What A Disneyland Reopening Might Look Like Under California’s NEW Four-Tier Plan
Trying to decipher governing reopening plans as they pertain to the theme parks can be a bit like trying to solve the DaVinci Code. Thankfully we have the folks over at the Orange County Register to give us all a hand. According to a piece they ran this afternoon, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure could begin reopening in stages under California’s NEW COVID-19 4-tier plan.
However, here’s the stipulation. Under the plan, and under current permissions, the reopening would to begin with be limited to outdoor only operations. This would be followed by indoor services but at a reduced capacity. This led the OC Register to ask if Disneyland would consider reopening but with only the outdoor attractions?
As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog, Disneyland was supposed to open in July before a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country causes the Governor to suspend signing off on reopening plans for California’s theme parks. Since then, Disneyland has been on standy-by waiting for word from the state that has yet to come.
At the moment, under the 4-tier system, Orange County (where Disneyland is located) is currently at Tier 1 which is the most restrictive. How long Orange County remains in each tier depends on how quickly COVID-19 conditions improve in the state. According to the plan, each industry sector will move through the four tier system. OC Register deciphered this for us and it looks something like this:
- Closed for business,
- Outdoor operations only
- Indoor operations limited to 25% capacity,
- Indoor operations capped at 50%
- Fully operational at 100% capacity.
The business that can reopen at Disneyland under a Tier 1 opening are already open- it should be remembered that despite the theme parks remaining shuttered, Downtown Disney did reopen as planned back in June. However, restaurants are currently restricted to outdoor dining and indoor shopping is limited to 25% capacity.
Hotels can also operate at this stage but Disneyland is holding off on opening its three onsite resorts until the theme parks reopen.
Under the 4-tier system. Outdoor Disneyland attractions like Mark Twain Riverboat, Columbia Sailing Ship and perhaps even the monorail could open in Tier 1 (if falling under transportation guidelines.) Outdoor theater shows like “Mickey and the Magical Map” could also reopen in Tier 1 if the appropriate social distancing protocols were followed.
Tier 2 allows theaters to reopen with social distancing protocols in place so this could technically include attractions like Great Moments with Mister Lincoln and even the Enchanted Tiki Room. Tier 4 includes indoor playgrounds which could mean the reopening of things like Chip and Dale’s Treehouse, Goofy’s Playhouse and Donald’s Boat.
Photo: Disney
Though its unlikely that Disney would make the decision to open without the vast majority of attractions opening along with it- there are so many gray areas and up until now a lack of guidance from the state. For instance Disneyland has a large number of outdoor rides like Matterhorn Bobsleds, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party etc. which presumably could open earlier.
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Under this method, indoor attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of The Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run among others could open at 25% capacity initially and then 50% capacity and so on. With this in mind, fireworks, Fantasmic! and the Magic Happens parades would be the last to return to the parks along with character meet and greets.
So what does this mean? Would Disneyland favor a partial reopening to mee the State’s new guidelines? Will they wait it out until they can reopen everything at once? It remains to be seen but its nice to thing about the possibilities.
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