<![CDATA[See the surreal scenes from Disney World’s reopening after lockdown]]> https://usagag.com/2020/07/13/see-the-surreal-scenes-from-disney-worlds-reopening-after-lockdown/ Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:29:07 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com See the surreal scenes from Disney World’s reopening after lockdown The “happiest place on Earth” is doing its best to convince visitors it is also among the safest.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida reopened its doors to guests on July 11, three months after shutting them in March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Masked staff welcomed back visitors to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Parks as confirmed cases of the virus surge to record levels in Florida.

But Disney hopes to prevent any in-park spread through new safety protocols. In addition to workers wearing face coverings, Disney’s website states that guests are also now required to mask up, submit to temperature screenings and maintain social distance from others.

The new mandates have significantly changed the atmosphere of the park. A clip and photos taken on opening day show new signage and sanitation stations, and there are also now regular audio reminders to guests. “About every 10 minutes there is a park-wide Health and Safety announcement. Reminding guests to distance, wear their mask and more,” @thrillgeek, who documented Disney’s first day reopened, wrote on Twitter.

Another Twitter user compared a promotional reopening video to “Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance,” changing the video’s original audio to the 1982 experimental film’s dark, dystopian-sounding Philip Glass soundtrack.

For diehard Disney fans, though, the reopening is a hopeful occasion. “We’re happy to be here,” a masked mom says in a clip, walking through the park with her family. “Welcome home,” says a staffer, waving and visibly smiling, despite her face covering.

This weekend, Florida set a new record for the highest number of single-day Covid-19 cases: The state recorded over 15,000 cases on Saturday, shattering New York’s previous highest amount of 12,847 set at the height of the pandemic in April.

Despite the new record, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to resist calls for a statewide face-mask mandate.

A young guest wears a mask as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2020. Disney opened two Florida parks, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Saturday with limited capacity and safety protocols in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP

Tigger entertains guests wearing masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2020. Disney opened two Florida parks, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Saturday with limited capacity and safety protocols in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP

Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World while taking the big plunge on Splash Mountain at the park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2020. Disney reopened two Florida parks, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Saturday with limited capacity and safety protocols in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP

Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2020. Disney reopened two Florida parks, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Saturday, with limited capacity and safety protocols in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP

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