More than 400 days after one of the happiest places on earth shuttered due to COVID, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park are now open to the public again, as of Apr. 30. Disney Parks Blog celebrated the exciting news with photos of happy employees and visitors, some crying tears of joy, from opening day. "We have waited so long for this," Bob Chapek, the CEO of Walt Disney Company, said at the park's reopening day, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "You can just feel the energy and excitement all around us." The House of Mouse's reopening is certainly something to celebrate, as is the fact that California currently has one of the lowest rates of new COVID cases across the country. But of course, Disneyland is still taking precautions.
In addition to mask-wearing, temperature checks, and reduced capacity, a few beloved aspects of the Disneyland experience are still off limits. Read on to discover what has changed at the iconic park, and for more inside scoop from Disney, check out A Disney World Employee Is Rating Celebrities Based on How Rude They Are.
Disneyland parkgoers won't be able to hug Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
MN Chan / Stringer / Getty ImagesOne of the biggest potential disappointments for little ones returning to Disneyland is that Mickey and Minnie Mouse won't be offering hugs to visitors in the park.
Disneyland Resorts updated its website with its new guidelines and park changes, including what isn't allowed due to COVID. "Some experiences are temporarily paused to accommodate physical distancing," the site reads, mentioning "Character Greetings." "While character meet-and-greets are temporarily unavailable, Characters are in our parks, in new ways, to entertain and delight Guests," they say.
It seems like all Disney characters will be following COVID safety rules, Reuters reports. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip and Dale were seen on video during the Apr. 30 opening, standing in their own private spaces and away from the crowds.
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Parades and fireworks displays will not be held until further notice.
Gary Hershorn / Getty ImagesAs for what else is off limits at the parks, the Disney site lists: "Parades and Nighttime Spectaculars," "Magical Makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique," and "Single Rider Queues."
In addition to these no-gos, Disney has made some major changes in order to reopen, in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local California rules and regulations. Of course, there are the expected enhanced cleaning procedures, physical distancing rules, and mask-wearing. Anyone over two years old must wear a face covering throughout the park and get their temperatures checked upon entry.
Disneyland also recommends guests use contactless forms of payment when in the park if possible.
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Tickets to Disneyland are sold out through mid-June.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin / Getty ImagesAccording to Disneyland's online reservation system, the park is sold out until mid-June, Reuters reports. But if you're looking to go when tickets become available again, know that the park is currently at 25 percent capacity and the only people allowed to enter are California residents (proof of residency is required for purchase). Disneyland also notes that people can visit in "groups no larger than 3 households, in line with current state guidelines."
Guests who have been told to quarantine are not allowed to enter Disneyland. And anyone with possible symptoms of COVID—like fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell—should not enter the park.
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Now, only one Disney park has yet to reopen.
WIRACHAIPHOTO / ShutterstockWalt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, reopened in July 2020. Shanghai Disneyland Park in China, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, and Hong Kong Disneyland have also reopened after closing during the COVID pandemic.
However, Disneyland Paris, which first closed on Mar. 12, 2020, was planning to reopen on Apr. 2, 2021, and has yet to do so due to rising cases in France. "We are optimistic that we will be able to reopen soon, and we will share updates when possible," Disneyland Paris said in March, according to Theme Park Insider.
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