Disneyland Resort delays reopening of Anaheim theme parks amid COVID-19 concerns
When will Disneyland reopen? Unfortunately, the California theme park will be closed longer than originally anticipated amid rising coronavirus concerns in Orange County.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- Disneyland Resort announced on Wednesday that it will delay the reopening of the theme parks and hotel. There was no new date given.
"The State of California has now indicated that it will not issue theme park reopening guidelines until sometime after July 4. Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials," Disneyland said in a statement.
Disneyland employee unions had asked the state to delay the park's expected reopening in July out of concerns for health and safety.
Disneyland and California Adventure were shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The planned July reopenings were pending local and state government approvals, according to the statement.
Resort officials say the state indicated it will issue park reopening guidelines sometime after July 4.
Disneyland Resort raises American flag on Main Street, creates moment of hope amid COVID-19 crisis
The Downtown Disney district will still reopen on July 9.
When the theme parks reopen, visitors can expect capacity at the two theme parks to be severely limited in accordance with governmental requirements and adherence to physical distancing guidelines, as well as wear a face covering. The resort will thus manage attendance through a new park reservation system, Disney officials said. The system will require all guests, including annual pass holders, to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance.
Events that attract large group gatherings, including parades and evening spectacles such as "Fantasmic," will return at a later date, according to the parks blog. Character meet-and-greets will remain temporarily unavailable.
Disney officials say their enhanced health and safety protocols for both cast members and guests allow them to reopen Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
According to a statement, the time needed to bring back thousands of cast members and restart business, Disney has no choice but to delay the reopening of the Anaheim theme park and resort hotels.
Negotiations are still underway for unions to return employees to work. So far, there are 20 signed agreements from union affiliates, including the Master Services Counsel, which represents 11,000 workers.
Disney is the largest private employer in Orange County.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of this station.
Families are creating their own Disney magic at home during the coronavirus pandemic
