5. Unprecedented access to private experiences

Video: YouTube, @MyKingdomForAMouse (Jett Farrell-Vega)

This has been one of our favorite things about visiting Walt Disney World right now—thanks to social distancing measures, guests have more access to private experiences than ever.

A great example of this is on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This attraction has such high rider capacity that Disney hasn’t really needed to add plexiglass dividers—instead, they’re simply giving every party their own cockpit. Two points of frustration with the ride when it opened were that you inevitably had to ride with strangers (who may not be willing to participate in actual “flying” part of the attraction) and you rarely got to choose your crew position. During this season, you not only get a cockpit all to yourself, but you can choose whatever crew position you like—all of the other positions are set to automatic mode. Even on attractions where Disney has added in plexiglass dividers, guests are at least guaranteed to get their own row, and the plexiglass does provide a little more privacy than usual.

Social distancing means similar situations are playing out at restaurants throughout the property, where guests aren’t being smooshed so closely together. At The Biergarten, for example, we got our own table, which used to be a rarity at this location (though we do definitely miss the buffet). Smaller shops also are only letting one or two guests in at a time, such as those in the marketplace at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. While this means a bit of waiting, it does give guests a lot more breathing room.

Our favorite private experience so far was an odd one—enjoying the relaxation zone at Star Wars: Launch Bay. For those unfamiliar, every park currently has “Relaxation Zones” where guests can temporarily remove their masks while social distanced and stationary. Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of these zones. On our visit, we found that most people settled for resting in the outdoor areas or just inside the museum. We headed straight for the cantina replica and found a cozy spot right next to the bar. We had one other family in the room with us for a little while, then had the whole place to ourselves for like 40 minutes. It was introvert heaven. Little moments like this are a huge departure from the normal bustling Disney experience.

6. Ultra-clean resort rooms

We weren’t certain what to expect from Disney’s resort hotels during this time. Would the rooms be clean enough? Would hallways be crowded with too many guests making social distancing difficult?

We stayed at Bay Lake Tower in late September and were impressed with the way Disney is currently handling resort rooms. Our room was exceptionally clean. Some of the extra measures include individual packaging around remotes, double cased pillows, and extra sanitizing throughout, especially on common touch surfaces.

We also felt the resort was quieter than usual. I am not certain if Disney is spreading out guests to not have rooms immediately next door (I don’t think this is the case, though it’s a strategy some hotels are using), but we didn’t run into very many other guests. The Contemporary lobby also felt decidedly light compared to normal. While park and resort capacity has increased since then, these benefits do remain in play for guests who visit right now.

7. Some pretty amazing deals on tickets, rooms, and more

With the serious financial blow of Disneyland remaining closed, Disney is having to walk a thin line between enticing new guests to visit and finding ways to recoup lost revenue. We noticed in our look into what Disney resorts are like right now that although Disney was offering some nice discounts on resort rooms, they weren’t that much better than usual prices for this time of year. Despite this, we have seen some lucrative deals since then on park tickets (particularly for Florida residents), resort rooms, and Passholder discounts here and there throughout this season. One example was the return of 30% off all merchandise for Passholders throughout October.

The best deal we’ve seen all year at Walt Disney World isn’t actually at a Disney-owned property—for a time, the Four Seasons Orlando has been offering guests who stay at least two nights a resort credit up to $500 a day that can be spent on just about anything you like within the resort itself (spa, dining, recreation, etc.). While this promotion is about to go bye-bye on December 18th, they are still offering a 20% discount for advanced payment reservations, as well as some discounts for Florida residents. While this is a pretty expensive resort, the rates are comparable to Disney deluxe resorts like the Grand Floridian—only guests at the Four Seasons Orlando get so much included with their stay that you may not even want to leave the resort. Even the pool bar is outstanding.

In short, while we aren’t seeing as many jaw-dropping deals as we did immediately after reopening, it seems likely that we will see more discounts from Disney once the holiday season passes.

8. Great photo opportunities

It’s the small things that really make your day sometimes…

If you enjoy photography, once of the biggest challenges taking pictures at Walt Disney World is that it can be hard to get shots without other people in them. While this is something of an accepted norm in Disney parks, this socially-distanced season has proven a really nice time to get “empty park” pics.

Despite the fact that the parks aren’t as dead as back in September, photographers can still get amazing shots of Walt Disney World landmarks without any people present if you know where to look. Certain times and locations are better than others if you want to capture these moments. The Morocco pavilion, for example, remains pretty quiet these days while it undergoes a change of management. It’s not as difficult right now to find these little pockets of serenity in all four parks, particularly if you visit on a weekday.

Our favorite time to capture no-people pictures has been during the last two hours the parks are open. We’ve captured some amazing images at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during this time. This same pattern seems to be taking place in other parks as well (we wouldn’t be surprised if Magic Kingdom were the one park where this might be difficult simply due to its popularity). It’s a small benefit, but we have really enjoyed capturing these quiet moments of calm within Walt Disney World.

Enjoy this article? Keep reading to take a look at what Disney’s most popular park is like right now… and to have your top questions answered about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!