Disneyland, other California theme parks can reopen starting April 1
No April Fools here! Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, and other California theme parks will be able to reopen as of April 1.
Thanks to newly-updated guidelines from the state’s health department after a year of back-and-forth and COVID-19 closures, California’s theme parks will be able to reopen starting April 1 at 15% capacity in the red tier 2, 25% capacity in the orange tier 3, and 35% capacity in yellow tier 4.
As of now, theme park attendance will be limited to California residents only. According to The Orange County Register, updated guidelines will be crafted over the next few weeks in collaboration with the parks.
Under these new guidelines, indoor rides and attractions will have to maintain 15% capacity in the red tier and 25% in the orange and yellow tiers, though outdoor attractions can accommodate more guests with social distancing.
Just after this announcement was made, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock shared a statement on Twitter:
We are encouraged that theme parks now have a path toward reopening this spring, getting thousands of people back to work and greatly helping neighboring businesses and our entire community.
With responsible Disney safety protocols already implemented around the world, we can’t wait to welcome our guests back and look forward to sharing an opening date soon.
Ken Potrock, president, Disneyland Resort
This new revelation comes just one day after tickets went on sale for A Touch of Disney, a limited-capacity ticketed event offering guests the chance to walk the streets of Disney California Adventure once again… just without the rides. With this event starting on March 18, it is unclear how the “California residents-only” rule will affect those out-of-state who managed to get tickets.
For now, the path forward seems much clearer to seeing Main Street, U.S.A. sometime in the near future.
Who would pay top dollar to visit a theme park just to eat and shop- when, just two weeks later, the park will be open? I’ll tell you who would.. putzes and schmucks!