May 8, 2020 at 1:22 PM EDT – Updated May 8 at 1:22 PM
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World plans to reopen its restaurant and entertainment area later this month, though the theme parks and hotels will remain closed.
Disney Springs vice president Matt Simon posted Thursday on the official Disney Parks Blog that the area will reopen May 20 with enhanced safety measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Those measures include increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members. The post didn’t say which businesses would open first.
“Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can,” Simon says.
Walt Disney World closed in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copyright 2020 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Gray Media Group, Inc., contributed to this report.