Disney World Just Canceled All Reservations For The First Week Of June
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Update, May 14, 2020, 3:08 p.m.: Though Disney World resorts had previously been accepting reservations starting on June 1, PEOPLE is now reporting any reservations made at their properties through the first week of June have been canceled.
WDW News Today reportedly spoke to a guest whose reservations for the second week of June have been canceled as well. At the time of this update, Disney World is allowing people to make reservations from July 1 onward.
Update, May 5, 2020, 5:19 p.m.: Disney confirmed via its Parks Blog Instagram account that the Shanghai Disneyland resort will re-open "with controlled capacity on May 11."
A post shared by Disney Parks Blog (@disneyparksblog) on May 5, 2020 at 1:52pm PDT
Shortly after the post went up, the blog posted a message from Disney Parks' Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pam Hymel, who explained the ways in which Disney is looking at larger re-openings. She broke the explanation into the following categories: phased reopening, physical distancing and capacity measures, cleanliness and sanitization, screening and prevention support, and cast training.
She noted she is working with the U.S. Travel Association on "a set of guidelines the travel industry may tailor to their individual businesses to help demonstrate that safety of travelers is a top focus." You can read the update from Dr. Hymel in full here.
Update, April 13, 2020 10:41 a.m.: Walt Disney World is furloughing 43,000 workers amid its temporary closure, according to The New York Times.
The furloughs are expected to go into effect on April 19 and include "service-related employees" like "theme park attendants, custodians, vacation planners, housekeepers, bus drivers and monorail workers," president of Unite Here Local 362 Eric Clinton told the Times. An Associated Press report said that Disney had reached similar agreements with unions for musicians, facility workers, and security guards.
In a statement by the Service Trades Council Union, every workers' "job, seniority, wage rate and benefits are guaranteed through the furlough." Workers who have health insurance benefits will keep them through the furlough for up to 12 months, during which time the company will pay for the insurance as well.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Service Trades Council Union that will maintain members’ health insurance benefits coverage, educational support and additional employee assistance programs during a temporary furlough effective April 19,” Disney said in a statement to the paper.
About 200 essential workers will continue working in the parks. Disney also announced plans to furlough some of its non-union workers last week, but it was not clear how many were involved in that action, according to CNBC.
Update, April 3, 2020, 12:13 p.m.: Both Disneyland and Disney World updated their websites to note that though the parks remain closed until further notice, they have begun accepting reservations for June 1 onward. "As always," the Disney World update explains, "guests are able to modify these bookings if [the parks] open before or after that time."
As far tickets that have already purchased park tickets and haven't had a chance to use them, their lifetime will be automatically extended through December 15, 2020. Still, if you're unable to make it to the parks before then, Disney will work with you to apply the value of the ticket toward future ticket purchases.
Update, March 27, 2020 5:43 p.m.: Disney announced Friday afternoon that Walt Disney World and Disneyland park would remain closed until further notice.
"As a result of this unprecedented pandemic and in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials, Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice," the park's website reads. A similar notice confirmed Disneyland's indefinite closure on its site.
The company confirmed in a statement to Variety that it would continue to pay parks employees through April 18:
The Walt Disney Company has been paying its cast members since the closure of the parks, and in light of this ongoing and increasingly complex crisis, we have made the decision to extend paying hourly parks and resorts cast members through April 18.
Its parks around the world also remain closed, though Shanghai Disney Resort reopened some shopping and dining attractions, according to Variety.
Original: March 13, 2020 10:36 a.m. Disney announced this week that it was closing all of its U.S. theme parks, and those around the world, because of coronavirus, according to CNN.
Along with the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, FL, Disney also announced Thursday evening that it would be closing Disneyland Paris in France.
"In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month," the statement said.
Disney announced earlier that day that Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, would close Saturday morning. Its parks in Asia closed earlier this month, so this news marks the temporary closure of all of Disney's parks around the world due to coronavirus concerns.
In addition, the company also confirmed to CNN that it would not be initiating any new voyages on Disney Cruise Line starting Saturday and lasting through the end of March. All hotels in Disney World and Disneyland Paris will be open "until further notice" and it noted that cast members would be paid during the park's closing. Disneyland's hotels will remain open until Monday before closing temporarily.
Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris will remain open until stated otherwise, according to Variety.
Universal Studios Hollywood followed shortly after the announcements, saying that its California park would close beginning Saturday and hopes to re-open on March 28. Universal Studios Orlando will close Sunday and will remain so until the end of the month.
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