UPDATE 09/16/20: Officials from the Disneyland Resort itself are now adding their voices in expressing their disappointment in the progress that the state of California is making when it comes to new guidelines for theme parks.
Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock had this to say:
We are disappointed with the state’s lack of progress in providing the industry with guidance and clarity on reopening. We have proven we can operate responsibly, with strict health and safety protocols at our properties around the world and at Downtown Disney in Anaheim.
Tens of thousands of people’s livelihoods depend on our ability to operate and we stand ready and willing to accelerate discussions with the Governor and his team to make ‘real progress’ toward our reopening and getting people back to work.
In a news conference today, Newsom said that he will be making an announcement about theme parks “very soon,” but wasn’t able to share any information today.
Source: Orange County Register
UPDATE 09/15/20: The city of Anaheim has joined in the call for Governor Gavin Newsom and the state of California to provide guidelines to reopen theme parks.
According to spokesperson Mike Lyster, Anaheim is facing a $100 million deficit tied to the resort area. Lyster added that nearly half of the city’s general fund budget comes from the resort and convention area.
Lyster says:
What we need is guidance and an economic recovery roadmap so we know that we won’t go from coronavirus to a great recession.
Lyster also said that other tourist attractions have been addressed, but theme parks are left waiting.
Beaches are open, museums are open, zoos are open and most of SeaWorld in San Diego is open. There does not seem to be a consistency there.
The governor’s office has not responded to Lyster.
Source: Orange County Register
On the six-month anniversary of Disneyland temporarily closing its gates, the California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to provide the guidelines necessary to reopen theme parks.
CAPA executive director Erin Guerrero:
California’s amusement parks urge the governor to issue amusement park guidelines expeditiously so these vital community attractions can reopen their doors in a responsible manner and get residents back to work.
In addition to the Disneyland Resort, CAPA represents southern California parks Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Legoland California, plus Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and California’s Great America in northern California.
Guerrero called the impact that the closures have had to the state “devastating.”
Tens of thousands of jobs have been weighing in the balance. Hundreds of millions of tax revenue that support critical local, state, and federal programs, lost. And local business that rely on amusement parks continue to struggle, with many closing permanently.
CAPA and theme parks put together proposed guidelines back in April that included masks, social distancing, increased sanitation, contactless payment, reduced capacity, and employee training. Disneyland had scheduled a July reopening, but a spike in COVID-19 cases across the state delayed those plans.
Since then, many theme parks have been making additional plans and even changes to infrastructure in preparation for their reopening. However, Guerrero says, “in order to reopen, parks require guidance from the state and that guidance has not been forthcoming.”
Guerrero says that, they will not look the same as before, “but California’s amusement parks are ready to responsibly reopen.”
Other theme parks around the country, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, have reopened with no COVID-19 outbreaks.
Source: Orange County Register
Tom is the host and producer of the DIS Unplugged: Disneyland Edition podcast, plus Disneyland Editor of The DIS. He enjoys traveling with his wife and teenage son. At this point, their favorite destination is Alaska, with a FIFTH cruise there planned for the Summer of 2019. In his spare time he volunteers with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and help found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
