COVID-19: Disney World set to reopen in July

Disney World has announced that it would be reopening its gates to visitors in July towards ending months of business shuttering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Florida-based complex broke the news via a blog post on Wednesday. It also detailed plans embodying measures for a comeback that would curtail the spread of the COVID-19.

While the theme park, which employs about 70,000 people, will open its ‘Magic Kingdom’ and ‘Animal Kingdom’ parks on July 11, the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are to follow on July 15.

Disney said it presented its reopening plan to the Orange County Recovery Task Force in Orlando and would be coming back with reduced capacity, providing free masks for tourists and employees.

“Today, we submitted a proposal to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida describing our approach for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks planned to begin on July 11,” the company said.

“Pending Orange County and state approval, our Walt Disney World Resort proposal plans for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom to begin a phased reopening to the general public on July 11, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.”

It is understood that this approach would increase the use of plexiglass barriers and contactless payment systems alongside the deployment of temperature checks that would be conducted at entrances.

According to Disney, its parades, fireworks displays, and character meet-and-greets would be suspended alongside high-touch activities as part of measures to address crowd control concerns.

“This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing,” it wrote.

“That means certain experiences we know draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.

“In addition, makeover opportunities, playgrounds, and character meet-and-greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight guests.”

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