The wait is almost over for Disneyland fans.
The gates to the “Happiest place on Earth” and California Adventure will open again on Friday morning for the first time in 412 days – the longest closure for Disneyland in its 65-year history.
But things won t be quite as they were pre-pandemic, as safety measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus will be in place, including face mask requirements, temperature checks and distancing and no character hugs.
Thousands of fans tuned in on Monday night when the relighting of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle was broadcast live on Facebook as part of a soft reopening event for cast members and crew.
Disneyland California to reopen April 30, a year after closing
Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg News VIDEO SIGN OUT
Walt Disney Co. plans to reopen its two California theme parks on April 30, more than a year after it shut them down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which closed their gates on March 14 last year, are among the last of the companyâs properties to welcome back customers. While Disneyâs Paris resort is still shuttered, the four theme parks in Florida have been open since July.
Prolonged closings in California became a contentious issue between park operators and Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who kept the properties shuttered long after those in other states reopened. Owners, local officials and related businesses have been lobbying to reopen for months, arguing theme parks havenât been a significant source of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Disneyland to reopen April 30, more than year after closing
Christopher Palmeri and Emily Chang
Bloomberg
Walt Disney Co. plans to reopen its two California theme parks on April 30 after they were dark for more than a year, a key step in the entertainment giant’s recovery from the pandemic.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which closed their gates on March 14 last year, are among the last of the company’s properties to welcome back customers. While Disney’s Paris resort is still shuttered, the four theme parks in Florida have been open since July. Hotels in California start reopening on April 29, the company said Wednesday.
Walt Disney plans to reopen its two California theme parks on April 30 after they were dark for more than a year, a key step in the entertainment giant s recovery from the pandemic. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which closed their gates on March 14 last year, are among the last of the company s properties to welcome back customers. While Disney s Paris resort is still shuttered, the four theme parks in Florida have been open since July. Hotels in California start reopening on April 29, the company said Wednesday. Disney has laid off 32,000 employees over the past year, most of them in the theme-park unit. The business, one of the company s most profitable historically, has been crawling back slowly, with social-distancing precautions limiting attendance to about 35 per cent of capacity in Florida.
Walt Disney Co. plans to reopen its two California theme parks on April 30, more than a year after it shut them down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which closed their gates on March 14 last year, are among the last of the company’s properties to welcome back customers. While Disney’s Paris resort is still shuttered, the four theme parks in Florida have been open since July.
Prolonged closings in California became a contentious issue between park operators and Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who kept the properties shuttered long after those in other states reopened. Owners, local officials and related businesses have been lobbying to reopen for months, arguing theme parks haven’t been a significant source of Covid-19 outbreaks.