This past weekend, on Halloween evening, Shanghai Disneyland suddenly locked down the park, announcing it was no longer accepting any new visitors and was cooperating with Shanghai city officials due to a possible COVID issue.
According to reports from multiple sources, a woman who visited Shanghai Disneyland on Saturday either later tested positive for Covid or came into contact with someone who had it prior to her visit.
Because of this, Chinese government officials ordered the park to lock down with everyone in it on Sunday.
All 33,863 people who had been inside the park when it shut down had to take COVID tests, and were only allowed to leave after they tested negative.
A message on the park’s website stated: “Dear Guests, Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and patience over the past few days, as Shanghai Disneyland and Disneytown suspended operations according to directives on pandemic prevention and control.”
The park also states on its website that all Shanghai Disney Resort Cast Members and Third-Party Employees returning to work have completed two Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) tests within 48 hours per prevention and control requirements, with all results negative, and are strictly following CDC self-health monitoring guidelines. All environment samples collected have been tested negative.
As of today, November 3, both Shanghai Disneyland and Disneytown will resume operations. The park says for guests whose travel plans were impacted, contact the original place of purchase with your inquiries, or to request a refund or exchange.
It’s not surprising this happened considering China’s strict anti-COVID measures and policies that include requiring visitors to quarantine for three weeks upon arrival, and requiring those in a hospital to stay another two weeks after recovery.
The country is also ramping up security and COVID protocols, with the Bejing Winter Olympics starting in a few months on Febrary 4, 2022.
Not the Disney vacation one wants, but it’s good to hear everyone was safe and healthy.
Here is the video of the reopening today from China Xinhua News: