The Disney parks safety procedures from the past year mostly came to an end on June 15th, 2021. Here’s what you need to know about masks, social distancing, parking, and more.
UPDATED (June 25th, 2021) – Cast Member safety protocols changing on June 26th, please see below.
UPDATED: New Cast Member Safety Procedures
When masks and social distancing became optional for guests on June 15th, they remained required for Disney’s Cast Members. However, beginning June 26th, they will become optional for vaccinated employees of the resort.
In consideration of Cal/OSHA’s amended regulations for vaccinated California employees, Disneyland will take the following steps on the 26th of June:
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- Physical distancing is eliminated.
- Face coverings are optional outdoors only for fully vaccinated Cast Members.
- Face coverings are required outdoors for Cast Members who are not fully vaccinated.
- Indoors, and in enclosed vehicles and select health facilities, all Cast continue to wear face coverings.
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The elimination of physical distancing for Cast Members will have the biggest impact in kitchens, which have been understaffed to accommodate 6′ of space between workers. This has caused delays in food preparation and long waits for guests to pick up meals at busy times. We should see food service return to more normal operation soon.
For information about recent changes for guests, please keep reading below…
Theme Park Reservations
It’s essential to note that theme park reservations are still required and will be for quite some time to come. However, with the end of state-mandated park capacity limitations, more and more spaces will become available for theme park reservations. If you aren’t able to obtain a reservation for your desired date, try again the next day (availability actually changes minute by minute, so you can check as often as you want).
Masks Off
Face coverings are no longer required for fully vaccinated guests indoors and outdoors. (Disney is not verifying vaccination status and is counting on guests to be truthful and trustworthy). Guests (ages 2 and up) who are not fully vaccinated are expected to continue wearing face coverings indoors, except when dining.
Physical Distancing Becomes The Guest’s Responsibility
The state has removed the physical distancing requirements, so Disneyland has removed physical distancing ground markings and signage. Expect other guests to be very close to you in lines.
Ride Capacity Goes to 100
Almost all of the attractions in the resort have returned to filling every seat (or as many as they can). That has resulted in lines moving much quicker. Single rider lines have not returned yet, but are expected soon.
Dining Capacity and Locations
Additional tables have been added to dining locations throughout the resort and distance between tables has also been reduced. In addition, guests will no longer be restricted to eating and drinking in a designated dining area. The “Designated Dining Area” stickers have been removed from benches and curbs.
Indoor Queuing Resumes
Rides like Indiana Jones, Rise of the Resistance, Roger Rabbit, and Space Mountain will once again allow guests to queue indoors. This has resulted in the park feeling less crowded even though there are more guests in the park.
Disneyland Parking
The Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structure and the Toy Story parking lot are both open. Parking facilities officially open 30 minutes before the theme parks. There have been reports of parking facilities opening as early as 7:30 am, but it is not guaranteed.
The Toy Story lot is providing a bus shuttle service between the lot and the Harbor entrance to Disneyland. All Guests, regardless of vaccination status, will need to wear an appropriate face covering while on the bus transportation from the Toy Story lot to the parks. The Mickey and Friends & Pixar Pals Parking lot tram will continue to remain unavailable for now. Guests must walk from the structure to the parks.
If you’d like to park a little closer to Disneyland or be able to park before the Disneyland lots open, we have arranged for a limited amount of spaces at The Anaheim Hotel (just across the street from Disneyland on Harbor Blvd.). Note that these spaces go quickly. If The Anaheim Hotel is full, you can park for a little extra next door at the Garden Walk mall.
Out-Of-State Guests
If you haven’t already heard, out-of-state guests were once again allowed to visit Disneyland and other California theme parks on June 15th.
Temperature Checks
Disneyland did away with temperature checks of guests on June 15th as well.
Return of Entertainment
Around the Disneyland Resort, entertainment is in the process of returning. Character meet and greets will continue to be socially distanced until further notice. Though, more outdoor entertainment has been added back gradually. The Disneyland Marching Band returned to on June 18, and the Five & Dime group and Citizens of Buena Vista Street are set to return to Disney California Adventure.
Additionally, starting July 4 fireworks will return to Disneyland. Mickey’s Mix Magic will run every nightly this summer, making the trip to the parks an all-day experience once again. For more information about the resumption of fireworks, read the article below.
Virtual Queue Boarding Passes Required for Rise of the Resistance and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.
We have created a guide to help you figure out how to book a Virtual Queue spot for the two most popular rides in the Disneyland Resort. In short, you’ll have to wake up at 7am to shoot for a morning spot, but you’ll have a 2nd opportunity at noon. Please familiarize yourself with the procedures in advance so you don’t miss out:
How to Score a Boarding Group for WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Here’s What Normal(ish) Looks Like
We visited the park on June 15th, 2021 to show you what the new normal would look like. While the morning rope drop was crazy busy…
The rest of the day was a dream. Waits have been in the 20 to 30 minute range for rides, more dining availability has returned for quick service restaurants, and park pathways feel far less busy than they did in April and May when fewer guests were in the park, but social distancing made everything feel busier.
NEW Disneyland Tickets & Hotel Discounts FOR YOU!
Disneyland has reopened and there’s never been a better time to visit the Happiest Place on Earth. Our partners at Get Away Today have worked tirelessly to create the BEST theme park and hotel deals for our readers. You can purchase theme park tickets (that are good through 2022!) HERE and book a hotel/ticket package for your family vacation HERE!
There are all sorts of new theme park tickets and travel deals, including 25% off rooms at the Grand Californian and Disneyland Hotels, 2 free days at Walt Disney World, hotel discounts, ticket deals to various theme parks, in addition to DISCOUNT MULTI-DAY TICKETS TO DISNEYLAND: More details and to get a quote (HERE)
Let’s Hear From You
We know you have lots of questions and we’ll do our best to find answers for you. Please leave your comments, questions, and concerns below. We’ll do our best to update this article with new information as it becomes available.
More Disneyland and Theme Park News
For more about changes on the way to Disneyland, including the massive reopenings of restaurants and rides, please check out our latest Disneyland Updates: