The city of Anaheim is calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to reopen the Disneyland Resort. According to the OC Register, Anaheim has made the request after the 6-month closure of the Disneyland Resort parks has led to a $100 million shortfall for the city. Anaheim has requested that the governor issue health and safety guidelines for the theme parks reopening.
Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster said, “What we need is guidance and an economic recovery roadmap so we know that we won’t go from coronavirus to a second great recession.” This comes as Lyster shared that half of the city’s general fund budget comes from businesses near the Disneyland Resort and also the Anaheim Convention Center.
The Disneyland Resort parks have been closed since March due to COVID-19. While Disney Parks have opened in Florida, at this time a reopening date for the California theme parks is unknown. The main reason for this at this point is due to a lack of health and safety guidelines from the state.
“Once we have a clearer understanding of when theme parks can reopen from the State of California, we will be able to work with the state and Orange County Health Care Agency towards a reopening date,” according to Disney officials.
The news that Anaheim is calling on the Governor to share these guidelines comes a day after California theme parks urged the Governor to do the same yesterday.
“Beaches are open, museums are open, zoos are open and most of SeaWorld in San Diego is open,” Lyster said. “There does not seem to be a lot of consistency there.”
At this time, there has been no response from the Governor’s office. California theme parks have suggested guidelines that include mandatory masks, social distancing, increased sanitization, contactless payments, reduced attraction capacity, and employee training.
Other theme parks have reopened around the United States without COVID-19 outbreaks. This includes Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Legoland and Cedar Fair parks in Florida, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan, according to state health agencies and theme park officials.
DAPS MAGIC will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
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