Credit: Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images

New mandates are forcing the park to re-close.

After closing down in January due to the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, Hong Kong Disneyland reopened its doors in June, albeit with new health and safety requirements like temperature checks, social distancing mandates, and mask requirements. Unfortunately, due to a new mandate from Hong Kong politicians, the park is being forced to re-close for an indeterminate period of time.


On Monday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced several new measures in an effort to control the spread of the virus in the region. These new measures include things like large fines for failing to wear a mask, limits on public gatherings, heavier screenings on inbound travelers, and, most relevant to Disneyland, the closure of public attractions like theme parks.

“As required by the government and health authorities in line with prevention efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland park will temporarily close from July 15,” a Disney spokesperson told Bloomberg.

Credit: Kin Cheung/AP

Relative to its size, Hong Kong has been experiencing a large surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. As of yesterday, 1,469 cases of COVID-19 have been identified, and seven deaths have been reported. Schools have also been ordered into an early summer vacation, and restaurants and bars have been forced to carefully limit the number of patrons they can host.

Meanwhile, in the United States, several of the parks that comprise Walt Disney World in Florida have reopened, including Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, with the remaining parks slated to reopen this week. Unlike Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney World does not seem to be deterred by the rising coronavirus cases in the state, with Florida reporting over 282,000 cases and 4,277 deaths.