BREAKING DISNEYLAND NEWS: California Issues Theme Park Reopening Guidelines

This isn’t the guidance that Disneyland wanted to hear. California has opted to differentiate between the different types of theme parks and treat them unequally.  As a result, smaller parks will reopen before larger ones, as outlined below. 

Disneyland has been closed since March 14th, 2020 due to the worldwide health crisis. The park originally planned to reopen on July 17th, but had to scrap those plans when a spike of infections across the state forced businesses to roll back their operations.

Reopening guidance from the state has been a long time coming. All of the Disney parks around the world have been open for months, with mostly good results and few reported cases among employees and guests. As far as we know, no infections have been linked directly to the theme parks. Of course, that is very hard to know since most of Disney’s parks are not required to release Covid infection details. But in this age of social media, we’d have certainly heard the complaints from employees and visitors if they were pervasive.  

A few weeks ago, Califonia was set to release guidance for all theme parks in the state. The Governor repeatedly claimed that the information was coming “Very, very soon.” Unfortunately, when Disney learned that the terms of that guidance would be disadvantageous to park operations, Bob Iger stepped down from the state’s task force on recovery and the company requested that California delay theme park guidance to allow more time to work on terms with the state. Since then, the rhetoric between Disney and the state has been tense with many comments back and forth. The state holding to a stance that they will let health and safety be the guide and Disney holding firm that they have proven rigorous health and safety procedures already in place in their parks around the world.  

Over the last week, Governor Newsom has repeatedly stated that there are more theme parks than just Disney and that he would be splitting the parks up in how they would be treated. Today, we found out what that means. 

NEW THEME PARK GUIDANCE

California Health and Human Services Secretary Ghaly revealed the state’s guidance for theme park operations. Here’s what we know so far:

The tiers referenced on the guidelines above are as follows (Disneyland is currently in a Red Tier county): 

Smaller Theme Parks

“Smaller theme parks” attendance of 15,000 or less, may resume operations in Tier 3 (Orange) with a limited capacity of 25% capacity or 500 guests, whichever is fewer. That’s a very small number of guests even for most small parks.  Outdoor attractions only.  

Larger Parks and Disney

Parks like Disneyland will have to wait until the Yellow tier which is a MUCH harder standard for the counties to reach. They will also be limited to 25% capacity, advance reservations required, and all the safety requirements you’ve become accustomed to hearing (and which we have outlined below).  

It could potentially be next year before Orange County reaches the Yellow Tier.  Orange County is currently in the Red Tier. A county must remain in a tier for three weeks at minimum and have met the conditions for the less restrictive tier for two full weeks before being moved to the next tier. Orange County will need to move to orange AND meet all the conditions to move to Yellow (A very high standard) before Disneyland can reopen. We think it is very unlikely that this could happen before the end of the year. 

UPDATE: Anaheim’s Mayor Makes a Statement

Anaheim’s Mayor is concerned. The city’s three big revenue sources are all closed, Disney, the Convention Center, and the sports complex. If Disney and the Convention Center aren’t allowed to open soon, many businesses and jobs will be lost. The recovery gets harder with each day those big revenue operators remain closed: 

UPDATE: Statement From Disney

Disneyland President, Ken Potrock, sent the following public statement following the State’s release of guidance:

We have proven that we can responsibly reopen, with science-based health and safety protocols strictly enforced at our theme park properties around the world. Nevertheless, the State of California continues to ignore this fact, instead mandating arbitrary guidelines that it knows are unworkable and that hold us to a standard vastly different from other reopened businesses and state-operated facilities. Together with our labor unions we want to get people back to work, but these State guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future, forcing thousands more people out of work, leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses, and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community.

UPDATE: Statement from Orange County Healthcare Agency

Dr. Clayton Chau, Director of the agency, said,

“I think for a large county like us, especially a county with institutions of higher education where folks [are] coming in from outside the county and outside the state, I think it’s going to be very hard to achieve the yellow tier.”

He believes that it will take a vaccine before the county can achieve the Yellow Tier: 

“It depends on when the vaccine will come as well as how many doses [are] available for our populations as well as how many of our residents will readily accept the vaccine – those are the three factors that will determine how soon we can get to the yellow tier.”

