Without a doubt, when I visited Walt Disney World the week it re-opened, I felt safer there than I do at my local grocery store. With very few exceptions, guests were following the safety protocols setup by Disney and, when they didn't, a cast member was quick to step in and rectify the situation. Is there still a risk? Absolutely. However, Disney is doing an excellent job in mitigating those risks. Safety has always been their top priority and that's never been more evident than now. Let's take a look at some of the ways Disney is keeping guests safe.
Here you can see an example of the "Please Wait Here" social distancing markers. These are everywhere! There are also arrows, dots, and dots with numbers that indicate where you or your group should stand.
Dividers have been installed on buses and some seats are marked out of use to keep groups separated and distanced.
Above is an example of the partitions they are using on some rides and in many of the ride queues.
All ride vehicles are being loaded with lower capacity, often with only one party/family group per vehicle, to maintain social distancing.
Ride vehicles are sanitized throughout the day.
Trash can doors were locked open to minimize contact.
Hand sanitizer is EVERYWHERE! You cannot miss it.
Both table service and quick service locations are using QR codes for access to menus. Quick service restaurants are also strongly encouraging mobile ordering and cast members are only allowing one or two parties in at a time.
Utensil dispensers have been upgraded so that you no longer have to touch any parts of the machine or the other utensils. You just grab your utensil by the handle and then another one pops out.
Leather payment folios have been replaced with disposable paper folios. I asked about the pens and I was told they have a bin of sanitized pens and a bin for the used pens.
Guests are asked to limit capacity on elevators.
These are just a few of the changes and protocols Disney has put in place. Moreover, their policies and procedures have continued to evolve as needed to fill any unforeseen gaps. Not everyone will safe even with these measures in place, and that's okay. Right now, we encourage everyone to do what they feel is best for them. For some, that will mean traveling and for some it will not. For those who are ready to travel, we're here to help you navigate the world during this very different and complex time. For those who aren't quite ready, let's start talking about where you want to travel to next year!
Thanks to Diserella Travel Advisor Pamela Guffey for supplying some of the above photos.