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Magic returns as Disney World prepares for reopening

Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will begin a phased reopening July 11.

News 12 Staff

Jul 9, 2020, 6:53 PM

Updated 1,625 days ago

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Magic returns as Disney World prepares for reopening
The magic is coming back as Walt Disney World Resort employees are preparing four theme parks for their phased reopening.
Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park are set to reopen July 11, while EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will reopen July 15. The parks will open with a significant reduction in capacity.
After being closed for nearly four months, Disney World theme parks are drawing on experience from Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disney Springs to reopen. There will be new policies in place following guidance from health experts and government agencies. In addition to controlled guest density, there will be new procedures for park entry, attractions, dining, retail, transportation and more. The focus of the planning is keeping guests and Disney cast members safe.
Disney says guests will still enjoy the same Disney theme park experience – just in new creative and innovative ways.
Check out some photos of the cast members getting ready and expected changes.
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Some of the bigger changes guests can expect are the Disney Park Pass Reservation System. The system requires all guests with a ticket or annual pass to make a reservation in advance for each park entry. Reservations will be limited in number. Guests, as well as Disney cast members, will be required to wear face coverings at theme parks, except while eating and drinking while dining. Guests will also be required to wear face coverings while riding any Disney World transportation, which will implement physical distancing and have limited capacity.
Guests will also be required to undergo temperature screenings prior to entry to a park. Rides, shops, and dining locations will all have capacity limits and implement physical distancing. High-traffic areas will receive increased cleaning, and guests are encouraged to use hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer located throughout the parks. Cashless transactions are also encouraged.
There are also new measures in place for safe dining at Walt Disney World theme park restaurants, including enhanced cleaning, reservations, Mobile Dine Check-ins and more.
And as for character experiences and entertainment, traditional character greetings and parades are on hiatus. But Disney assures guests that characters will appear in all four parks in new and different ways – making sure to bring smiles to everyone while maintaining proper physical distance.
Here's some photos from the July 11 reopening.
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