Complete details of Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening, and why you should care

Shanghai Disneyland’s phased reopening starting May 11 is something all Disney fans should be keeping an eye on, even if they never plan to head to Shanghai.

This will be the first test for Disney to reopen a park in a region after COVID-19 has subsided. The procedures outlined below will most likely not be followed exactly in all other parks, especially in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Each park is different and might have a variety of different protocols put in place depending on location and local government regulations.

One primary consideration in Shanghai is that Disney does not own the entire resort. The Walt Disney Company owns 43% of the resort, and Shanghai Shendi Group, a joint venture of three companies owned by the Shanghai government, own the remaining 57%. That means the government has a large say in safety measures. Another consideration is that the Chinese government is using a “health code” system to control people’s movements and curb the spread of the coronavirus. The color-coded QR Codes are assigned to citizens as an indicator of health status. That is obviously not taking place in the U.S.

In general, during the Shanghai park’s initial reopening phase, it will institute new measures and procedures, including opening with limited attendance and required advance ticketing and reservations; accommodating social distancing in queues, restaurants, ride vehicles and other facilities throughout the park; and implementing increased frequency of sanitization and disinfection, according to the Shanghai Disney Resort.

Let’s get into the specifics:

Park capacity: Normally, the park’s capacity is 80,000 people a day. The government is asking Disney to go to 30 percent capacity, or 24,000, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said on Tuesday’s earnings call. The park will open far below that amount to allow the cast members to get used to new protocols and to monitor lines to make sure they are not excessive and social distancing is being observed. After a few weeks, Chapek anticipates going up to the 30 percent threshold, which should increase as time goes by.

Dated admission: On-site sales will not be available in Shanghai. Guests will only be allowed into the park with a pre-purchased ticket for the specific date. Ticket sales will be available via the resort’s official online channels and through official travel partners beginning May 8 at 8 a.m., with a limited number of tickets available each day during the initial reopening. Annual Passholders must make a reservation for their visit date and time through Shanghai Disney Resort’s official online channels before their visit. During this “Advanced Reservation Period,” General Admission tickets for Shanghai Disneyland will not be accepted.

Entrance requirements: The park will require guests to submit basic personal information for each person, including name, phone number, ID type and ID number prior to arriving at the resort. A Shanghai Disneyland Reservation QR Code will be provided after the successful submission of the required identification information, and guests will be required to present the code before entering the park. The health QR Code also will be needed prior to arrival and to enter any location at the resort. A valid China government ID card or valid travel document will be needed for entrance. Guest will undergo a temperature screening upon arrival and be required to wear an approved mask during the entire visit, with the exception of dining.

Rides, shows and shopping: On May 11, the majority of Shanghai Disneyland’s attractions, rides, some shows, shopping and dining locations will resume operations, with controlled attendance. Some interactive attractions and experiences, such as children’s play areas and theater shows will remain closed.

Parades, nighttime spectaculars: To accommodate social distancing, parades and nighttime spectaculars will also return at a later date.

Disney characters: During the initial reopening phase, a special Disney character procession, Mickey and Friends Express, will take place several times daily, and the Enchanted Storybook Castle will come to life with light and music at dusk each day with Evening Magical Moments. Beloved Disney characters will appear in the park in a new way, as they make appearances in each of the themed lands, greeting and welcoming everyone back to Shanghai Disneyland. Close interaction and close-up photos with characters will be suspended during the initial phase of reopening.

Cleanliness: The park is increasing its standards for cleanliness throughout the park by increasing the frequency of sanitation measures by cast members and adding hand sanitizers at attractions, restaurants and stores.