Walt Disney World has presented its plans for a phased reopening, and Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will reopen from July 11th with EPCOT and Hollywood Studios a few days later on July 15th. Meanwhile, Disneyland and other Californian theme parks have been told they can now open in stage 3, a full stage earlier than previously stated.
However, in all cases this will not be a full reopening with reduced days, limited ticketing and attractions/shows.
Walt Disney World will reopen much like Shanghai Disneyland, on the basis of a reservation system. Guests will have to secure a reservation in advance via a new system. More details on how to secure a reservation will be released in the near future.
The parks will reopen at limited capacity, with gradual increases as the county progresses through reopening phases. Social distancing and face masks will be required and enforced throughout the parks, and temperature checks will be required for access to the parks. Hand washing stations, as well as hand sanitizer, will be readily available throughout the parks. Disney is also developing “relaxation zones” for guests to break off from the main areas and take off masks in designated spots.
Increased mobile food ordering options will be available, and cashless transactions will be encouraged throughout. Character meet & greets and play areas will remain temporarily closed, and parades, fireworks, and other events that create crowds will also be temporarily suspended.
You can watch the full Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force Meeting from earlier today: –
Meanwhile, California Health and Human Services Agency spokesperson Kate Folmar has said “Theme parks are slated to open in Stage 3 if the rate of spread of COVID-19 and hospitalizations remain stable”. In mid-May, Californian governor Gavin Newsom said “Phase 3 is not a year away. It’s not six months away. It’s not even three months away. It may not even be more than a month away,” suggesting that Disneyland could open sometime in June or early July. There has been no official word on a Disneyland reopening yet.
With Star Wars Celebration just 90 days away, and a sell-out crowd expected, we do not think it will be possible to maintain social distancing measures at the show, and at this point we still are not sure that the convention center will even be open as it is scheduled for stage 4 of the Californian plan. We wait patiently for an announcement from Reed Pop and Lucasfilm.
