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NEW: Shanghai Disneyland Will Be Reopening On May 11

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Atiqah Mokhtar •  May 06, 2020

Since the COVID-19 situation began, many attractions have been closed as the world seeks to flatten the curve and prevent further spread of the coronavirus. And this includes theme parks, most notably all the Disney theme parks around the world! From Florida to Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai, the parks have been closed, with some having been closed since late January ?

Credit: Giphy

It's a sad but necessary  precaution, while also being a representation of our inability to travel anywhere at the moment as we hunker down and fight this pandemic together ?

Credit: Ryutaro Kamo on Flickr

But there are some fresh developments on the horizon that indicate that the turning point is coming: Disney has just been announced that Shanghai Disneyland, which was the first Disney theme park to close when the COVID-19 situation emerged, will be reopening on 11 May! The park will not be opening at full capacity, but instead will be operating within 30% of its maximum capacity, in-line with government guidelines, while also enforcing health and prevention procedures. This includes limits on the number of guests, controlled queues, advanced reservation and entry system, the use of the government's contact tracing systems, increased sanitization, temperature checks, special training for staff, and more. Guests must also wear a mask during their visit, except when dining.

Credit: Jeremy Thompson on Flickr

The park has been closed since 24 January of this year, the first Disney park to do so before being followed by Hong Kong, Tokyo (in February), and Paris and US (in mid-March). As China has begun easing restrictions put in place, on 9 March, portions of the Shanghai Disney Resort complex outside the main theme park (including Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disney Hotel) were re-opened, which paved the way for the main park to be reopened next week. For more updates, check out Disneyland Shanghai's website.

While the reopening of the other Disney theme parks around the world currently remains unknown, it's heartening to hear about Disneyland Shanghai reopening. It's a reminder that life after the coronavirus is on the horizon, for China as well as the rest of the world. It may take more time before things return to normal as how we know it, but as we continue to try to flatten the curve and practice proper precautions, it's important to remember that eventually, we'll come out on the other side and be able to continue exploring this world (hopefully with more care and gratitude too!) ❤️