More news from Southern California as Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products today announced proposed plans for a phased reopening of the Disneyland Resort. Of course, pending state and local government approvals, the plan is that Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel plans to reopen on July 23, and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure park will plan to reopen on July 17. Additionally, the Downtown Disney District will begin the earliest with reopening set for July 9th. The announcement comes as the state of California has confirmed over 136,000 total cases of COVID-19 with Orange County reporting a total of 7,614 as of this posting. This news opens the very slight possibility that Halloween Time will happen for 2020 sans the parades and fireworks however nothing has been officially mentioned just yet.
JULY 9th DOWNTOWN DISNEY REOPENS
Downtown Disney District will begin reopening on July 9 in line with the state’s reopening guidelines. Keeping the health of guests and Disney cast members at the forefront of planning, there will be several operational changes implemented based on guidance from health authorities to promote physical distancing and cleanliness throughout the Downtown Disney District.
JULY 17th, PARKS REOPEN
You can put to rest any images of Disney-starved fans clogging Main Street as the park capacity for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing. How will this happen you might ask? The Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all guests, including Annual Passholders, to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. Theme park reservations will be subject to availability.
More details about this new reservation system will be available soon. At this time, there will also be a temporary pause on new ticket sales and Annual Passport sales and renewals. While not specifically mentioned it is safe to assume that Disney will resume the payment plans that have up to this point, been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional details will be available soon. It would be best to check Disneyland.com for the most current information.
No Shows, No Parades, No Fireworks… For Now.
During this phased reopening, things like parades, fireworks, or any other offerings that would encourage larger group gatherings are on hold right now, with plans for them to return when it is safe to do so. This also means that character meet and greets will be unavailable with Disney promising that the “characters will be in the parks in new ways to entertain and delight guests.”
JULY 23rd HOTELS REOPEN
Pending governmental approval, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are planned to reopen to guests and members starting on July 23. Plans to support physical distancing as well as increased cleaning measures, along with a number of other health and safety protocols, will be implemented as part of the phased reopening of the hotels and the Vacation Club.
With confirmed cases still being reported and Orange County coming in as the 4th most infected county at the moment, we advise that all of this information needs to be carefully taken with a measure of caution. Anything could change at any time. Resort officials plan to keep these policies are under continuous review as the Disneyland Resort monitors conditions and receives guidance from health and government authorities. It is always best to visit Disneyland.com before leaving the house on the day of your visit for any last-minute updates.
