Disney World Bans Eating And Drinking While Walking
Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, certain parts of the entertainment industry are pushing forward with reopening plans despite the uncertainty ahead. Disney World is one such establishment and it is introducing safety protocols that visitors will have to follow.
Variety reports that the theme park now forbids its guests to eat and drink while walking around in the park. This is because some guests have been using a loophole in the park’s safety rules to not wear masks. Before this change, Disney World visitors were allowed to take off their masks if they were eating or drinking.
The change was first brought up by blogs focused on the Disney theme parks. Before long, the theme park’s website confirmed the rule change. Under the section for face coverings, the rules state everyone above the age of two is required to wear a mask. Face masks can still be removed when eating or drinking, but those who do so will be required to stay stationary.
Deadline points out that the Florida theme park has been criticized for pushing ahead with its reopening despite the rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of Florida. The criticism comes despite the measures the theme park has put in place to ensure that the park does not become an infection hotspot.
For instance, the reopening was planned to happen in phases, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom opening on July 11 and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot on July 15. Payments were also made contactless whenever possible and ordering at restaurants can now be made over mobile.
Other health and safety measures implemented by the theme park include the enhancement of sanitation and disinfection protocols, temperature checks for staff and visitors alike, handwashing stations, the suspension of parades and meet-and-greets, as well as limiting the number of visitors.
The insistence on reopening the theme park despite the rise in infections comes from the big hit Disney suffered from the closures brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic. Disney earned $26 billion in theme park ticket sales last year, making up 37 percent of total revenue. The coronavirus-induced closures have resulted in a 58 percent drop in profit from theme parks and similar products.
Whether Disney World remains open in the long run remains to be seen as coronavirus cases in the United States and around the world continue to rise.
According to the July 20 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now 3,761,362 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States. Deaths caused by the virus are now at 140,157.
Globally, the World Health Organization’s July 20 situation report pegs the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 14,348,858 people. The number of people that have died from COVID-19 is now at 603,691.