The State of California has made an abrupt change in their COVID-19 guidelines that will now allow major theme parks throughout the state to open as early as April 1st to California Residents, according to ABC7.
What’s Happening:
- Reportedly under updated guidelines from the California health department, theme parks in California, including Disneyland, Universal Studios, and others, can reopen after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The “ Blueprint Refresh” from the Newsom administration will allow the parks to reopen as early as April 1st, once the counties they are located in reach the “Red/Substantial” tier 2 risk status.
- Attendance at the theme parks will be limited only to California Residents, with new guidelines being released in the next couple of weeks in partnership with the parks, likely on how to enforce that.
- Starting April 1st, parks can reopen at 15% capacity in the red/substantial tier 2, with capacity levels shifting with the next tiers, Orange/Moderate tier 3, and yellow/minimal tier 4.
- Under the revised guidelines, per Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, there will be both a building capacity limitation and a time limitation. A ride that takes place indoors or goes into a building for a brief period of time may open if it meets both of these requirements.
- Orange County, (where Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are located) and Los Angeles County (where Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain are located) are expected to enter the red tier next week, and theoretically could reopen on April 1st.
- That said, Santa Clara County, home to California’s Great America is currently in the red/substantial tier and has announced that they will be ready to open on May 22nd. It is unclear at this time if Disney, Universal, and the other parks will have staffing and be ready operationally for an April 1st opening.
- Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock was hopeful with this news, and issued a statement.
What They’re Saying:
- California Attractions and Parks Association Executive Director Erin Guerrero: “We appreciate the administration’s willingness to work with the state’s theme parks on the finer details of the plan so parks can responsibly reopen soon, putting people safely back to work and reinvigorating local economies”
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