5 tips to plan your trip to Walt Disney World in 2020

(CNN) – Planning a vacation at Walt Disney World Resort can take months, even years.

The coronavirus pandemic has been a major game changer, with Disney World closing in March and gradually reopening in phases starting in May, with new guidelines, procedures, and attractions and services temporarily unavailable.

To make the most of your trip to Disney World if you plan to go in 2020, here are the top five tips, strategies, and new processes you should know about.

Unless you plan to stay more than two weeks in Florida, a trip to Disney World is not an option until this restriction is removed.

1. Prioritize the purchase of park tickets and obtain reservations for the park

One of the most important changes to Disney World is that a park ticket and a park reservation are required to enter Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

For now, you can only visit one park per day, and you must select specific dates for your tickets and reservations. You can view park availability calendars on the Disney World website before purchasing tickets and setting your vacation dates, which is especially important if there is a must-see park on your list.

If you are concerned about keeping a safe distance from others, two Disney World theme parks stand out as the best options for your reservations.

Epcot has fewer attractions, but it has plenty of exhibits and large outdoor spaces, especially at the World Showcase.

2. Be prepared to use technology

While connected, you can book a Disney hotel, purchase park tickets, make reservations for parks and restaurants, and link existing reservations and tickets.

Once you’re set up with tickets and reservations, download and use the My Disney Experience app to reduce touch points and physical contact while you’re at Disney World. Guests of the Disney Resort hotel can use the app to register, unlock the doors of the rooms and practically chat with the reception.

Guests at the Disney Resort hotel can also use MagicBands to purchase food and merchandise. Otherwise, Disney recommends using other forms of cashless payments, such as debit cards, credit cards, and Disney gift cards.

3. Focus your planning efforts on eating.

Instead, focus your planning efforts on food.

Not only will you need a dinner reservation at table service restaurants within the theme parks, but you will also need dinner reservations to enter Disney Resort hotels (unless you stay on property).

This new requirement may affect your planning if you want to explore the various themed resorts for the first or tenth time. For now, the adventures of your Disney Resort hotel must be combined with a table-service meal.

While an air-conditioned dining experience can be a respite from the Florida heat and humidity, if you prefer dining al fresco as an additional safety precaution against coronavirus, almost all quick-service restaurants have outdoor seating.

You can also make a reservation at the Rose & Crown Pub or Spice Road Table at Epcot, both have patio dinners. The Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which started on July 15, also has many outdoor food kitchens.

Lastly, don’t forget that you can also bring snacks and meals to the parks for the best non-contact eating experience.

4. Be strategic with your transportation and hotel options

Disney transportation, like theme parks, will operate at a reduced capacity to follow distancing guidelines.

As a result, you may experience delays unless you are planning to drive to the theme parks or use transportation services like Lyft or Uber.

Booking accommodation at a resort within walking distance of a Disney theme park is a strategy to minimize transportation time.

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Beach Club Resort, Yacht Club Resort and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort are within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You can also walk to Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Another great option is the Disney Skyliner gondolas, which you can ride alone or with the people in your group.

The Skyliner stops at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century Resort, and Riviera Resort.

And if you plan to stay on or off Disney property, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip. Hotels have multiple cancellation policies, so look for one that has no minimum or minimum rates if you want to have low financial risk should plans change.

5. Find and practice wearing comfortable masks

Two-layer face masks and dark circles or ties are required on Disney property for all guests 2 years and older.

Disney is very committed to this policy, according to Wolfe. She recommends finding comfortable masks and wearing them before your trip, such as on long walks.

“What has surprised us is that even though it looks and feels like a big change on the outside, it’s actually not such a bad experience. As long as you spend time getting used to a mask before, it’s doable,” he said.

Wolfe also recommends packing two or three masks for each day of your trip, unless you plan to wash them at your hotel. Be sure to take a backup mask with you to the theme parks in case your mask gets lost or gets wet from rain or water games.

Other considerations

“If you want to ride everything in the parks, the reopening of Disney will probably be a dream come true, since that’s all you can do,” Wolfe said.

Another advantage of waiting until 2021 is that there are more things to see and do, and not just because experiences like fireworks and parades could return.

“You will have many more highly successful games and attractions in 2021, probably later in the year. At least four big budgets, big things are opening up,” Wolfe said.

As for Wolfe, she’s ready to see what Disney will do differently than the rest when the parks reopen.

“Disney wants to set the bar beyond what other parks have done. They have promised that visitors will continue to have a ‘magical’ experience, so how will they do it?”