Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has reopened for the first time in nearly four months after it was forced to shutter amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Visitors flocked to the theme park Saturday morning, despite the fact that Florida is one of the nation’s COVID-19 hotspots, with more than a quarter of a million cases confirmed.
On Saturday, the state recorded an additional 11, 433 new infections, taking the total number to 254,511.
92 Floridians died from the contagious virus overnight, with state’s cumulative death count now at standing at 4,197.
Meanwhile, the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration reported that almost 85 percent of the state’s ICU hospital beds are now full.
However, the alarming statistics did little to deter crowds who excitedly arrived at Walt Disney World where both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopened to the public.
‘It’s the chance to come back and be in the magic,’ Diane Watkins, a preschool teacher from Helena, Alabama,told The Associated Press.
‘Hot or not, mask or not, we’re just happy to be here. I feel like everybody here is in the same frame of mind. Everybody is just so excited to be here.’
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has reopened for the first time in nearly four months after it was forced to shutter amid the coronavirus pandemic. Guests were undeterred by the soaring number of COVID-19 cases across the state
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has reopened for the first time in nearly four months after it was forced to shutter amid the coronavirus pandemic. Guests were undeterred by the soaring number of COVID-19 cases across the state
Masked on Main Street! Disney’s new rules include mandatory masks and social distancing. Visitors will need reservations to enter a park, and they won’t be allowed to hop between parks
Groups were seen respecting social distancing guidelines, and all patrons wore masks
Watkins visits the park around eight times a year, and said she cried when she walked into the Magic Kingdom and saw all the cast members lined up and clapping on Main Street.
Lori Lovell of Evansville, Indiana, was also there for the park’s reopening on Saturday, accompanied by friends.
‘I have missed coming here. This is where I’ve made so many memories. It’s kind of our second home. Not being able to come here was hard,’ she stated.
Disney’s new rules include mandatory masks and social distancing. Visitors will need reservations to enter a park, and they won’t be allowed to hop between parks. Both visitors and employees will receive temperature checks when they enter. Fireworks shows and parades have been suspended to prevent drawing too many people together.
Park-goers say that nearly everyone in sight wore masks on Saturday morning.
Hand sanitizer stations were set up, and photos showed guests respecting the physical distancing cues and guidelines. Since the park is at lower capacity, wait times for rides have significantly shortened.
Whereas guests would once line up for 90 minutes to experience some rides, they are now able to get through in just five minutes.
A tent is set up outside the Magic Kingdom to screen the temperature of arriving guests
However, visitors aren’t allowed to hug and greet the costumed Disney characters – who instead wave from motorcades as they make their way through the park.
Disney executives believe the opening is safe, and everything has been done in accordance with state guidelines.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks, experiences and products division.
‘This is the new world that we’re operating in, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon,’ chairman of Disney’s parks, experiences and products division, Josh D’Amaro, said Saturday.
‘I feel really good about our environment. We’re taking this seriously,’ he added.
Disney has been opening its parks back up around the globe for the past two months
The reopening of parks in Asia helped provide assurance about moving ahead in Florida.
According to Fox News, Mayor Jerry Demings was also feeling upbeat about the reopening, stating: ‘I will say that even though the virus is still within our community, we have to learn to live with it.
‘And so, what Disney is doing is really, I call it, akin to a living laugh because this is a wonderful experiment to figure out if we can reopen and reopen our theme parks and do so in a safe manner.’
Guests enter the Magic Kingdom during the reopening at Walt Disney World