When will the magic return? Disney World is still empty just days after Hollywood Studios and Epcot reopened with no characters or live shows as cases continue to spike in Florida
Walt Disney World Florida remains a ghost town despite the reopening of its final two theme parks as coronavirus cases in Florida spike.
Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios reopened Wednesday after Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom welcomed back visitors over the weekend.
However lines were short, many areas remained deserted, some restaurants and stores stayed closed and live performances were off.
The theme parks had been shuttered since March because of the coronavirus but their long awaited reopenings have only seen small numbers of guests return.
They reopened as Florida broke the 300,000 barrier on confirmed cases Wednesday.
All of the Disney parks have new health and safety restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus, including a cap on the number of visitors being allowed in due to social distancing.
The area around Cinderella's Castle at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park in Florida remained quiet on Wednesday despite the park reopening over the weekend. The park has a limit on the number of guests that can enter to maintain social distancing
Empty streets throughout Disney's Magic Kingdom Park in Florida on Wednesday as many areas of the park remained closed
Guests were seen having their temperature checked before they were allowed into any of the Disney parks
Many of the main events and fireworks shows are off but a smaller street parade was held on Wednesday
Visitors are seen wearing face masks even while riding a rollercoaster at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park on Wednesday
A large percentage of the stores and restaurants remain empty despite the parks officially reopening
Hand sanitizer stations have been place at the exit and entrance to each ride for guests to combat coronavirus spread
Reservations are required before guests can enter the park and all visitors and employees must wear masks and get their temperature checked upon entering.
Guests arriving on Wednesday were seen masked and having their temperatures checked as they arrived to the gates.
Inside signs warned of the importance of social distancing while others told guests where they could and could not sit.
Lines to catch a ferry were marked out on the ground with numbers to encourage social distancing but the lack of crowds meant they were not needed.
On the ferry, benches were plastered with stickers asking visitors not to sit down.
At the entrance and exit to every ride or transit option, hand sanitizer stations were mounted for guests.
Inside the parks, up to 75 percent of the restaurants, stores, and refreshment stands remained closed, according to a DailyMail.com photographer, while another ten percent of rides also stayed closed.
Signs tell visitors they are approaching a temperature check point outside Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. All guests and employees must have their temperature screened before they can enter any of the Disney parks
Refreshment stands also remained closed in Magic Kingdom, Florida, because of the reduced numbers of guests
Stations have been established around the parks where guests have the chance to take off their masks
People are seen standing close together but wearing masks while waiting for a ride at Disney's Magic Kingdom
Disney characters, who usually stroll the park to take pictures with visitors, took part in several small parades throughout the day, to maintain social distancing but the larger parades are not being held to prevent crowds from gathering
A small number of guests were seen in the Magic Kingdom park in its first week of reopening since March
Many restaurants lay empty as the park keeps large sections closed and workers remain at home
As masks are required inside the park, resting areas were established for guests to take a break and peel off their face coverings, but the sections were smaller than those seen in rival Universal Studios.
In restrooms, no markings or ropes enforced social distancing at sinks or toilets.
And on the rides themselves, some guests were not placed one row apart or away from strangers as is required for social distancing.
As for other entertainment around the parks, forget about up-close ‘meet-and-greet’ sessions with Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck.
Disney employees won't be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella's Castle since it involves touching the tourists' cameras.
An empty restaurant seating area at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park Wednesday with only one group of guests seated
Masked patrons ride the mostly empty ferry at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park Wednesday. The ferry entrance was marked with social distancing tags but they were not needed as no large lines were forming to take the ferry
A trash collectors takes part in a parade at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. All employees must wear face masks
Masked visitors walk around Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. The most people were seen close to Cinderella's Castle
Many of the parking lot lanes were completely empty at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park as a cap on guests is in place
There are no firework shows or parades as those would draw too many people together.
Disney World posted on its website that 'an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.'
There will be no live shows at Disney World since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney and its actors and singers.
On Wednesday, guests were seen lining the streets for a smaller parade in Magic Kingdom, featuring Disney actors who have returned to work.
