enough to be a meal at Disney World. You’ll also find options that are less expensive than others when it comes to Table Service and Quick Service restaurants. The best thing you can do is to review the menus ahead of time and give yourself a meal plan. You can also purchase gift cards to keep your family on track with your daily spending.

Check out our list of lunches under $10 at Disney World!

Entertainment Modifications

Entertainment also looks very different at Disney World lately! Disney characters still come out for appearances, but they are physically distanced from guests. Meaning, you currently can’t get a close-up photo next to a character, and  there are no autographs at this time.

Instead, Disney has created Character Cavalcades and mini-parades. We’ve really enjoyed the pop-up appearances by Mickey and friends in the theme parks. Disney may continue to add more ways to interact with the characters. We’ve even spotted Goofy and Pluto making their way around the resorts in a fancy new caravan!

You should also know that many live shows have been suspended inside the theme parks. Major shows like Finding Nemo: the Musical, and Beauty and the Beast – Live On Stage are still suspended at this time.  But, a modified version of Festival of the Lion King is set to return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom this summer!

Also, you can go and see Anna, Elsa, and their friends at the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Full firework shows are also currently suspended. However, we’ve seen firework testing at the Magic Kingdom, and construction for the Harmonious show in EPCOT has continued. This could be a sign that Disney is preparing to bring back nighttime shows in some capacity, but nothing official has been announced yet.

Some Things Are Still Closed

Some restaurants, hotels, tours, events, and more experiences are still not operating at this time. For instance, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park reopened in March of 2021, but Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is still closed.

Some Disney World hotels are scheduled to reopen later this year, but others still remain closed without an official reopening date. Further, small events like dessert parties and private tours are also unavailable. And some fan-favorite restaurants, like Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom, are still closed.

Be sure to double-check if your favorite is experience is temporarily suspended before booking your next vacation.

Modified Park Hopping

Park Hopping had been out of commission since Disney World reopened, but the option to switch between parks returned on January 1, 2021. The benefit is modified, and there are a few things you’ll need to know when planning to “hop” between parks.

The first modification is that guests can only Park Hop after 2:00PM. (Previously, you could transfer at any hour of the day.) This 2PM start time is subject to change, however. Park Hopping hours could start earlier or later depending on the theme park and the day. Disney will clarify designated Park Hopper hours on DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours in the future.

Further, guests will only need to make one Park Pass reservation each day they are visiting. There’s no need to make a second reservation for the park you’re planning to transfer to. But, you will need to visit the FIRST park (a.k.a. the one you made a Park Pass for) before you visit any other parks.

Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that Park Hopping is based on capacity limitations. So, you will only be able to hop to other parks if they have availability. There is a number you can call before hopping to check and see what parks are available to hop to.

The one BIG restriction is that if a guest plans to join the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance, they will need to get a Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will need to be the park they visit first. You cannot hop to Hollywood Studios and get a Park Pass then.

Click here to see everything we experienced from the return of Park Hopping in Disney World!

Stay Flexible

The biggest tip we can give you is to remain flexible this year. It’s unclear when the health and safety protocols will be modified or if the mask mandate will be lifted. As of now, Disney has not discussed a possible timeline of when things will return to they way they were like prior to closing (if they ever can). We’ve been reporting on all the reopening news so be sure to stay updated with us as we learn more!

Are you planning on visiting Disney World in 2021? Let us know in the comments!

 

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