Shanghai Disneyland reopens, serving as blueprint for Disney’s California and Florida parks

The reopening of Shanghai Disneyland with a host of mandated COVID-19 health and safety measures is expected to serve as a blueprint for how Disney’s U.S. theme parks will need to function if they hope to swing open their gates in the next few months.

The Shanghai Disneyland theme park in China reopened on Monday, May 11 with additional health and safety measures including face masks, temperature checks, reduced attendance, social distancing and constant sanitization.

SEE ALSO: Disney rolls out post-coronavirus plan for reopening Shanghai Disneyland theme park

The first Disney visitors of the post COVID-19 era were welcomed into the Shanghai Disneyland theme park on Monday morning at 9 a.m. (6 p.m.Pacific time) following a three month-plus coronavirus closure of the park.

The $5.5 billion Shanghai Disney resort closed on Jan. 25 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Shanghai Disneyland resort had previously reopened its outdoor shopping mall and a hotel.

SEE ALSO: Disney theme parks face $21 billion coronavirus loss through 2022, analysts warn

Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks, three hotels and outdoor shopping mall were shuttered in mid-March and remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttering of the Anaheim parks was preceded by closures of Disney parks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Japan and followed by closures of Disney resorts in Florida and France.

California theme parks can’t reopen for months based on a plan laid out by Gov. Gavin Newsom in a four-stage roadmap for reopening the state’s economy.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland coronavirus closure could stretch to June with attendance slump through 2021, analysts warn

Advanced reservations were required for Monday’s reopening of Shanghai Disneyland and tickets sold out in minutes when they were posted online. Attendance was limited to 24,000 visitors — about 30% of Shanghai Disneyland’s 80,000 capacity.

“We’re going to actually open up far below that just to have our training wheels on with our new procedures and processes to make sure we don’t have any lines backing up either as guests enter into the park or as they wade through the park,” new Disney CEO Bob Chapek said on a conference call with analysts. “We’re going to approach that very, very slowly.”

SEE ALSO: When will Americans feel safe returning to theme parks?

Visitors arriving at Shanghai Disneyland passed through a temperature screening tent. Anyone with a temperature above 37.3 degrees Celsius (approximately 99.1 degrees Fahrenheit) was prohibited from entering. All visitors were required to wear a mask during their entire visit — except while dining. Signs on the ground of the security queues read “Please do not stand here.”

“We did various studies with our guests,” Shanghai Disneyland senior vice president of operations Andrew Bolstein said during a Chinese media tour of the park. “We found it was easier to tell the guests where not to stand and then leave the empty space where they can stand.”

All visitors with advanced reservations were required to show their China government ID and Shanghai QR health code to gain entrance to the park.

#LIVE #ShanghaiDisneyland reopens to the public on May 11 after #COVID19 disruptions. The number of visitors is limited, and indoor performances, daily parades, and children’s play zone remain closed. Join The Paper at the reopening ceremony! https://t.co/exmcX1rh7f

— The Paper 澎湃新闻 (@thepapercn) May 11, 2020

A 90-minute live-stream by China’s Pengpai News gave viewers around the globe a front row seat from their homes to watch the opening ceremony and first guests arriving at Shanghai Disneyland.

The Shanghai Disneyland brass band played during a reopening ceremony attended by Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald.

A steady stream of socially distanced visitors in Minnie Mouse ears and Disney princess dresses walked down Mickey Avenue around 9 a.m. Monday Shanghai time. Thor, Mulan, Buzz Lightyear, Elastigirl, Olaf and other Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters waved hello from a balcony over the entry portal of Shanghai Disneyland.

The park was in full bloom with spring flowers throughout the Gardens of Imagination. Visitors took their masks off to smile for a photo in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle before quickly putting their masks back on.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland construction crews return for limited ‘essential work’ during coronavirus closure

By Disney theme park standards, the “sold out” Shanghai Disneyland looked like a ghost town. There were wide open spaces for as far as the eye could see and no crowds in sight. By 10:30 a.m. Shanghai time the wait was still 5 minutes for the Tron Lightcycle Power Run roller coaster and Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for Sunken Treasure — the park’s two marquee attractions.

Social distancing was enforced in attraction queues and on rides — with riders sitting in every other row and empty seats left between parties. A few fans waited in line for the Fantasia Carousel — with each group maintaining social distance. The merry-go-round was three-quarters full during one ride with the horses naturally spread more than 1 meter apart.

While most rides were open, several attractions were closed for health and safety reasons — including the Camp Discovery Challenge Trails elevated ropes course and Shipwreck Shore water play area.

SEE ALSO: What Florida’s guidelines for reopening Disney World could mean for Disneyland

Nighttime spectaculars and traditional parades that typically draw big crowds were jettisoned amid social distancing concerns. The Mickey’s Storybook Express parade was scheduled to be replaced by the Mickey and Friends Express character procession during the day. The Ignite the Dream fireworks show was scheduled to be replaced by the Evening Magical Moments projection show on Enchanted Storybook Castle at dusk. The Captain Jack Sparrow stunt show and Frozen sing-along show were cancelled until further notice.

Live shows that typically draw smaller crowds had yellow boxes on the ground —– each separated by a meter of space — to indicate where individual parties could stand to watch the performances. Donald Duck and Chip n’ Dale were expected to lead Tai Chi exercises in the Gardens of Imagination. Captain Marvel, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange were scheduled to take the stage in Tomorrowland.

Woody, Jessie and Bo Peep were expected to patrol Toy Story Land on a mission to find lost toys. Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder planned to dance to the music of traveling troubadours in Fantasyland. The day’s scheduled called for pirates to engage in mayhem, mischief and frivolity in Treasure Cove and break out into sword fights in Voodoo Alley near Doubloon Market.

“With our limited numbers of attendees every day we believe everyone will be able to see almost everything they want,” Bolstein said during the media tour.

Close-up photo opportunities with Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters were prohibited.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland resort hotels push back reservations until July

Social distancing was the new normal in Shanghai Disneyland restaurants, too. Dining room occupancy was reduced by 50%. Table tent cards indicated which tables were unavailable. Queues with markers were established outside restaurants.

“With lower attendance levels at the beginning we don’t foresee very many queues at all,” Bolstein said during the Chinese media tour. “But if we do have queues we’re prepared.”

Shoppers were urged to touch only the merchandise they intended to purchase. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique hairstyle salon was closed.

SEE ALSO: Will Mickey Mouse wear a coronavirus mask when Shanghai Disneyland reopens?

China news video taken inside the park showed Disney employees sanitizing and disinfecting trash cans, handrails and other frequent touchpoints. Hand sanitizer stations were installed at restaurants, stores and attraction entrances and exits.

“We will have cast members throughout the park doing continuous wiping down, sanitizing and disinfecting all the high-touch surfaces,” Bolstein said during the Chinese media tour. “We will have cast members at the entrance of every attraction reminding our guests to maintain social distancing.”

SEE ALSO: Disney unveils coronavirus masks with Mickey Mouse, Hulk and Baby Yoda characters

Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to be the next of Disney’s 12 theme parks to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic. Temperature screening tents have been set up outside the Hong Kong Disney gates. Entry queues are dotted with “please maintain social distance” and “no standing please” signs on ground. The resort’s Disney Explorers Lodge and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel have begun accepting reservations starting May 15, according to WDW News Today.

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