The state of California announced late last week that theme parks — like Disneyland and Universal Studios — can reopen beginning April 1, per The Los Angeles Times.
- However, the California Department of Health still requires a mask mandate, reduced capacity and other public health precautions because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
What’s happening?
California has new guidelines that allow for theme parks to reopen in different stages. The limits on attendance for these parks will depend on how many people live in the county where the park is located, according to The Verge. It will also depend on the risk level for COVID-19 in the counties, too.
- Theme parks in “red” tier counties for California’s COVID-19 risk system (the second-highest level) can open with 15% capacity.
- Meanwhile, “orange” tier counties can have a 25% capacity, and “yellow” tier can have 35% capacity.
- Disneyland is located in Orange County. According to The Verge, Orange County is currently in the “purple” tier — which has the highest risk level. It appears “purple” tier can reopen with 15% capacity. However, Orange County could move down to the red tier soon, per KABC.
Flashback
California previously announced its plan for reopening theme parks based on the risk levels, allowing for states in the “yellow” tier to open more promptly, as I wrote about for the Deseret News.
- That didn’t change anything for Disneyland because it didn’t meet the guidelines. Experts said it would be difficult for Disneyland to meet the requirements before 2021.
So what about Disneyland?
Disneyland has not given an official date for reopening (it could reopen April 1 — but hasn’t officially announced if it will). However, Disneyland officials said it will reopen parts of the California theme park for a smaller reopening in March for a limited-capacity event called “A Touch of Disney.”