Among the newly announced closures:

• All Disney Stores in North America will be closed beginning March 17.
• All Disney owned and operated stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues at Downtown Disney in Anaheim will be closed beginning March 17.
• All Disney owned and operated stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues at Disney Springs in Orlando will be closed beginning March 17.
• Disney owned and operated hotels at Walt Disney World Resort will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20.

Disney states these temporary closures are “in an abundance of caution” and in line with guidance the company is receiving from state and federal officials.

Other tenants in the Disney Springs and Downtown Disney complexes will make their own decisions about closure, Disney said.

All of these closures are the result of precautions being taken to slow the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Last week, Disney closed theme parks in Orlando, Anaheim, and Paris, and this followed the closure of Disney’s theme parks in Asia. Disney Cruise Line departures have also been suspended at this time.

For more information, check out these posts:

• Disneyland Closing Temporarily to Stop Virus Spread
• Disney World Theme Parks Closing
• Disney Closure Information
• Walt Disney World Ticket Information
• How to Get a Disney Cruise Line Refund

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On the evening of March 12, Disney Cruise Line announced a suspension of new cruise sailings beginning March 14-31, 2020.

Here are the cruises that are affected:

Disney Magic

• March 14-19
• March 19-23
• March 23-28
• March 28-April 2

Disney Wonder

• March 20-25
• March 25-29
• March 29-April 5

Disney Dream

• March 16-20
• March 20-23
• March 23-27
• March 27-30
• March 30- April 3

Disney Fantasy

• March 14-21
• March 21-29
• March 29-April 4

If you are booked on one of these sailings, you are probably wondering what happens now.

Disney says that all guests booked on one of these cruises will receive a full cruise credit to use at a future date, or a full refund.

You will need to contact the cruise line to change your booking. However, Disney says that because the call volumes will be extremely high, they are urging you to wait until you receive an email from the cruise line before booking.

Heeding this instruction will probably save you, and those poor Disney cast members who answer the phone, quite a bit of time and grief.

So, look for an email from Disney Cruise Line before calling about to re-book or request a refund.

If you have a trip planned to a Disney theme park that is now closed, we have more Disney closure information here.

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The theme parks at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, are closing effective March 16-March 31. This closure is in response to health official’s requests for precautions to stop the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have a trip planned to Walt Disney World, we have lots of Disney Closure Information here.

But what if you are holding a multi-day ticket or annual pass?

Here’s what Disney is saying will happen with those tickets:

Multi-park theme park tickets with unused days will automatically be extended to use any day through Dec. 15, 2020. The same extension will happen if you have a date-specific theme park ticket.

Disney says if you are not able to visit by Dec. 15, you can apply the value of the ticket to the purchase of a ticket for future dates.

Discover Disney Tickets (for Florida Residents) can be used through July 31, 2020.

If you have an annual pass, Disney says it will automatically extend the pass by the number of days the parks are closed.

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All Disney Cruise Line departures have also been suspended.

Here are some details on the closures that have been announced so far:

Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)

• All Disney theme parks will close as of the end of the day on Sunday, March 15, and remain closed through the end of March.
• Walt Disney World Resort hotels will close at 5 p.m on Friday, March 20.
• Restaurants, stores and entertainment venues owned and operated by Disney at Disney Springs will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17.

Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California)

• The two Disney theme parks will close at the end of the day Friday, March 13, and remain closed through the end of March.
• Disneyland Resort hotels will close on Monday, March 16.
• Restaurants, stores and entertainment venues owned and operated by Disney at Downtown Disney will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17.

Disney Cruise Lines

• As of Saturday, March 14, all new departures are suspended until further notice.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

• The resort will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20.

Disney Stores

• All North American Disney Stores will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17.

Disneyland Paris

• The Disneyland Paris theme park will close as of the end of the day on Sunday, March 15, and remain closed through the end of March.
• Disneyland Paris Resort hotels and the shopping/dining area Disney Village will remain open.

