Disney World resumed its operation last July 11th after shutting down for nearly four months due to Covid-19. Due to the threat of the pandemic, the Florida theme park has encountered a lot of cancellations and fewer visitors since their reopening which prompted them to reduce an hour or two on their operating hours staring September 8th. The new schedule and other changes can be found on Disney World’s Website.
PEOPLE.COM: Disney World to Cut Theme Park Hours Due to Lower-Than-Expected Attendance amid COVID-19 Pandemic
People.com shared last weekend that Disney World will be reducing their operating hours in September amid lower-than-expected attendance due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are both losing an hour of operation at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Epcot is cutting back by two hours and the Animal Kingdom is losing an hour in the morning and an hour at the end of the day.
People.com further mentioned that with their reopening, Disney announced numerous new health and safety protocols that guests and staff are required to adhere to.
Disney is asking all guests ages 2 and older to wear a face mask at all times while inside their parks — except for when drinking and eating or visiting one of the parks’ “relaxation zones.” This includes while riding on any of the attractions.
Other changes include requiring visitors to make reservations for each park online prior to admission, significantly lowering the number of guests allowed in, and reducing capacity on rides, various modes of transportation and in restaurants and retail stores.
USA TODAY: Disney World to cut theme park hours in September as visits drop amid COVID-19
In a related news, USA TODAY reports that after lower-than-expected attendance amid the coronavirus pandemic, Disney is scaling back operating hours at the Magic Kingdom and several other Florida theme parks.Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will all lose an hour or two per day starting Sept. 8.
Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are ending their day an hour earlier. Epcot is cutting back by two hours. Animal Kingdom is shaving an hour off on both ends of the day.
Disney’s revised hours:
Magic Kingdom: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Epcot: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hollywood Studios: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Animal Kingdom: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
USA TODAY also disclosed that after being closed for nearly four months, Disney World reopened in July with restricted capacity and safety protocols such as mandatory masks and temperature checks upon arrival. But parks have experienced a falloff in visitors from out of state amid steep declines in long-distance travel.
The Walt Disney Co. lost nearly $5 billion in April, May and June, while its theme parks were shut down altogether. It cost the company $3.5 billion just to close the parks during the third quarter, on top of the $1 billion it cost to shut them down the second half of March.
