How the NBA and Disney Plan to Keep Players Safe and Entertained Inside the Disney Bubble

Of the 22 teams, eight are staying at the Grand Floridian, eight more are at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, and six are staying at the Yacht Club. But don't get your hopes up that you'll be staying on the same floor as your favourite player. Regular Disney guests cannot stay at any of these resorts until teams are eliminated from the tournament and the NBA players move out. Based on each hotel's reopening date, it appears winning teams will eventually move out of their current resorts and check in at Coronado Springs, which is closed through mid-October.

According to USA Today, players have to be cleared before travelling to Orlando and are then tested immediately upon arrival at Disney. They can't leave their hotel room until they've completed two negative COVID-19 tests (though Bucks player and mega-Disney fan Robin Lopez didn't seem to mind much). If you're curious, the Sixers' Matisse Thybulle documented his time in quarantine on his YouTube channel.

Once they've passed quarantine, they must complete daily tests to stay on campus. Two players have already tested positive while in quarantine, and those players were ushered off campus to isolate at home or in isolation housing until they are cleared to return.

Disney cast members will be in charge of cleaning players' rooms, public spaces like restrooms, and other high-touch areas like handrails, lobbies, and lifts on a daily basis (sometimes even multiple times each day). As reported by USA Today, training and practice equipment will be sanitized between uses.

The big question mark here is that cast members will not be sequestered to the NBA campus, leaving the potential for virus transmission as they come and go from the "bubble." They will be required to wear masks and gloves, follow social distancing guidelines, and only enter guest rooms when players are not present.

Mickey waffles alone can't sustain an NBA player's demanding nutritional needs, but it's nice to have them as an option. In addition to the Disney staple, players will enjoy chef-prepared meals and delivery service from six pre-approved Orlando restaurants, according to USA Today. Each team will also have access to various onsite restaurants at their respective hotels, room service, and an assortment of snacks and drinks. If you saw those viral photos of the aeroplane-style meals players were served when they arrived, it seems those were only intended for the quarantine period. Meals shared since then have looked much tastier.

Players who prefer to stay out of the hot Florida sun can pass the time with ping pong, card games, video games, and even yet-to-be-released movies, all brought in by the NBA, according to Disney Food Blog. They can even visit Disney Springs to test out their 10-pin skills at Splitsville Luxury Bowling Lanes outside of regular hours.

Because life (and hair-growth) doesn't stop when you're at Disney, the league is also bringing in barbers, hair stylists, manicurists, pedicurists, and a VIP concierge.

Most Disney fans would pay a pretty penny to visit the parks after closing time and hop on their favourite rides. According to the OC Register, NBA players staying on the Disney campus may be able to do just that. Along with their guests and league staff, players will have exclusive after-hours access to attractions at Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. Considering they won't be able to visit the parks during regular business hours (to keep other visitors safe), getting to hop on Expedition Everest or Rock 'N' Roller Coaster with no wait is a pretty sweet perk.