Disneyland’s Reopening Timeline Still Depends on the State

in Disneyland Resort

Disneyland resort

Credit: Disney (Left and Right)

It seems as though news has been very quiet in the realm of re-opening the Disneyland theme parks in Anaheim, California since it announced its delay in re-opening date from the proposed July 17, 2020.  Amid the silence on Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and Disneyland Resort Hotels re-opening, Downtown Disney District has had a successful phased re-opening as of July 9.

The first few days crowds flocked to get a snippet of that Disney magic back, but since then, it has been pretty tame in terms of crowd level.  It was very apparent from the Downtown Disney re-opening that there are a lot of new health and safety measures that have been implemented such as mandatory masks and social distancing markers.  Many were familiar with these measures as they were seen in the re-opening of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World.

Disney Home at DTD
Credit: Disney

As Disneyland theme parks — all other California theme parks like Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Six Flags — remain closed, California officials have shared what some of the guidelines are for re-opening theme parks.  It was said that California could reopen its theme parks in Stage 3 of Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to re-opening California.  Unfortunately five months after the Disneyland Resort temporarily shut down, it’s still not time for the parks to reopen.

Disneyland Resort
Credit: Disney

In a conversation with the OC Register, Kate Folmar of California Health and Human Services notes that the guidelines for reopening are still under review.

“Theme parks are not permitted to open in California at this time, under current public health orders,” California Health and Human Services spokesperson Kate Folmar said via email. “We will continue to review health data to determine when and how theme parks may consider reopening at lower risk to staff and visitors.”

Pixar Pier
Credit: Disney

In May and June, California started returning to business operations, but shortly before the 4th of July weekend, Governor Newsom made the executive decision to close all indoor operations once again for at least the next three weeks.  These operations still remain on hold and as such is happening, it seems as though the wait for Disneyland to re-open will have to continue on.  That is until California can reach Stage 3 according to the OC Register.

“California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage roadmap for reopening California’s economy, according to state government officials.  California theme parks are among the “higher risk” businesses and gatherings that would reopen in Stage 3 with adaptations and limits on the size of gatherings.”

As the Florida theme parks have reopened, many eyes have been observing how they handle their phased re-openings.  As Disney fans are now welcomed back to the Walt Disney World Resort as visitors in their four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT, there has been no Guests who have tested positive from the parks as said in a press conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and a health official.  Many of the measures set over in Florida at the theme parks are ones that will be consistently seen in the theme parks at Southern California.

We’ll continue to update Inside the Magic as more information pertaining to the reopening of Disneyland Resort becomes available. 

in Disneyland Resort

Comments Off on Disneyland’s Reopening Timeline Still Depends on the State