Disneyland Resort in Anaheim To Temporarily Close Due to COVID-19
Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., will close its doors Saturday in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The company announced the temporary closure on its Twitter account, where it confirmed that the parks will close starting March 14. The closure will last until at least the end of March.
— Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) March 12, 2020
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month.
“The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.
“Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714-520-5050.”
The last time Disney shut down the park was after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Disneyland has only closed two other times prior: The national day of mourning after the JFK assassination and after the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, which was one of the most powerful ever recorded in North America.
Disney closed its parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai and Japan back in January, though many shops and restaurants at Shanghai Disneyland have since reopened.
Disney World in Orlando, Florida, remains open.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier in the month when the first COVID-19 patient died after falling ill while aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship.
Late Wednesday, Gov. Newsom, in accordance with new guidelines from the state’s Department of Public Health, asked that all gatherings of more than 250 people be canceled throughout the state in an effort to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 illness caused by the coronavirus.
The decision includes almost all sporting events, most concerts, many movie screenings, high-volume workplaces, and many restaurants and bars, not to mention film premiers and large scale media events. Though not mandatory, Newsom called on Californians to follow the guidelines through at least the end of March.
The new guidelines, posted Wednesday night, are the strongest measures yet in the state’s efforts to contain the disease that has infected roughly 200 Californians.