Disney World and the Coronavirus Pandemic Information

Walt Disney World will be closed from March 15th, 2020 with no announcement of a reopening date.

This article is no longer being updated. Some information may not be up-to-date. New articles will be posted as news is released.

With the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many have been asking about the Coronavirus and Disney World. Many have vacations planned this summer and are wondering what Disney World is doing about the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

There is a lot of misinformation on the web about Coronavirus as well as fear mongering. We will cover what we currently know about Disney World and the Coronavirus in this article. As new updates come out, we will list them below, however, with the rapid nature of changes around Disney World and the Coronavirus, some information can quickly become out of date.

UPDATE: Disney World Announces Closure of it’s Florida Parks

Update March 12th, 2020: Walt Disney World has announced closure of its parks in Orlando, Florida starting March 16th, 2020. Disney will also be closing Disneyland Paris marking ALL Disney parks will now be closed. Further information will be posted and this article will be updated as we get it.

According to the statement above, Walt Disney World parks will be closing starting March 16th, 2020. Hotels and Disney Springs will remain open during this time.

While this notice does not address how long the Parks will remain closed, a spokesperson told the local news station that the closure will be at least 2 weeks long.

Update March 12th, 2020: Disneyland announces closure in California. Walt Disney World still remains open.

Update March 12th, 2020: Walt Disney Travel is waiving change fees for Disneyland & Disney World vacation packages. Also, hand wash stations and signage has been added to Disney World parks.

Update March 8th, 2020: Disney released an official statement about the Disney World Coronavirus (COVID-19) response. See information below.

Disney World Coronavirus COVID-19 Official Statement and Response

Walt Disney World released a statement regrading their response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8th, 2020.

In this statement, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel details out what Disney World’s official stance and response is currently for the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

What Disney World Is Doing To Protect Guests From the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Walt Disney World is known for their high standards and cleanliness when it comes to their Parks and Resorts. They are keeping in touch with health officials to continue these standards to help keep the spread of any illness including the Coronavirus through several protocols.

• Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
• Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
• Easy access to hand-washing facilities and hand sanitizers (See information on this below)
• Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
• End-of-day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen and other facilities
• Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues

Where To Find Hand Sanitizer Stations In Disney World

Walt Disney World has added multiple hand sanitizer stations around the park in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. You will find these in all parks, Disney Springs and at the Disney Resorts.

Disney lists the following locations for complimentary hand sanitizer stations:

• Theme Parks: At Baby Care Centers, all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurants, select quick-service restaurants, interactive areas, queues, kid zones and playgrounds
• Resort Hotels: At all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurants, food courts, select quick-service restaurants, playgrounds, arcades, select lobbies, front desks and select elevators
• Disney Springs, Water Parks, Mini Golf Locations and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex: At select quick-service restaurants, Baby Care Centers and other select locations
• Other Places: At select convention areas, entertainment venues, select merchandise locations, security areas, spas and first aid locations

Disney World Hand Sanitizer Locations Map on My Experience App

To make finding these locations in the park a little easier, Walt Disney World has added hand sanitizer locations to their desktop map as well as their My Experience App.

To see the location of hand sanitizer stations around Disney World, open the My Experience App, change the category to “Guest Services” and click on a few of the “i” icons. You will see a popup with the location of the hand sanitizer station.

Disney World Adds Handwashing Stations and Signage Around The Parks

Our recent visit to the parks, we found that Disney World has added signage encouraging good hygiene with hand washing and coughing.

In addition to these signs and the increased number of hand sanitizer locations, we also found that Disney World has also added hand-wash stations in multiple locations around the park. These temporary hand-wash stations also have one of the signs near them.

Disney World Coronavirus FAQs

We will try to answer questions about the Coronavirus at Disney World below. With each answer, we will post when we have last updated that answer since things can change rapidly.

What about Disney World Coronavirus Cancelations?

Currently, Disney World has not announced any special exceptions for canceling your trip to Walt Disney World due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). All cancelations are subject to the standard cancelation policies. Change fees are being waived for vacation packages temporarily. (as of Mar 12th, 2020)

Update March 12th, 2020: While Walt Disney World remains open, Disneyland in California as announced a closure due to government bans on crowds larger than 250 people. Disneyland is offering refunds to those who have a resort booked during the closure period, however, they did not make clear about refunds on tickets.

Is Disney World Safe From Coronavirus?

