People visit Shanghai Disneyland as it reopens after three-month coronavirus closure

Gulf Today Report

Shanghai Disneyland reopened following a more than three-month coronavirus shutdown as China moves nearer to normality and Walt Disney Co. seeks to plug the flow of red ink caused by the pandemic.

The theme park in China's most populous city is the first of the entertainment conglomerate's six main Disney resorts around the world to reopen, but does so under the shadow of the coronavirus.

It welcomed a capped number of visitors who had to pre-book tickets, have their temperatures checked on arrival and show a government QR code designed to prove they are not a health risk.

Visitors wearing protective face masks pose for a picture at Shanghai Disney Resort.

On a warm and hazy morning, speakers on a recorded loop asked people to wear masks at all times and reminded them to obey social distancing, including in queues and on rides.

Staff held signs instructing "please maintain a proper social distance from other guests" and yellow lines and posters on the ground showed people where to stand when waiting.

Disney said there would be increased frequency of sanitisation and disinfection, and the park will limit or suspend performances that often include interaction between visitors and characters such as Mickey Mouse.

A visitor dressed as a Disney character takes a selfie at Shanghai Disney Resort.

Despite the measures and persistent fear of new infections, tickets for the first day sold out within minutes after going on sale Friday.

"Though many areas are still closed we are very much looking forward to the first day of reopening and wondering what's the difference inside today compared to before," said a woman who gave the English name "Kitty" and was with her excited five-year-old daughter.

"We have stayed at home for around two months and got bored enough."

Visitors take a selfie in front of Donald Duck at the Disneyland theme park.

Andrew Bolstein, senior vice president of operations at the resort, said the "vast majority" of attractions and facilities were open and they will be "adding more and more as time goes on".

Disney shuttered the Shanghai Park in late January, followed by others in the United States, France, Japan and Hong Kong.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek said last week that "we are seeing encouraging signs of a gradual return to some semblance of normalcy in China".

Disney has, meanwhile, delayed the release of more than a dozen major films as cinemas have closed.