California Theme Park Reopening Plans Are Coming But Will Disney Like Them?
Today is the day. We think! Yesterday, a piece appeared in the OC Register announcing that California Governor Gavin Newsom would be releasing the state’s long-awaited COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for reopening the theme parks today (October 20th.) However, the piece hints that California’s theme park giants like Disneyland and Universal may not be happy with the plan.
Yesterday Governor Newsom held a press conference announcing the arrival this week of the guidelines which will be released by the California Health and Human Services secretary Mark Ghaly at some point today!
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has been closed since Mid-March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained closed while waiting for these guidelines to be delivered. Disney has become increasingly vocal regarding the length of time its taking the state to put these plans together resulting in Bob Iger stepped down from Governor Newsom’s Economic Advisory Council earlier this fall. Disney Chairman Josh D’Amaro also cited the lengthy closure at Disneyland as one of the catalysts behind Disney’s recent decision to lay off some 28,000 domestic theme park employees this year.
Refusing to buckle to the pressure from Disney, Newsom said earlier this month that he wasn’t in a hurry to provide reopening guidelines for the theme parks. However, over the past week there has been a lot of movement toward speeding up the process. The State even sent members to Walt Disney World in Florida so that the plans implemented by the East Coast theme parks could help inform Disneyland plans.
“Tomorrow, Dr. Ghaly will update you on some of those industries and guidelines, including sports and some of these theme parks,” Newsom said yesterday. “We’re going to break up the theme parks. It’s not just one or two brands. It’s many different parts that are part of the theme park industry. But Dr. Ghaly will be updating you tomorrow on those guidelines.”
Reopening plans for larger theme parks are expected to be similar to initial guidelines released by the state calling for reopening individual California theme parks at 25% capacity once the county is thought to be “minimal” risk level for the spread of COVID-19 and limiting initial attendance to local residents who live within 120 miles of Disneyland Resort.
The California Attractions and Parks Association asked state officials in early October to modify some protocols before issuing reopening guidelines.According to the piece in the OC Register, Newsom also spoke of his concern when it comes to the impact of the colder months on the pandemic and holiday crowds at the theme parks saying, “This is an area of obvious and real concern,” Newsom said during the news conference. “That’s why we’re being very sober, and forgive me, stubborn about some industries in the state that I know are eager to get guidelines.”
Newsom said decisions about reopening California theme parks will be driven by scientific data and a health-first approach. “Again, I hope one recognizes our stubbornness on a health-first, data-driven, decision-making process is done with our eyes wide open on what’s happening now around the world, not just what’s happened across the United States,” Newsom said during the conference. “Not yet here in the state of California, but that’s only because we are being vigilant and have to maintain that vigilance so we avoid any further increase in transmission.”
As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog the impact of a nearly 8 month closure has had devastating effects on Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Disney is more than ready to reopen the theme parks and agreements with the unions that represent 90% of Disney’s unionized employees have been reached.
This is a story we’ll continue to follow closely throughout the day here at MickeyBlog. Readers are encouraged to keep following along with us for further news and updates.
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Source: OC Register