Biggest Questions about Disneyland’s Reopening

Disneyland has remained closed for more than a year. The park even missed its 65^th birthday due to the pandemic!

Thankfully, as you probably know, the Happiest Place on Earth will reopen soon.

We realize that you need a lot of information. So, let’s answer your questions about Disneyland’s reopening.

When Will Disneyland Reopen

Disneyland will make its triumphant comeback on April 30^th. On that date, the park will spring back to life after a 13 ½ month closure.

Park officials could have brought back Disneyland as soon as April 1^st. Unfortunately, California’s government didn’t provide much of a heads up.

After a year of strict regulations, the governor relaxed restrictions due to the state’s high level of vaccinations.

This information coincided with a reduction in outbreaks in highly populated areas like Orange County.

For this reason, Disney expected to reopen with a maximum of 15 percent capacity. Instead, it could legally return with 25 percent.

However, park management has indicated it’ll start at the 15 percent threshold and then ramp up over time.

Will Disney California Adventure Reopen at the Same Time?

Yes! Disney officials may have gotten caught off-guard by the sudden reversal of fortune, but they’ll still take full advantage.

Disneyland Resort will fully reopen on April 30^th. That means both parks will operate for guests.

Realistically, that’s a safer approach anyway. Disney can spread out guests more across two parks than one. Simultaneously, it can double revenue.

This is a rare instance where doing the right thing is the same as doing the most financially rewarding thing.

Will A Touch of Disney Remain Open?

Okay, no. Obviously not. Disney has hosted A Touch of Disney throughout March and April as a private ticketed event.

Guests have roamed through Disney California Adventure, noshing on delicious Disney food while shopping for exclusive merchandise.

However, if the park will reopen to regular guests, it needs that space. Besides, the ticketed event wasn’t supposed to last this long anyway.

Disney extended it by two weeks as a concession to its shocking demand. It should have closed already.

The only way it could have remained open is if Disneyland Resort hadn’t reopened. That’s a terrible trade for all of us!

You shouldn’t worry about this situation, though. I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of special ticketed events for foodies.

The success of A Touch of Disney all but guarantees future events along these lines.

Will Avengers Campus Open at the Same Time?

No, but that’s okay! Let me explain why.

When Disney first announced the reopening, it was participating in a scramble drill. The company genuinely got caught flat-footed.

With so many other kinks to work out like rehiring staff and testing attractions, park officials couldn’t add another layer of complexity.

Opening a new themed land represents a massive endeavor that requires total concentration.

Thankfully, we won’t have to wait for long, though!

Disney recently announced that Avengers Campus will debut on June 4^th. That’s exactly five weeks after Disneyland Resort reopens.

So, Disney can use these first few weeks to get back in the swing of things.

Then, Avengers Campus can make its highly anticipated debut and capitalize on the success of Black Widow, which will still be in theaters and available on Disney+.

Will There Be Anything New at the Parks?

Yes, no, and sort of are all viable options here.

I don’t mean to be cheeky. It’s the truth! Disney isn’t opening any new attractions until Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure arrives on June 4^th.

However, two iconic Disneyland attractions will return in differing forms. One will display some modest changes, while the other won’t look quite the same.

The minor alterations will occur at Haunted Mansion, which Disneyland had actually closed before the pandemic.

Park officials wanted to modernize some elements of the attraction, although they’ve kept quiet on which parts will differ.

Speculation has centered on an updated line queue akin to the interactive elements at Magic Kingdom.

During the pandemic, those high-touch options have seemed less desirable, though.

So, I’m skeptical that’s what Disney has done. We will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

As for the “new” attraction, Snow White’s Scary Adventures has closed forever…mostly.

Imagineers have re-themed the 1955 attraction as Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, a more modern take on the story.

Presumably, the Disney Princess will receive her Happily Ever After on this ride.

Also, one section replicates the gem mine scene from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

I’m expecting the ride to feel half-original and half-classic. As such, you’ll have two modified attractions open on April 30^th.

Then, on June 4^th, an entirely new experience will arrive at Avengers Campus.

That’s plenty of good stuff coming to Disneyland Resort over the next few weeks!

PS: Due to ongoing changes to Jungle Cruise’s story, it will NOT reopen with the parks. Disney will bring it back at a later date.

Will I Need a Park Pass?

Yes! In fact, Park Passes are already available on the official Disneyland website.

If you plan on attending the parks this summer, you should be proactive and schedule Park Passes now.

Disney has already extended Park Passes at Walt Disney World into 2023. This premise isn’t going away soon.

Park officials will employ this strategy to manage potential overcrowding issues as the pandemic diminishes in scope.

Surveys suggest that audiences hunger for a return to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Executives could likely sell out the parks on many occasions during the second half of the year if they wished.

Thankfully, Disney executives care about your safety more than making money while recklessly endangering you.

As such, Park Passes will control crowd capacity for the foreseeable future. Get used to this system! It’s probably here throughout 2021.

Which Health Guidelines Should I Know?

By this point, you’re likely familiar with Disney’s overall park policies during the pandemic.

If not, here are the basics. You will be subject to a temperature check before entering the park.

This process will take a matter of minutes at most. The test itself takes one click of a button and then a readout of a digital display.

At five seconds per person, a single healthcare worker can cycle through several hundred people per hour. And several of them staff the front entrance.

Seriously, the temperature screenings are over in the blink of an eye.

The permanent aspect of a park visit involves face coverings. You must wear one at all times that you’re not eating or drinking.

Disney recently relaxed photo requirements at the Orlando parks. Nobody has said anything about Disneyland yet, though. So, expect to wear a mask!

Disney will also limit capacity at various restaurants and possibly some attractions.

Using Walt Disney World as a baseline, cast members skipped rows when seating guests until quite recently.

With capacity limits in place, you’ll prefer this approach, as you’ll get to stretch out more. In fact, you’ll feel like you have Disneyland to yourself.

The other thing to know about your visit is that the parks have suspended FastPasses and MaxPasses for the time being.

Nobody knows when they’ll return, but the only form of digital queuing will involve Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

You’ll stand in line the old-fashioned way everywhere else. And even the Star Wars situation remains unsettled for now.

Which Hotels Are Reopening?

I probably shouldn’t have used plural there, but it’s the Google keyword suggestion.

In reality, only one Disneyland hotel will reopen with the parks…and it’s probably not the place you expect.

Disneyland Hotel is currently undergoing refurbishment and won’t be ready by April 30^th.

Instead, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will reopen on April 29^th to regular guests and May 2^nd for Disney Vacation Club members.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel isn’t reopening yet, either. Management hasn’t provided an explanation as to why yet, but I think it’s just math.

Disney operates three resorts when Disneyland allows maximum occupancy.

At 25 percent capacity, the Grand Californian should provide more than enough rooms for guests during the early days of the reopening phase.

I suspect that Disney will increase capacity and reopen one/both other hotel(s) when Avengers Campus debuts or a few months afterward.

There’s still some wiggle room involving COVID-19 reported cases and vaccinations.

The quickest way to ensure that the parks return to normal is to go get vaccinated!