Walt Disney World to reopen in July after coronavirus shutdown

Planned safety measures include face coverings, temperature checks, and social distancing

An empty road leads into a deserted Disney resort after it was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Kissimmee, Florida. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Walt Disney World will begin reopening in July after months of inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A city task force approved plans for the reopening on Wednesday, and the proposals will now be sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval.

The plans outline a tiered reopening for Disney, with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opening on 11 July, followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on 15 July.

They also call for SeaWorld, another theme park headquartered in Orlando, to open to the public on 11 June.

Last week, Universal Orlando presented its plan to reopen on 5 June. That plan also has been approved by the Orlando task force, which sent its recommendation to the governor.

“We are developing a series of ‘know before you go’ communication vehicles and our objective is to reinforce our health and safety messages to guests before they arrive on our property so they are aware and prepared for the new environment,” Disney’s senior vice president of operations, Jim McPhee told the task force.

He also said the parks would open with limited capacity, but he didn’t specify the number of guests who would be allowed in initially. In a statement, the company said attendance will be managed through a new system that requires advance reservations for park entry.

Disney World also plans smaller, soft openings prior to 11 July, but no specifics were provided.

SeaWorld is planning an employee appreciation event on 10 June before opening to the public the next day, said Interim CEO Marc Swanson.

When Disney Springs, a complex of restaurants and shops near Disney World, reopened, the company formed “social distancing squads,” which McPhee said have been popular with guests.

He said they are “a dedicated team of highly energetic and informative cast members who are committed to engaging and inspiring our guests to follow the appropriate guidelines.”

Both parks said they will require guests and employees to wear face coverings and social distancing will be enforced throughout their properties. Guests and employees will also undergo temperature checks before entering the parks. Disney employees will be required to do temperature checks before heading to work, McPhee said. They’ll also undergo temperature checks at the park, he added. Fever is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus.

Fireworks shows, character meet-and-greets and parades will be suspended to meet social distancing requirements, McPhee said.

An inspection team from Orange County visited SeaWorld and Disney on Tuesday to see whether proposed plans would be in compliance with guidelines recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials from the parks told the task force.

Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings said he has sent letters of endorsement for opening the theme parks to the governor’s office.

Earlier this month, Shanghai Disneyland became the first of Disney’s theme park resorts to reopen, with severe limits on the number of visitors allowed in, mandatory masks and temperature checks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report