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.
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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
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.
