4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney World
The resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.
![What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/nbf84AHlGSqPst1nUFmRa4Ei4cc=/1600x1068/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Q3TQA7ZBPRHA7KZSNDJL42Y2MU.jpg)
What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Walt Disney World is set to once again open its gates to the Magic Kingdom following a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with most families staying inside and not traveling, how crowded will the theme parks really be when they reopen? Park Capacity Capacity at 25% Magic Kingdom 57,000 people 14,250 people Epcot 34,093 people 8,523 people Hollywood Studios 30,843 people 7,710 people Animal Kingdom 37,671 people 9,417 peopleA park at 25% capacity would mean very minimal wait times. As we can all imagine, visiting a Disney theme park when it reopens will be a new experience for all -- no matter how many times youโve visited. The Magic Kingdom and Disneyโs Animal Kingdom parks will open first July 11, with Epcot and Disneyโs Hollywood Studios reopening July 15.
![Hereโs everything you should know before heading to Walt Disney Worldโs phased reopening](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/MTGldpGFz4II6AtGY_JtPmdcdSs=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-08-2020/t_394f9fc6dd1c4459b2fba639c6c01651_name_image.jpg)
Hereโs everything you should know before heading to Walt Disney Worldโs phased reopening
According to Disney, buses and monorails will implement a combination of physical distancing and physical barriers to provide separation between guest parties. Ground markings will help promote proper physical distancing in attraction queues at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)In order to provide appropriate social distancing, Walt Disney World is only allowing a limited number of guests to visit each theme park per day. โGround markings will help promote proper physical distancing throughout the parks, including attraction queues,โ Disney said. Guests at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., are encouraged to use cashless payment options whenever possible when making purchases as the parks begin their phased reopening July 11, 2020.
![In case you missed it: Disneyโs Splash Mountain to be re-themed to โPrincess and the Frogโ](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/HcYA6-WVA2i7kPBmXT0ZcaS0VcQ=/1536x864/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Q34FKCTXF5HN7D37A7BU4HPHRE.jpg)
In case you missed it: Disneyโs Splash Mountain to be re-themed to โPrincess and the Frogโ
Itโs transformation central at Disney Parks in the U.S., as Disney officially announced that it has big plans for Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. MORE: Petition calls for Disney Parks to change theme of Splash MountainIf you havenโt heard of the film, youโre not alone. If youโre unfamiliar with Splash Mountain, hereโs a little background. Splash Mountain follows happy-go-lucky Brโer Rabbit as he looks for his โlaughing place.โ All the while, Brโer Bear and Brโer Fox are in hot pursuit of Brโer Rabbit. โMany adults and children ride this attraction because it brings back childhood memories,โ the โKeep Splash Mountainโ petition said.
![How will this years NBA playoffs work? What if a player tests positive for COVID-19? What we know so far](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/6CfMJKaPWMfjsOVFEU3bXKopemE=/1600x899/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L37XY4EASRH23ENXU5U3BK7H4M.jpg)
How will this years NBA playoffs work? What if a player tests positive for COVID-19? What we know so far
(2007 Getty Images)Heres what we learned from that ESPN report -- with some other information added in for background and context:So wait, whats happening and when? NBA players actively in a game, referees, bench players and coaches who are sitting in the front row wont have to wear masks either if a contest is underway. For example, a player making $10 million per year will lose roughly $108,000 per game missed for up to 14 games, ESPN said. Eventually, teams can have meals at some restaurants on the Disney campus that will be closed down to accommodate them. Pools, trails and golf courses will be open on the Disney campus.
![Disney fans say Splash Mountain, a ride inspired by Song of the South, should be re-themed](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/2CpGEr6Y4HG4yW4EB2iW8ft5C9o=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FP2OEBNDONGNNL72KJQXU5EUDU.jpg)
Disney fans say Splash Mountain, a ride inspired by Song of the South, should be re-themed
A number of suggestions have cropped up urging Disney to retheme the popular ride. The most widely shared one proposes retooling it for "The Princess and the Frog," the first Disney film to introduce a black princess. But the animated characters that appear throughout originated in the 1946 film, "Song of the South," best known for the song "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah." Disney, which unearthed dozens of forgotten films to stream on Disney+, decided to keep "Song of the South" in the vault. Other Disney films criticized for racist characters, like "Dumbo," now feature content warnings on the Disney+ streaming service that say the films "may contain outdated cultural depictions."
![NBA Approves 22-Team Plan to Finish the 2019-20 Season at Disney World](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/224Rvrc73ABTKY5klOq_9h9w8DE=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SNULYHXLQVAAJH5HRSINPYUXKE.jpg)
NBA Approves 22-Team Plan to Finish the 2019-20 Season at Disney World
On Thursday's board of governors call with league commissioner Adam Silver, the owners approved a plan to finish out the remainder of the 2019-20 season at Disney World in Orlando, where eventually, a champion will be crowned, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The owners now need formal approval from the National Basketball Players Association before the league can move forward. The league is targeting a start date of July 31, where 22 of the 30 NBA teams are expected to participate in Orlando. That creates a number of questions leading into the resumed season, including how teams will prepare after so much idle time. But today's news is the greatest indication yet that the 2019-20 season will have a champion.
![Outlook for Disney World and Disneyland reopenings: What will it be like? And when will parks be running?](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/sM35Crn6wWsG3W1bculSIcLImUk=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/73KUFA6QZNE4LOLQDJPPXIWUGM.jpg)
Outlook for Disney World and Disneyland reopenings: What will it be like? And when will parks be running?
CNN โ Fans of Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are already dreaming of the parks' eventual reopening down the distant road. After all, masks and wipes and social distancing were not part of the Disney experience before the March closures. Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president of Walt Disney World Resorts and Transportation Operations, is a member of the task force. The task force also gave suggested guidelines for Orange County hotels, including the encouragement of mobile check-ins, limited housekeeping services and self-parking by guests. Until the parks are actually up and running again, it's hard to know exactly what the experience for guests will be like.