Walt Disney World is taking precautions to keep their park safe during the Coronavirus outbreak. They have adopted strict cleaning protocols and have also placed hand sanitizer stations all around the park. We have also noticed that many stores in Disney are now carrying hand sanitizers at the register available for purchase. (as of Mar 4th, 2020)

No place is completely safe from the Coronavirus and it is advised that you take strict measures to keep yourself and your family safe. This includes washing your hands and using hand sanitizers.

Has There Been Any Cases of Coronavirus at Disney World?

As of March 4th, 2020, there have not been any confirmed cases or any information that someone with Coronavirus has visited Walt Disney World. At this time, there are currently 3 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Florida, all from the Tampa area. There have been no reports that any of these confirmed cases have visited Disney World.

Walt Disney World has also asked a few cast members that have visited regions where the outbreak is widespread to not return to work for 2 weeks. These cast members visited Italy and were asked not to return to work over fears of the COVID-19 outbreak.

How Can I Stay Safe from the COVID-19 Coronavirus at Disney World?

There a few things you can do to stay safe from the Coronavirus at Walt Disney World.

• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds.
• Use travel sized hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol .
• Avoid touching surfaces as much as possible.
• Do not touch your face or mouth.

Disney World has many interactive elements meant for touch. For example, the above image is from the queue line in Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. During the COVID-19 outbreak, avoid touching such elements. If you do touch these, be sure to use hand sanitizer after and wash your hands once you exit the ride.

Should I Wear a Face Mask at Disney World to Protect From Coronavirus?

CDC does not recommend that people who are healthy wear a face mask to protect themselves from COVID-19. Instead, the face mask should only be worn if you are sick to prevent the spread of the disease. If you are healthy, wearing a face mask will not protect you, in fact, it may make it easier for you to catch the Coronavirus. Please reserve these for healthcare workers and those who are currently sick.

Will Disney World Close Due to the Coronavirus?

At this time, Walt Disney World has not announced any closures due to COVID-19. While Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has not announced any closures, Disney has already closed 3 of their resorts in Asia.

Walt Disney World has not released any details on park closures nor have they announced any policies surrounding what would happen in the case of a park closure due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Should I Cancel my Disney World Trip Because of Coronavirus?

This is a decision you and your family will need to make. As a family, we have not stopped our weekly trips to Walt Disney World, however, we have modified some of our habits as listed above. We use hand sanitizers after every ride, wash our hands regularly and avoid touching as many things as possible.

Currently, COVID-19 seems to be more harsh on the elderly and on those who are not in the best of health. If you fall into one of these categories and your trip is not essential, postponing your trip may be a safer bet. If you’re in good health, following the safety tips above and best practices will help keep you safe at Disney World.

Should I Be Worried About The Coronavirus at Disney World?

The best advice we can give you is to be Alert and Aware, but not scared. The Coronavirus can seem scary, however, if you take proper precautions, you can remain safe during the Coronavirus outbreak, even at Disney World.

Will the Coronavirus Make Crowds Lower At Disney World?

So far, we have not seen any impact on crowd levels at Walt Disney World due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Crowds have been at a record high all year and the fears and concerns over the COVID-19 have not seemed to slow down crowds at Walt Disney World as of March 4th, 2020. We recommend that you use a Disney World crowd calendar to plan for the least busy days if crowds are a concern.

Can I Get A Disney Coronavirus Refund?

At this time, Disney has not closed or changed it’s operations. Because of this, there is no Disney coronavirus refund available. Walt Disney World’s standard cancelation policy does apply.

If Walt Disney World closes for coronavirus, such as the case with the Disney parks in Asia, Disney will offer a fee-free change to a valid ticket date. Our guess is that Disney coronavirus refund policy would most likely resemble their current hurricane policy.

Update March 12th, 2020: While Walt Disney World remains open, Disneyland in California as announced a closure due to government bans on crowds larger than 250 people. Disneyland is offering refunds to those who have a resort booked during the closure period, however, they did not make clear about refunds on tickets.

Important Links For More Information about Disney World & Coronavirus

• Orange County Public Health Department – COVID-19 Information
• World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information
• Disney: Message About Coronavirus/COVID-19 from Disney Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel
• Disney: Public Health and Hygiene practices at Walt Disney World Resort
• Disney: Complimentary Hand Sanitizer Locations

We Want To Hear From You!

Post in the comments below some of your tips to stay safe from the Coronavirus at Disney World. Did we miss something? Ask below in the comments and we will try to find an answer for you.