Magic Kingdom Changes: Know Before You Go – 2021

This article from 2021 explored planning a trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant changes visitors needed to know before visiting Disney. This article is no longer being updated with current information.

We just got home from the happiest place on earth and let me tell you, Disney has gone to great lengths to make your experience both magical and safe!  There are some significant Magic Kingdom changes you need to know about if you’re planning a trip in 2021.  Things are different, but just as much fun as ever. 

Magic Kingdom Changes: New Added Safety Precautions

1. Health & Safety Reminders

The Magic Kingdom has numerous safety notices posted throughout the park as well as frequent announcements made aloud reminding guests to wear face coverings.  Disney cast members are stationed at intervals to keep a sharp look out to make sure all visitors wear their masks – even for photos.  After eating lunch, my 6-year-old actually forgot to put her mask back on as we dashed to the restroom, but a Disney cast member gently reminded her before we had walked 20 feet.

Rides that previously had interactive, high-touch areas have those places roped off.  For example, the “Winnie the Pooh” ride is well known for its walls of dripping honey and interactive play area for the littles, but not during COVID-19!  Those areas are off-limits as well as other high touch areas within the park.

2. Fewer Guests = Shorter Lines!

One of the biggest Magic Kingdom changes since reopening has been capping capacity at only 35%.  This means there are significantly less people packed into the park!  Yay!  Compared to some of our previous visits, this was amazing! 

Also, Disney wisely re-imagined all the lines for the rides, moving most of the lines outside of the buildings when possible.  While this eliminates visitors being forced into small spaces together, it does make the streets and walkways more crowded.  So, while the lines look deceptively long they move quickly.

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3. Social Distancing

So in all honesty, it is almost impossible to completely socially distance while at Disney, but I was pretty impressed with all they were doing to make it happen!  Here are some of the new protocols:

>> Rows left open on rides between parties 

On rides such as “It’s a Small World” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”, workers left an open row between parties, meaning you and your family may have an entire boat to yourselves!  Same for roller coaster rides such as “Big Thunder Mountain”, the “Seven Dwarfs Train”, and other similar rides.

>> 6-ft sticker markers

Each ride line is marked with large floor stickers indicating 6-ft. gaps so visitors can maintain distance while waiting.  While we were there it looked like folks mostly ignored them, but they’re there if you want to mind them!

>> Plastic barriers installed in lines indoors

While lines have been moved outside as much as possible, you often enter in the old Fast Past location, meaning you still have some of the line indoors in close quarters.  For these areas Disney installed high plastic barriers between the rows so at least you are not staring a stranger face to face! Check out the picture below of the wait inside of “Big Thunder Mountain” to see what I mean.

4. Hand-sanitizer Stations

Many hand-sanitizer stations have been set up all over the park.  Each ride line has several spaced intermittently, as well as trash cans.  Hand-sanitizer was also available just before boarding each ride and immediately getting off the ride.  There is no way that Disney personnel could possibly wipe down the handles of each roller coaster between users, but you can cut down on contagion yourself through using the hand-sanitizer before and after boarding.

5. Mobil Order Food

Perhaps the biggest change to your day at the Magic Kingdom is the way you order and get food.  Admittedly, this was the messiest part of our day.  Not so magical!  Disney definitely still needs to work out the kinks of feeding the crowd during COVID-19. 

>> The way it’s supposed to work

The new system requires everyone to pre-order food and pay ahead using the Disney App.  Theoretically, you choose your restaurant and food, then the app sends you a message when your order is ready for pick-up and you simply arrive at the door to grab your food.  Sounds flawless, right? 

Not so much. 

>> The way it really worked

I have two lactose-intolerant kids but there was no way to order burgers minus the cheese using the app.  One of my kids accidentally dumped their entire food tray while sitting down and we had to re-do another mobil order and wait another 30 minutes for the next order window.  Another child in our group had severe food allergies, but it took considerable time and hassle to get through all the gate-keepers just to ask to check ingredients.  The new system is definitely not user-friendly for special needs!

>> Hello, crowds

Disney has done all they can to eliminate people gathering, but somehow seemed to overlook the lunch crowds.  Magic Kingdom cast members guarded the doors to the restaurants so no one was allowed entry unless they showed the screen on their phone saying their order was ready for pick-up.  This meant you had large crowds of hungry, impatient people crammed into the walkways outside of the restaurants.  Boo.

>> Where to sit?

After finally getting food, the next big challenge was finding somewhere to sit.  Due to social distancing, every other table was off-limits for use, drastically reducing the number of available tables.  The same was true even for any outdoor seating areas.   Also, we had a large group of 13, making it virtually impossible to find anywhere we could sit together.

The Magic we Missed Most:

While I was impressed with all of the new safety measures, there were still some aspects from previous visits that I really missed. You’ll definitely need to know about the changes if you’re planning a trip.

1. No Parades.

 In an effort to prevent crowds from gathering, there are no more parades.  However there are short, unannounced pop-up mini-parades called Cavalcades.  When you hear the music, you can look up and just might see your favorite characters!  We were excited to see a quick mini-parade of all my daughter’s favorite princesses.  She was so happy!

2. No Meeting Characters

MY littles love to meet the princesses and hug Mickey, but there are currently no close encounters with any of the characters due to COVID-19.  Instead, there are occasional characters that pop out from time to time in unexpected locations.  They tend to stay a level above the visitors so they can’t be touched, but it is still fun to see them and wave! 

We got to see Chip & Dale early on waving at us and came across Goofy and Pluto later out at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

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3. No Fast-passes

Due to the shorter lines, you really won’t miss not having fast passes.  Although we usually fast pass our favorite rides such as the “Haunter Mansion”, we were amazed to find only a 10 minute wait for that one first thing in the morning!  Our longest wait times were for “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Space Mountain” and the “Seven Dwarfs Train” at around 60-75 minutes. As always, the best time to catch the popular rides with the shortest wait times was first thing in the morning or shortly before closing at night.

4. No Wandering with Food/Drink

In order to prevent visitors from removing their masks, Disney no longer allows any eating or drinking while walking around the park or waiting in line.  There are several relaxation stations around the Magic Kingdom where visitors can remove their masks for a break.  More commonly, we found that people just stopped along the walkways somewhere on a bench or wall and paused for a snack break.  There were also fewer of the ice-cream stands or outdoor food vendors available for snack purchases, although we did see some popcorn available. So, bring your own snacks…and a spare mask!

5. No Fireworks

Probably one of the biggest Magic Kingdom changes we missed was the famous nightly fireworks and parade. But, we appreciate Disney trying to discourage large crowds from gathering!  The changing lights on Cinderella’s Castle, however, were truly dazzling and spectacular!  The castle itself had undergone a face-lift since the last time we visited, making the lights pop and shimmer at night! Yep, Cinderella’s castle is now pink with blue turrets and a gray stone base.  The light show on the castle was spectacular – and a few random fireworks even went off, too. What a display!

With all of Disney’s Magic Kingdom changes during COVID-19, was it still magical?

You betcha!  Even with all the new protocols, we felt safe and had a wonderful, magical day.  Disney’s Magic Kingdom is still well worth the trip, just make sure you know before you go so you can be ready for the changes.

As my kids like to say, “Best Day Ever!”