The line for the ferry boat at the end of the day in Magic Kingdom, where social distancing markings are seen on the ground
Empty entrances to Disney's Magic Kingdom Park on Wednesday as guests need a reservation to enter
Numbers for boarding the monorail help visitors socially distance at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park
Many of the rides are reopened and guest must continue to wear their face masks
Signs and hand sanitizing stations around the park remind guests to social distance and wash their hands
Some tables are marked to warn guests not to sit there so social distancing can be maintained
Signs help visitors socially distance themselves at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park as they line up for rides
The crowds marked the largest group seen throughout the day as streets remained otherwise empty.
The union that represents Disney World actors and singers has filed a grievance against Disney, saying their members faced retaliation for demanding coronavirus tests.
The actors and singers initially were called back to work, but that invitation was rescinded after the union made public their concerns about the lack of testing for the actors and singers who can't wear masks while performing, according to Actors' Equity Association.
Despite the parks being reopened, not all of Disney World's 77,000-member workforce has been called back to work because of the limits on attendance.
Guests arrive to attend the official re-opening day of Epcot at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Wednesday
Guests get their temperature taken as they arrive to attend the official re-opening day of Epcot. All visitors and employees must wear masks and get their temperature checked upon entering
A cast member dons a face shield and mask at Test Track on Wednesday. There will be no live shows at Disney World since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney and its actors and singers
A guest watches The Epcot Experience 360-degree presentation on Wednesday
The number of visitors being allowed in has been capped to allow for social distancing and reservations are required
A coalition of unions that represents about 43,000 workers says only about 20,000 members have been called back to work.
'Incredi-Crew' cast members wearing brightly colored costumes are available to walk through the parks to explain and encourage the new coronavirus health and safety procedures.
Disney is encouraging guests to use their app to place orders and make dining reservations.
'Our deliberate and phased approach at Walt Disney World Resort emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measures,' Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, previously said in a statement.
'We’re taking a multi-pronged approach to our reopening, after considering the guidance of various governmental authorities and health agencies, and recommendations from our team of health and safety experts. We’re also actively working with industry groups and research universities to discuss best practices.'
Wednesday saw Epcot launch a new version of its popular International Food & Wine Festival. The Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will be the longest festival in Walt Disney World history, lasting until the fall.
It includes the park’s annual flower and garden event as well as more than 20 signature global marketplaces, including Hawaii, Hops & Barley and Islands of the Caribbean.
Additional tables have been placed throughout the park so guests can stop and remove their face coverings to eat while maintaining physical distancing.
Guests can take photos in front of the park’s newest Remy topiary in the France pavilion.
The Disney parks were the last of Orlando's major theme parks to reopen. Both Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando opened their doors last month.
The new Disney reopenings came as Florida broke the 300,000 barrier on confirmed cases Wednesday, reporting 10,181 new ones as its daily average death rate continues to rise.
The state confirmed an additional 112 deaths, which is the third time in the last seven days its eclipsed 100 and brings the statewide death toll to 4,626.
Florida's rolling seven-day average for deaths has increased to 92 per day, triple the 31 posted a month ago.
The head of a health department in Miami said the surge in infections was due to 'aggressive non-compliant people' in the state.
Carlos Migoya, the president and CEO of Jackson Health System, told CNN's New Day that they had 129 patients on June 14 and it had spiked to 420 by Tuesday.
Migoya said the recent curfews and closures of bars and restaurants would help hospitals cope with the surge but said people across the state hadn't been wearing masks and properly social distancing since initially reopening in May.
'The biggest issue is that we have a lot of aggressive non-compliant people, people that just do not believe that masking is the right thing to do,' he said.
'We have broken single-day records several times this week and there´s nothing about it that says we're turning the corner, or seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I don´t see that in the numbers,' said Dr. Nicholas Namias, chief of trauma and surgical critical care at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
He said diminishing bed capacity is creating problems at the Miami medical center, in particular.
'We're getting to the point where it's going to be full. We have gridlock and we won´t be able to take patients and they'll just be stacked in the ERs,' Namias said.
Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Saturday. Disney employees won't be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella's Castle since it involves touching the tourists' cameras
Disney reopened two Florida parks, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Saturday, with limited capacity and safety protocols in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic
