When Will the Disney Parks Open?
As we sit in our homes, trying to protect our families and ourselves from the deadly outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, it's the question that is constantly on our minds: when is life going to return to normal? For Disney fans, that sense of normalcy will begin to take form when our beloved parks in Anaheim and Orlando reopen.
So when is that going to be?
In this post, we attempt to answer that very question. But first, let's establish a few of guidelines:
1. This is merely our opinion. We are making an educated guess based on information that is available to us right here and now. Unfortunately, as all of are learning right now, the information about the Covid-19 virus changes almost daily. The things we thought we knew for sure about this virus haven't always proven to be true.
2. It goes without saying that no information has been provided by the Walt Disney Company about their plans to re-open the park. Again, this is just our best guess as to when we might see the gates re-open.
3. Each state (and each county for that matter) operates on their own curve. Depending on the mitigation standards adhered to by each state, California might be able to begin operations before Florida (or vice versa). It's just impossible to know.
Phased Re-Opening
This week, the nation heard from Dr. Anthony Fauci who confirmed that we will not see an "all clear" flag be waived when this pandemic is behind us. Locally, this means that social distancing rules will likely be relaxed gradually and over a period of time.
This also means that you won't see Disneyland or the Walt Disney World Resort simply re-open on a full-scale one morning. Because the information that have changes daily, we try to use other countries as a barometer of when we might see the clouds clear.
Disneyland in Shanghai, China was closed for a period of forty (40) days before parts of the park were re-opened. It is worth noting two (2) important things: first, the park is still not in operation as of today's date - only the hotels, restaurants and shops. And second, US intelligence has concluded that the data being provided by the Chinese government has been fabricated and downplayed to give the appearance that things are back to normal,
Nonetheless, those restraints and shops are still open. This tells us that before the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland or California Adventure open their gates, you will likely see the hotels and shops located in Downtown Disney and Disney Springs open first. You can also expect that this will come with strict guidelines relating to social distancing within stores and restraints. Guests will be encouraged/required to stay 6 feet apart and dining tables will likely be moved to maintain safe distances.
This will also likely mean enhanced security presence and crowd control measures. Have you ever walked through World of Disney on any given evening? It is almost always wall-to-wall people. Certainly not the type of environment Disney wants to create as they seek to eliminate a pandemic from re-emerging. Expect that only a select number of guests will be invited into the stores at a given time. Restaurants will also have limitations as to the number of patrons they can serve at one time. Expect crowd sizes from 30% - 50% of capacity to be permitted and then gradually increased as the virus becomes more controlled.
Theme Parks
While getting to Downtown Disney and Disney Springs will be embraced by Disney fans, most of us will be keeping an eye on the theme parks themselves. We expect that it will be more of a wait until the park gates are opened again.
Shanghai Disneyland closed on January 25, 2020. The restaurants, shops, and hotels opened up fort (40) days later. As of the date of publication, the park itself is still not open - that was 70 days ago. If we applied a similar timeline from the date the North American parks closed, that would put us at May 25, 2020.
But the numbers in China have been unreliable. Perhaps a better barometer (to the extent such a thing exists), are the models that have been developed, particularly the model created by researchers at the University of Washington. On May 25, 2020, both Florida and California will be on the downside of the curve - but that assumes continued mitigation being maintained at the strictest levels. As we have seen in other countries, relaxing social distancing too soon has resulted in the virus re-emerging. That is why you are seeing Disney take such a prolonged approach to re-opening the parks overseas.
What the projections don't tell us is perhaps the most vital piece of data: new cases. We can track how many cases there will be and the number of resources available to those who need them, but nobody is able to accurately model the number of new cases and whether the virus will still be spreading.
And just like with Disney Springs and Downtown Disney, expect Disneyland and Walt Disney World to have limitations on the number of people who are able to enter the park. Cast Members will likely also be directed to make sure that guests are exercising safe social distancing from one another - particularly in the lines.
The Parks Will Reopen On:
Just a reminder - this is merely our best guess with the information that we have right now. There are still so many unknowns, but like you, we are anxious to return to the parks.
Right now, California seems on pace to have fewer cases faster than Florida. If this holds, it would be reasonable to expect that Disneyland might open sooner than World Disney World.
Based upon what we know what, we think it's possible that the Disney Springs, Downtown Disney, and surrounding restaurants will open between June 15 - June 30, 2020.
As for the parks, that might take a little bit longer. Based on the information we have now, we think it's possible to see the parks reopen between July 14 - July 30, 2020.
