Though Disney has started to reopen its Orlando, Florida, theme parks, not all fans are eager to visit just yet.
On Saturday, when Disney opened Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom for the first time since March, the resort posted a video advertisement on Facebook. In the clip, masked employees, also known as cast members, are seen preparing the parks and cleaning classic rides, while also saying "welcome back" to parkgoers. In the background, triumphant music is playing.
Some Disney fans love the video, while others have voiced their opinions about visiting a theme park in the midst of a pandemic by showing the ad in a more sinister light.
A number of people have edited Disney World's recent ad with ominous music, suggesting that visiting the theme park might not be safe just yet
On Twitter, numerous people uploaded new versions of Disney's video, though with scary music borrowed from "The Shining" and "Stranger Things" in place of the theme park's cheerful tune.
—Charlie Gee (@Charlie_A_Gee) July 9, 2020
—Snore-antine (@TimSatre) July 11, 2020
—My hands carry em' (@RMsrightairpod) July 11, 2020
Actress Kat Dennings shared her own edit of the advertisement, adding the "Stranger Things" theme music to the background. Above the video, she wrote: "fixed it."
—Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) July 11, 2020
Actor Jimmi Simpson, on the other hand, changed the video's dialogue by adding voice-overs that said "stay home" in place of "welcome back."
—Jimmi Simpson (@jimmisimpson) July 12, 2020
Others said the video made them eager to visit.
"This video gave me tears," one person wrote underneath the video on Disney World's Facebook page. "Regardless of the 'whether it's right or wrong' argument, it's heartwarming to see places we love and have missed terribly. If you're comfortable going, enjoy your visit and have a wonderful time. If it's too early for you, magic will be waiting until you're more comfortable."
"Brought tears to my eyes as we all need a little magic now more than ever," another person commented.
Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opened on Saturday with new safety guidelines and a limited number of parkgoers
Disney World's new COVID-19 guidelines are listed on its website, where the theme park has shared this disclaimer: "An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death."
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and Guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable," Disney's disclaimer continues. "By visiting Walt Disney World Resort you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19."
As Insider's Darcy Schild reported, those who visited the theme parks on Saturday experienced these new safety measures firsthand. Guests were required to wear masks throughout the resort, get their temperatures checked before entering, and stand in long, socially distanced lines to take part in rides and attractions, among other guidelines.
While nonessential travel is currently not recommend in the US by the CDC, experts say there are ways to minimize your risk of contracting viruses like COVID-19 while in public spaces like Disney World.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for health security, previously told Insider that those who choose to visit Disney theme parks during the pandemic should follow "as much social distancing as you can given the fact that you are in a situation where you are trying to reduce the harm from this virus rather than completely eliminate it."
"It's just the general type of stuff that we've been saying all along," she continued. "Wash your hands a lot, don't touch your face, and try to avoid congregate settings. That's basically the most that you can do. That's the best way that you can protect yourself and the rest is sort of based on the engineering controls and the type of stuff that's going on [at Disney] to make it less likely that you encounter the virus, but nothing is going to be without risk."
Representatives for Disney World did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
- Read more:
- Disney World is reopening in July, but the pandemic isn't over. Here are the risks and what you can expect.
- Walt Disney World reopened Saturday after being closed for months. Here's what it looked like when visitors returned to the park.
- 23 Disney theme-park dishes you can make at home
- Disney fans aren't all keen on the newly painted Cinderella Castle, but the park says it's still putting 'finishing touches' on the landmark
