Image Source: Getty / Joe Raedle [1]
Walt Disney World is officially welcoming back its annual passholders for park previews on July 9 and 10. The theme park's partial opening has come despite the fact that Florida currently has 223,783 confirmed cases of COVID-19 [2] — and that Disney employees recently petitioned to push back the park's grand reopening [3]. According to Walt Disney World News Today, registration for the annual passholder preview [4] began on June 29 and was sold out by noon the same day.
Per Walt Disney World's website [5], families must follow strict guidelines. Aside from making online reservations, guests 2 years and older will be required to wear masks, and there will be temperature checks at entry points. Additionally, patrons will be required to practice social distancing, and there will be extra attention given to cleaning, especially in high-traffic areas.
"An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death," Walt Disney World's website says. "According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting Walt Disney World Resort, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19."
Despite these risks, families are lining up to experience the park.
Here's the line to get into the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. Photo = @photogtony [7] #DisneyWorld [8] pic.twitter.com/IYDk8rPi8i [9] — Real Time Traffic 🚦 Spectrum News 13 (@MyNews13Traffic) July 9, 2020 [10]
Additionally, Florida-based reporter Justin Soto and photographer Caitlin Casavecchia visited Walt Disney World to interview guests. They captured photos of attendees in masks, stations where families get their temperatures taken, and various social-distancing markers.
Passholders I spoke to in Magic Kingdom on day 1 of Passholder preview say coronavirus safety changes are clear, but the @WaltDisneyWorld [11] experience feels the same. — JSotoNews13 (@JSotoNews13) July 9, 2020 [15]
Live report with an inside look on @MyNews13 [12] at Noon 🏰
📸: Caitlin Casavecchia#DisneyWorld [13] pic.twitter.com/bwqGR9TtIm [14]
Walt Disney World plans to reopen to the general public on July 11 with the aforementioned safety guidelines.