In the end, this is just our best guess. The most important thing is that you stay safe, and know that someday soon, we'll all be experiencing the magic again.
So when is that going to be?
In this post, we attempt to answer that very question. But first, let's establish a few of guidelines:
1. This is merely our opinion. We are making an educated guess based on information that is available to us right here and now. Unfortunately, as all of are learning right now, the information about the Covid-19 virus changes almost daily. The things we thought we knew for sure about this virus haven't always proven to be true.
2. It goes without saying that no information has been provided by the Walt Disney Company about their plans to re-open the park. Again, this is just our best guess as to when we might see the gates re-open.
3. Each state (and each county for that matter) operates on their own curve. Depending on the mitigation standards adhered to by each state, California might be able to begin operations before Florida (or vice versa). It's just impossible to know.
Phased Re-Opening
This week, the nation heard from Dr. Anthony Fauci who confirmed that we will not see an "all clear" flag be waived when this pandemic is behind us. Locally, this means that social distancing rules will likely be relaxed gradually and over a period of time.
This also means that you won't see Disneyland or the Walt Disney World Resort simply re-open on a full-scale one morning. Because the information that have changes daily, we try to use other countries as a barometer of when we might see the clouds clear.
Disneyland in Shanghai, China was closed for a period of forty (40) days before parts of the park were re-opened. It is worth noting two (2) important things: first, the park is still not in operation as of today's date - only the hotels, restaurants and shops. And second, US intelligence has concluded that the data being provided by the Chinese government has been fabricated and downplayed to give the appearance that things are back to normal,
Nonetheless, those restraints and shops are still open. This tells us that before the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland or California Adventure open their gates, you will likely see the hotels and shops located in Downtown Disney and Disney Springs open first. You can also expect that this will come with strict guidelines relating to social distancing within stores and restraints. Guests will be encouraged/required to stay 6 feet apart and dining tables will likely be moved to maintain safe distances.
This will also likely mean enhanced security presence and crowd control measures. Have you ever walked through World of Disney on any given evening? It is almost always wall-to-wall people. Certainly not the type of environment Disney wants to create as they seek to eliminate a pandemic from re-emerging. Expect that only a select number of guests will be invited into the stores at a given time. Restaurants will also have limitations as to the number of patrons they can serve at one time. Expect crowd sizes from 30% - 50% of capacity to be permitted and then gradually increased as the virus becomes more controlled.
Theme Parks
While getting to Downtown Disney and Disney Springs will be embraced by Disney fans, most of us will be keeping an eye on the theme parks themselves. We expect that it will be more of a wait until the park gates are opened again.
Shanghai Disneyland closed on January 25, 2020. The restaurants, shops, and hotels opened up fort (40) days later. As of the date of publication, the park itself is still not open - that was 70 days ago. If we applied a similar timeline from the date the North American parks closed, that would put us at May 25, 2020.
But the numbers in China have been unreliable. Perhaps a better barometer (to the extent such a thing exists), are the models that have been developed, particularly the model created by researchers at the University of Washington. On May 25, 2020, both Florida and California will be on the downside of the curve - but that assumes continued mitigation being maintained at the strictest levels. As we have seen in other countries, relaxing social distancing too soon has resulted in the virus re-emerging. That is why you are seeing Disney take such a prolonged approach to re-opening the parks overseas.
What the projections don't tell us is perhaps the most vital piece of data: new cases. We can track how many cases there will be and the number of resources available to those who need them, but nobody is able to accurately model the number of new cases and whether the virus will still be spreading.
And just like with Disney Springs and Downtown Disney, expect Disneyland and Walt Disney World to have limitations on the number of people who are able to enter the park. Cast Members will likely also be directed to make sure that guests are exercising safe social distancing from one another - particularly in the lines.
The Parks Will Reopen On:
Just a reminder - this is merely our best guess with the information that we have right now. There are still so many unknowns, but like you, we are anxious to return to the parks.
Right now, California seems on pace to have fewer cases faster than Florida. If this holds, it would be reasonable to expect that Disneyland might open sooner than World Disney World.
Based upon what we know what, we think it's possible that the Disney Springs, Downtown Disney, and surrounding restaurants will open between June 15 - June 30, 2020.
As for the parks, that might take a little bit longer. Based on the information we have now, we think it's possible to see the parks reopen between July 14 - July 30, 2020.
In the end, this is just our best guess. The most important thing is that you stay safe, and know that someday soon, we'll all be experiencing the magic again.
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