Disney World reopens in Florida despite spike in Covid-19 cases – in pictures

The theme park has put new safety rules in place, including temperature checks and mandatory use of masks, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus

Guests arrive at the transportation center at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening, in Orlando, Florida, on July 11, 2020. AFP

Guests snap souvenir photos at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening. AFP

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. AP

Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP

A guests gets her temperature taken before entering the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP

Guests arrive to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP

Visitors to the Disneyland Resort head toward the exit after a morning of shopping on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District. AP

Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP

Maria Delgadillo takes a selfie with her mother Rosa Torres at the entrance to Disneyland on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP

Guests wear masks at Disney's Animal Kingdom during an annual passholder preview Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP

A view of Mickey Mouse at the Walt Disney World theme park entrance in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme park is scheduled to reopen on Saturday despite a surge in new Covid-19 infections throughout Florida. AFP

Wait times were low for Expedition Everest Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP

Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes such as plastic dividers on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. AP

Lacey Robinson, left, and Erica Shaw relax after an early morning drive from Bakersfield to attend the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP

A Disney employee runs a line to get in to the virtual queue for World of Disney on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP

Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP

Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened on Saturday as the US hit a new record in the number of Covid-19 cases, with Florida becoming the new epicentre.

For more than three months, Disney’s flagship theme park was closed due to the pandemic. It was the first in line for the company’s phased reopening, with the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks now open, to be followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15.

Disney has introduced safety measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease, including temperature checks upon entry and the mandatory use of face coverings, unless one is swimming, eating or drinking. Disney employees are also required to wear masks.

There will be increased disinfection of common spaces and frequently touched surfaces.

Visitors must make reservations online beforehand to ensure entry, and they will not be allowed to go between the different parks.

The reopening is not without its critics. Around 19,000 people, among them workers at the park, signed a petition asking Disney to delay the reopening. In addition, the actors' union that represents 750 Walt Disney World performers has filed a grievance against the company, claiming retaliation against members over the union's demands to be tested for Covid-19.

Weeks into the global shutdowns caused by the pandemic, Disney Co suffered a total loss of $1.4 billion across its theme parks, retail stores and TV operations, as revealed in its financial results in May. By reopening Disney World, the company hopes to allay some of that damage.

However, coronavirus cases in the state continue to climb, with daily death rates approaching their worst period in early May. On Friday, deaths had reached 4,102, along with 11,433 new cases. Confirmed cases in the state are now up to 240,000.

Across the US, new infections are also on the rise, breaking single-day records with 68,000 new cases on Friday. The total number of cases in the US is up to 3.4 million.

In California, Disneyland, the company’s other major attraction, remains closed. Its reopening has been delayed beyond July as Governor Gavin Newsom has urged a slowing down of the lifting of restrictions. A new date has yet to be announced.