A whole new world: 14 photos of Shanghai Disneyland on reopening day

Limited visitor numbers and a ban on photocalls with characters are in place at the Chinese attraction

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 young visitor, wearing a face mask, waves as she enters Shanghai Disneyland. AP Photo

Performers at Shanghai Disneyland dressed as Disney characters. 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

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 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

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

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

Disney-loving visitors streamed into Shanghai Disneyland on Sunday, May 11 as the park reopened after a three-month closure.

The Chinese park is the first Walt Disney Company resort to reopen: tickets for its opening day sold out in minutes. Guests entering the gates at Shanghai Disneyland were greeted with new park rules designed to protect visitors and staff from Covid-19.

Face masks are now mandatory throughout the park, and social distancing markers have been placed at all queuing points.

Ticket numbers are limited to 20 per cent of normal operating capacity. All visits must now be pre-booked and guests must abide by the specified entry time stated on each booking.

On the first day of its reopening, tourists stepped into the resort wearing face masks, but several visitors were seen removing face coverings to take pictures inside the Magic Kingdom.

Guests wearing Mickey Mouse ears and Disney princess costumes passed temperature scanners as they entered to the sound of classic Disney tunes like When You Wish Upon a Star and A Whole New World playing on loudspeakers.

Not all rides inside the park are operating, and those that are limit cars to one group of visitors to keep strangers separated. Guests hoping to get up close with some of their favourite characters may be disappointed, as close-up photos with characters are temporarily banned.

Many visitors flocked to take pictures in front of the Enchanted Storybook Castle which, at more than 60 metres tall, is the largest Disney princess castle in the world. The castle will light up every day at dusk with a music and light spectacle that is set to temporarily replace night-time parades and fireworks.

Every guest that enters Shanghai Disney Resort must present a green Health QR Code. These health codes are linked to China's government ID cards or passports, and are used to assess the infection risk of each user. Green codes allow people to move freely around while those with yellow or red codes must follow detailed isolation procedures.

The reopening of Shanghai Disneyland is one of the largest test cases yet of whether mass gatherings can take place safely amid the coronavirus pandemic. The park typically welcomes nearly six million visitors every year.