Disney Park Closures FAQ: What is the Deciding Factor as to When the Parks will Reopen?

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World

What is the deciding factor as to when the parks will reopen?

It is now Day 4 of the Global Disney Park Closure, and all we can think about is getting back through those gates, enjoying another Mickey Bar, taking another castle picture, and everything else we did in our favorite Disney Parks.

We are all curious to know when the parks will open, but we’re not going to know that until Disney tells us. We all want to start looking for the signs that will tell us when we can expect the reopening — that “deciding factor.” But what is it?

Well, there are a lot of variables in play right now, but if we could narrow everything down to just one deciding factor, it would be that Disney parks will reopen when “social distancing” ends.

Disney Parks Will Likely Reopen When “Social Distancing” Ends

Everyone is practicing “social distancing,” whether it is personally enforced or the local government ordered it, and both Florida and California–the two states that host Disney’s U.S. resorts–have enacted restrictions in order to “flatten the curve” regarding this pandemic.

Chemical Spill Disney World
Credit: Disney

In Florida…

“Under the direction of Governor DeSantis, all bars and nightclubs throughout Florida will close for the next 30 days. Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) will be enforcing and providing further guidance…The Governor is directing parties accessing public beaches in the state of Florida to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance by limited their gatherings to no more than 10 persons…Restaurants across the state of Florida will now be required to limit customer entry to 50 percent of capacity. Seating must be staggered and limited to ensure seated parties are separated by a distance of at least six feet, in accordance with CDC guidelines.”

disneyland main street usa
Credit: Disney

In California…

Governor Newsom is “asking our restaurants to close down, for the moment, provide takeout if they wish, and operate in that frame. But that will focus an alignment throughout the state of California at this point, we believe it’s necessary.” Other local municipalities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have enacted their own abiding–if not tighter–restrictions.

Related: If Disney Follows State Recommendations, Theme Parks Could Stay Closed Longer

Disney is so essential to the state and local economies, that they would more than likely get an exception. In fact, Governor Newsom did give Disneyland an exemption. Yet Disney voluntarily decided to close down and do its part to flatten the curve of infection. Governments at every level will have to loosen the restrictions currently in play right now in order for the Walt Disney Company to feel comfortable with reopening the Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort.

It’s doubtful those restrictions will be lifted without there first being at least a decrease in the number of new cases in this pandemic. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials still think there is a major risk, then there is a good chance Disneyland and Disney World will remain closed.

Disney Closures Coronavirus

But if Disney drops another bomb in the news that the parks will remain closed, we highly doubt it will be on Tuesday, March 31. Look to the second half of next week (March 25 – March 28) for another announcement.

Related: Disney World President Shares Message About Closures, College Program, and Donations

For more information and another perspective, read about four things Disney could do to reopen the parks sooner.

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World

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