Shanghai Disneyland Reopening: New Safety Measures

Shanghai Disneyland will reopen on 11 May after closing on 25 January due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Now, as lockdown restrictions are easing across the country, Disney will partially open the theme park to visitors under “enhanced safety measures”.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek stated that the Shanghai park will be the first of its 12 closed theme parks to reopen. The Chinese government is limiting park capacity to 30%, which equates to approximately 24,000 guests. However, Mr. Chapek mentioned that the theme park will operate at capacities “far below that” during its initial reopening days. Typically, this park welcomed around 80,000 visitors daily before the pandemic.

“We know how much our guests have been looking forward to returning to Shanghai Disneyland, and our cast is excited to begin welcoming them back,” Mr. Chapek said. “As the park reopens with significantly enhanced health and safety measures, our guests will find Shanghai Disneyland as magical and memorable as ever.”

Key Guidelines for Visiting

• Guests are required to purchase admission tickets valid for a specific date.
• Annual Pass holders must make a reservation in advance.
• Social distancing measures will be enforced; guests must maintain six feet (two metres) distance in rides, restaurants, and other facilities.
• Increased sanitation and disinfection measures will be implemented throughout the park.
• All visitors and staff must wear masks and undergo temperature screenings before entry.
• A contact tracing app will be utilized to monitor proximity to infected individuals.
• Cast members will receive training on procedures emphasizing contactless guest interaction.

As of 9 March, Shanghai Disneyland has already partially reopened some shopping and dining facilities, while Hong Kong’s resort has opened hotels. However, all Disney parks in North America, Europe, and Asia have remained closed for over a month. With no reopening timeline announced, it is anticipated that Shanghai’s enhanced safety measures will be adopted across other parks when they eventually reopen.