Disney in January 2021 - What to Expect While Visiting the Parks!

Updated: Feb 21, 2021

I’ve had lots of friends reach out asking how the parks were during our latest trip to Walt Disney World. And believe me - I had all of the same questions while planning our trip! I was researching Disney websites, reviews, #disneyworld2020 and #disneyworld2021 hashtags on Instagram... Looking to see a glimpse of what the experience would be like during a pandemic. My girls and I are Disney lovers. Disney World, Disney Plus, Disney movies, Disney Princesses, costumes… you name it! We visit the parks at least once a year. And we were itching to go. After going back and forth, we decided last minute to go for our daughter’s 3rd birthday! And I’m so glad we did.

Now I need to say, each one of you know what is best for you and your family! Everyone feels differently about traveling right now, especially to a notoriously crowded place like Disney. And my hope is for no judgment from both sides of the spectrum. We all need to think about our own comfort levels and make the choice that is right for ourselves and our family. Although I am not here to persuade you to go or not to go, I would love to provide you with some information from what I saw and experienced during this visit. Hopefully this will answer a few of your questions!

We visited Disney in Orlando Florida in mid-January. After the Christmas / New Year busy week, and before the next 3 day weekend hit. Due to COVID restrictions, the parks and restaurants were at a reduced maximum capacity. Reservations for the parks & restaurants needed to be made ahead of time due to the capacity limitations. Park-hopping had just returned as of January 1st, allowing you to change parks after 2pm. We made reservations ahead of time, but learned while there that the parks had not even reached the maximum capacities. In other words – the parks and restaurants were much less crowded than we have ever seen them before.

Magic Kingdom was the least crowded. Jackpot!! We felt like we had Cinderella’s Castle all to ourselves! Each time we wanted a photo by the Castle, there was vacant space and a photo-op that made it appear we had the park to ourselves! Also – they painted the castle during the shutdown period! They definitely took advantage of the down-time, although personally I was a fan of the classic blue & gray colors. Most of the rides were open. Lines were much shorter than ever before. But, currently they do not allow FastPass. Hopefully the ability to FastPass will return soon for all of you looking to plan your Disney adventure!

Hollywood Studios & Epcot were a bit busier. Hollywood Studios has Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land – both popular attractions right now. Epcot was especially bustling after 2pm – I guess everyone knows Epcot is where to go in the late afternoon for adult beverages and great food! But again, both parks were still less crowded than we’ve ever experienced in the past.

Now let’s discuss the precautions we witnessed. I think Disney has done an excellent job working to keep its guests as safe as possible. Temperature checks are performed upon entering each park. Masks are required everywhere for anyone over 2 years old, except when you are stationary eating or drinking. This means no taking off your masks to snap a photo! Disney had staff roaming around the parks ensuring all guests were wearing appropriate masks. Have you noticed your sunglasses getting foggy when wearing a mask? We did! I would recommend bringing hats to shield the sun from your eyes, just in case you also find it difficult to wear your sunglasses with your mask.

Every ride has at least one anti- bacterial dispenser awaiting your departure. Aaaannnddd it was the good smelling one! Not the harsh alcohol smelling ones I’ve had the pleasure of using… you know the fowl smelling ones I’m talking about!! The food & ride lines have markers on the ground separating groups to ensure a 6 foot distance. Fast food options were available for advanced mobile order using your Disney app. Download the Disney app before going!

Although character meet and greets were not taking place in the parks, they did have characters appear on second levels of the buildings to wave down to people as they passed below. Fireworks and larger parades were cancelled, but we did catch a small float here and there with a group of singers headed down Main Street, or a few Princesses waving to the crowd. We heard there may not be any live shows – but low and behold, the Elsa Sing-along was running every hour! Our girls were still able to belt out Frozen songs with a socially distant spaced theater, separating groups a good amount from each other. And the commentators found clever ways before each song to remind guests to leave on their masks while singing!

If you are planning your Disney adventure and you have an interest in the new Star Wars ride “Rise of the Resistance” – you must make reservations for this ride! Times to reserve are either 7am or 1pm on the day you want to ride (currently not available to reserve ahead of time). By the way I should mention… those designated times are too late!! You must reserve your boarding group in the My Disney Experience App at 6:59am or 12:59pm or you will miss your chance! We missed our chance… poor Joe! But at least we gathered the information to pass on to you.

And if you are looking for some awesome Disney inspired outfits, check out Taylor Joelle Designs. These Rey dresses were amazing! They were super comfortable for the girls, and have held up really well through numerous washes (bonus!). Walking around Star Wars land with my two little Rey characters was a memory there is no way I’ll ever forget!

We stayed at the Riviera Resort… the newest Disney hotel. What a year for your grand opening, ugh! This resort is closer to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (farther away from Magic Kingdom than some of the other Disney property hotels). Masks are required everywhere on property, except in the pool and on the surrounding deck. Guests were told to stay 6 feet apart from anyone not in their group while using the pool, which was super easy because there were so few people. Mobile ordering for the “fast-food” was available. And all housekeeping services have been temporarily suspended. The staff would knock on your door each evening asking if you required additional towels or anything else, but they did not enter to clean your room. As you can image, this meant a bit more work to keep everything tidy… but a small price to pay to keep room transmission risk low.

Transportation from the Riviera Resort included either the Sky-liner – which the girls found awesome – that took you to Hollywood Studios or Epcot (only one family/group per car); or the bus that took you to Magic Kingdom. We were the only riders on 3 out of our 4 bus trips. The bus driver kindly directs you where to sit in order to keep riders physically distant.

All in all I think they worked really hard to implement safety measures, considering they are such a large-scale attraction. Would we go again soon?? Yes! But my husband is waiting for the Disney songs to stop playing on repeat in his head!

I hope this has helped anyone looking to book a trip, or asking if it is the right choice for their family at this time. A few of my friends have already booked their upcoming trip and I can't wait to see how their experience will be!

Check out some Things to Remember and Links to my recommendations below.

Here’s to a safe and healthy 2021, and Disney somewhere in your future!

Click this link and follow me on Instagram for more!! Jaime.Bonura

Masks! Etsy & Amazon are selling some great Disney options for adults & kids – Link is below to the ones we really liked!
Hats (in case the masks are fogging your sunglasses)
Travel size hand-sanitizer
Kids disposable placemats (we used these to line the tables when we ate)
Sunscreen
Download the Disney World App ahead of time (this will assist in advanced food orders & checking out photos taken by the staff)
Make restaurant & park reservations ahead of time
Check to see if FastPass has started again for the rides
And remember to reserve the new Star Wars ride the morning you will be headed to Hollywood Studios