I visited Disney Springs a week after it reopened and saw why the theme park giant will be able to reopen its parks without a hitch in July

Business Insider

• Disney Springs, the sprawling retail and entertainment center of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, reopened on May 20.
• The complex is running at reduced capacity and requiring guests to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings at all times.
• I visited Disney Springs shortly after it reopened and saw why the company will succeed in its reopening plan for its theme parks in early July.
• Disney knows what it's doing, in terms of preserving the Disney magic while maintaining a superior standard of safety that would make even the most neurotic Disney fan feel safe.

As a lifelong Floridian and Disney fan from birth, the pandemic has been an especially difficult time.

The "happiest place on earth" has always been just a few hours away by car, easily accessible and ever-present in the background of my life. That is until the pandemic forced the resort — and other similar centers – to fully shut down until further notice, and I found myself in a sudden state of serious Disney withdrawal.

Needless to say, when the company announced the reopening of Disney Springs, the sprawling retail and entertainment center of the resort on May 20, I knew I'd be making the journey up north to visit my happy place, even if the theme parks and attractions were not yet open.

Disney Springs is running at reduced capacity from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and requiring guests to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings at all times. While most stores and restaurants are up-and-running again, some — such as Rainforest Cafe and Goofy's Candy Co. — are still closed for the time being.

With the phased reopening of the four Disney theme park slated to start on July 11, I wanted to see how the company was handling operating amid a pandemic and what we should expect when the theme parks reopen. And while I feared I'd be thrown into some magic-devoid post-pandemic Disney apocalypse, my experience could not have been more different.

If the reopening of Disney Springs taught me anything, it is that this mammoth company might actually be magical. Simply put, Disney knows what it's doing, in terms of preserving the Disney magic while maintaining a superior standard of safety that would make even the most neurotic Disney fan feel safe.

After my visit to Disney Springs, I have no doubt that the parks' reopening next month will be a success. However, heading straight to the parks might not be for everyone, especially if you find wearing a face mask uncomfortable during extremely hot Florida summers.

Here was my experience at Disney Springs and what to expect if you visit the resort in the near future: