Coronavirus: Shanghai Disneyland opens after COVID-19 shutdown

SHANGHAI — The first guests in 3 1/2 months have been welcomed back to Shanghai Disneyland.

“To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” ☀️ Good morning from Shanghai Disneyland! https://t.co/BjL5u9Qjl4 #DisneyMagicMoments pic.twitter.com/SNetuOKZPM
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 11, 2020

Normally, the park can hold about 80,000 guests and 12,000 cast members, but the park is operating at 30% capacity.

The Chinese government said the park can welcome 24,000 people a day; however, Bob Chapek, Disney’s chief executive, said the company would reduce ticket sales to below that number to ensure safe park visits, The New York Times reported.

Still, CNN reported, the number of visitors was fewer than that, and employees outnumbered those visiting the park.

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Those visitors who have decided to go visit the China Disney park are required to wear masks and have their temperatures taken. They also must social distance and abide by the tape marks on the ground that keep people 6 feet apart.

There was also preplanning on the part of those trying to gain entry.

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Shanghai Disneyland Theme park staff hold a placard to raise the awareness for social distancing, at the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, as it reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland The Disneyland theme park is seen in Shanghai as the theme park reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, speaks during its reopening ceremony after the coronavirus closure in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions(AP Photo/Si Chen) (Si Chen/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Visitors, wearing face masks, wait to enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Joe Schott, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, center right, stands with staff and characters park staff as the park reopened after the coronavirus closure, Monday, May 11, 2020, in Shanghai, China. China’s most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. (AP Photo/Chen Si) (Chen Si/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Joe Schott, center, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, speaks, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, during its reopening ceremony after the coronavirus closure in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Mickey and Minnie Mouse take the stage in a reopening ceremony for Disneyland in Shanghai as the theme park reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil/AP)

Shanghai Disneyland Visitors, wearing face masks, enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions. With warmer weather and new coronavirus cases and deaths falling to near-zero, China has been reopening tourist sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing.(AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (Sam McNeil/AP)

They had to book timed entry tickets online so there was not an influx of people. They also have to show a green QR Shanghai health code, CNN reported.

While in the park, visiting characters and riding rides, parkgoers were frequently reminded to leave their masks on and practice safe social distancing.

Most rides were open, except for a children’s play area and interactive locations that involve people touching surfaces, CNN reported.

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Parades were suspended since people crowd the sidewalks to see the show, The New York Times reported.

Also, character hugs and high-fives were not allowed, but photos with Mickey and the gang were still happening, just at a distance.

Park president and general manager Joe Schott told The New York Times, “It has been an emotional morning. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

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For some visitors, it wasn’t the rides, character greetings or even the merchandise that called them back. It’s the fact that they can once again go to their happy place and celebrate the hope that the coronavirus pandemic will eventually come to an end.

It’s not about being able to ride Space Mountain again. It’s about having the hope that things will be alright, that we’ll get out of this dark time and be able to be happy and celebrate life once more. This is a historic moment and I’m so happy it’s here. ❤️#ShanghaiDisneyland https://t.co/tGrnSqcFst
— Vincent 👓 (@vincentvision4D) May 11, 2020

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Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the U.S. have not announced plans to reopen. Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs entertainment and retail district will be part one of a phased opening with some stores and restaurants planning to resume business May 20.