Disneyland Paris announces plans to reopen in July

The park will begin a phased reopening on Wednesday, July 15

Disneyland Paris will reopen on Wednesday, July 15. AFP

Disneyland Paris will begin a phased reopening of the theme park on Wednesday, July 15, with visitor numbers limited via a new online reservation system to ensure social distancing.

The new regulations announced on Monday will see visitors aged 11 and older have to wear face masks, while the resort's many shows and events will remain suspended.

The first of the resort’s hotels will open on July 15, and the rest will be staggered over the summer months, Disneyland confirmed.

The phased reopening will see "enhanced health and safety measures implemented for both cast members and guests," the company said in a statement.

Same-day ticket sales will no longer be available, and people with non-dated tickets or annual passes will be required to reserve spots in advance.

Shanghai Disneyland reopens to the public:

• 

  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 park, which usually welcomes more than 15 million visitors annually, has also suspended its FastPass service that lets people reserve time slots for certain rides "to allow for the necessary queue management".

The resort has also said it will allow guests to cancel or modify their Disney Hotel reservations without charge up to seven days prior to arrival, in the hope of encouraging more visitors during ongoing uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Disneyland Paris, which employs around 16,000 people, began halting shows and limiting the number of visitors inside even before France's nationwide lockdown took effect in mid-March, after some maintenance workers tested positive for Covid-19.

"We are thrilled to see one of the main tourism destinations in Europe and the largest single-site employer in France reopen to guests and its employees," Sophie Huberson of France's SNELAC leisure industry association said in Disney's statement.

The announcement follows the news that Disney World in Orlando, Florida, would begin a phased reopening of its parks in mid-July.