Disney Park Updates for June 6th 2021
Orange County is ready for summer, Tusker House will reopen, and Club Level rooms are coming back soon. Here are the Disney Park Updates you need to know.
Orange County Fully Reopens
Orange County, Florida, has ended its state of emergency. Mayor Jerry Demings confirmed during his third state-of-the-county speech that the pandemic is over. Demings announced that all county health mandates would end on June 5th.
Notably, Walt Disney World didn’t make any declarations of its own.
What Orange County’s Decision Means for Disney
So, the park rules in place haven’t gone away yet. Cast members are in the process of rescinding all signs of the pandemic, though.
Disney has removed most social distancing signs and even altered rules for workers. Some outdoor employees no longer need to wear face coverings.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
The rule applies to cast members who don’t interact with guests. As long as their job requirements involve organic social distancing, they don’t need a mask.
Disney has clarified that anytime a worker enters an area where they may come into contact with guests, they must put on a mask.
The company is working toward a balance of employee satisfaction and guest safety.
Overall, Florida’s pandemic COVID-19 numbers have improved to the point that healthcare officials only provide weekly updates now. The daily briefings are a thing of the past.
As a reminder, the other Orange County, the one in California, will reopen fully on June 15th. We’re in the final week of pandemic restrictions for the counties that host Disney theme parks.
One other note from Demings involves the Central Florida economy. The Mayor suggested that the region will feel the lingering impact of Coronavirus for at least three years.
However, Demings believes that the Orlando economy will return to pre-pandemic levels by mid-summer, much faster than anyone had expected.
Disney Park and Resort Updates
I’ve got plenty of good Disney news to share this week.
Tusker House Reopening Date Set
For starters, Tusker House will finally reopen on June 20th.
The beloved Donald Duck character meal is among the most popular meals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When it returns, it’ll offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
Like other former buffets, Tusker House will switch to family-style service for a while, if not permanently.
Breakfast will cost $42 for adults and $27 for children, while lunch and dinner are $55 for adults and $42 for children. We’re all missing the Disney Dining Plan right now, aren’t we?
PhotoPass Options
Park guests will also discover new PhotoPass opportunities during Pride Month. You’ll find them at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Springs.
Fans of the new Disney release, Cruella, are in luck as well. Disney has invented a fabulous newspaper headline PhotoPass.
This image will insert your picture into a virtual background of a Cruella premiere event. As a fan of the movie, I WANT this picture.
Club Level Update
The other update that could impact your next trip involves Club Level. Some Walt Disney World resorts have opened booking for this room trip.
Here’s the return schedule for the impacted resorts:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – September 16th
- Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – September 23rd
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – September 26th
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – December 16th
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – December 16th
Unfortunately, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge hasn’t revealed a return date yet. You still can’t book Kilimanjaro Club Level yet.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
Also, Disney has stated that guests must wear face masks in the Club Level lounges. That may change if/when Walt Disney World updates its mask policy, but it’s the law for now.
A DVC Change and Some Other Park Updates
DVC has once again altered its policy for card-carrying members. If you want DVC Membership Extras and aren’t currently grandfathered in, the rules have changed.
You must buy 150 points directly from Disney to acquire Membership Extras. Nick Cotton has previously debated the value of these extras.
Suffice to say that Disney charges a lot for minimal benefit, and I say that as a card-carrying member. The change took place on June 3rd. So, it’s already in effect for potential DVC members.
In other park news, Celebration of Festival of the Lion King has added morning shows at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
So, you’ll have an easier time getting to watch the show, which has claimed crazy-long lines since its return.
On the downside, Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 will close for refurbishment on June 27th. It’s apparently going to be down at least five weeks, and nobody’s sure why.
Some have speculated that Disney may use this space for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but I have been unable to confirm that.
The new movie just debuted in January of 2020. It’d be alarming if technical issues have cropped up already.
Finally, Disney has filed some permits for the oft-delayed Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Toy Story Land. The pandemic put this project on hold for a year, but Disney’s ready to get started again.
Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.
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