As of December 2020, half of Disney’s theme parks around the globe are closed due to the pandemic. Disney has six resort properties that contain their world-renowned theme parks. Unfortunately for the Walt Disney Company, only three of those resort properties are currently allowed to operate their theme parks due to to federal and local regulations in their respective nations.
What is Closed
Hong Kong Disneyland has recently reclosed in light of a rise in COVID-19 cases in the area. This is the third time that Hong Kong Disney has had to close during the pandemic.
Disneyland Paris has also closed for a second time due to restrictions set by the government due to rising coronavirus cases. You can read more about Disneyland Paris’s re-closure here.
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is also closed. While you can still visit the Downtown Disney District (including the partially reopened Buena Vista Street area), both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have not been able to reopen.. Even though Downtown Disney is open for Guests, the California state government recently set more restrictions on dining. Guests can no longer eat at restaurants, even outside. All food must be to-go and eaten off of Disney property.
This has forced many Downtown Disney restaurants to re-close. You can see a list of what is currently available for take-out here.
What is Open
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida currently has all four of its theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — open for Guests to enjoy. They have implemented a whole new wave of health and safety measures for their Guests and Cast Members. Disney World has also been very strict about ensuring those who visit follow their rules and have removed Guests who refuse to wear a mask.
Check out this know before you go page on the official Disney World website to read up on all the new procedures at the resort before your visit.
Shanghai Disneyland is also open for Guests to great success. The President of Shanghai Disneyland even explained how the resort was able to have such a successful reopening during the pandemic.
We started with having to reimagine the guest experience. As you think about the entry pattern and other things that we needed to do differently, we had to prioritize the safety and health of our guests and cast while still preserving a really magical experience along the way.
We had to make changes daily. We’d have conversations a couple of times a day and then regroup each night.
Tokyo Disney Resort is also open, including both of its theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. It has not, however, been easy for Tokyo Disneyland, who has faced the same challenges as the other Disney resorts trying to open. Tokyo Disney has had to stop the sale of Annual Passes and has changed many of its procedures. It requires Guests to get an entry pass reservation in addition to having a ticket to the park — the process is very similar to Disney World’s Disney Park Pass system.
Have you visited an open Disney theme park? Let us know your experience in the comments below!