Shanghai Disneyland to reopen May 11

SHANGHAI, China - The Walt Disney Company has announced Shanghai Disneyland will reopen on May 11, according to the Disney Parks blog.

The park has been closed since January 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, just 500 miles west of Shanghai.

CEO Bob Chapek making the announcement on an earnings call Tuesday.

Although Disney reopened parts of the Shanghai resort, this will be the first Disney theme park to reopen after being closed because of COVID-19, and could shape how other theme parks will reopen.

The theme park will use multiple measures to ensure guest safety including:

• Physical Distancing: Disney announced the park will have limited attendance and will need to make reservations for specific dates they will be attending, in order to control the number of people in the park. They will be looking to use their apps to aid in their efforts
• Gradual reopening: The park may reopen slowly or open only certain areas of the park.
• Cleanliness and sanitation: Cast members will increase cleaning and disinfection in high-traffic areas like railings.
• Screening and prevention support: Using guidance from the government and the medical community on enhanced screening and prevention measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), like face masks. Disney has already added hand sanitizers and washing stations across the resorts.
• Cast training: New training and reinforcement will be provided to cast members as the park gets closer to reopening.

Disneyland remains closed indefinitely.