While the world has it’s eyes set on a July 11th reopening date for Walt Disney World, Disney has announced that Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club owners, Club 33 Members, and more “affinity” groups will be the first to return back to Walt Disney World during soft openings.
Jim MacPhee, Walt Disney World Senior Vice President of Operations, gave the presentation earlier today that tens of thousands of people tuned in to see when they would be able to walk down the middle of Main Street USA again. In the announcement, MacPhee said that Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will reopen on July 11th, while EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open a few days later on July 15th.
Just like with the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members will be among the first to experience something new. During the announcement, MacPhee said that Cast Members and “affinity” soft opening preview days. Here’s the full quote:
Our plans call for a phased reopening of our theme parks, beginning with the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Saturday, July 11th. EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open on Wednesday, July 15th.
We believe our reopening proposal for our property reflects a very thoughtful, methodical, and phased approach. We’ve incorporated all of the reopening protocols throughout our guest experience and our Cast experience. We will deploy a series of soft opening tactics for select audiences several days prior to July 11th with Cast previews and affinity soft opening preview days. This will reflect a thoughtful ramp up in our attendance strategy and allow us to launch, learn, and adjust along the way.
In Disney-speak, affinity groups include groups like Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members. As of publish time, Disney has not announced any details as to how Annual Passholders would be able to secure a soft opening spot, but they will share more details as we get closer to the early-July timeframe.
To watch MacPhee’s presentation, check out the video below. If it doesn’t start at the Walt Disney World presentation, head to 58:17 to watch from the start.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com for the latest Disney Parks news and photos. We’ll continue to bring you news and photos, where possible, through the Disney Parks closure due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will resume our normal coverage once the parks reopen to guests on July 11th!
When will you start taking out payments again for yearly passes ??
Any idea if blackout dates for Disney Weekday Select Pass holders will remain in effect?
I hope this time they might give priority to Platinum pass holders.
I also haved FL weekday annual pass. Many days Disney was closed due to virus. Will I be able to use this pass (extended)? Renewal July 18th…… lost out on a lot of time.
They need to give FULL priority to Platinum pass holder for if they deny any access to them then they will need to further refund them.