Disneyland will finally reopen on April 30 and the park has promised to welcome guests with a completely different experience from before the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, there will be fewer activities to enjoy. Attractions like parades and fireworks will be available, however, perks like Fast Passes or Magical Mornings will be halted as of the moment. If the California Attractions and Parks Association has their way, even screaming while on the roller coasters will be prohibited.
Second, per California’s guidance for the red tier, Disneyland will only operate at 15 percent capacity and residents outside of California are not allowed to visit the park. However, despite these limitations, it will be a whole different experience. Smaller crowds and limited capacities will present better ride experiences and shopping.
In 2019, DisneyNews.us estimates that the park has about 51,000 visitors every day. With the mandate to only operate at 15 percent, the parks will only welcome under 20,000 visitors daily.
“The joy and laughter and magical moments of the Disneyland Resort will soon return to its theme parks as Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are planning to officially reopen to the public on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity,” Disney said in a release shared with SFGATE on March 17.
The small number of visitors who are able to purchase tickets within that 15 percent capacity will be required to make reservations for Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure for the day they want to visit. However, they won’t be able to utilize Fast Passes, the system that allows a number of people into shorter queues.
On rides, distancing will be implemented, and depending on configurations, plastic barriers might even be installed between rows.
Possibility to Increase to 25 Percent Capacity
There are speculations that by April 30, Orange County could enter the orange tier, which allows 25 percent capacity for theme parks and 50 percent capacity for indoor dining. However, it will be unlikely that Disneyland will allow such a number of people to enter the park.
Disneyland hasn’t released a statement whether indoor dining will be available but has confirmed that restaurants with outdoor seating, like The Plaza Inn and River Belle Terrace, will open.
No specific dates have been announced for when tickets will be on sale.
