Has Disneyland Resort Really Changed Post Pandemic?
In the midst of planning our recent trip to Disney Parks, I pondered how it would feel to return as a visitor, rather than a local. After all that’s happened over the past few years, I wondered if Disneyland Resort really has changed post pandemic.
Disneyland Resort Post Pandemic
One thing was for sure, if things truly were different, we’d know immediately after stepping onto Disney property. As multiyear Annual Passholders, we used to frequent the Parks several times per week.
Photo: Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG
When you visit the Parks that often, you get to know its ins and outs. That being said, after a plethora of public opinion, shared by self-proclaimed Disney aficionados, it was nice to finally be able to come to our own conclusions.
Aside from Disney leadership and pricing, there are three main aspects that Disneyland Parkgoers seem to currently take issue with. Those include its level of cleanliness, ride breakdowns, and the vibe of Cast Members.
Photo: Christy Weinberg
Cleanliness
So, are the rumors true? Has Disneyland really gone downhill in terms of cleanliness?
Are the Parks more trashy and dirty than they used to be? I found this to be completely false!
Photo: Disney
In fact, I can prove it with a funny story. While enjoying some notoriously messy beignets in Downtown Disney, we sat on one of the planter benches.
As we gobbled them down, some powdered sugar dropped from the dessert. When finished, a Cast Member immediately started mopping the ground beneath our feet.
Photo: Disney
In addition to Downtown Disney, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure looked pristine as usual. We failed to notice any signs of a lack of cleanliness whatsoever!
Ride Breakdowns
Lately, people have been complaining that Disneyland Park has been experiencing increased ride breakdowns. While I cannot speak regarding an extended period of time, I can say that I was a bit surprised about one particular attraction.
Photo: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort
Indiana Jones Adventure, one of my favorites, had multiple missing and broken-down elements. Perhaps this explains why the ride will be undergoing an extended closure next year.
In addition, Pirates of the Caribbean broke down while we were in the queue. But, that is nothing out of the ordinary.
Cast Members
It’s no secret that Disney Cast Members have to deal with their fair share of unhappy customers. Lately, the Disney community has been banding together to encourage kindness to Disney Parks employees.
As far as Cast Member vibes on our trip to Disneyland, we did notice a bit more of an abrupt disposition in the Parks. On the other hand, at Downtown Disney, the vibes were as cheerful and magical as ever.
That’s just our take of course. To sum it up, Disneyland Resort really hasn’t changed much post-pandemic, in our opinion.
To us, it’s still The Happiest Place on Earth!
