Right now, all eyes are on Shanghai Disneyland, which will be the first Disney theme park worldwide to reopen next week on May 11, 2020. And though the massive health and safety measures being implemented there are definitely something we’ll be watching with interest, many are wondering when Disney Parks in the US could reopen. And while Disney has said that they have nothing to share at this time when it comes to a reopening date, they did release a blueprint for what guests can expect once the parks in the US are ready to reopen.
1. Disney Springs and Downtown Disney will open first as part of a phased reopening
Disney has confirmed that they will not be reopening their US parks and resorts all at once and are going to be looking at implementing a gradual reopening and/or partial reopening of certain locations which could include retail and dining establishments prior to the opening of the theme parks. Though we already kind of figured this would happen, we now have confirmation that Disney will be opening small pieces of their US resorts at first to try and ease back in to operations in this new world.
2. Virtual queues will be used to maintain social distancing
When Disney parks finally do reopen at some later date, Disney has confirmed that they will be limiting both the amount of guests who can enter the park as well as the number of people who will be let in to indoor queue spaces. This restriction will be managed with a wider roll out of the virtual queue system, which has thus far been used only for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which will be managed with the My Disney Experience app.
3. Temperature checks and mandatory masks will be implemented in some way
Disney has confirmed that they will be using “enhanced screening procedures” at the front of their parks, which likely means that touchless temperature checks will be used at the gates. In addition, some mandatory mask usage will be used, although it is currently unknown if Cast Members, Guests or both will be required to use this type of personal protective equipment.
4. A greater focus on cleaning and sanitizing
As you might expect, Disney will also be increasing their sanitization and disinfection routines, especially in high traffic areas, in order to keep things as clean as possible. In addition, hand sanitizers and hand washing stations will be installed across the resort, at both the park entrance as well as attraction entrances and exits.
Many questions still remain
Though Disney has laid out what their theme parks reopening in the United States will look like in the most general terms, there are still a lot of questions that remain. Beyond the obvious reopening date question, we have to wonder if Disney will be implementing physical distancing markers like they have in China or will be limiting dining to quick service or pickup only.
As always, while this situation is evolving, all theme park fans should check out the CDC’s official site here, which has information on the virus and how to prevent its spread.
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