Disney World staffer recounts ‘scary’ experience working during coronavirus

Much like everyone else in the world, Stranger Things‘ Gaten Matarazzo‘s summer plans were changed when the Coronavirus pandemic hit.

Florida is opening a novel coronavirus testing center on Walt Disney World property. The testing site is set to open Thursday in Osceola County at Disney's main gate office complex near Animal Kingdom, according to a site created for testing appointments.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterActors’ Equity Association, the union that represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, including around 750 Disney live performers, has reached an agreement with the Walt Disney Company for its performers to return to work at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as the company sets up a COVID-19 testing site outside of the park.

coronavirus tests. Actors' Equity Association signed a memorandum of understanding allowing the actors, singers and stage managers to return to their jobs after Disney agreed to have a state-run drive-thru COVID-19 testing site for workers and the public at the Florida theme park resort, according to the union, which represents 750 Disney World workers.

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticWalt Disney World has established free, on-site coronavirus testing for employees and their families, drawing applause from Actors’ Equity Association after a two-month-long stand-off over the matter.Equity announced today that it has signed an agreement with the resort to allow union members to return to work at the Florida amusement park.“We have been consistent that testing is an important part of ensuring a safe workplace for Equity performers, and

Walt Disney World is making some more changes to the theme park after re-opening just a month ago.

Jordan Moreau Walt Disney World will shorten its theme park hours starting in September.After being closed for a few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Florida parks reopened in July with new health and safety procedures. On Sept.

will each close an hour earlier, while Epcot will cut back by two hours each day. The changes take place Sept.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsWalt Disney World’s four Florida theme parks will see reduced hours come September 8.Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studio, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, are all set to scale back operating hours, nearly a month after opening in July. While the first three parks will see closing hours move back by an hour, EPCOT will close two hours earlier.

Michael Ojo, a basketball player who formerly played for Florida State University, has died at the age of 27.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorJust over a week after Universal Studios canceled its popular Halloween Horror Nights at its Florida and California parks, Knott’s Berry Farm followed suit.The Southern California park has canceled its hugely popular Halloween Haunt event this year due to the coronavirus, park officials said today.“Regrettably, due to continued operating restrictions related to the pandemic we have had to make the very difficult decision to cancel our highly anticipated 2020

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorWalt Disney’s chief executive and its CFO said the dramatic spike in Florida COVID-19 infections last month right when Walt Disney World reopened have resulted in higher cancellations at the park than they’d first anticipated  – and their expectations weren’t all that high to begin with.CEO Bob Chapek and chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said, however, that the park is meeting the financial criteria set by Disney to sustain a reopening.

Ted Johnson A member of the White House press corps who covered Donald Trump’s recent trip to Florida tested positive for the coronavirus.Zeke Miller, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, wrote in an email to members that “we’ve already reached out to those who were in the pools with this individual, and the White House Medical Unit is conducting additional contact tracing and providing follow-on tests for those in the pools and potentially exposed.” The identity of the

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorEgyptian filmmaker Sam Abbas has teamed with leading cinematographers from around the world to create the documentary “Erēmīta (Anthologies).”The anthology was shot during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown and will feature contributions from the following DPs: Alexis Zabé (“The Florida Project,”), Chayse Irvin (“Blackkklansman,”) Ashley Connor (” Madeline’s Madeline,”) Soledad Rodríguez (“The Good Intentions,”) Stefano Falivene (“Siberia,”) Antoine Héberlé (“A Son,”)