Disneyland s President Previews Changes as Parks Return
April 30, 2021, 6:55 PM ·
Disneyland is back, but the resort is not done with its reopening work. Expect changes to the parks ticketing and reservation systems in the next few weeks, as well as ongoing changes to entertainment and attractions, as the resort prepares for a post-pandemic future.
Those are some of the messages that Disneyland President Ken Potrock delivered when he sat down in the 21 Royal suite, above New Orleans Square, with me and representatives from two other local theme park websites for an interview about the parks reopening. This has been extraordinary. As you begin thinking about bringing back 15,000-plus cast members at generally at the same time - many of them going into new roles because of unions and seniority and all those kinds of things - it became a bit of a tricky proposition. Secondly, we had to train them not just on if they had a new role, but on all the [Covid prevention] protocols t
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Four months ago, America’s most populous state was struggling to combat a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations that packed patients into outdoor tents and killed hundreds of people each day.
On Friday, Disneyland, California’s world-famous theme park, was set to reopen to visitors after an unprecedented 13-month closure in what tourism officials hope is a sign of the state’s rebound from the pandemic. For now, the park is allowing only in-state visitors and operating at limited capacity.
The day began with Disney officials and park employees wearing face coverings gathered in the park’s town square for the morning flag-raising ceremony.
Disneyland Reopens to the Public After 13 Months
April 30, 2021, 10:18 AM ·
The theme parks of the Disneyland Resort reopened to the public this morning, more than 13 months after they closed due to the pandemic.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke to cast members after Disneyland’s traditional flag raising ceremony this morning.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are operating at 25% capacity due to ongoing state pandemic restrictions. However, it seemed that all the allotted guests for Disneyland today were here and ready to go as the park opened its gates at 8am. Here are the first guests through those turnstiles.
Guests seemed to remain happy and enthusiastic throughout the morning, even as physical distancing requirements pushed queue lengths far beyond their pre-pandemic records. But the lines moved swiftly, and wait times remained short. The longest I saw was 40 minutes for Haunted Mansion. Some fans took the opportunity to snap photos with the Disney executives on h
Disneyland s Reopening Highlights a Pandemic Turnaround in Southern California After a 13-month closure, the Happiest Place on Earth is welcoming back visitors in a milestone moment for California in its fight against the pandemic.
Published April 30, 2021 •
Updated on April 30, 2021 at 7:54 am
NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Four months ago, America’s most populous state was struggling to combat a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations that packed patients into outdoor tents and killed hundreds of people each day. Disneyland visitors were at the park before dawn for its reopening. Video broadcast Friday April 30, 2021 on Today in LA. Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get the latest breaking news and local stories.
The news comes as California boasts the country’s lowest rate of confirmed coronavirus infections and more than half of the population eligible for vaccination has received at least one dose of the shots. It’s a dramatic turnaround from December, when hospitals across the state were running out of ICU beds and treating patients at overflow locations.
Now, children are returning to school, shops and restaurants are expanding business, and Gov. Gavin Newsom set June 15 as a target date to further reopen the economy, albeit with some health-related restrictions.
Theme parks were among the last businesses allowed to reopen in California, and Universal Studios and others have already thrown open the gates. That’s a contrast to states with fewer restrictions such as Florida, where Disney World’s Magic Kingdom resort has been up and running, though at lower-than-usual capacity, since last July.