Shanghai Disneyland Resort

• Disney closed the resort on January 25.
• Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Wishing Star Park and the Disneytown shopping/dining area, as well as the resort parking lots, re-opened on Monday, March 9 with limited hours and availability. The theme park remains closed.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

• Disney closed the resort on January 26.
• There is no projected re-opening date.

Tokyo Disneyland Resort

• Disney closed the Tokyo resort on February 28. It was supposed to re-open on March 16. Disney has no delayed the re-opening until early April.
• The unveiling of the “New Fantasyland” area at Tokyo Disneyland, which was planned for mid-April, has been delayed until at least mid-May.

Disney has said that its domestic employees are being paid during the closures. The company has asked domestic employees who work in other departments to work remotely, if possible.

Some specific Disney closure information about refunds and re-scheduling:

• If you have a trip planned during the closure dates, you have up until the date of your check-in to reschedule your trip.
• If you do not want to reschedule and you just want a refund, you actually don’t have to anything. Disney says it will refund your money to your original payment method within seven days after your planned check-in date.
• If you had any pre-paid dining or experiences booked during the closure, you will be automatically refunded.
• If you have bought any tickets for special events in the parks (such as Disney Villains After Hours) for the dates of March 16-March 31, you will automatically receive a refund.
• If you have a trip booked after the planned closure, and you still don’t want to travel, you can change or cancel it without paying any fees. This goes for any trip planned up through a check-in date of June 30, 2020.

What about my Disney Cruise?

• Disney says that all guests who are booked on cruises that do not depart will be given a full cruise credit or a full refund.
• The company is asking that you wait to call the cruise line until you receive an email from them.

What about Walt Disney World multi-day park tickets or annual passes?

• • • Multi-park theme park tickets with unused days will automatically be extended to use any day through Dec. 15, 2020.
    • Disney says if you are not able to visit by Dec. 15, you can apply the value of the ticket to the purchase of a ticket for future dates.
    • Discover Disney Tickets (for Florida Residents) can be used through July 31, 2020.
    • If you have an annual pass, Disney says it will automatically extend the pass by the number of days the parks are closed.

So, what should you do if you have a trip planned during the closure dates?

1.  Exercise some patience. Tens of thousands of people are in the same boat as you. It’s safe to assume that it will take a few days to sort this out.
2. If you booked your trip through a travel agent, contact that agent to make new travel arrangements. They will be the most qualified to help you navigate this and deal with any travel insurance you have purchased.
3. If you booked directly with the resort or cruise line, you will want to contact them to change your trip. Keep in mind that these phone lines will be extremely busy. You may have shorter wait times if you choose to wait a few days before trying to make new arrangements.
4. Keep in mind that your travel agent, or the Disney employee answering the phone, did not create these inconveniences, and show them some kindness and grace.

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The theme parks at Walt Disney World will close at the end of day Sunday, March 15, through at least the end of March.

Disney officials said the resort hotels and the Disney Springs shopping area will remain open, as of now.

Disney officials announced the closures late the evening of March 12, about four hours after the announcement that the Disneyland Resort in California will close. The California closure includes the resort hotels and shopping areas.

Disney Cruise Line will also suspend all cruise departures beginning Saturday, March 14.

“In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks,” Disney said in a statement.

Earlier today, officials with the Reedy Creek Fire Department at Walt Disney World confirmed that seven fire fighters with the department were under self-quarantine, because of possible exposure to the novel Coronavirus that has been spreading around the globe.

Disney states that is will continue to pay its theme park employees during the closure. Company officials also announced that employees in some of the company’s divisions are being asked to telecommute.

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It is unclear at this time whether Walt Disney World in Florida will remain open. Health officials in Florida announced today that seven fire fighters with the Disney-run Reedy Creek Fire Department at Walt Disney World are under self-quarantine. Six of those fire fighters recently attended a conference at which another attendee tested positive, and the seventh fire fighter recently returned from travel to an area affected by the virus.

Disney says there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland, but the Disneyland closing is necessary after an executive order from California Gov. Gavin Newsome.

