Excited to plan your Walt Disney World vacation when it reopens? Here are seven NEW things to pack that might not be on your Disney World Packing List!
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Walt Disney World, along with theme parks, restaurants, and other public gathering places worldwide, recently experienced an unprecedented closing that has lasted since March 15, 2020. With the world opening back up, Disney has announced it will reopen Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios open on July 15, 2020. Even though Walt Disney World is opening, however, things won’t be “Disney normal” quite yet.
Disney chairman Josh D’Amaro said, “We are purposefully taking baby steps during this very intentional phased approach.” With Cast Member and Guest health and safety as their top priority, parks and resorts will have reduced capacity with reservations required, FastPass+ reservations have been cancelled to make use of both lines for social distancing, and dining reservations have all been cancelled, along with most (if not all) other Walt Disney World experiences.
Disney Springs Soarin’ at EPCOT AK’s Pandora at Night
A NEW reservation system is in the works, and with Disney Vacation Club properties opening up to DVC Members on June 22, you can bet Disney is working their hardest to get the new system in place for their July 11 opening.
PROTIP: Be SURE your MyDisneyExperience app is up-to-date with correct contact information, linked reservations, and a credit card on file for seamless access to the new reservation system once it is available.
For more information on Park Procedures upon opening, visit Disney’s Know Before You Go site for the most current information!
Your New Packing List
When the parks do reopen, all guests age 2 and up will be required to wear masks while on Disney Property. With the new protocols in mind, here are SEVEN items you want on your Disney World Packing List for your upcoming trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Park!
1. Clorox Wipes
While Cast Members are undergoing enhanced training and will be cleaning high-touch surfaces as often as possible, if you have children or simply want to take extra precaution, I recommend you bring your own disinfectant wipes. These Clorox Wipes come in smaller, transportable packages that make for easy transport: Clorox Disinfecting Bleach Free Cleaning Wipes, 75 Wipes, Pack of 3
2. Hand Sanitizer
Whether you have kids with you or not, hand sanitizer is simply a good idea. Riding rides means touching surfaces that others have touched. And even though Disney will do their best, with lower capacity and enhanced cleaning protocols, it’s important for guests to do their part, as well. It is SO hard to keep from touching your face (and you’ll have to touch your mask at some points) – especially for younger guests. Pack a purse-sized hand sanitizer to keep germs at bay!
3. Plastic Zip-top Baggies
While guests will be required to wear their masks while they are in the parks, you can remove them to eat while seated. But where to put your mask to prevent contamination while you eat? You are, after all, going to put it back on your face! PROTIP: Bring a zip-top plastic baggie for each member of your family to keep those masks as clean as possible (as well as your backup masks – but more about that in a minute!). I prefer the quart-size bags with slider locks.
4. Cell Phone Charge Rods
Keeping your smartphone charged while you are in the parks will be more important now than ever. The My Disney Experience app will be reservation central for booking your days at the parks, virtual queues for rides, and table service meals. Virtual queues are already in place at Universal Orlando, and without their app to make ride reservations, guests are pretty much out of luck as far as rides go! We can expect to see some similar operations at Disney World and Disneyland!
With the new limited capacity, table service meals will require reservations -which you can make and check on your My Disney Experience app. You even have the ability to open your resort room -bypassing the front desk and without touching the door handle- via the MDE app using bluetooth on your phone.
Charge Rods are small, portable powerpacks. You plug your phone into one to charge it while you go about your day. Voila -no worrying about a dying phone battery! While Disney does have a few charging stations around the parks, they may or may not be available with the social distancing measures Disney is putting into place for reopening.
Better to be safe than sorry! With so much depending upon a charged cell phone (from ride reservations to dining), I recommend the Anker Ultra Compact Portable Charger. The size of a candy bar, the 6700mAh charger can add over two full charges to an iPhone 8 or 1.5 full charges to an X, Galaxy S8, Nexus 5 or other smartphone using your device’s original cable. This is a definite must-have for your Disney World Packing List!
5. Hand Wipes
Bliss Lemon & Sage 30 ct Refreshing Body Wipes are plant-based, Aluminum Free, Natural Deodorant Wipes. In the Florida humidity, anything that smells fresh gets my vote! They are great for those with sensitive skin (like me!) and they are paraben free, as well.
All of that is important, especially when you’re putting it on your child’s face! Only $5.99 at the time of this writing, that’s a great deal for such easily transportable, sensitive-skin friendly wipes!
6. Gum / Mints
Gum is not sold in Disney Parks. If you’ve worn a mask for any time at all (and especially after eating), you might understand this tip! My recommendation? A nice minty flavor to keep your mask air smelling as fresh as possible.
Going with others? Help your friends out and buy a multi-pack. My favorite is Orbit’s Sweet Mint gum and it’s already in my luggage for our upcoming trip!
7. Masks & Back-up Masks
Looking for some great patterns to custom-make your own masks? Craft Passion has free tutorials, videos & patterns and she has tweaked them over the last couple of months – check her out! She has printable patterns for toddlers, children, women & men!
Not Feeling Crafty?
Whatever you do, you want your mask to be comfortable. If you’ve worn one at all, you know how true this is! Because it rains in Florida (EVERY afternoon!), you sweat, and rides can be unpredictable, you also want to have backups (yet another great reason to have those zip-top baggies handy!). Look for masks that are
- made of cotton
- washable
- and have soft, comfortable ear straps or ties (not elastic straps)
You’ll want to take extra masks to the parks with you in case you lose one or it gets wet or dirty. Then you can hand wash it back at the resort and be ready to go for another day!
3-Pack with Soft Ear Loops
Those elastic straps can get irritating. You don’t want sore ears on your Disney vacation! This 3-pack has soft ear-loop material and is made of breathable cotton. $15.99 for 3-pack.
Buy 3-Pack with Soft Ear Loops Here!
Wear Glasses?
If you’re like me and you wear glasses, or you plan to wear sunglasses, or even if you enjoy those theaters that require 3D glasses, you have a whole other issue: glasses fog!
These masks come with a nose bridge wire, creating a closer fit around your nose so those with glasses do not need to worry about fogging up!
Buy Face Masks with Nose Bridge Wire Here!
Disposable Options Work, Too!
If you want to avoid the hassle of washing and worrying about losing your masks, you could opt for disposables. Be sure to try them ahead of time to be sure the ear pieces don’t irritate you. A pack of 50 for $29.94 isn’t a bad deal for the convenience.
Buy Disposable Face Masks Here
Many guests are looking forward to spending time at the parks when Walt Disney World reopens. With these special items added to your Disney World Packing List, you can be sure to do your part in keeping your family as protected as possible during your upcoming Disney vacation.
Need more insights?
Disney is my specialty!
Email Kimberly@NextAdventureVacations.com or call/text 816.866.8883 to start planning your next Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, or Adventures by Disney Vacation!
