California Governor clears the way for Disneyland Resort in California to reopen as soon as April 1

Mar 05, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Disneyland Resort

Posted: Friday March 5, 2021 5:49pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

California officials have indicated theme parks in the state, including Disneyland Resort, will be able to reopen as early as April 1 2021.

The Walt Disney Company has received encourage news today with a potential reopening of its California theme parks in April.

In the new guidance, theme parks will be able to operate at 15% once in tier 2 category, which Orange County - the home of Disneyland, expects to reach as soon as next week. In contrast, Walt Disney World reopened in July 2020 at a 25% capacity.

Disneyland was originally planned to reopen on July 17 2020 after its closure in March 2020 due to COVID-19. It did open the Downtown Disney shopping district in July, and parts of California Adventure for dining.

According to the Orange Country Register, entry will initially be restricted to California residents.

Ken Potrock, President, Disneyland Resort said, "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."

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Darkbeer1Mar 13, 2021

https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/12/red-tier-happens-sunday-orange-county-businesses-prep-indoor-spaces-as-pandemic-rules-are-set-to-be-relaxed/

TP2000Mar 13, 2021

Oh! I'd forgotten about that! I've never seen more illegal Mexican fireworks shot off in my life! I really enjoyed it, quite frankly. The skies were smoky for two days, but it was worth it because it was so organic, so local, so homegrown and genuine. I do miss the Disneyland fireworks. But there's something really sweet and fun about that massive public display last summer.

TP2000Mar 13, 2021

Were you in La Jolla??? I had to buzz down here to open up and restock the family beach house; suddenly some of the kids are going to hang out here for Easter vacation now. Plus, I enjoyed the sudden and unplanned getaway. I think the "loophole" the waitress was talking about was the fact that most of their competition is also opening indoor dining rooms in open defiance of Sacramento Guidance. San Diego, or at least the coastal parts of the county seems to be just as naughty, naughty, naughty as Orange County. Lots of non-corporate restaurants operating indoor dining rooms, and packed outdoor patios wrapped in plastic and heat lamps. Sacramento has lost all control. Only the big companies with too many lawyers and curated Twitter feeds have to obey them now. I think the most blatant and obvious sign of this came yesterday. Carlsbad on the main drag, a family run bistro I stopped in for lunch, and the booth next to me had three Marine Corps junior officers wearing their midweek dress Charlies, eating indoors in open defiance of State Guidance. Of course, Governor Newsom is not their CO nor does a twerp like him have any respect from our brave men and women in uniform. But it was kind of interesting that uniformed officers even, not just enlisted men, are openly defying the state laws on this whole Covid thing. Newsom and Sacramento lost this game. They are looking more and more like fools. And Disneyland is still closed. :rolleyes:

1HAPPYGHOSTHOSTMar 13, 2021

Not these clowns again.

Darkbeer1Mar 13, 2021

George Lucas on a BenchMar 13, 2021

Who knows, folks. Maybe, just maybe, if we all work together, we can have small gatherings this 4th of July. We all remember how solemn and depressing the last 4th of July was in California, with absolutely no one celebrating and not a single firework. I'm doing my part. Are you?

mickEbluMar 13, 2021

No thats not him. The guy I’m talking about is the majority owner of the company its leased to.

Darkbeer1Mar 13, 2021

I presume your friend(I presume Tom Lochtefeld, Belmont Park Manager Member) owns the management contract, as the city owns the land. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjlochtefeld

Darkbeer1Mar 13, 2021

https://www.belmontpark.com/the-park-boardwalk/history/

mickEbluMar 13, 2021

I believe he’s owned it for circa 10 + years but I’m not 100% sure. He’s definitely not family of the original owner. The last time I went to Belmont Park was when it was in pretty bad shape in the mid 90s.

PiratesMansionMar 13, 2021

Masks flying off of rides might seem like a problem if you haven't ridden anything with them, but it really isn't. Because of how masks are secured, there's next to no chance of that happening unless you're not even pretending to wear it properly (as in, it's only secured on one of your ears). I never came close to losing the mask or even having the mask move at all on my face on any of the roller coasters I rode over the last year, nor did anyone else in the trains with me or that I witnessed. If my mask (and that of other riders) can stay secure on rides like Orion (300 ft tall, 92 mph) or Phantom's Revenge (also over 200 ft tall, crazy ejector airtime for the last half of it), then it won't be a problem wearing a mask on the Giant Dipper. Masks aren't nearly the projectile or hazard that more conventional distractions like hats, glasses, or cell phones are.

DavidDLMar 13, 2021

You and I probably drove by each other at some point today, then. Hah. Yeah, it's interesting down here, my wife and I noticed a few weeks ago a KBBQ place we like started doing indoor dining. Then it was the Mexican restaurant. Now our favorite Ramen shop and finally, last night while dining outdoors elsewhere, they told us to make sure we came back next Tuesday. We assumed it was for some kind of Happy Hour or something but the waitress told us, no, it was because that was when they were opening for indoor dining and told us they were taking advantage of some kind of loophole management had found in the current restrictions. Not sure what that loophole in the Purple Tier is, but almost everywhere we've been lately has offered to seat us inside or out.

TP2000Mar 13, 2021

I'm only vaguely familiar with the history of Belmont Park, but it's a wonderful place. Is your friend part of the family of the original owners from a hundred years ago??? Or has the park changed hands at some time? I just hope once Sacramento does finally release their Refreshed Guidance for theme parks, that they don't get too crazy about that mask rule for rides like the Giant Dipper. There was language in last October's Guidance that made it seem like roller coasters would be tough to operate because the riders masks may fly off. Let's hope when Sacramento finally finishes their homework on the Guidance, they leave rides like the Giant Dipper alone.

mickEbluMar 13, 2021

My uncle is fam/ friends with the owner of Belmont Park. I’ve been to his incredible “home” in Rancho Santa Fe. Beautiful sprawling property with Olive trees everywhere.