On March 11, Newsome issued the order, which called for gatherings of 250 or more people to be cancelled or postponed, making the resort’s closure seemingly inevitable.

Disney says its two California theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure will be closed beginning the morning of March 14 through at least the end of the month.

The resort hotels will remain open until Monday, March 16, to allow visitors more time to rearrange travel plans.

Disney stated it will continue to pay its cast members during the closure.

“Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period,” the company said in a statement.

This is only the fourth instance of Disneyland closing. The most recent closure was during the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Disneyland Park was also closed following the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, and the morning after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Disney’s theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong were closed in January in response to the viral outbreak which has now been declared a global pandemic. Theme parks in Japan have also been temporarily closed.

Disney reported this week that some restaurants and shops in Shanghai will re-open on Monday, March 16, but the theme park there remains closed.

Disney also announced today that protective measures were being taken at Disneyland Paris, including the cancellation of parades and shows, and limitations on the numbers of guests who can be waiting in lines inside attractions.

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A favorite annual event is returning to Disney Springs this week—the Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant!

Break out your green and celebrate for five days of fun March 13-17 with non-stop Irish-infused entertainment from morning until night, a mighty selection of beers and cocktails and of course, Irish pub food.

One of the most thrilling highlights of this annual event is the amazing live entertainment hand-picked straight from Ireland.

Here’s a look at this year’s line-up:

• Strings & Things will bring their contemporary Irish Trad/Folk/Roots crossover talent from Tipperary and Galway to the festival stage. Their unique sound and powerful stage energy promise a raucous evening of music and song.
• TradGad features three talented musicians from Kerry, Dublin and Galway charming guests with their vibrant performances on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, uilleann pipes, tin whistle, banjo and bouzouki.
• Maca an Irish sister duo dubbed “Ireland’s next big thing” will rock the Raglan Road Pub stages with their extraordinary talent.
• Fia Rua featuring band members from Ireland and Scotland, will blend their musical backgrounds to perform and wow guests with a unique Celtic sound.
• Mike Waters, from the southeast of Ireland, will perform Irish songs and ballads from traditional to contemporary with a good measure of chat and humor.
• Emily Furlong an extraordinary singer and entertainer from Wexford, Ireland will captivate guests with her stunning voice.
• No Half Measures an exciting, fresh and vibrant four-piece band from Scotland, Cork and Kilkenny will spin their youthful, contemporary sound for the Mighty Festival audience.

Of course, don’t miss the popular Raglan Road Irish Dancers plucked from the cast and stages of the world’s greatest Irish dance shows!

They’ll be performing intermittently during the festival and ready to teach you an Irish jig – no experience necessary!

Kids will also have a blast at this family-friendly party so be sure to bring everyone dressed in their best green garb and enjoy complimentary face painting.

For those planning to celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day, be sure to plan ahead for the fun!

On March 17, guests will be seated on a first-come, first-serve basis with a cover charge of $10 for each guest 18 and older. Reservations can be booked online for other festival days, including brunch by calling 407-938-0300.

Be sure to share your photos on social media using #DisneySprings and #MightyFestival.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Get ready for a DCappella at Typhoon Lagoon!

Fresh off the heels of their first national tour and debut album release, DCappella is heading to Typhoon Lagoon this April for the Disney DCappella Beach Bash.

The renowned a cappella group will perform fan-favorite Disney songs for guests as a part of this special concert series.

Performances will take place daily at 2:30 p.m. from April 9 – 12, 2020.

In line with the tropical island theme Typhoon Lagoon is known for, the setlist will feature “You’re Welcome” from “Moana,” “Kiss the Girl“ from “The Little Mermaid” and “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from “Lilo & Stich.”

Brought to you by H2O+, the Disney DCappella Beach Bash at Typhoon Lagoon is just another reason to add the Disney Water Parks to your spring break itinerary.

If you’re planning on attending the Disney DCappella Beach Bash at Typhoon Lagoon, I recommend taking advantage of the new Water Park and Sports Option.

Available as an add on to most tickets, the Water Park and Sports option lets you choose between experiencing Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s Blizzard Beach, NBA Experience and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex events.

