Disney World Notebook: Safety, Spring Break & Smart Devices
We’re looking around the newsfeed this AM, during our Disney World Notebook.
But, clearly, the main news story of the week was the crowds.
To start, let’s remind you what we were facing as we pondered the second week of March.
Spring Break Is A Busy Time
On the 10th, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher of Forbes wrote that most park passes were sold out the week of the 14th.
Due to continued Covid-19 precautions, Disney World tickets are available strictly through its online reservation system. Disney is still requiring guests to wear face masks, undergo temperature screenings before entering parks, and practice social distancing.
When Disney World first reopened last July, park capacity was capped at 25 percent. That was eventually raised to 35 percent.
If you don’t have annual passes, landing theme park reservations for March and early April is a Herculean task.
Feeling Safe
However, Travel Pulse talked about their experience during Florida’s spring break.
Stopping first at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida we were greeted with relief. Protocols are in place that certainly makes the parks look different – masks are being required for anyone over the age of two, not all attractions are operating, social distancing markers are everywhere and there is even plexiglass in many of the queue lines – but at no time did our family feel unsafe.
Oh, and that Disney magic was definitely still there. Cast members still provide a fun experience for all.
And, being an Apple guy, I was thrilled to see that Disney World would soon allow devices to take the place of Magic Bands.
ATM Marketplace talked about the new update:
Visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will soon have the option to generate a contactless digital pass that enables them to use their iPhone, Apple Watch or other smart device to gain entry to the theme park and access other resort features and services.
They cited a report from NFCW:
The new Disney MagicMobile service is to be introduced in phases “starting this year” as an alternative to the resort’s existing contactless MagicBand wristband, beginning with an initial rollout for Apple devices.
“Guests will be able to create a Disney MagicMobile pass through the My Disney Experience app and add it to their smart device’s digital wallet,” Disney says.
“Most features will be available by just holding up your smart device near an access point, just like you do with a MagicBand.”
Vlogging The World
Meanwhile, a couple of my favorite Vloggers (who are often based on the West Coast) were in the parks this week.
Adam the Woo and Justin Scarred were out and about in The World:
Later in the week, Adam couldn’t get on to Rise of the Resistance, but his good buddy Justin did!
That’s it for today’s Disney World Notebook, but we’re excited to see what this week brings!
Have you been to Walt Disney World this week? What did you think of the crowds?