It’s gonna take more than a “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo” to get everyone on board with the reopening of Disney this past weekend. On July 11th, 2020 Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks reopened in Orlando, FL. The grand reopening comes amid a massive surge of COVID cases in Florida, with some sources referring to the Sunshine State as the new COVID epicenter.
The first guests allowed to visit the parks had to have a previous reservation and ticket that had been impacted by shutdowns earlier this year due to the global pandemic. Park-goers must wear masks and have their temperature checked when entering.
Additional safety measures include frequent sanitation of rides and attractions as well as hand sanitizer stations throughout the parks. Social distancing guidelines are in place and the park is only allowing 50% of maximum capacity into the parks.
However, when it comes to the implementation of these policies, Disney may talk the talk but doesn’t seem to be walking the walk. Many attendees said that the distancing in lines wasn’t followed, the hand sanitizer was frequently empty, and the sanitation of rides was not kept up like Disney said it would be. Disney also declined to get regular testing done for cast-members, instead focusing on masks and sanitation as primary preventative measures.
“The world is changing around us, but we strongly believe that we can open safely and responsibly,” said Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s theme park chairman, in an interview with the New York Times. “Covid is here, and we have a responsibility to figure out the best approach to safely operate in this new normal.”
With over 15,000 cases reported over the weekend in Florida alone, is Disney’s re-opening a responsible choice? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
