What's it like at Disney World RIGHT NOW?!

The world is quickly heading back towards “normal” and so many people are ready to start traveling again. We’ve traveled a few times in the last few months, and I took my solo trip back in October. We just got back from a magical Disney World vacation – we stayed at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort from June 17 – 23, 2021. We thought we would share with you what it’s like at Disney World RIGHT NOW!

First, it’s HOT! But that’s to be expected, it’s June in Florida. We’d never been to Disney in the summer. (Except for in September.) It was in the 90s and it was incredibly humid. We caked on the sunscreen, we broke down and bought a cooling towel, we dealt with the sweat dripping down our backs, and we had an amazing time.

Covid measures are changing quickly, and the Florida theme parks are no different. Both Disney World and Universal Studios have changed their mask requirements in the last few weeks. Both parks only require masks to be worn when indoors for those that are no fully vaccinated. Guests that are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks at all while on either company’s property, except on Disney transportation. Per the state of Florida, they cannot ask for proof of vaccination, but they do state in their “Know Before You Go” information, that they expect guests that are not vaccinated to continuing wearing masks while indoors. Masks are required for all guests on Disney World transportation (buses, monorail, Skyliner.) Additionally, all physical distancing markings have been removed.

Also, a big deal for a lot of guests is that “pre-shows” are running again. The library at Tower or Terror, the recording booth at Rock n Roller Coaster, the stretching room at Haunted Mansion, and the first part of the short at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway are all being used again.

Playgrounds and interactive sites throughout the Walt Disney World Resort are back open again, too!

What does this mean?! What is it like to be a Disney Park now?!

With the exception of being hot and sweaty, this trip was the most productive of any four-park day trip we’ve ever taken. At each of the four parks we were able to ride every single ride. Yes, you read that ride. At Magic Kingdom we were able to enter the park at about 7:20 am (official opening time was 8am) and ride every single ride. Some rides we even rode more than once.

We rode everything at each of the four parks. We were even able to get a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance.

The crowds may look bigger, but because ride queues no longer need to have six feet between every single party, and every row on attractions can have guests now, wait times are still fairly low.

Here’s any example of our day at Animal Kingdom:

Flight of Passage (at 7:30am on an 8am opening day): Posted wait time: 35 minutes   Actual wait time: 31 minutes

Na’vi River Journey (at park opening): Posted wait times: 5 minutes   Actual wait time: 5 minutes

Kilimanjaro Safaris (8:30am): Posted wait time: 15 minutes   Actual wait time: 15 minutes

Expedition Everest (9:30am): Posted wait time 15 minutes     Actual wait time: 16 minutes

Triceratops Spin (10:10am): Posted wait time: 10 minutes   Actual wait time: 8 minutes

Dinosaur (10 am): Posted wait time: 15 minutes    Actual wait time: 14 minutes

Kali River Rapids (3:30pm): Posted wait time: 55 minutes    Actual wait time: 32 minutes

Na’vi River Journey (4:30 pm): Posted wait time: 40 minutes   Actual wait time: 22 minutes

In many instances throughout the trip, wait times were not actually as long as those that were posted at attraction entrances.

We were also able to rider swap most of the bigger rides that Bella isn’t tall enough for, and that Christian wanted to go on more than once. It also made it so that both Howard and I were able to go on as well.

We had an amazing time, and we were pleasantly surprised with how quickly we were able to get to most attractions. We can’t wait to go back again towards the end of the year.

Are you ready to travel again?! I’d be happy to help! Contact me at miriya@govacationguru.com for your FREE quote and to start planning. For more Disney and travel information feel free to follow me on Facebook.

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