Shanghai Disneyland will indefinitely shutter its gates once again as China steps up a strict zero-COVID policy in response to the country’s worst coronavirus outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.
Shanghai Disneyland closed on Monday, March 21 as coronavirus cases rose in the city and the local government announced tightened COVID-19 health and safety restrictions, according to Reuters.
“Due to the current pandemic situation, Shanghai Disney Resort, including Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park will be temporarily closed from Monday, March 21st, 2022,” according to a statement from Shanghai Disneyland. “We will continue to monitor the pandemic situation and consult local authorities, and will notify guests as soon as we have a confirmed date to resume operations.”
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Shanghai Disneyland becomes the second Disney theme park to reclose amid the latest wave of omicron outbreaks in China. Hong Kong Disneyland closed on Jan. 7 under COVID-19 health and safety restrictions and will remain closed at least through April 20.
Shanghai Disneyland began reducing crowd capacity and suspending indoor shows last week amid the surge in omicron-related COVID-19 cases, according to WDW News Today.
Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney theme park to close in January 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions with all Disney theme parks around the globe closing in the weeks and months that followed. Shanghai Disneyland was also the first to reopen in May 2020 with all Disney theme parks worldwide eventually resuming operations.
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What do the closures of Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland mean for Disneyland, Walt Disney World and other Disney’s theme parks around the world?
Disneyland continues to monitor and adapt its COVID-19 health and safety protocols to align with state and local guidance, according to Disneyland officials.
Disneyland dropped mask requirements in mid-February when California lifted a statewide COVID-19 health and safety mandate requiring masks indoors.
While the closure of Shanghai Disneyland in January 2020 served as a harbinger of the closures of Disneyland and Walt Disney World in March 2020, the latest closures of Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland don’t appear to be having any impact on Disney’s U.S. parks.
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Since the summer, Disney’s theme parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai have faced much stricter COVID-19 restrictions than the parks at the Disneyland and Disney World resorts.
The sharp contrast in COVID-19 restrictions largely has to do with the approaches taken by local governments.
Chinese health officials have imposed wide-sweeping lockdowns on social life in Shanghai, Hong Kong and other cities whenever a relatively few number of COVID-19 cases have emerged.
California health officials lifted most COVID-19 restrictions in June 2021 as Gov. Gavin Newsom was facing a recall election triggered in part by his response to the pandemic.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a laissez-faire approach to the pandemic and encouraged Disney World and the state’s tourism economy to reopen in July 2020.
Neither California or Florida health officials have significantly stepped up COVID-19 health and safety restrictions since the omicron variant triggered the most recent surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
Disney parks on both coasts show no signs of trimming back attendance or ramping up COVID-19 precautions as they move into the busy Spring Break season. Disneyland is preparing to bring back nighttime spectaculars that draw large crowds starting in April.
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The latest lockdown in Shanghai comes amid authorities fears of another wave of coronavirus infections brought on by a surge in omicron-related cases and hospitalizations.
Shanghai reported a record daily surge in COVID-19 on Monday with 24 cases and 734 asymptomatic infections, according to Reuters. Although the numbers are small by global standards, China has taken a “dynamic clearance” approach to COVID-19 infections, shutting schools, movie theaters and entertainment venues while sealing off dozens of residential compounds to limit the spread of the virus, Reuters reported.
In November 2021, Shanghai Disneyland temporarily closed for two days over a single COVID-19 case. Shanghai Disneyland visitors were banned from leaving the park and a mass testing site was set up where nearly 34,000 visitors were tested for COVID-19.
Hong Kong Disneyland has been closed by local COVID-19 restrictions more often than any other Disney park around the globe. The current closure marks the fifth shutdown for the Hong Kong theme park.