China’s Shanghai Disneyland reopened in limited fashion Monday — the first Disney Park to take guests after months of being shuttered due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Throngs of eager visitors wearing face masks and children in costumes spilled into the entertainment venue as Disney’s signature “When You Wish Upon a Star” played over the loudspeakers.
It’s the first Disney theme park to reopen since the COVID-19 outbreak prompted worldwide lockdowns.
“We hope that today’s reopening serves as a beacon of light across the globe, providing hope and inspiration to everyone,” Joe Schott, the president of Shanghai Disney Resort, told reporters.
But it’s not business as usual at the happiest place on Earth.
During the initial reopening phase, visitors are required to wear face masks and undergo temperature checks upon arrival.
Reservations are also required and visitors must provide government-issued ID as well as use a government app that tracks their health and contacts with anyone who may have been exposed to the deadly virus.
Only guests with a “green” health code — meaning they are coronavirus-free and allowed to move about freely — will be allowed to enter the resort.
The theme park is only permitted to operate at 30-percent capacity or about 24,000 people per day and visitors must adhere to social distancing rules.
Beloved Disney characters like Mickey Mouse will still make their appearances around the 963-acre resort, but close interaction and close-up photos with the characters are barred during the initial reopening phase.
Still, many Disney-loving fans were glad about the theme park’s reopening.
“It really felt like a princess’ homecoming, especially when the staff lined up after the ticket check and said, ‘Welcome home!’” said Dilys Ding, 26, a Shanghai resident.
“It feels like so many fewer people than normal. You don’t need to line up,” said Ding, adding, “You can play all the entertainment items at least once. That’s very good.”
Newly installed decals were on the sidewalks and at lines for attractions to show visitors where to stand in order to social distance, and rides were also operating with limited capacity.
“We don’t want people too close — front, back or side,” said Andrew Bolstein, the park’s senior vice president for operations.
The reopening of the Disney theme park comes after the coronavirus outbreak began in China late last year and spread across the globe.
More than 84,000 people in China have died as a result of the contagion, according to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Meanwhile, Orlando, Florida’s Disney Springs, an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, is set to begin a phased reopening on May 20.
During the initial reopening phase, a limited number of shopping and dining outlets will open their doors, while the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed, including theme parks and resort hotels.
The company has not yet set a date for the reopening of Disney World or its other parks worldwide.
With Post wires
