Will Disney World Really Reopen April 1st?
Among several frequently asked questions we’ve been receiving, many of our concerned readers have been asking us whether or not we think Disney World and Disneyland will reopen in April.
Cinderella Castle
And frankly, we honestly don’t know right now. But we’ve been following the impact of COVID-19 on the Disney parks since the outbreak first began back in January, and we have some insight on what news we should all be preparing ourselves to hear.
To put it very bluntly, not even Disney knows if Disney World will reopen in April. Just like the rest of the world, they’re assessing the pandemic day-by-day and taking extreme precautionary measures one step at a time. Disney will not put guests or Cast Members’ safety at risk, so whether or not the parks will reopen on time has more to do with the course of events that will happen from now until the end of the month than anything that’s been decided so far.
Main Street USA
Why Everything is Closing Down
As a country, we’ve witnessed wide-scale, sweeping closures and cancelations of schools and businesses affecting millions. We’ve seen major sporting events dropped including the NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA, and NCAA series. Flying anywhere has become its own unique challenge as Coronavirus screening has increased and travel bans are becoming a more frequent occurrence. And now, the CDC is advising groups of over 50 people should postpone or call off their assemblies for the next 8 weeks.
If you’ve been following the news and have seen the reported numbers, you might think this is an overreaction. After all, as of today, there are just over 3,700 reported cases of Coronavirus in the United States resulting in at least 71 deaths according to CBS News. In a nation of over 331 million people, this number may seem small, but here in the U.S., we’re only in the initial stages of the outbreak.
Things are shutting down right now NOT out of how many people might be already possibly infected with Coronavirus, but in an effort to “flatten the curve.”
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Flattening the Curve
From government officials to leaders of every organization and industry, decisions are being made to shut down as many public gatherings in an attempt to help “flatten the curve.” What we’re actively seeing overseas right now in Italy and other parts of the world is what we are racing to prevent from happening here in the States.
COVID-19 has exploded and overwhelmed the hospitals forcing healthcare workers to make life-or-death decisions regarding patients due to limited resources. They just don’t have the means or space to take care of everyone who’s infected.
By “flattening the curve” we can help keep our hospitals from getting overcrowded and slow the infection down. Instead of everyone getting sick at once, by “social-distancing” ourselves (not going into crowded places and staying 6 feet away from each other) we can have a greater impact on how the rate at which this highly-contagious disease is transmitted.
Take a look at the graph below. We are still in the initial outbreak phase and we’ve already begun to see our number of cases dramatically rise over the course of just a few weeks. If the infection continues to accelerate, we’ll see our healthcare system buckle under the overwhelming amount of pressure.
Graph of What Flattening the Curve Means
It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Given the trajectory of the course we find ourselves on and the limited resources that are available to test for the Coronavirus, we will see these numbers continue to rise. Disney World and Disneyland are not likely to reopen until we see these numbers decrease.
Splash Mountain
What You Should Do About Your Upcoming Disney Trip
If you have a Disney vacation scheduled in April or May, we suggest that you keep the trip on the books for now. Should the parks extend their closure, accommodations will be made to allow for fee-free refunds and rescheduling as necessary (just like we’ve just seen for guests affected by March’s temporary closure dates).
It is likely airlines will also allow you to change or cancel your flights without incurring a penalty fee as well if or when the time comes to do so.
Flower and Garden Passport
Final Payments
If you’re worried about making a final payment on a vacation package for later in the year, go ahead and make it. Disney has modified its terms to allow fee-free cancellation up to June 30th, 2020, without incurring a fee to accommodate any park closure extensions. So right now, keeping your reservation is pretty safe from a fee-sparing perspective.
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
Fast Passes and Advance Dining Reservations
If you’re wondering if you should be making your Fast Passes and advance dining reservations for later in the year, go for it! These are cost-free and can always be canceled if necessary. Hesitating now could cost you a ride on one of your favorite attractions or a meal at one of your favorite restaurants should the parks reopen.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
We will continue to provide you with advice in the next coming weeks, but for all the latest news including official statements released by Disney.
For now, you can get all the info we currently know about Coronavirus and the Disney Parks here.
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