Disney World Orlando plans to reopen in July. Courtesy Travis Wise
Disney World Orlando plans to reopen in July. Courtesy Travis Wise
Disney World Orlando plans to reopen in July. Courtesy Travis Wise
Disney World Orlando plans to reopen in July. Courtesy Travis Wise

Disney World makes plans for a phased reopening in July

The park will reopen but parades and fireworks will not return

Sophie Prideaux
Sophie Prideaux

May 29, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Walt Disney World has announced plans to start a phased reopening beginning in mid July.

Disney hopes to reopen Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, pending approval from the governor of Florida, on July 11 and Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15.

When the Disney parks reopen, all guests and employees will be required to wear masks and undergo mandatory temperature checks. All parades, fireworks displays and other activities that create crowds will be temporarily suspended. The resort will also encourage contactless transactions and increase the number of sanitising stations available.

A visitor dressed as a Disney character takes a selfie while wearing a protective face mask as the Shanghai Disneyland theme park reopens following a shutdown after the coronavirus outbreak, in Shanghai, China, on May 11, 2020. Reuters
A visitor dressed as a Disney character takes a selfie while wearing a protective face mask as the Shanghai Disneyland theme park reopens following a shutdown after the coronavirus outbreak, in Shanghai, China, on May 11, 2020. Reuters
A musician performs and Disney characters dance during the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland on May 11, 2020. AFP
A musician performs and Disney characters dance during the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland on May 11, 2020. AFP
A young visitor, wearing a face mask, waves as she enters Shanghai Disneyland. AP Photo
A young visitor, wearing a face mask, waves as she enters Shanghai Disneyland. AP Photo
Performers at Shanghai Disneyland dressed as Disney characters. AFP
Performers at Shanghai Disneyland dressed as Disney characters. AFP
A woman without a face mask at Disneyland Shanghai. AFP
A woman without a face mask at Disneyland Shanghai. AFP
Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disneyland, speaks during its reopening ceremony. AP Photo
Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disneyland, speaks during its reopening ceremony. AP Photo
Visitors wearing face masks explore Shanghai Disneyland. Reuters
Visitors wearing face masks explore Shanghai Disneyland. Reuters
A woman wearing a face mask takes a selfie in front of the park's flower gardens. AFP
A woman wearing a face mask takes a selfie in front of the park's flower gardens. AFP
A mask-less Donald Duck stands with tourists, some with face masks and others without. AFP
A mask-less Donald Duck stands with tourists, some with face masks and others without. AFP
Tourists follow social-distancing guidelines as they enter Shanghai Disneyland. AFP
Tourists follow social-distancing guidelines as they enter Shanghai Disneyland. AFP
An employee cleans a bench ahead of the reopening of the Shanghai Disneyland following its shutdown because of the coronavirus in Shanghai, China, on Monday, May 11, 2020. Bloomberg
An employee cleans a bench ahead of the reopening of the Shanghai Disneyland following its shutdown because of the coronavirus in Shanghai, China, on Monday, May 11, 2020. Bloomberg
All visitors must pre-book entry to Shanghai Disneyland and capacity has been slashed. AFP
All visitors must pre-book entry to Shanghai Disneyland and capacity has been slashed. AFP
Visitors with protective masks pose for photographs in front of the Enchanted Storybook at Shanghai Disneyland. Bloomberg
Visitors with protective masks pose for photographs in front of the Enchanted Storybook at Shanghai Disneyland. Bloomberg
One of the Shanghai Disneyland's youngest visitors wears a face mask and a Mickey Mouse hat. Bloomberg
One of the Shanghai Disneyland's youngest visitors wears a face mask and a Mickey Mouse hat. Bloomberg

The number of guests will be restricted and park passes will be required to be purchased ahead of time.

Disney parks around the world began closing in January to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The company is estimated to have lost $1 billion (Dh3.672) at its theme parks division from January through March.

On Wednesday, Disney chief executive officer Robert Chapek told CNBC the company currently has about 20,000 people per day visiting Shanghai Disneyland, which reopened on May 11 with mandatory masks, temperature screenings and social distancing for visitors and employees.

The reopening of Disney World, the biggest theme park in the world, will be a big step for the tourism industry and pave the way for similar attractions to safely follow suit.

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