Disneyland in Anaheim, California has officially opened up reservations for July 2020 and beyond. In a true sign that the coronavirus outbreak had taken a turn for the worse, The Walt Disney Company made the decision in mid-March to shut down all of its parks as local governments began to restrict the size of gatherings. As the outbreak became a full-on global pandemic, it seemed like the safest measure for everyone. However, the shutdowns have not been without consequences for Disney, as the company has furloughed employees and could lose up to $21 billion in revenue. Disney has also been affected by the pandemic through delayed movies (such as Mulan and Black Widow) and halted film and television productions.
While some predicted Disney would wait to reopen their parks until 2021, recent updates suggest otherwise. This week, Disney CEO Bob Chapek revealed Disneyland Shanghai will open its doors on May 11 following encouraging signs that China is getting back to pre-coronavirus life. At the time, no official reopening dates were given for U.S. parks, though guidelines laid out by Orange County suggested Disney World in Orlando, Florida could reopen as early as June.
For the time being, Disneyland in California remains closed. As noted by WDW News Today, Walt Disney World Resorts has begun canceling previously booked reservations for dates leading up to May 31. Considering how an official reopening for that time hadn't been announced, this doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, an official update given by Disneyland announced reservations for July 1 and beyond are now available.
With July still two months away, there is a chance this could change as the situation continues to evolve. States are gradually beginning to reopen, with California among them. Governor Gavin Newsom has developed a 4-stage plan to opening the state, and with places such as movie theaters not being allowed to reopen for several more months, it stands to reason that Disneyland and other amusement parks would be included in those later stages. Again, Disneyland might opt to push those open reservations out further, but for the time being, people can book tickets for two months from now.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced widespread change across the globe, and it's unclear as to when things will get back to normal, if they ever will. Even while states are reopening, massive health restrictions are still in place, and even Disney is considering checking guests' temperatures when they enter the parks. With a situation as serious as this, it is a relief to know places are being careful with their reopenings. Only time will tell if Disneyland actually gets to follow through on their potential reservations.
Source: WDW News Today, Disneyland
