With all six Disney parks around the globe now reopen after their shutdown due to the global spread of COVID-19, the resorts are slowly bringing back their pre-pandemic entertainment offerings. The latest to come back is the nightly fireworks show at Disney World.
Here’s the latest on COVID-19 rules in Disneyland, Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, and what you can expect when visiting.
Disney World: Fireworks are now back
Disney world: Reopened July 11, 2020
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has finally brought back its fireworks show as of July 1. The night-time spectaculars, called “Happily Ever After” in the Magic Kingdom and “Epcot Forever” in Epcot, will entertain guests nightly with fireworks, projections, lights and music.
It follows Disney World slowly relaxing its COVID measures through 2021. Disney announced May 12 it’s gradually removing the social distancing requirements from Disney World in outdoor areas. It will maintain the 6-feet requirements only in indoor dining locations, stores and areas where guests can remove their masks. As of May 15, it became optional to wear masks in outdoor areas and pool decks, and on June 11 Disney World announced masks are optional for guests who are fully vaccinated, except while on the monorail, Disney buses and the Skyliner.
Disney reopened Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom almost a year ago July 11, 2021, with Epcot and Hollywood Studios following on July 15. The Orlando Disney parks have a new reservation system to limit capacity, and fireworks and parades have been suspended. Disney World resorts and hotels began reopening in late June 2020, while the Disney Springs shopping and dining area reopened May 20.
Disney World has announced it will begin using iPhones and Apple Watches as tickets to the parks later this year, with the Florida resort set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in October.
Read more: Disney World reveals new Boo Bash Halloween party
Disneyland Paris: Marvel hotel suites now open
Disneyland Paris: Reopened July 15-Oct. 29, 2020; June 17, 2021
Disney’s Hotel New York: The Art of Marvel opened June 21, taking on an NYC-themed hotel and adding more than 350 pieces of Marvel artwork to its halls and rooms. There’s also a selfie spot with Spider-Man, other photo stations, the Marvel Design Studio for kids to learn how to draw superhero comic books, a Hero training Zone, Marvel-themed cocktails and meals, and 25 suites themed for the Avengers.
The hotel opening followed Disneyland Paris reopening on June 17, including the new Cars Road Trip attraction at Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney’s Newport Bay Club Hotel and the Disney Village shopping and dining area.
The new Cars attraction will transport guests “into a Cars-themed version of a road trip on Route 66,” where they’ll encounter “natural wonders like The World’s Largest Lugnut and the Cars-tastrophe Canyon, while encountering popular characters such as Lightning McQueen and Mater,” Disneyland Paris said.
Both theme parks at Disneyland Paris had originally reopened July 15, 2020, but the French parks closed again on Oct. 29 in line with new guidance following another wave of COVID-19 cases across the continent. Disneyland Paris had hoped to reopen from Dec. 19 until Jan. 3 in time to celebrate the holidays, but was forced to remain closed. The next plan was to reopen on Feb. 13, but this was pushed to April 2 — and then again to June 17.
Disneyland: Face masks now optional
Disneyland: Reopened April 30, 2021 for California residents; fully reopened June 15
Under new California theme park guidance issued March 5, Disneyland reopened on April 30, but only residents of California were permitted to enter the parks until California removed the tier system June 15. Guests who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks at the parks anymore, but Disneyland will not require proof of vaccination.
Avengers Campus opened June 4.
You can read everything on Disneyland’s reopening here.
Hong Kong Disneyland is open
Hong Kong Disneyland: Reopened June 18-July 15 and Sept. 25-Dec. 2; reopened again Feb. 19
Hong Kong Disneyland reopened on June 18, 2020, with reduced capacity, enhanced health measures and a new reservation system — but then closed down again on July 15 after a spike in coronavirus cases in the region. The theme park reopened Sept. 25, but remained closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays and required advance online reservations.
Hong Kong Disneyland was forced to close down for a third time on Dec. 2 due to a resurgence in cases. “As required by the government and in line with preventive efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland park is temporarily closed,” the park said. “We are in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation and will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable.”
Disney Parks then reopened Hong Kong Disneyland on Feb. 19 to continue celebrations for the park’s 15th anniversary. Hong Kong Disneyland is open five days a week, remaining closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To attend, you can make a reservation seven days before arriving — or nine days if you’re a Magic Access Platinum member of the theme park. You’ll also need to undergo a temperature screening, wear a face mask and scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” QR code.
Tokyo Disney Resort is open
Tokyo Disney: Reopened July 1, 2020
Disney Parks announced on June 23 that it would be opening Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea on July 1.
The Tokyo Disney Resort said June 4 that the opening date for the Tokyo Disneyland major expansion area will be determined once the situation can be gauged after reopening both parks.” The extensive expansion — which includes a Beauty and the Beast-themed area and a Baymax ride — was originally slated to begin opening on April 15, 2020.
Disneyland Shanghai is open
Disneyland Shanghai: Reopened May 11, 2020
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced May 5 that the Shanghai park would reopen Monday, May 11. It has limits on attendance, a reservation system to gain entry to the park, an entry control system, social distancing requirements, tape markings keeping guests distanced while in lines for rides, masks, temperature screenings, contact tracing and government-required health procedures. It increased capacity from 30% to 50% of the park on Aug. 24, and also restarted its fireworks show.
Shanghai began opening restaurants and stores on March 9 in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, requiring all guests to undergo temperature screening, present a green Shanghai QR health code at dining venues, constantly wear a mask and “maintain respectful social distances at all times.”
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