 

UPDATE: Statement from California Attractions and Parks Association 

Erin Guerrero, Executive Director of the California Attractions and Parks Association said: 

To say today’s announcement on theme parks is disappointing would be a grave understatement. The Governor has not used science or data to inform his decision. Theme parks have opened and operated safely around the world for months. Data and science prove that theme parks can operate responsibly anywhere – there is no rational reason to believe they can’t do so in California. No one cares more about park employee and guest safety than the parks themselves.

Let me be unequivocal– the guidance issued by the Newsom Administration will keep theme parks shuttered for the foreseeable future. By forcing amusement parks to stay closed until their home county reaches Tier 4, the Governor has issued a “Keep Theme Parks Closed Indefinitely” Plan which will devastate California’s major theme park industry.

This plan prolongs unemployment for tens of thousands of people, hastens bankruptcy for families and small business owners adjacent to parks, and contributes to insolvency for local governments whose budgets rely on parks as an anchor economic driver.

While we appreciate the more nuanced approach in the guidance for smaller theme parks, keeping California’s larger parks closed is unfair and unreasonable. Based on the responsible reopening of parks in other countries and states, science and data do not support the indefinite closure of this iconic industry in California.

Responsibly reopening amusement parks on a reasonable timeline can and should be done while we fight this pandemic – the two are not mutually exclusive. California’s theme parks and their phenomenal workforce are ready to reopen responsibly. Parks’ loyal guests are ready and the communities and local governments surrounding the parks are ready. We urge Governor Newsom to revise this guidance to allow for a reasonable and responsible reopening of California’s signature theme park industry in Tier 3.

UPDATE: Message from Disneyland President, Ken Potrock, to Cast Members

What Will Disney’s Operations Look Like When They Reopen? 

Pending state and local government approvals, here’s how the Disneyland Resort intends to operate when allowed:

• Park access will be limited via a theme park reservation system. All guests, including Passholders will need to obtain a reservation in advance. 
• Theme park reservations will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.
• As they did in Florida, a temporary pause may be placed on new ticket sales and Annual Passport sales and renewals. Additional details will be available soon. 
• Once approved, the Disneyland Resort will reopen with enhanced health and safety measures. In addition, a Guest Experience Team will be available throughout the parks and Downtown Disney District to assist guests with questions regarding these new policies.
• Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date. While character meet and greets will be temporarily unavailable, characters will be in the parks in new ways to entertain and delight guests.

Understanding California’s Blueprint for Reopening

California has put together a Four-Stage reopening plan that will gradually resume daily functions while maintaining safety precautions appropriate to the current situation. Currently, Orange County (where Disneyland is located) is in the “Substantial” Red Stage. This stage has allowed higher-risk businesses such as gyms, and restaurants to reopen at 10% to 25% capacity. Zoos, Museums, and Aquariums are already permitted to reopen in the “Substantial” tier. However, theme parks are being held to a higher standard even though they are fundamentally easier to maintain safety than many of these other types of businesses. 

These are some of the types of businesses allowed to open in each tier: 

Some Southern California attractions like the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park and LEGOLAND SeaLife Aquarium have already reopened. And Knott’s Berry Farm and SeaWorld partially reopened their parks under shopping and dining rules (WITHOUT attractions). However, Disneyland and Universal Studios only opened their shopping districts and haven’t offered any theme park services (no food festivals or shopping days as other parks are doing).  

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While this was NOT the news that we, or Disney, wanted to hear. At least we now have an idea on how much longer until Disney will reopen.  Dr. Clayton Chau, Director of Orange County Health Care Agency, said – “Personally, I think that we can look forward to a yellow tier by next summer, hopefully. Hopefully.”  If that turns out to be the case, it will be quite some time before we’ll be visiting the Happiest Place on Earth.  

For more news about Disneyland and steps the resort is taking to get ready for you, check out our latest Disneyland update: 

Disneyland Update – You Aren’t Going to Like This

 

If you think Disneyland is being treated unfairly compared to similar businesses which are already allowed to be open, you aren’t alone. Here’s the legal case Disneyland could potentially make against the state: 

War of Words and Disneyland’s Legal Case for Reopening!

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