Crowd Levels
Currently, Disney parks are welcoming guests at a reduced capacity. When purchasing a ticket, you will also have to select a park reservation. There are only as many reservations available as there are people allowed in. This ensures guests who pay for tickets are able to enter the park before they are locked out one capacity is reached. Earlier in the year, it was reported that Walt Disney World parks are at 35% capacity. We know that capacity levels have increased (especially for the 50th Celebration). However, it has not been reported exactly what the capacity level is at currently. It is safe to say the parks are not yet allowing 100% capacity just yet.
Even with a reduced capacity, the parks still felt crowded at times, especially at passages that bottle-neck (looking at you, Tangled bathrooms). Ride times rarely got above a 45 minute wait (except for rides such as Peter Pan or Seven Dwarves Mine Train, which are perpetually stuck at a 60 minute wait time). I visited during a traditionally off-time for the parks. This may have helped lessen the crowd levels, but as I have discussed on this blog before, I really do not believe there is such a thing as an "off season" for WDW anymore.
Indoors Masking
Disney requires guests to mask up while indoors. This includes buses, monorails, gift shops, queues, shows and in restaurants when not eating.
I appreciate Cast Members enforcing the masking rules on attractions. I witnessed a few guests try to challenge this rule and Cast Members did not back down. Before the Carrousel of Progress show began, a Cast Member sternly explained that any guest refusing to wear a mask properly while indoors would be escorted out of the park immediately. The next ride I did was Space Mountain. The queue was moving steadily, and we were walking forward a few feet every other minute. Suddenly, the queue came to a dead stop for a long time. We witnessed an entire group being escorted out of the ride. They had somehow made it through the entire line without masks on, despite a constant announcement played over the ride's intercom system every 5 seconds.
Another instance I saw was on the bus. A middle aged man had taken a seat maskless. Before departing, the bus driver stood up with a box of disposable masks and offered the man one. He said, "I have one in my pocket." The bus driver stared at the man until he got the hint and slowly pulled out a crumpled up mask and properly placed it on his face. Seeing Cast Members fearlessly enforce safety rules was a huge relief for me. Thank you, Cast Members.
Meeting Characters
Understandably, character meet and greets did not reopen with the rest of the parks. Instead, you may be able to see the characters from afar. For examples the Princesses wave at the crowds below from the Main Street Train Station. There are also cavalcades, which are like mini-parades with only one float. It has recently been announced that Mickey Mouse himself is meeting guests again at the Town Square theater in this 50th get-up. If all goes well with this experience, the rest of the regular character meet and greets should resume soon.
Security Checks
Before entering each park, guests have to go through a bag check. Guest would have to plop their bags on a table and wait as the security guards examined every pocket. It used to be a process. Disney has finally set up metal-detectors at each entrance. Now guests can just walk through in a single file line rather than splitting up groups to be individually bag-checked. Only if you set off a metal detector will you have to do a full bag check. This process is much smoother and a welcome change that I hope is permanent.
Queues and Ride Loading
While masks are required indoors, physical distancing is not followed while in queues. WDW used to have markers on the ground for groups to maintain distancing. This procedure has been dropped since capacity has increased. This is especially noted on rides like the Haunted Mansion, where Cast Members squeeze in as many guests as possible in the stretching room.
I noticed some inconsistencies in ride loading. Sometimes my group would get our own row to ourselves, even when space could have been filled in with a couple or a single rider. On other rides, we were placed in the same vehicle as other parties. For example, on the Gran Fiesta tour we got three rows for our group of 6. On the People Mover, we got 4 carriages to ourselves. But on Runaway Railroad, we had to share a train with a couple. I suspect Disney is willing to physical distance groups based on how busy the ride is.
Fireworks
By far the WORST part of the parks was the nighttime entertainment. Naturally, people squished together and walked over each other to get that perfect view. Even though it was outdoors, the lack of physical distancing was definitely a heightened risk.
Is It Worth It?
I did not go to Disney last year when there was even less capacity and more restrictions such as masking outdoors and enforced physical distancing. Many reported that despite the lack of the parks regular offerings such as parades, shows, and character experiences, the low wait times and relaxing atmosphere was worth the visit. As Disney is slowly adding back its magic, the more crowds it attracts. So if wait times and crowd levels are the most important aspect to you, I suggest visiting sooner rather than later.
On average, over half of the country is vaccinated and that number continues to slowly creep upwards, meaning the loosening of restrictions. I do not doubt that meet and greets, parades, and nighttime shows will return by the end of next year to the parks.
The parks right now are balancing between the 50th Celebration attracting larger crowds and some risk mitigation practices in place. Disney safety precautions are not perfect, but they are safer than my own hometown. And despite the lack of character autographs collected, I felt a great deal of magic finally being able to return to the happiest place on earth.
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