Disney World Reopens as Florida Reaches Record-Breaking Coronavirus Numbers

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 11, 2020

It is understandable that many of us would like to get back to some sense of normalcy, especially since the end of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be nowhere in sight. For the past few weeks, the number of positive cases has skyrocketed around the country, with Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas being the hardest hit. And even as Disney World opens its doors this week, residents of our great state are starting to wonder if the rush to reopen perhaps wasn’t the best decision.

At their core, amusement & theme parks are designed to attract families and large groups of people from all over the world. Roller coasters jammed up with long lines of excited riders, restaurants booked solid with diners for delicious dinners, parades featuring street-side entertainment as far as the eye can see. These types of places, including Disney World, would typically be packed to capacity from open till close. But not anymore. In fact, the “Happiest Place on Earth” looks drastically different these days due to the coronavirus.

It was mid-March when Disney made the decision to close down all of its Central Florida theme parks and resorts. Since then, executives have been working tirelessly to come up with a reopening plan that ensures the safety and health of its visitors while adhering the social distancing guidelines and recommendations that have been put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are the first two of four parks to reopen its doors to the public, with Epcot and Hollywood Studios following suit next week. To start, all parks will operate at 50% capacity, temperature checks will be given at your transport to the entrance gates, and proper face masks are mandatory. Social distancing signage encouraging the “6 ft. rule” has been placed strategically throughout the parks, and hand sanitizer stations have been installed to encourage good guest hygiene. Popular character performances/meet-and-greets have all been cancelled for now.

There are sure to be a lot of bumps in the road as the tourism & travel industry attempts to safely navigate the coronavirus, if such a thing is possible.

Sources:

• Disney World reopens: Take an inside look at the Magic Kingdom today
• Disney World reopens as coronavirus cases surge in Florida

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.