Since the news of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s theme park reopening guidelines, Disneyland has been in a stir. Even after passing health and safety inspections by both CA officials and health and safety teams, Newsom has decided Disneyland cannot open until Orange County hits Tier 4. They currently sit in Tier 2.
Disneyland Resort is not taking this fight sitting down. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have been ready to reopen for months according to Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro, and this week it seems that Disney is taking its next step in showing that they are safe and ready to open up the gates.
Yesterday, Disney officials and state legislators toured Disneyland Resort. Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assemblywoman of the 65th Assembly District representing Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Stanton, La Palma, and West Anaheim, took to Twitter to announce:
Today, I had the opportunity to tour @downtowndisney and @Disneyland with a Bi-Partisan group of our State Legislators @AsmPatODonnell,@AsmGrayson, @ChadMayes, and @SenatorPatBates
We wanted to see first-hand the safety protocols that are in place. #tourism #reopenocnow
Today, I had the opportunity to tour @downtowndisney and @Disneyland with a Bi-Partisan group of our State Legislators @AsmPatODonnell, @AsmGrayson, @ChadMayes, and @SenatorPatBates. We wanted to see first-hand the safety protocols that are in place. #tourism #reopenocnow pic.twitter.com/K1rOdIFwwq
— Sharon Quirk-Silva (@QuirkSilva65th) October 23, 2020
Eeka at California Disney Fam also posted an interview Sharon was recording in Downtown Disney. She stated:
Sharon Quirk-Silva was interviewed outside of Disneyland today. She shared her thoughts about the Governors decision not to allow theme parks such as Disneyland to reopen until the county has reached the yellow tier. I wasn’t sure if my iPhone was picking up what she was saying so I tried to ensure I reiterated most of what she was saying. Disneyland is pushing hard to reopen. It’ll be interesting to see what happens as this is the first time in Disneyland history that the park has been shut down for such an extensive period of time.
Thanks to @californiadisneyfam, we know that Sharon mentioned that Disney went above and beyond, she spoke to Guests in the Downtown District who felt “very safe,” and that Anaheim businesses will be “lost” if Disney does not open soon. Sharon is pleading to the state of California and Newsom to reopen Disneyland as the California Disney theme park closures has heavily affected so many families in the state.
Once Newsom released the news, Anaheim Mayor said this decision is going to “destroy lives,” Disneyland President Ken Potrock said the guidelines are “unworkable, the California Attractions and Parks Association called Newsom “unfair and unreasonable”, and Universal Hollywood even clapped back with an attitude-filled tweet.
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva also mentioned that she doesn’t want California to “lose that California dream,” and without Disneyland, that dream is quickly fading. Earlier this week , CAPA hosted a press conference to react to new park guidance released by Newsom. In that conference, Disneyland was asked if they would take legal action against Newsom. At the moment, it seems that they want to collaborate with the state — but only time will tell on how this matter will progress.
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