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Disney World reopens to the public this July 11: 6 things to know and observe

2020-07-11T08:31:15.007Z


Disney World reopens this Saturday, July 11. CNN Travel explains 6 things to consider, including temperature controls and dining and dining experiences.


Walt Disney World Resort Reopens 0:43

(CNN) –– For the most enthusiastic fans of Disney World, a very important date has finally arrived.

After closing its doors in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Walt Disney World Resort will begin a gradual reopening at 9 am Miami time this Saturday, even though covid-19 cases are skyrocketing in Florida.

  • READ: Do you plan to travel to Disney World? We explain how to get to Orlando

Now this is not the first Disney resort to resume activities. Three parks in Asia have already taken that milestone. However, it is the first Disney park in the United States to reopen (Disneyland remains closed for now), and CNN Travel will report from inside its facilities.

Disney World is the largest business in the universe of theme parks. And the eyes of this sector will be on him this weekend.

Here are six things that CNN Travel will be watching on Saturday:

1. Reservations and capacity

Two of the Walt Disney World Resort parks will reopen this Saturday: Magic Kingdom Park (pictured) and Disney's Animal Kingdom. EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios are expected to resume activities on July 15. (Credit: Matt Stroshane / Walt Disney World Resort)

According to the current schedule, this Saturday the reopening of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Park begins. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will open their doors on Wednesday, July 15.

Disney now has a new way for guests to enter, which was developed in the midst of the pandemic. It's called the Disney Park Pass. And it is somewhat complicated.

Guests must follow four steps to use the system:

  • Obtain a valid park ticket linked to a Disney account that has been set up online.
  • Register group members.
  • Select a date and park to attend.
  • Finally, review and confirm reservations.
  • You can check online the current availability of the park. Due to the accumulated demand and the reduced capacity of the facilities, the possibility of securing a reservation in the park you choose and for the dates you want may be somewhat limited at first.

    Disney and Sea World work to reopen in July 0:36

    For example, at 1 p.m. Miami time this Friday, parks were no longer available to annual pass holders for the rest of July. But, for August there was some availability, especially on weekdays at the end of the month. People who already have theme park tickets or who have a Disney Resort reservation still have openings and options in July. As for Hollywood Studios, finding places for July is difficult.

    As the situation is constantly changing, you may need patience and flexibility at first. Or you can be lucky and reserve your best options immediately.

    CNN Travel will analyze how the new system works and how many crowds draw Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on Saturday and the following days.

    • LOOK: Disney postpones the reopening of Disneyland, its park in California

    Florida has recently recorded some of the highest spikes in covid-19 cases in the United States and the world. No one can anticipate how that could affect things in the coming weeks.

    2. Temperature controls

    All visitors will be required to go through a temperature check before entering a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. (Credit: David Roark / Walt Disney World Resort)

    At this point, it should come as no surprise to visitors that they are required to go through a temperature check before they are allowed to enter. Here's what Disney can expect:

    “All guests must undergo temperature checks before entering a theme park. Under the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher will be directed to an additional location to repeat the checkup and receive assistance.

    "Those who again register 38 degrees Celsius or more will not be allowed to enter, nor will those who are in their group," added Disney.

    Incubating coronavirus may not be detected at temperature 0:35

    Julie Tremaine, a freelance travel writer with extensive experience in theme parks, said she is concerned that people experience high temperatures if faced with long waits in the relentless Florida sun.

    For his part, Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said it is very unusual - but possible - to have a result of 38 degrees Celsius or more from overheating compared to fever. that the body suffers when fighting an infection. And he added that this is particularly true for people whose normal temperature is higher than the average of 37 degrees Celsius.

    Schaffner said a second temperature control should prevent most problems.

    He said, in the case of someone who exceeds the 38-degree limit, "if that person gets under a tent, takes a cold drink and is allowed to rest, it will cool down quickly enough to pass control, assuming that I'm not sick and I don't have an infection. "

    • READ: Coronavirus symptoms: 10 key indicators and what to do

    Disney told CNN Travel on Thursday that secondary checks are performed in a cooler, under-tent area several minutes after the first test.

    Dr. Shannon Hopson, an endocrinologist in Corvallis, Oregon, shared her second opinion: "Body temperature can be increased by excessive heat, but I don't think this is especially common."

    Is this still something that worries you?

    Hopson's advice is to make sure you are well hydrated before you line up and protect your face with a hat or large brimmed cap. She also noted that, if you can, schedule your appointment to arrive in the morning, when it is less hot.

    In fact, Hopson is more concerned with potential covid-19 carriers that temperature controls will not detect.

    “The biggest problem with temperature controls is that they can provide a false sense of security. They are everywhere. We do them for patients and all the staff in my office, but they only detect sick people, ”said Hopson. "We know that asymptomatic carriers can transmit the coronavirus just like sick people, so there is no way to identify those people," he added.

    We will observe how temperature controls are developed and how the public reacts to them.

    3. Dining rooms

    Disney's Riviera Resort guests can see Minnie, Mickey, and the other characters over breakfast at Topolino's Terrace –– Flavors of the Riviera, the resort's rooftop restaurant. During the gradual reopening, the characters will maintain adequate physical distance as they parade through the restaurant. (Credit: Matt Stroshane / Walt Disney World Resort)

    Like restaurants anywhere else, Disney had to modify its normal dining experience and find new ways to deliver food and drinks to hungry and thirsty visitors.

