Disneyland Reopens! Long Time No See, Tokyo Disney

Kanto Entertainment Disneyland

2020.07.03

After 4 months closed, Tokyo Disneyland reopened on July 1st, and Tokyo residents are excited.

When the COVID-19 outbreak hit Japan in February, Tokyo Disneyland was one of the first big leisure facilities to take action by announcing a temporary closure. At the time, many assumed it would be a short closure, but it took more than a full four months before the park declared its plans to finally reopen. Leading up to the July 1st reopening, Japan's Oricon News reported on an explosion of related keywords taking over the Japanese internet, like "Disney reopening" (ディズニー再開), "TDR_now" (TDR = The Disney Resort), "park reopening" (パーク再開), and "soarin'" (ソアリン), one of the park's more popular attractions. And when advance ticket sales began online, a purchase war broke out, jamming the booking page for several days in a row. On the long-awaited opening day, carefully social-distanced lines stretched out front far before the 8 am opening time.

シャッターが上がりました。
コロナ休園から初#ディズニーシー #ディズニー再開 #ディズニーランド再開 #ディズニーランド pic.twitter.com/I6jIRB7I0Z
— HIKOニャンWithジバニャンぷにぷに中 (@tukuyomi111200) June 30, 2020

久しぶりのディズニー🏰🐭🎈#ディズニー #ディズニー再開 pic.twitter.com/wYsCQI3szF
— りく (@kuma130313) July 1, 2020

Incredibly excited to finally be back to Disneyland, many of the first day's visitors broadcast the day live on social media, shouting with excitement when the gates finally opened. Despite the enthusiasm of the crowd, though, coronavirus prevention measures were clearly visible: limited admission numbers, social distancing, and no hugs from Mickey Mouse.

9時44分からミッキー達のご挨拶でした😄
メディテレーニアンハーバーを一周してました。

何ヶ月ぶりにミッキーフレンズに会えてウルウルしてしまいました😂#ディズニーシー pic.twitter.com/0YWQTmjCaO
— LotsoTV (@LotsoTV) July 1, 2020

Some people admitted that the lack of crowds made the park feel a little lonely, but it also meant that lines were unusually short. Rides that have been known to require wait times of over an hour, like Soarin', and the recently opened Toy Story Mania!, had lines that only lasted five or ten minutes. Disneyland fans were quick to comment on how incredibly rare that was.

ソアリン10分
インディ5分
レイジング0分
タワテラ10分
トイマニ5分

中は全て線で区切られていて消毒液が所々に、園内はどこを歩いても人がまばらで少し寂しい。
早く元に戻るといいなあ#ディズニー再開 #ディズニー pic.twitter.com/AXr0E4qtC1
— そよかぜ (@soyosoyo_19) July 1, 2020

#ディズニーシー
入場制限のおかげで乗り物ほとんど5分待ちどころかノータイム乗りできるぞ pic.twitter.com/GVtzj3Oqic
— めるしず (@MmoKOYDReRzswa4) July 1, 2020

Despite the odd state of things at Tokyo Disneyland, with small crowds and frequent use of disinfectant, people were clearly pleased to be back. When an official video was released as part of the Tokyo Disneyland reopening, showing a Disneyland free of people but ready to welcome fans back, numerous Disneyland fans commented that it had made them cry. Hopefully the safety measures will continue to be effective, and the park will soon welcome back the huge crowds it's known for.

本日7月1日(水)より再開した東京ディズニーランドの様子をお届け♪
またみなさんの笑顔にお会いできることをとても嬉しく思います。
みなさんと一緒に一歩ずつ前へ進んでいけますように。
＞＞ https://t.co/3StxbJrwJU pic.twitter.com/jQA07Gtgbv
— 東京ディズニーリゾートPR【公式】 (@TDR_PR) July 1, 2020

Tokyo Disneyland just doesn't look right without the people!

妻に予定空けといてと言われ
ついていったら
そこはディズニーだった。#ディズニー再開 pic.twitter.com/kXoKMuM7OI
— medico Nagate　長手良弘 (Yoshihiro Nagate) (@medico_Nagate) July 1, 2020

Finally, this article's very own happy ending:

"My wife told me to free up some time,
and when we arrived at our destination,
it was Disneyland."

Cover Photo Source: Official Tokyo Disneyland Twitter