Disneyland Vaccine Site Opens to Massive Lines

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disneyland vaccine site

Credit: Disney (left) @peppermintoreo via Twitter (right)

As COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out across America, more and more vaccine sites are springing up. Recently, Disneyland offered some of its property to become the first super POD (point-of-dispensing) site for Orange County — a decision that acting Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do describes as “undertaking a monumental task in our vaccination distribution process.”

Disneyland
Credit: Disney

Today, on January 13, 2021, the Disneyland super POD site opened at the Toy Story parking lot just a few blocks away from Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. It looks like massive lines of Orange County residents who are considered to be on the priority list are looking to get vaccinated.

Peppermintoreo (@peppermintoreo) posted a photo showing up at the Disneyland POD 15 minutes before a vaccination appointment, with a line that stretches so far down the Toy Story parking lot that a testing sight is not even in view due to the long line of OC residents and healthcare workers.

At Disneyland POD to help my dad get vaccinated. We’re 15 minutes early.

It is important to note that these lines are socially distanced — but even with the distancing, it seems that appointment times are likely to be delayed if the lines continue to extend this way.

Also, the vaccination site is solely for those who live or work in Orange County and are at the top tier of the state’s priority list, such as frontline healthcare workers. Even if you are someone that fits the criteria, appointments must be made to get your vaccination. Employers are reaching out to those who are eligible to ign up for an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

disneyland gates closed
Credit: ITM Bailee Abell

Related: Disneyland Uses PSA to Show Commitment to Health and Safety

Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) released a statement alongside a map of the testing site:

“Disneyland Resort is proud to help support Orange County and the City of Anaheim with the use of our parking lot, and we are grateful for all of their efforts to combat COVID-19 after a year in which so many in our community have faced unprecedented hardship and uncertainty, there is now reason for optimism with the administration of a vaccine.” – Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

As mentioned, the parking lot that currently is home to Orange Country’s super POD is the Toy Story lot, which is a few blocks from Disneyland, Disney California Resort, and the Downtown Disney District. Although the Disneyland theme parks continue to remain closed, Downtown Disney is operating with modifications at a limited capacity through the hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily amid California’s stay-at-home order. 

Off of Katella Ave is a sign for the Disneyland vaccine site which reads:

OC VACCINE SITE

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

LEFT AT SIGNAL

This sign once again reminds those coming to the site that vaccinations are being given out by appointment only.

disneyland
Credit: Monique Reynoso

Governor Newsom currently will not allow Disneyland to reopen to Guests — according to his theme park reopening guidelines — until Orange County is in the Yellow tier. The Yellow tier would mean Orange County would only be allowed to have 1 new positive coronavirus case per 100,000 residents each day. Currently, Orange County is in the most restrictive tier and has a long way to go.

disneyland ambassadors
Credit: D23

That being said, having a super POD located in Orange County will only ensure that the residents will be vaccinated faster, which could hopefully allow Orange County to achieve Yellow tier status even quicker.

If you are an Orange County resident and frontline healthcare worker who would like a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, you must currently get that request via your employer.

Related: California Acquires Pfizer Vaccine, Paving the Way for Disneyland’s Reopening

The Orange County Register reported that Deanne Thompson, spokeswoman for the county’s vaccination rollout team, noted “of 60,000 people who registered via Othena on Tuesday night, 10,000 appointments were scheduled for the Anaheim site’s opening window of Wednesday through Friday. The goal this week was to administer 3,000 doses per day.”

For those who were upset that they were unable to get appointments, Thompson assured, “Six-times as many people are disappointed as got appointments. That is not because the system didn’t work. It’s because there’s no vaccine. As soon as vaccine supply is replenished, additional appointment windows (will) open up.” But that being said, as more supply is given to the Disneyland vaccination sight, more appointments will become available. It is also important to note that this means the crowds pictured above will likely get larger as the testing site expects to vaccinate more residents in the future.

Stay tuned to Inside the Magic as we continue to provide updates on both the Disneyland super POD site, as well as the future reopening of Disneyland Resort.

Do you think that converting part of Disneyland’s parking lot into a vaccination site was a good idea? When do you think Disneyland will reopen? 

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