Walt Disney World reopens with distancing measures amid COVID-19 surge

Unions representing 17,000 workers at Walt Disney Co's&nbsp;Disneyland Resort in California have told the state`s governor they are not convinced the theme park will be safe enough to reopen by the company's July target date.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/star-wars-and-disney-hail-hero-john-boyega-for-powerful-black-lives-matter-speech-303092" hreflang="en">'Star Wars' and Disney hail 'hero' John Boyega for powerful Black Lives Matter speech</a> 
 
In a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, the unions said they had been in discussions with Disney since mid-March when Disneyland was closed to help curb the coronavirus pandemic. The resort in Anaheim, in southern California, houses the Disneyland theme park and the California Adventure Park, both of which the company aims to reopen July 17. 
 
"Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced it is safe to reopen the parks," the letter from the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions said. 
 
A Disney spokesperson said Friday the company had put the safety of workers and guests "at the forefront of our planning"."We look forward to continued dialogue with our unions on the extensive health and safety protocols, following guidance from public health experts," the spokesperson said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hong-kongs-disneyland-to-reopen-on-june-18-after-coronavirus-break-305922" hreflang="en">Hong Kong's Disneyland to reopen on June 18 after coronavirus break</a> 
 
The California Department of Public Health said theme parks would be able to welcome guests when the state reaches Stage 3 of its phased reopening plan. It is currently in Stage 2. 
 
The agency said it would release guidelines on how to minimize coronavirus spread at theme parks, but said there was no timetable yet for when the guidance would be issued.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/barbra-streisand-makes-george-floyds-daughter-disney-stockholder-305890" hreflang="en">Barbra Streisand makes George Floyd’s daughter Disney stockholder</a> 
 
Disney plans to reopen <a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/florida-officials-approve-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-301960">Florida's Walt Disney</a> World on July 11 with extensive measures ranging from requiring masks and temperature checks to suspending activities such as parades that create crowds. 
 
The Disneyland unions said the company had accommodated some concerns. But there were "numerous questions Disney has not answered, including any serious discussion of `testing` - which has been the cornerstone of plans for other areas of the entertainment industry reopening," the unions said. "Therefore, at this point we do not know if the resort can be operated safely," the letter said.

Unions representing 17,000 workers at Walt Disney Co's Disneyland Resort in California have told the state`s governor they are not convinced the theme park will be safe enough to reopen by the company's July target date.

Unions representing 17,000 workers at Walt Disney Co's Disneyland Resort in California have told the state`s governor they are not convinced the theme park will be safe enough to reopen by the company's July target date. Also read: 'Star Wars' and Disney hail 'hero' John Boyega for powerful Black Lives Matter speech In a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, the unions said they had been in discussions with Disney since mid-March when Disneyland was closed to help curb the coronavirus pandemic. The resort in Anaheim, in southern California, houses the Disneyland theme park and the California Adventure Park, both of which the company aims to reopen July 17. "Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced it is safe to reopen the parks," the letter from the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions said. A Disney spokesperson said Friday the company had put the safety of workers and guests "at the forefront of our planning"."We look forward to continued dialogue with our unions on the extensive health and safety protocols, following guidance from public health experts," the spokesperson said. Also read: Hong Kong's Disneyland to reopen on June 18 after coronavirus break The California Department of Public Health said theme parks would be able to welcome guests when the state reaches Stage 3 of its phased reopening plan. It is currently in Stage 2. The agency said it would release guidelines on how to minimize coronavirus spread at theme parks, but said there was no timetable yet for when the guidance would be issued. Also read: Barbra Streisand makes George Floyd’s daughter Disney stockholder Disney plans to reopen Florida's Walt Disney World on July 11 with extensive measures ranging from requiring masks and temperature checks to suspending activities such as parades that create crowds. The Disneyland unions said the company had accommodated some concerns. But there were "numerous questions Disney has not answered, including any serious discussion of `testing` - which has been the cornerstone of plans for other areas of the entertainment industry reopening," the unions said. "Therefore, at this point we do not know if the resort can be operated safely," the letter said.

The US Disneyland workers say proposed July reopening may be too early

Tokyo Disneyland will be closed starting from Saturday through to March 15 due to concerns about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-state-of-emergency-declared-in-san-francisco-282798">coronavirus</a> infections spreading in Japan, its operator said on Friday, leaving all of Walt Disney Co's theme parks in Asia temporarily shut.

Also see:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-movie-shoots-to-award-show-events-that-have-got-affected-due-to-coronavirus-282912"> From movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus</a> 
 
Both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea will be closed after a government recommendation that big gatherings and events be curtailed for two weeks, park operator Oriental Land Co Ltd said. 
 
&nbsp; <img alt="tokyo " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e46f4c57-16e4-46d9-a188-f4ea7bef56db" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%2884%29_0.jpg" />

The move also comes after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for all schools to close to stop the coronavirus spreading.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle-disney-closes-shanghai-park-as-china-deals-with-deadly-coronavirus-277356">Disney closes Shanghai park as China deals with deadly coronavirus</a>

"We plan to reopen on March 16, but we will make an announcement after keeping close contact with relevant institutions," Oriental Land said on its website. It said it would inform ticket holders of policies on refunds.

<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%2FaXU9LzExNDQwNDY1L1dpb25ld3NfVmlkZW8vV2lvbmV3c19QcmVyb2xsJmRlc2NyaXB0aW9uX3VybD1bcGxhY2Vob2xkZXJdJmVudj12cCZpbXBsPXMmY29ycmVsYXRvcj0mdGZjZD0wJm5wYT0wJmdkZnBfcmVxPTEmb3V0cHV0PXZhc3Qmc3o9NjQweDQ4MCZ1bnZpZXdlZF9wb3NpdGlvbl9zdGFydD0xIn0sImxpYnJhcnlSZXF1ZXN0ZWQiOnRydWV9LCJoZWFsdGhBbmFseXRpY3MiOnt9fSwiaHRtbDUiOnRydWV9" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>

Disney's Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks remain closed for more than a month, and the company earlier this month warned of a negative impact on its second quarter results. 
 
It said on an earnings call on Feb. 5 that closure of the Shanghai park could impact operating profit by about $135 million if closed for 2 months.

Tokyo Disneyland will be closed starting from Saturday through to March 15 due to concerns about coronavirus infections spreading in Japan, its operator said on Friday, leaving all of Walt Disney Co's theme parks in Asia temporarily shut.

Tokyo Disneyland will be closed starting from Saturday through to March 15 due to concerns about coronavirus infections spreading in Japan, its operator said on Friday, leaving all of Walt Disney Co's theme parks in Asia temporarily shut. Also see: From movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus Both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea will be closed after a government recommendation that big gatherings and events be curtailed for two weeks, park operator Oriental Land Co Ltd said. The move also comes after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for all schools to close to stop the coronavirus spreading. Also read: Disney closes Shanghai park as China deals with deadly coronavirus "We plan to reopen on March 16, but we will make an announcement after keeping close contact with relevant institutions," Oriental Land said on its website. It said it would inform ticket holders of policies on refunds. Disney's Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks remain closed for more than a month, and the company earlier this month warned of a negative impact on its second quarter results. It said on an earnings call on Feb. 5 that closure of the Shanghai park could impact operating profit by about $135 million if closed for 2 months.

Tokyo Disneyland to close through mid-March on coronavirus concerns