Walt Disney World parks plan to re-open in July, with restrictions

The magic is returning to Orlando in July. Whether or not it'll be wise to chase that magic by then remains to be seen.

The Walt Disney World theme park will begin its phased re-opening to the public starting on July 11, with the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks opening first. The re-opening of Epcot and Hollywood Studios will begin a few days later, on July 15.

Those aren't the only properties that will be re-opening soon. Disney Vacation Club resorts in at Walt Disney World, along with Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, will allow guests back in on June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina will open even sooner, on June 15.

Disney Stores will also start to open in the U.S., along with Europe and Japan, "soon."

Guests who want to visit any of these location in the midst of the ongoing pandemic will need to make a reservation. The plan is to open with a limitation placed on each theme park's maximum capacity. That limit will then increase over time as Florida's Orange County stages its wider phased reopening.

Guests will have their temperature checked upon entering the park, and social distancing rules will be enforced. Masks will also be a requirement for every attendee, and they must be worn in the parks at all times. Disney is encouraging cashless transactions at any on-premises business or ticket booths, but it's apparently not a requirement.

The only exception to the mask rule will be in designated "relaxation zones" where guests will be able to step away from the crowds and temporarily free their faces.

The parks will be dotted with signs explaining Disney's health and safety measures. The signs will make the rules on masks, social distancing, and temperature checks clear, as well as point the way to cleaning stations.

In addition to all those safety measures, guests can also expect to encounter limits on in-park activities. Public events that draw crowds, "such as parades and nighttime spectaculars," won't be running for the foreseeable future. The same goes for what Disney calls "high-touch" experiences, like "makeover opportunities, playgrounds, and character meet and greets." That said, Disney did offer the reassurance that costumed cast members will still be wandering around in the parks. (Hopefully they'll all be wearing stylized, extra-large face masks.)

Disney shared the news on Wednesday during a meeting of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, as WDW News Today reported, with more info surfacing in a subsequent press release. It should be noted that the dates and safety measures revealed so far are merely a proposal for the time being; the plan will first need to be approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and then by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Of course, Florida's reopening plan has been proceeding at a breakneck pace, so the chances of approval for a plan to reopen one of the state's biggest tourist traps seems like an inevitability. Needless to say, if July 11 rolls around and you're still not feeling safe outside your home, you should probably wait on planning any Disney World trips.

UPDATE: May 27, 2020, 1:13 p.m. EDT Added additional information on location openings and activity availability as detailed in Disney's press release.