Following calls from theme park employees, local government officials and business leaders, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced California’s guidelines for theme park reopening Tuesday afternoon.
ANAHEIM – Gov. Gavin Newsom announced guidelines for reopening theme parks amid Orange County officials and California business leaders calling for parks to reopen.
During his COVID-19 briefing Monday, Newsom said that there is no hurry in releasing guidelines for reopening theme parks, hinting that different theme parks may have different rules.
“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,” Newsom said during his briefing.
“But Dr. Ghaly, we’ll be updating you tomorrow on those guidelines,” continued the Governor. “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. We have to maintain that vigilance so we can avoid any further increase in transmission.”
Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly laid out the guidelines for theme parks. Dr. Ghaly explained that the more restrictive rules were set for larger theme parks, like Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, because of the tourism that the parks draw, bringing people from outside communities to the area.
The state recently sent a task force to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to review its management of the crisis and safety protocols.
Under the state’s plan, smaller theme parks will be able to resume operations in the plan’s Tier Three category. Parks will have a limited capacity of 25 percent. Tier Three parks may only open outdoor attractions and limit ticket sales to visitors within the county.
Larger theme parks may open under Tier Four with a limited capacity of 25 percent at a later date. These parks must use a reservation system and provide COVID-19 screening upon entry. This means that parks like Disneyland and Knotts will have to wait, as they fall under Tier Four, and their county’s fall under the state’s red tier for opening.
Here is a breakdown of the guidelines:
- Smaller theme parks may resume operations in Tear Three with limited capacity at 25% or 500 people, whichever is fewer
- All theme parks may resume operations in Tier Four at 25% capacity
- All theme parks must implement a reservation system and screen guests for symptoms in advance. Face coverings are also mandatory throughout the park, except while eating or drinking
Newsom’s announcement comes after unions representing Disney employees sent the governor a letter on Monday urging him to allow theme parks to reopen.
In June, unions representing nearly 17,000 Disneyland employees told Newsom that it was unsafe to open theme parks. Along with the employees’ written concerns, a petition was filed on Change.org, urging for a delay to the park’s reopening. It was signed by more than 40,000 people, including Disneyland employees, their family members and annual pass holders.
Now the unions say that Disney has a testing program and protocols in place for personal protective equipment and ventilation. The Walt Disney Co.’s Parks, Experiences and Products division recently announced 28,000 layoffs, as the company has lost an estimated loss of $4 billion in operating income due to the closures of its parks, hotels and cruise lines.
Along with Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and other California theme parks have been closed since March.
The closures have hit Anaheim’s tourist-based businesses particularly hard, as a number of small businesses and independent hotels have remained closed while awaiting the reopening of nearby theme parks.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu called the guidelines disappointing.
“These guidelines fail working families and small businesses,” he said in a statement via Twitter. “As painful as this is, Disney and the city of Anaheim will survive. But too many Anaheim hotels, stores and restaurants will not survive another year of this.”