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DISNEYLAND and Disney California Adventure finally opened their gates for travelers on Friday (30/4) after an unprecedented 13-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Disneyland’s 66 years of history, the theme park has been closed due to extreme conditions only a few times; one of them was on the day President Kennedy died and after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Before the pandemic struck in March last year, no closure lasted more than a day.
Quoting from the LA Times, Saturday (1/5), Disneyland California opened a playground with many adjustments and health protocols. Eager parkgoers began lining up hours before Disneyland’s 9am official opening time, and cheers greeted the announcement that the crew would check the temperature.
To prevent crowds in the Main Street Disneyland area, park employees invite allowed guests to roam freely in the grounds. The workers, along with the Chief Executive of Walt Disney Co. Bob Iger and Chief Executive Bob Chapek, waving to the crowd as they walked in.
Meanwhile, park workers patrol those still lining up to get in, reminding people to keep their distance from each other and wearing masks.
Among other countermeasures, capacity was limited to 25% of the previous total capacity. Visitors and employees must wear masks, maintain physical distance in lines and on rides. New wash basins and dedicated dining areas are also seen everywhere.
Parades and firework displays have been canceled to prevent eager parkgoers from gathering too close together. Costumed characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy don’t give hugs, but they pose for photos and wave from balconies and the stage. Guests are also advised not to eat or drink at tourist attractions, and while traveling on Disney trains.
Meanwhile, Disneyland tickets have been sold out for the first seven weeks, according to Disneyland’s online reservation page. Tickets for Disney California Adventure sold out for eight days during the first month. Visitors must prove they are Californians when purchasing tickets online, and Disney representatives recommend bringing a photo ID as backup confirmation.
Most of the rides at Disney parks are open. Several were closed for pandemic safety reasons, including Disneyland’s Monorail, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Sailing Ship Columbia, as well as Disney California Adventure’s Red Car Trolley and Golden Zephyr. Some, including Jungle Cruise and Matterhorn Bobsleds, were closed for maintenance and upgrades.
To avoid crowds around the park’s dining establishments, most food stalls and restaurants take orders via the Disneyland app. Park visitors can use the app to make payments and get alerts when their food is ready. [antaranews]
