“In response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and Cast,
Shanghai Disney Resort is temporarily closing Shanghai Disneyland,
Disneytown including Walt Disney Grand Theatre and Wishing Star Park,
starting January 25, 2020,” the company said in a statement posted on
the Shanghai Disneyland website. “We will continue to carefully monitor
the situation and be in close contact with the local government, and we
will announce the reopening date upon confirmation.”Disney’s decision
follows the announcement that all local film releases scheduled for the
highly lucrative Chinese New Year period have been canceled as
authorities try to stave off a potential spread of the coronavirus.
The cities of Wuhan and neighboring Huanggang were in virtual lockdown, with transport in and out of the cities closed, and
restrictions in place in other areas as well. The latest outbreak has
killed 25 people and infected more than 800.
The $5.5B Shanghai Disneyland, which opened in mid-2016, was Disney’s first theme park in mainland China. The estimated financial
impact on the closure was not immediately clear.
Disney said guests who purchased tickets or booked hotel rooms would be reimbursed for the cost.
