Walt Disney Company Clears Latest Safe Reopening Hurdle

PHOTO: Disney Security team saluting the American flag in Town Square at Magic Kingdom Park. (photo courtesy of Walt Disney World News)

The Walt Disney Company announced Thursday it had reached an agreement with its employee union on a new set of health and safety guidelines to protect workers from coronavirus.

According to Reuters.com, Disney and the Service Trades Council Union (STCU) agreed to a series of new preventative measures designed to safeguard employees, including social distancing practices, increased cleaning and mandatory masks for workers and guests.

The STCU represents around 43,000 workers at Disney World in Orlando.

Company officials recently announced Disney Springs would reopen on May 20 with a limited number of shops and restaurants open and altered hours of operation to control crowd size.

While the agreement with its employee union and the reopening of Disney Springs are positive steps, no date for opening Disney World back up to the public has been revealed. Earlier this week, though, the company’s official website began accepting hotel reservations for July.

Disney started closing theme parks in Asia, France and the United States in late January as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, a move that cost the company more than $1 billion between January and March.

In addition, Disney was forced to furlough around 120,000 employees, but positive signs from the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland this week has the theme park industry cautiously optimistic for the near future.

Disney World is planning a phased reopening with enhanced safety measures, but there is no set date for any official reopening.

Disney World Eyes Phased Reopening With Limited Capacity, Enhanced Safety Measures

Main Entrance to Walt Disney World Florida photo credit Dave Jones.

Disney Springs has announced it will begin a phased reopening on May 20 with limited capacity, parking and operating hours.

Under the initial phase, a limited number of shopping and dining experiences owned by third-party operating participants will open.

Walt Disney World Resort also issued an update on its overall reopening strategy on Thursday, stopping short of announcing a reopening date but confirming that it will limit capacity and encourage social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

"Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences and other offerings may be modified and will be limited in capacity and subject to limited availability or closure, based on direction from health experts and government officials to promote physical distancing," Disney said.

"Additionally, attractions, experiences, services and amenities may have limited availability or may remain closed. We will provide more information as it becomes available. We reserve the right to cancel any reservations, admission media or purchases and provide applicable refunds. Please also see our policies regarding cancellations by guests," the update reads. "Our focus remains on the health and safety of the entire Disney community—including the well-being of the cast members who are caring for and securing our parks and Resorts during the closure. We’re currently evaluating new and enhanced safety measures to help us all stay well."

The update comes on the heels of a message from Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Dr Pamela Hymel outlining the steps the company will take to safely reopen.

Shanghai Disneyland is scheduled to reopen with controlled capacity on Monday.

Disney has reported massive losses since temporarily closing its parks in mid-March. However, a new report predicts a positive long-term outlook for theme parks in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Downtown Disney to be transformed into Disney Springs

By Jerry Limone

Disney on Thursday unveiled plans to transform Downtown Disney, a shopping and dining district at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, into Disney Springs.

The re-imagined destination will “draw inspiration from Florida’s waterfront towns and natural beauty,” Disney said.

Construction is slated to begin next month, with new areas opening in phases. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Disney Springs will include four outdoor neighborhoods: Town Center, The Landing, Marketplace and West Side.

The Town Center will offer shopping and dining along with a promenade. Disney describes The Landing as a commercial district “with inspired dining and beautiful waterfront views.”

Marketplace will feature an over-the-water pedestrian causeway and an expanded World of Disney store.

Disney said the West Side neighborhood will “provide an exuberant atmosphere with lively entertainment, along with a series of new elevated spaces that provide both shade and an overlook to the activity below.”

Neighborhoods will be interconnected by a flowing spring and lakefront. Disney also plans a new gateway and a signature water tower for the destination.

Disney Springs will have twice as many shops, restaurants and other venues (about 150 establishments) as Downtown Disney, the company said.