Shanghai Disneyland opens to the public after its closure in January.
China returns to "normal" very little by little and with the shadow of the regrowth very close. This week new cases were reported in Wuhan that put the Chinese health authorities on alert. It is still early to know if it is a new wave of coronavirus or isolated cases.
In the meantime shanghai disney opened for the first time since the state of alarm was decreed in the country in December and had to close its doors.** But the reopening was not like a normal Disney day**, there were no fireworks or performances, much less crowds or people running through the park. This time everything has been quieter and, for the first time, only with local visitors.
The "new normal" at China's Disney park.
The first of the measures taken has to do with ticket sales, the purchase will have to be made days in advance and online to avoid crowds . In this sense, the park will only allow the entry of 16,000 people , 20% of its capacity.
A high figure but very low compared to the data of the park in normal season. The flagship of the Disney brand managed to gather 10 million people during 2016 , according to Reuters data. The decline in its economic activity has been one of the largest in its history, with losses of 68% , but it does not seem that they are going to go wrong in the post-coronavirus era, since tickets are sold out day after day.
All outdoor attractions are still open.
SHANGHAI DISNEY'S NEW MEASURES
People who enter must pass the QR test and that it comes out in green so that they can prove that they do not have coronavirus, once inside they will have to wear a mask and gloves , in addition to respecting the distancing signs; 1.5 meters between people is what the lines mark in yellow with which they have marked the entire park.
There will be closed areas such as playgrounds to avoid sources of contagion , but outdoor attractions and restaurants will be open. Constant disinfection is another of the most important parts of the measures taken.
“Today we are extremely pleased to reopen shanghai disneyland thanks to the unwavering efforts of our cast members and our community. Today's celebrations will be remembered with joy as we look forward to welcoming our guests back to this happy place," said Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. The welcome to the new visitors was held on May 11 , but they had already been preparing for this day for two months.
If all goes well, the rest of the company's parks, five in total, could open in the next few months . The next could be Orlando, Florida. Most likely, in this case, the Disney Springs mall will open first (scheduled date is May 20); and later the park, who could offer accommodation for july.
The entire park has been marked so that social distancing is respected.