The phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks begins this Saturday, July 11, with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. On July 15 we will see the reopening of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Earlier this week, Cast Member previews gave us a look into some of the precautions and safety measures Disney is implementing to keep all Guests and Cast Members safe. While things may look a little different as the gates open, we are all eager to get back into the parks and explore this new world. Take a look at the video released by Disney Parks Blog for a quick look into the Magic that awaits us:
Well, I don’t know about you, but that brought tears to my eyes! Everything looks great and with Cast Member training and a focus on Health and Safety, the parks look ready to welcome guests back. Per Disney Parks Blog, here is a brief summary of the guidelines being implemented.
- Health & Wellness
- Limited and carefully managed attendance through advanced ticket purchases and reservations.
- Reduced capacity and physical distancing measures.
- Temperature checks for all guests at entry to theme parks.
- Face covering requirements.
- Handwashing and hand sanitizer locations throughout parks.
- First aid locations staffed by experienced nursing staff.
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Increased cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and high-traffic areas.
- New procedures and increased cleaning for resort stays.
- Technology Solutions
- Use of Disney Apps such as My Disney Experience to view hand sanitizer locations, explore digital menus, and more.
- Limited-contact options such as Mobile Order and cashless payments, as well as Magic Bands and online check-in.
- Cast Member Training & Workplace Safety
- Additional training for Cast Members on new measures and personal health & hygiene.
- Workplace health & safety by increasing frequency of cleaning in workplace areas, promoting physical distancing and introducing new protocols such as temperature checks and face coverings.
- Health screenings for cast members through temperature checks and remaining home when ill.
- Working Together
- Guest communication through shared information during planning, adding signage in parks, physical distancing , and more.
- Following guidelines encouraged by trained cast members explaining procedures, answering questions and promoting the following of all safety measures.
- “Together We Can Make Today Incredible” campaign: a health and safety campaign featuring characters from the Incredibles movie.
Clearly, Disney has put a lot of training and attention to detail into the health and safety measures they have implemented. As we see the official reopening of the parks and resorts, there are sure to be additional safety measures and guidelines added. Guest cooperation with these new requirements and guidelines is going to be essential. We all need to do our part so we can get back to enjoying the magic, safely and responsibly.