Today Disneyland Shanghai reopened as the first Disney Park to resume operations since parks were closed due to COVID-19. Bob Chapek, Disney CEO, shared in an interview with CNBC the possible protocols that Disneyland and Walt Disney World may be implementing once a reopening date is set.
Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland’s ticket sales have, in the past, been sold week to week rather than planned months beforehand like the US Disney Parks.
With the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland, tickets could only be pre-purchased in order to cut down on the interaction at ticket counters and also to ensure that the park would remain at 30% capacity in the beginning.
Tickets were sold out almost immediately for this first reopening week for Shanghai Disneyland. Chapek stated that this is a positive sign that guests will be ready to return to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland once they reopen.
Chapepk states that guests are ready to return to the parks to return to “some semblance of normal.” And he believes that the positive response from sold out ticket sales in Shanghai Disneyland is a positive “first step” in the reopening of the US Disney Parks.
First Steps
The most important step that Bob Chapek notes is that the reopening should be “very conservative and very prudent.”
As Shanghai Disneyland serves to be the “first step” in Disney Parks reopening, Chapek notes that the goal is to increase tickets sales to allow an additional 5,000 guests per week in accordance with the government’s guidelines.
You can read more about the safety protocols at Shanghai Disneyland HERE.
Parks at 100% Capacity
The question was asked if Disney Parks could realistically be reopened to 100% capacity while still maintaining the social distancing guidelines.
Bob Chapek responded, “If guests continue to behave in the way that they have, we may be able to approach that…We’re all playing our part in this ecosystem of safety if you will, and we’re going to do our part and we need our guests to do their part too.”
Reopening Date?
We are all hoping to hear a definite opening date so that we may begin planning future Disney vacations. However, Chapek was unwilling to share when the parks may reopen.
He did share that with the reopening of Disney Springs on May 20, 2020, they will begin testing safety protocols. This “testing phase” was also used at Shanghai Disneyland prior to their reopening at the Shanghai Disney Resort.
Key Components to Park Reopenings
The key components for the Disney Parks to be able to reopen includes: social distancing and face coverings for ALL Cast Members and guests.
Chapek understands that culturally mask coverings in Asia has been well received, but understand that the idea of wearing masks in hot and humid Florida heat may be something that guests and Cast Members may need to adapt to.
You can find the interview Bob Chapek did with CNBC below:
What do you think of the “testing phase with the reopening of Disney Springs? Would your family return to the Disney Parks if face coverings are mandatory? Tell us what you think on our Facebook Page and with our KtP Planning Group.
I would follow the rules that you put into place to keep everyone safe. I understand the predicament that you are in. I would like the whole experience to be open though. That’s what you pay for is the experience.
Mask required = cancelled reservation. There is no way my kids would leave one on in the August heat and quite frankly, I wouldn’t either. We were playing in a balnket tent yesterday and after about ten minutes, my oldest and I felt like we couldn’t breath and had to get out, a mask in the heat would give me the same feeling so that’s a strong no.
Masks, along with other safety measures, will allow WDW to reopen soon, instead of having to wait 1-2 years until treatments and vaccines are approved. When we talk, sneeze or cough, our droplets can travel quite a distance. Masks reduce the distance the droplets travel, and together with other health and safety measures, can help in preventing the spread of the virus by an asymptomatic guest. It makes a lot of sense to require both cast members and guests to wear masks, at least until the number of cases is close to zero, or there is a vaccine, or there is an approved treatment. I’ll definitely put on a mask to help prevent the spread and help WDW reopen.
The general public was discouraged from wearing masks at the beginning, not because they weren’t effective, but to protect the supply for health care workers (and also probably because some of the people saying it actually didn’t understand how much this virus would spread), though the public health professionals never could explicitly make that statement. Masks are now being required to protect people from spreading the virus.
I’m not a fan of required mask wearing. We are not China. We currently have reservations for September. I can not imagine having to have something covering my nose & mouth in the September heat & humidity. I can’t stand to wear it for less than an hour in Walmart! In the beginning, masks were NOT being encouraged, now it seems in order for places to open, they are required Very confusing!
As a nurse, and planning to go in August, I would not wear a mask. With the humidity in Florida there would be more people having respiratory attacks keeping their mouths covered and anyone on portable oxygen where the condensers recycle oxygen would be breathing in more CO2. The park is mostly out in the open and sunlight, both aids against the virus. The parks can require their staff to wear them as a requirement, and we can distance, but if people pay the money to go to the parks, just like during flu season, they need to wash their hands, have clean habits and have fun.
I’m curious if they can enforce the rules in US like they do in China. People who spend a lot of vacation sometimes feel entitled. I could see someone just taking the little sign that says not to sit at this table and moving it. I love Disney but I’ve seen my fair share of rude guests who feel like the rules don’t apply to them. What would be the consequences if you took your mask off or crowded another family?
I’m concerned about my current reservations. Will they honor them or dump everything and make me start from scratch with everyone else trying to get tickets?
I think it’s ludicrous to expect cast members and guest alike to wear a mask. I won’t go back if that’s a requirement, we are restricted as to the time of year we can go due to my husbands job and wearing a mask in late summer would be downright miserable. Funny how when this all started we were told NOT to wear masks, it was non effective and now they’re strongly recommended. It’s sad
I might consider wearing a mask for safety but what about my 5 year old grandson. I don’t think that would work but I do understand the need and for those who won’t or who cannot I would say you have to stay home
Nope, sorry, I wear one for work, nine hours a day. It is restrictive and stifling. I would not enjoy a day in the parks not being able to breath.
I would wear a mask
and what happens when people don’t wear masks
I dont mind wearing a mask but I def wouldnt be going in a hot month and a lot of people are going to refuse to do it so this will be interesting