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Choosing a Resort Hotel for your next vacation at Walt Disney World Resort can seem like a rather large task. Value, Moderate and Deluxe … Oh My!

Which one should you choose? The Disney Parks Moms panelists have come up with some great recommendations to help you plan where you might want to stay on your next trip.

Location, location, and location. For members of the Disney Parks Moms Panel, this seems to be their first recommendation.

Do you want to be close to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios or does it make more sense to stay at a resort with easy access to the monorail?

“When choosing the best Walt Disney World Resort hotel for my family I always focus on the location,” says Angie C.

“All of the resorts have so many incredible amenities and wonderful theming, that location tends to be our focus. If there are new attractions in one of the parks we’re really eager to experience, we’ll choose a resort that is conveniently located to that park.”

Samantha is also all about the transportation too!

“Transportation options are one of the most important things my family and I consider when we’re choosing a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.  If there are options in addition to the buses, such as the monorail, Disney Skyliner, or water transportation, it means we can be on our way to having fun in the theme parks that much quicker.”

And if your preschooler is obsessed with different modes of transportation, Kristen N. recommends choosing a Walt Disney World Resort hotel that offers multiple ways to get around.

“The Disney Skyliner is our favorite new way to not only get around but to also have a bird’s eye view of Mickey’s house!”

Transportation is a great tip, but for Doug, it’s all about his vacation theme.

“We pick our resort hotel based on setting a theme to our vacation. Sometimes we want to feel like we have been transported to an island vacation, and at other times we want to feel like we are at a New England getaway.”

We all know food at Walt Disney World Resort is an important part of a guest’s vacation, but for Eean it also helps her to decide which resort to reserve for her family.

“We are Disney foodies, so when picking our Walt Disney World Resort hotel, we always consider the restaurants.  For convenience purposes, we tend to stay at our hotel for our evening meal, and we feel that this is a great way to unwind and enjoy being with our family while staying close to “home.” Victoria & Albert’s is still on my bucket list, so guess where we’re staying next?”

For more great tips like these, or for general Disney vacation planning questions visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com for an answer from one of the panelists.

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Let’s take a look:

Epcot Construction Walls

You’ll find lots of construction walls up all around Epcot, and some traffic pattern changes, as well. The park is undergoing tons of renovations, and while we can’t wait to see the brand-new Epcot, it has brought changes to the Flower & Garden Festival 2020.

Disney has tipped its hat to us, though, adding these “under construction” elements to our favorite Disney character topiaries. You’ll find Goofy, Mickey and Minnie all equipped to spruce the place up.

Re-Imagined Dragon Topiary

Another move we suspect was caused by construction walls is a new location for this dragon topiary that used to be in the China Pavilion. He’s out of the water this year, and you’ll find him in the Japan Pavilion, instead.

Several other topiaries have shifted from their traditional locations. A festival guidemap may be your best friend.

New Remy Topiary

You’ll find the newest Flower & Garden Festival Topiary – Remy – standing atop a wheel of cheese in the France Pavilion. He’s holding a giant wooden spoon and is surrounded by plantings of vegetables used to make ratatouille. Remy will be starring in a brand new dark ride – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – opening later this year at Epcot.

Garden Graze Vegan Food Stroll

Also brand new at the Flower & Garden Festival 2020 is a plant-based food Garden Graze “stroll.”

While it’s similar to other “strolls” at Epcot festivals, this one encourages you to try several of the vegan food options available.

Pick up a passport for the stroll, and then try five food options at various booths.

Once your passport is complete, you’ll be rewarded with another plant-based treat — a free serving of Dole Whip.

Your treat comes in a souvenir cup, along with some basil seeds to plant at home.

Our friends at VeganDisneyFood.com have lots more details about the Vegan Garden Graze.

Flower & Garden Festival 2020

That’s just a taste of what’s new — there’s plenty more to see, hear and taste at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year, including concerts by new-to-the-festival artists Don McLean, Daughtry, and The Guess Who.

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