Disney Springs buyers wear Disney-themed face masks and clothing (Reuters)
Mickey greeted from afar and visitors wore colorful masks with mouse ears on Saturday as Walt Disney World in Florida opened to the public for the first time in four months amid a wave of coronavirus cases in the state.
Walt Disney Co has welcomed a limited number of guests to its two most popular parks in the vast Orlando complex, the most visited theme park complex in the world, with a host of security measures designed to reassure visitors and reduce the chances of catching the sometimes deadly virus.
Executives were confident they had a responsible plan for reopening in stages during the pandemic, said Josh D’Amaro, president of Disney’s Parks, Experiments and Products division.
“This is the new world we operate in, and I don’t think it will change anytime soon,” D’Amaro said in an interview on Saturday after welcoming guests and park workers.
Disney’s reopening of the parks in Asia has helped provide assurances that things will continue in Florida, he added. Disneyland Shanghai opened in May, followed by Disneyland parks in Hong Kong and Tokyo in June and July, respectively.
“I feel really good in our environment,” said D’Amaro. “We take this seriously.”
Disney did not say how many people entered Walt Disney World on Saturday, but D’Amaro said it saw “very good demand” for short-term and 2021 bookings.
At Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, the two parks that reopened on Saturday, guests and employees wore face masks, underwent temperature tests and were told to distance themselves from the street to the rides. Plexiglass separated the rows into lines and the floor marks indicated where people should stand.
Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the other two Walt Disney World parks, are slated to reopen on Wednesday.
The station has suspended parades, fireworks and other crowd-pleasing activities, as well as close encounters with Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and other characters. Instead, the characters appeared on chariots or on horseback.
“So happy to be back”
Some online photos showed people close to each other while waiting to enter. Disney workers, called cast members, started applying distance requirements after about 30 minutes, said Carlye Wisel, a journalist who writes about theme parks, on Twitter.
Other videos showed people inside, standing aside, cheering, taking selfies and enjoying the park without long queues. “I’m so happy to be back!” a fan named That Crazy Disney Lady said in a video posted on YouTube.
Florida has become an epicenter of COVID-19 infections. In the past two weeks, the state has reported 109,000 new cases of coronavirus, more than any other state in the United States.
Still, many Disney fans and workers were impatient for Disney World to open. The station employs 77,000 people.
Disney said it trained employees to entice customers who are lax about the rules. Numerous signs and audio announcements every 10 minutes reminded visitors of the new measures.
“There is a shared responsibility here, so the guests will have to do their part,” said D’Amaro.
Coronavirus closings have devastated Disney’s movie, television and theme park businesses. The return of guests to Walt Disney World is key to the company’s financial recovery. About 75% of the parks unit’s operating revenue comes from Orlando, said David Miller, an analyst at Imperial Capital.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved plans to reopen Disney World in late May, before the current wave.
About 750 performing artists were absent due to a dispute over coronavirus testing. The Actors Equity union wants Disney to provide regular testing for members who must play without a mask.
Disney said it was following the recommendations of health experts to focus on other guarantees. If employees request tests by themselves, Disney health insurance will cover it, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Seven other unions have reached an agreement with Disney on return to work conditions.
Shanghai Disneyland increased its capacity from its original limit by 20%, or around 16,000 people per day, when it reopened in May. Customer surveys have shown “exceptionally high” satisfaction with the Shanghai experience and security measures, said D’Amaro.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Alistair Bell, Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)
(This story has not been edited by GalacticGaming staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
