Disney World makes plans for a phased reopening in July

The park will reopen but parades and fireworks will not return

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

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

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.