Disney: Florida theme parks will reopen in mid-July
DISNEY on Wednesday said it will reopen its Florida theme parks in July even amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, hoping to capitalise on Americans’ pent-up desire to leave the house and, in the process, reverse a monthslong tide of lost revenue.
Executives said that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will reopen July 11 while Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, also in Florida, will resume business on July 15.
But whether the company will be able to operate the massive properties safely, and whether consumers will feel comfortable enough to take the chance, remain big questions hovering over the announcement.
Executives on Wednesday sought to reassure consumers and government officials. A number of social-distancing measures will be imposed at the parks, said Jim McPhee, senior vice-president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort. Customers will be required to wear masks and undergo temperature checks.
And McPhee said that parades and fireworks displays will remain temporarily suspended because of the crowds those events attract.
McPhee made his comments as part of a reopening plan Disney submitted at an economic recovery task-force meeting in Orange County, Florida, Wednesday morning. The task-force members approved Disney’s plan shortly after it was presented. The plan still needs to be approved by Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings before it is sent to Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. Both are expected to greenlight the move.
“We believe our reopening proposal at our properties reflects a very thoughtful, methodical and phased approach,” McPhee said.
Later Wednesday, the company offered more details about the reopening in a blog post on its website. An entry by Thomas Smith, editorial content director for Disney’s theme parks, noted that while the company’s signature costumed characters will be present at the parks, events such as ‘makeover opportunities’ and character meet-and-greets would not be conducted.
“In preparing to reopen during this unusual time, we have to manage our theme parks in a very different way from what we’ve known before,” Smith wrote.
He noted ‘limits on attendance,’ ‘controlled guest density’ and ‘significantly limited’ capacity, but a spokeswoman said the company would not be providing numbers or percentages on what that would entail. Disney previously reopened its Shanghai theme park with 30 per cent capacity in keeping with government requirements in China.