A week ago we were enjoying Food and Wine Festival and obsessing over how long it was taking to build a new set of stairs in Tomorrowland. Then, a rapid set of events transpired which resulted in the Disneyland Resort making a sudden decision to close.
This week’s Disneyland Update is our last traditional photo report for a while. But we’ve taken so many pictures and have so much news that we have to divide it into at least three parts. So read what we’ve got for you below and stay tuned for lots more!
Friday was the final date of operation for Disneyland. It was a glorious day in the park, the calm before the storm. Since then, much has changed. Los Angeles has announced that almost everything needs to close (restaurants, bars, gyms, anywhere people congregate). Orange County now has at least one confirmed case of community spread Coronavirus. And there are rumblings of more aggressive nationwide restrictions coming very soon.
While Downtown Disney was supposed to remain open, the rapidly escalating response to the global pandemic has caused Disney to update that. The latest advisory from the resort is that Disney-owned establishments at both Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Florida will be shuttered. The remaining tenants will each have to make their own decisions if they will remain open or close.
Disneyland is Closed but Busy
You might be wondering if the park is just an empty ghost town now that it’s closed to guests. Not exactly. Management wasted no time getting to work on all sorts of projects. While cast aren’t allowed to photograph anything inside the parks right now, we do know some of what’s going on.
Perhaps to use up their project budgets before the axe is brought down on them, Disneyland has rushed Pirates of the Caribbean and some additional attractions into refurbishment. Sections of pavement on Main Street around the Castle and Frontierland have been completely torn up. And lots of deep cleaning is being conducted everywhere. All of it fueled by a classic Guardians of the Galaxy-esque pop rock soundtrack pumped out everywhere except Star Wars land.
Before we heard about the aggressive project list the park is working on, we were going to suggest a few projects of our own. Namely, fixing the long-dormant Orbitron in Tomorrowland, and the always-problematic animatronics in Splash Mountain.
COVID-19 is the Real Villain
. . . and not in a cute turning puppies into fashionable coats sort of way. It’s clear that the park was thinking they might be able to stay open longer. Earlier in the week, they installed “Please wash your hands for 20 seconds” signs above every sink, and added extra sanitation stations all over.
But once the Governor declared that large gatherings should be disbanded, Disneyland announced a closing date the very next day, hours ahead of the rest of the theme park industry.
Disney College Program Ending
Though Disneyland’s closure announcement mentioned that employees would be paid through March 31st, they didn’t say anything about not letting any of those employees go. Unfortunately, the pressures of a potentially extended closure and a nearly total lack of income is starting to take a toll. First to go are the College Program and Professional Internship participants. They number in the hundreds at the Disneyland Resort. But at Disney World, thousands will lose their jobs. That’s likely just a drop in the bucket. If the closure is extended, and if the economy takes the nosedive expected, Disney will very likely be forced to make much deeper cuts.
Last Day at Disneyland
What can we say? It was a bittersweet day for us on Friday. We went to Disneyland as we do every week to collect photos and news for our Monday Update. But this week was different. It was the last day of operation for a while. Though the park initially said that they would remain closed through March 31st, there are now indications that the shutdown could last much longer.
New CDC Recommendations Hint at Delay in Disney Parks Reopening
But it was a beautiful, if rainy, day in the park. We walked the entire property, lingered, enjoyed the music, splurged on theme park treats. Essentially, we wanted to enjoy the theme park experience as much as we could before life spins out of control.
There was a light rain off and on all day, which is one of our favorite times to visit the park. There’s a magical glow to all the surfaces at Disneyland in the rain.
Some rides, like Teacups and Alice in Wonderland, don’t operate in the rain. So they were closed for most of the final day.
Not the Crowd We Expected
When I woke up Friday morning, the news was reporting that Disneyland was packed for its last day. So I left for the park expecting the worst. But when I arrived just before noon, the park really wasn’t crowded at all. And the crowd level just seemed to drop as the day went on.
While there were moments of showers, most of the rain was a heavy mist. Not enough to scare off so many SoCal visitors in normal times.
One of the things I regret most about this shutdown is that we’ll miss spring in the parks. It’s truly the season with the most natural beauty.
Short waits at 12:30 PM:
Disneyland Rainy Day Cavalcade
Sadly, the new Magic Happens Parade had to be canceled on Disneyland’s last day due to rain. When it’s too wet for the parade, they load some of the performers onto Main Street vehicles and they drive them down the parade route so they can wave to the guests.
A Gift From Me to You
I wanted to do something special for you. So, if you click play below, you can join me on an hour and fifteen-minute walk through Disneyland. It started out well, but as the journey came to an end, I was unexpectedly overcome with emotion. I don’t expect everyone to understand, but I know many of you do. This one was made out of love:
A Kiss Goodnight
Park management felt the importance of giving guests a proper farewell. Although the park was very lightly attended on Friday, there were characters everywhere, music, beautiful flowers. Nearly perfect. And then, just before closing, Disneyland Resort President Rebecca Campbell joined hoards of cast and characters at the Main Street Train Station to wish guests farewell:
We’ve Got This!
Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park shutdown concerns and rescheduling plans. We’ll get through this difficult time together. And when the pandemic ends, you’ll have earned a nice vacation! Get Away Today- HERE
Wait . . . There’s More . . .
We still have Disneyland construction updates, Disney California Adventure news, merchandise and Downtown Disney . . . but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow! There’s a LOT more to cover. . .
Knowing that I wouldn’t be back for quite some time, my eye kept being drawn to the incredible details in the park.
Ironically, all the motion effects were recently restored on it’s a small world, just in time for no one to see them.
Took a moment to ponder Walt’s Apartment above the Fire Station. Disneyland has survived for 65 years. This too shall pass.
Let us know how you are feeling and how you are holding up. We’ll keep publishing to give you your Disney fix and remind you why you love Disneyland.
Not the end . . . just a dramatic pause . . .
DISNEYLAND UPDATE PART TWO NOW AVAILABLE NOW HERE