Disneyland fans can begin making reservations for the happiest place on earth April 12, but fans worry nabbing a slot could be easier said than done.
“I do think they will go fast,” Marianne Rice, who has been an annual pass holder since 2005, told The Epoch Times. “If Touch of Disney tickets are any indication, they will be booked solid the same day tickets are released.”
Disneyland, which is currently permitted to operate at 25 percent capacity under state guidelines, opens April 31.
It will be open to in-state visitors only and will require residents to make advance reservations.
The amusement park will begin accepting reservations from Californians with unused tickets on April 12.
On April 15, tickets and reservations will become available to all in-state residents.
“I am beyond excited,” Rice said. “I used to go weekly, and didn’t realize how much I needed the joy of the parks until I couldn’t go every week. I went to Touch of Disney, and man was that wonderful, but I will be so beyond happy to walk through the gates of Disneyland.”
Economic Driver
Jay Burress, chief executive and president of Visit Anaheim, told The Epoch Times the economic reopening of Disneyland is a feeling of survival for the city.“It’s an integral part of the community, both as a business driver and giving back to the community. Being closed for over a year has been devastating to our economy,” Burress said. “People are starved for their Disney experience as well as interactions with people through meetings and events.”
Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster viewed Disney’s reopening as the beginning of an economic rebound for the tourist city.
“The economic impact of the pandemic has taken a toll on our city,” Lyster told The Epoch Times. “We’re not just going back to normal. We’re not going back to a busy summertime that we would typically see, but we will take it.”
The reopening, he said, “is a sign of new hope; having been closed for a year is unprecedented.”
Return to Abnormal
Disneyland has been closed since March 2020, and when it reopens, will look a little different to fans.Masks are required at the theme park unless eating or drinking; those who refuse to follow the rule will be removed.
Guests will also be subject to temperature screenings upon entry to certain park attractions.
As a result of COVID-19, attractions and entertainment such as parades and nighttime spectaculars, character greetings, single rider queues, and makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are temporarily suspended to accommodate social distancing.
However, residents can expect to see their favorite characters around the park in a new way.
Services such as FASTPASS and Disney MaxPass that allow for guests to skip the line on attractions will also be unavailable.
Indoor rides are limited to 15 minutes.
To abide by current state guidelines, Disney guests are limited to visiting the park with no more than three households.
Additionally, the parks are required to collect the names and contact information of ticket buyers for contact tracing purposes.