    In a press release, Disney explained that "new measures will be implemented that promote health and well-being." So you can expect to see "improved cleaning in seats, restaurants, and common areas, as well as changes in self-service options."

    That easy would the covid-19 spread in restaurant 1:24

    Also, the park has detailed instructions on what diners can find. These are some of the highlights:

    "You will need to wear a face covering when entering and leaving restaurants, but obviously you can remove it when you are sitting and ready to eat."

    ––If you are a day visitor, you must have a dinner reservation at a Disney Resort restaurant. And if you are an overnight guest, doing this is highly recommended.

    ––Whenever possible, Disney offers cashless and contactless payments.

    On hot days, food is often a breaking point, especially with tired children. We'll see how the dining experience progresses, which restaurants open, and how the My Disney Experience app works when it comes to feeding the hungry.

    4. Interactions with characters

    Mickey Mouse will star in "Mickey and Friends Cavalcade" when Magic Kingdom Park reopens. (Credit: Olga Thompson / Walt Disney World Resort)

    Perhaps the most cherished memories of a visit to Disney are the children running with mad joy into the arms of a beloved character. Unfortunately, there will now be a "look but don't touch" policy for visitor interactions with Mickey and his friends during the pandemic.

    Now Disney will make it a visual spectacle.

    4 tips for effective social distancing 1:50

    In Magic Kingdom, "characters will ride along the traditional parade route throughout the day." And at Animal Kingdom, guests could witness "Disney characters sailing the Discovery River in special boats, such as Donald Duck, Daisy Paw, Pocahontas, and others."

    We will be attentive to how these meetings unfold. Will children still enjoy these sightings and be able to live without hugs?

    5. Attractions and lines

    Markings on the floor will help promote proper physical distance in the rows. And the attractions will not be full to the max. (Credit: Matt Stroshane / Walt Disney World Resort)

    So, there would be little point in limiting the park's capacity, requiring masks, and keeping characters separate from visitors, if you then allow people to line up in lines for activities and attractions.

    To that end, you will see signs of social distancing as you line up. And the attractions will work with empty seats, only allowing people of the same group to be grouped.

    Is social distancing effective? 1:13

    In its press release, Disney indicated that it hopes to open very popular attractions this Saturday, such as Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

    Writer Julia Tremaine stressed that you should be aware that there are no fast passes for now. Entrances to attractions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

    We will observe how the combination of fewer people in the park develops compared to the social distancing in the attractions. Will the waits be shorter, longer or more or less the same?

    6. The Disney experience during the pandemic

    Floor markings will help promote proper physical distance outside of retail stores. How long will those measures last?

    Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the reopening will be the reaction of visitors to all the new security measures. After all, going to the park in July 2020 will be very different from what guests usually enjoyed before the pandemic.

    Tremaine said: “The security measures at Universal Studios and Dollywood [in Tennessee] have not affected the enjoyment of the experience. The hand sanitizer before the rides and the spacing between the parties is not that difficult to handle. ”

    But what about a mask? And also from a sticky summer in Orlando.

    “It is definitely not ideal to have to wear a mask right now. I know die-hard Disney fans who say they won't be back until they can stop wearing masks. But I think that many people are willing to endure the heat, discomfort and discomfort of a mask if it means that we come to a place we love, "he added.

    • READ: What is the best material to make your own mask? Padded cotton beats the scarf, according to a new study

    “It's been a really bad few months. If a mask is the price for a little pixie dust in our lives, so be it, ”he insisted.

    Disney has confirmed that it has designated specific areas where families can take a break and remove their masks.

    Martin Lewison, associate professor of business management at Farmingdale State College on Long Island, New York, offers his perspective as a "roller coaster professor."

    "This is a good time to highlight that we, as theme park guests, often don't realize how much work is done behind the scenes at the entertainment attractions we visit," said Lewison. "Even the smallest regional amusement parks are quite complex operations, and the covid-19 has added another layer of intense complexity on what is already a complicated operation," he added.

    He said visitors should keep in mind that “theme park employees must also go through temperature controls, maintain social distance from each other, wear masks, and take meals and breaks in safe situations. They are also in unknown circumstances. The parks now have a more difficult balance between their allowable capacities and the demand for visitors and staff. ”

    If we use masks, will we stop the pandemic? 24:12

    What is your evaluation of the efforts?

    "What I have seen is that the parks have taken on a huge challenge and are doing an amazing job in a very uncertain new environment."

    Lewison has some tips for people who will visit the park on Saturday and after.

    The “main advice is always to make sure you carefully follow all the rules and regulations of the park, from the signage to the instructions of the cast members. If you're not sure, ask a staff member, he pointed out.

    He also said that you must be prepared so that some attractions are not available. As for the attractions that are operating, visitors should also expect to see some changes.

    • LOOK: How to wear a face mask? We answer all your questions

    For example, some attractions will no longer have an entertaining pre-show. These include Hunted Mansion, which has suspended the previous show "The Stretching Room" for now.

    In the end, it's all about preparation, Lewison insisted.

    “Make sure you have a comfortable mask, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, hand sanitizer (just in case, although the parks have done a lot to provide it), reservations, phone charger, water… all the usual things that improve your day in a theme park ”, he indicated.

    Finally, “Have fun! You are one of the lucky few in a theme park, and I'm jealous! ”He concluded.

    CNN's Natasha Chen contributed to this report.

    DisneyDisney Disney World Parks

    Source: cnnespanol

    All news articles on 2020-07-11

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