Shanghai Disneyland reopened for business on Monday following over three months of closure due to the pandemic as China steps back to normal activities and Walt Disney Co. is trying to contain losses from the crisis.  

The theme park in the country's most populated city is the first of six major Disney amusement parks worldwide to restart, although it does so under the coronavirus' shadow.

The resort accepted a limited number of customers who had to book tickets in advance, have their temperatures monitored upon entry, and present a government QR code intended to demonstrate that they are not a health danger.

The park usually has a capacity of 80,000 visitors and 12,000 cast members - Disney terminology for workers. Yet the cast members still outnumbered the visitors for reopening day on May 11, who were at less than the required capacity of 30 per cent.

According Andrew Bolstein, senior vice president of Shanghai Disney Resort Operations, they have a dedicated team of custodial cleaners that they have expanded the number of those in the park who are regularly cleaning all the surfaces.

On the rides, Disney Shanghai said they have installed markers on all rows and benches to indicate where customers will sit. And if they don't have any markers, that mean nobody is allowed to sit in the spot. "It is greatly minimizing capacity of the rides, but allowing for social distancing which is very important," Bolstein said.

China, where the pandemic began in December, was the first nation to restart industries and other companies after announcing the virus under control in March, even as diseases are increasing and restrictions in some other countries are being strengthened.

"We are hoping that today's restarting will act as a beacon of light across the world, giving everyone hope and inspiration," Shanghai Disney Resort president Joe Schott told members of the press.

Tourism has been ravaged especially by restrictions implemented worldwide that closed down airline and cruise ship travel, amusement parks and movie houses. Disney blamed a 90 percent drop in its latest quarter earnings on $1.4 billion in virus-related expenditures.

Disney stated that there would be heightened frequency of disinfection, and the theme park will limit or cancel performances that usually include interaction between guests and characters like Mickey Mouse.

Despite stringent measures and consistent worries of new coronavirus infections, tickets for the reopening sold out within minutes after going on sale on Friday, Chinese state media reported.