The happiest place in the world is not-so-happy lately because of COVID-19, at least as far as the visitors of Shanghai Disneyland are concerned.
Shanghai Disneyland had reportedly closed its doors to the public again for an indefinite period due to COVID-19 concerns, trapping the visitors still inside the amusement park when it did.
The park's visitors are not allowed to leave the park unless they can show a negative COVID test, per the BBC.
Shanghai Disneyland Closure Situation Details
Shanghai Disneyland abruptly shut its gates on Oct. 31 following a snap lockdown due to a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak that has seen 2675 people testing positive for the virus, per Bloomberg.
According to reports from CNET and Channel News Asia, the implementation of the snap lockdown resulted in the trapping of Shanghai Disneyland visitors and Shanghai Disney Resort guests within the park and resort.
These people are unable to leave the amusement park and resort due to China's zero-COVID policy, which could be described as "draconian" as it implies "strict, targeted lockdowns and mass testing," per DW.
These lockdowns could last weeks, even months, as the city of Shanghai previously experienced from March to June.
Thousands are trapped inside Shanghai Disney and are not allowed to exit until they’re tested for COVID, as the Chinese government’s strict zero-COVID policy goes into effect again. pic.twitter.com/3Ur52L41qy
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 31, 2022
This lockdown is evidenced by the pictures and videos posted on social media, particularly Twitter, showing guests being close together as they seem to listen to the closing's announcement.
Posts on the Chinese social media site Weibo also showed similar videos, with people rushing to the park's many exits as soon as the closing was announced, only to find them already locked.
The lockdown is also reflected on Shanghai Disneyland's website, which now has a notice stating that the park is closed indefinitely from Oct. 31 "with immediate effect."
Despite the park's closing, rides have been reported to be running to entertain those trapped within, possibly to help them take the edge of their situation off occasionally.
Disney Resort guests can also look forward to the limited offerings" the resort is providing in line with guidelines from the country's health authorities.
This instance isn't the first time Shanghai Disneyland closed its doors to the public in an abrupt manner. The Happiest Place in the World (or in Shanghai, at least) suddenly closed in Nov. 2021 due to a visitor testing positive for the virus after their visit, according to NPR.
This closing trapped around 30,000 people within the park's premises, which could only leave if they tested negative for the virus.
How Will Guests Leave Shanghai Disneyland?
Fortunately for the people inside Shanghai Disneyland, there is a way out. Much like the previous abrupt closing, visitors who have visited the park since Thursday will need to submit to a COVID-19 test for three consecutive days to confirm if they're infected or not.
Should a visitor be found negative in all three tests, they are free to go. It is unknown what would happen to visitors if they tested positive for the virus.
Disney Parks has yet to address the situation in its Shanghai park.
