Disney's Theme Park Magic Is Back
A common complaint among diehard fans of Walt Disney's (NYSE: DIS) domestic theme parks is that they're not as magical as they used to be. It was a fair knock when the Disney World initially reopened during the pandemic two summers ago and Disneyland followed nine months later.
Disney parks opened with social distancing measures that made classic character meet-and-greets a clinical experience, as masked guests would be kept far apart from the costumed icons. Ride queues and even some of the vehicles would have plastic partitions to keep COVID-19 virus transmissions in check. It was not an ideal experience, but it was necessary for world's largest theme park operator to unlock its turnstiles in the new normal.
A lot has changed this week at Disney World and Disneyland. Disney returned to traditional character interactions on Monday, and if you're a fan of the media giant's gated attractions your social media feeds were likely filled with teary eyed fans hugging their favorite characters for the first time in more than two years. The final mandate on face coverings -- covering transportation on Disney vehicles including buses and the signature monorail -- was lifted at Disney World this week. Disney continues to recommend that unvaccinated guests limit potential virus transmissions by masking up, but the requirement itself is now gone. Disney is almost back to normal.
Source Fool.com
