A whole new world: 14 photos of Shanghai Disneyland on reopening day

Limited visitor numbers and a ban on photocalls with characters are in place at the Chinese attraction

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Disney-loving visitors streamed into Shanghai Disneyland on Sunday, May 11 as the park reopened after a three-month closure.

The Chinese park is the first Walt Disney Company resort to reopen: tickets for its opening day sold out in minutes. Guests entering the gates at Shanghai Disneyland were greeted with new park rules designed to protect visitors and staff from Covid-19.

Guests wearing Mickey Mouse ears and princess costumes passed temperature scanners as they entered to the sound of classic tunes like When You Wish Upon a Star

Face masks are now mandatory throughout the park, and social distancing markers have been placed at all queuing points.

Ticket numbers are limited to 20 per cent of normal operating capacity. All visits must now be pre-booked and guests must abide by the specified entry time stated on each booking.

On the first day of its reopening, tourists stepped into the resort wearing face masks, but several visitors were seen removing face coverings to take pictures inside the Magic Kingdom.

Guests wearing Mickey Mouse ears and Disney princess costumes passed temperature scanners as they entered to the sound of classic Disney tunes like When You Wish Upon a Star and A Whole New World playing on loudspeakers.

Not all rides inside the park are operating, and those that are limit cars to one group of visitors to keep strangers separated. Guests hoping to get up close with some of their favourite characters may be disappointed, as close-up photos with characters are temporarily banned.

epa08413838 A tourist poses for photos in the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai, China, 11 May 2020, the first opening day after the prolonged closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.  EPA/HU MIN CHINA OUT
A tourist lowers her face mask at Shanghai Disneyland on the first day of the park's reopening. EPA/HU MIN CHINA OUT

Many visitors flocked to take pictures in front of the Enchanted Storybook Castle which, at more than 60 metres tall, is the largest Disney princess castle in the world. The castle will light up every day at dusk with a music and light spectacle that is set to temporarily replace night-time parades and fireworks.

Every guest that enters Shanghai Disney Resort must present a green Health QR Code. These health codes are linked to China's government ID cards or passports, and are used to assess the infection risk of each user. Green codes allow people to move freely around while those with yellow or red codes must follow detailed isolation procedures.

The reopening of Shanghai Disneyland is one of the largest test cases yet of whether mass gatherings can take place safely amid the coronavirus pandemic. The park typically welcomes nearly six million visitors every year.