One of Florida’s largest amusement parks will begin reopening this summer.
Walt Disney World, dubbed “the most magical place on Earth,” plans to reopen its parks Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11 and Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. Jim MacPhee, senior vice president of operations at the resort, unveiled the gradual reopening plan during a presentation to Orange County’s Economic Recovery Task Force on Wednesday.
With limited capacity, visitors and tourists of the resort will be required to undergo a temperature check and to wear masks throughout their visit. A “social-distancing squad” consisting of the park’s cast members, who often dress as iconic Disney characters such as Cinderella and Prince Charming, will enforce the rules.
Florida officials in Orange County unanimously approved Disney’s plans to reopen, requiring a final decision from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Universal Orlando, a competitor of Disney’s theme parks, is set to reopen on June 5.
According to the New York Times, there have been approximately 52,200 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Florida, with 2,258 deaths.
