An Update on Disney Resort Hotels from Katie Kelly, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services

Katie Kelly

by , Vice President, Worldwide Safety Services at Disney Parks

Dear Guests,

As we look towards reopening our parks and resorts around the world, your wellbeing – and the wellbeing of our cast members – is one of our top priorities. In March, we began the phased reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort, and on May 20, we took another step as guests returned to shop and dine at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. Just as we’ve started making plans for our theme parks, we are also making plans for our domestic hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts. With that in mind, we wanted to share what you can expect when you book a stay at a Disney Resort hotel.*

As Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel shared in her previous update, our health and safety team has taken a close look at the experiences at our hotels, from resort and room cleaning to check-in, dining and entertainment, so you can have a magical visit. During your stay, you’ll find updates and enhancements made with health and safety in mind, in line with the guidance of health and government authorities.

At the Resort 

Your stay starts at check-in, with options to use Online Check-in service at select locations and meet your Bell Services Cast Member and luggage at your room with redesigned bell services. 

Throughout Disney Resort hotels, we’re increasing cleaning in high-traffic areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms, and more. We’ve also expanded the number of hand sanitizer locations across the property.

At our restaurants, lobbies, pools, fitness centers, and other public areas, we’re looking at adjusting services to enable preventive measures and physical distancing, including reducing capacity where appropriate and implementing enhanced cleaning measures. 

We’re using technology to aid us in these efforts, with limited-contact services in place at our shopping and dining locations, with Mobile Order, cashless options and Magic Bands.**

In Your Room

Before arrival, every room will be given an enhanced cleaning. During your stay, a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day.***

Our housekeeping cast members will receive training on increased cleaning measures throughout the resort hotel and for each guest room, including updated practices for cleaning tools and managing in-room amenities, linens, luggage, and more.

Of course, we all have an important role to play in promoting health and safety. We are asking our guests to help, by washing your hands frequently with soap and water; following physical distancing and other guidelines when you visit; and rescheduling your visit if you or a member of your party feel ill or are subject to quarantine or other travel restrictions.

We’ll share more information about the health and safety measures at Disney Resort hotels with you ahead of your visit – and continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as appropriate.

While our new experience may be a little different from the last time you stayed with us, a magical and memorable visit awaits you at our Disney Resort hotels. We’re looking forward to welcoming you – see you real soon!

Katie Kelly

Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services
Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products

*Domestic owned-and-operated Disney Resort hotels only. 
**Available at Walt Disney World Resort only.
***Disney Vacation Club members will receive their traditional housekeeping service.

Comments

  • Hello! Please let me know when I can make reservations for Coronado Springs for October 2021.

    Thank you!

  • Why is there no info about some of the resort hotel openings? Specifically, when will Disney’s Wilderness Lodge be opening?

  • I know until October are taking reservations at The Disneyland Resort Hotel, it is true that means you are going to be open in November, 2020

  • If you are from Overseas, NY, NJ, LA or CT you won’t be allowed into the state of Florida.

  • If you live in Europe it isn’t Disney’s fault that you aren’t allowed to travel into the USA or Florida

  • Only the DVC Resorts will be open, none of the moderate or value resorts will be open and you have to already have a ticket or existing Annual pass to try and get a park ticket for the day(this means you will have to pick 1 park to try and get into for each day and you can only try and get a ticket for the next day after you have already used your ticket for that day after the entire day is over at the park’s closure so that it is fair for everyone. There will be no characters or character dining, only certain restaurants in WDW property will be open, the main pool at the Beach Club will be closed but the quite pools will be open. Everyone 2 years old and up must wear a face mask no exceptions. If you do not want to wear a face mask then you can stay home.

  • Absolutely every numbered item in the enhanced cleaning diagram should already have been being cleaned between guests at any hotel, but especially at Disney’s rates. That’s precisely why there are so many hours between check out and check in, so the room can be cleaned. Is Disney seriously implying cleaning the bathroom between guests wasn’t standard practice before Covid-19? The coffee pot? The bedding? At $400-$700 a night for a Deluxe hotel, guests shouldn’t have to have dirty towels and trash in their room for 48 hours either.

  • Hello! Thank you for the safety update.

    We have reservations at the Disneyland Hotel July 29- August 4. I’ve been trying to call for days, but it’s always busy. Will the Disneyland Hotel be open by the time we arrive?

    Thank you for your time!

  • Hello, We have tickets for starting in July 12 and we wanted to ensure that we would be able to get into the reservation system / is someone going to reach out to us. As I thought we saw on the website that you guys would be reaching out to users that already have tickets. We are so close and just wanted to insight as ive had to rebook my airfare several times and we are still scheduled to arrive on July 11th.

  • I have a reservation at Coronado Springs in five weeks, starting July 19. I have heard that CSR will not be opened up right away. I need to make my travel arrangements, airfare and tickets, and am wondering if I will have a resort to stay at for the price that I originally booked.

  • Our trip is planned for July 14-17. Will the pools be open? Will we be allowed to “park hop”? Will all or most of the restaurants be open? These can be deal breakers. I appreciate all the work involved, I just wish we had some answers.

  • Yes, we appreciate all the cleaning efforts – We’ve planned to arrive the 2nd week in August for my daughters’s Sweet 16. there will be 15 of us traveling. At what point do you open as business as usual? or at least give us back reservations to make and fast passes … We’d like to know if this trip that was a year in the making should be postponed.
    I have to believe; if you open ; they will come !!!

  • Welcome to the blog Ms. Katie!

  • I mean that’s great and all, but haven’t even received word if our reservation is even going to be honored given that we are not scheduled to stay at a DVC. Also would be nice to know more about the elusive park reservation service.

  • A HUGE thank you to all the cast members for all your hard work during this unprecedented time!! It is obvious that the safety of Everybody is at Disney’s top priority, and it will take ALL of us to make the reopening a safe and healthy success! While I’m sure it will not be an easy transition, with some people not liking change, I think we should all abide by the new changes and make it enjoyable, safe, and healthy for everyone from here on out!

  • Hi, I was wondering when will general public ticket reservations be available we have a trip planned for August 11th through the 18th and want to go to atleast 2 parks. Thanks

  • We won’t be there until November and I know it is difficult to gauge what the situation will be by then however I’m interested in the mask policy while in the resorts. If we are at the pool or walking throughout the grounds will we need to wear a mask? All I’m seeing is the request to wash our hands and stay home if ill

  • That’s nice and we appreciate the enhanced cleaning but what we all want to know is when the resorts are going to open! I have reservations for 6 from July 13 to the 17th at Art of Animation Resort w/ park tickets each day. We need to know because some of us have already moved vacation time to those days and might not be able to move again. There air transportation we might need to move. There’s mobility scooters being delivered for 2 handicapped in our party and need to arrange that again if the dates change. Lot to do and while we’ve waited patiently it’s starting to wear on us. Please, someone just make a decision soon. Thanks

  • I love my trips to Orlando. In my life I’ve spent over a year there in aggregate and that’s a sizeable spend when I live in Europe, so please Disney, this isn’t what anybody really wants to hear. Who is interested in staying in a Resort without knowing what are the principles of park entry and if the occasion/experience is significantly diminished are the prices going to receive similar treatment? We need to hear about all that as well please.

  • I assumed that “enhanced cleaning” was already being down between guests. Was that not the case?!?

  • We have a future Club Level reservation, how are these being handled? Are they being changed to regular room reservations or do you have an alternate way for guests to access drinks, food and snacks?

  • Thank you and the entire Disney staff for your hard work during this difficult time!

Comments are closed.