Disney parks around the world shut their doors to visitors this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shanghai Disneyland, which was the first of all Disney parks to close its doors at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in January, is now all set to open to visitors on May 11.
Shanghai Disneyland Is All Set To Reopen Next Week
On Tuesday, the company announced plans to re-open Shanghai Disneyland to the public on May 11, but with a host of new restrictions. Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, in a press release, stated that the reopening of the park will be done in a phased manner.
As part of the opening, all guests entering the Shanghai Disneyland Park will be temperature-screened. Reservations would be done using an advanced reservation and entry system, where guests would be required to purchase admission tickets for a selected date only. Annual pass holders would also be required to make a reservation prior to arrival.
Moreover, the park premises will be sanitised and cleaned frequently and all cast members will receive a training on procedures with a special emphasis on contactless guest interaction.
For the rides, all visitor queues would have to follow social distancing guidelines. However, sources say that visitors at the park could be informed about their turn to take the ride via an app or a technology just so that queues are avoided. The same would be applied to queues in restaurants. Guests would also be required to wear masks at all times except dining.
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Closure Of The Park Worldwide Has Caused Great Losses To Disney
According to sources, the company reported significant losses due to the closure of its parks world-wide. The company reportedly saw a 58% drop in operating income compared to last year. To cope up with the loss, Disney granted leave of absence to more than 120000 staff members in April 2020.
While this is a great news for all Disney fans in Shanghai, it will be interesting to note how things actually work on ground and this could probably serve as a model for all parks in the post-pandemic world!
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