The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented closures for all the Disney Parks around the world. Now as things start to reopen I thought here at Boardwalk Times we would list all the reopening dates in one spot.
Shanghai Disneyland: Open since May 11
The park was closed on January 25, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shanghai Disneyland would be the first resort back up on May 11. Shanghai Disneyland is currently providing the model for the future reopening of the other Disney Parks when it comes to the strict rules and social distancing.
Hong Kong Disneyland: Open since June 18
Hong Kong Disneyland was the second park to reopen. The park operates at limited capacity and follows strict social distancing rules. The resort will also slowly return its hotel services too. Hong Kong Disneyland’s new castle “The Castle of Magical Dreams” is in its final stages of construction.
Tokyo Disneyland: July 1
Tokyo Disney Resort is often cited as Disney’s most profitable theme resort, and now it will reopen on July 1. Oriental Land Company is the operator for the resort.
Tokyo Disney Resort has been closed around four months due to COVID-19. Daily attendance will be limited to around 15,000 people. Tokyo Disney Resort will be doing the same safety protocols as other resorts. The resort will be using a reservation system to prevent having guest congestion.
Walt Disney World: July 11 and then July 15
Walt Disney World Resort will begin its reopening process for its parks with the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom on July 11. Followed by the reopening of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on July 15. The resort is following all the safety measures for COVID-19. The NBA is also going to finish its season at Walt Disney World.
The resorts at Walt Disney World started to open back up on June 22. Disney Springs, the entertainment district at Walt Disney World, has been open since May 20.
Disneyland Paris: July 15
On July 15, Disneyland Paris will begin their phased reopening starting with Disneyland Paris Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney’s Newport Bay Club hotel, and Disney Village. Disneyland Paris will also be utilizing a reservation system and will follow all the new safety protocols.
Disneyland Paris is reopening despite the Government of France saying it was against the law to have a gathering of more than 5,000 people until at least September.
Disneyland Resort: July 17
UPDATE: Disneyland has decided to delay its reopening date.
Disneyland Resort has a proposed plan to reopen in phases starting with Downtown Disney District on July 9, then if all goes well and they get approached Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park will reopen on July 17. This will then be followed by the reopening of hotels on July 23.
July is the month that the magic truly returns for The Walt Disney Company at least on the Disney Parks side. If you haven’t already, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro wrote a great letter about the parks reopening across the globe. At the end of the day, it is better to have hope and optimism than to live in constant fear. We are on our way back to brighter days.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
