While Disneyland and Disney California Adventure await new reopening guidelines from the State of California, one local agency has given its own recommendation on the matter.
According to The Orange County Register‘s Brady MacDonald, the Orange County Health Care Agency has recommended that the parks reopen at 25% capacity once the county, which is home to the Disneyland Resort, moves into the “moderate” tier of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the second-lowest tier in the system. This would mean that the county would have no more than 1 to 3.9 daily new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, and a 2 to 4.9% positivity rate. County health officer and the agency’s director, Clayton Chau, said that health officials have worked closely with Disney in preparation for the parks’ reopening.
As of September 29th, Orange County was in the “substantial” category, a level above “moderate.” A county must remain in a tier no fewer than three weeks before moving into a lower tier.
Recently, the resort, along with Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego and other California theme and amusement parks pushed back against Newsom’s previous plan, which would have only allowed parks to reopen when their respective counties entered the least restrictive “minimal” tier, and only allowed residents who live within 120 miles of the parks to visit. After the proposed plan was scrapped, California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said in a statement: “Given the size and operational complexities of these unique sectors, we are seeking additional input from health, workforce and business stakeholders to finalize this important framework — all leading with science and safety.”
Last week, Disney Parks, Resorts and Products announced that 28,000 Cast Members would be laid off, citing that the situation was “exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.” As of the writing of this article, a revised series of guidelines has yet to be announced.
Keep reading WDWNT for more as this story develops.
Amazing how much money trumps safety. I’m embarrassed for this country and for Disney’s pathetic decision to lay off cast members instead of keeping them on furlough just to put pressure on the governor. Wait to go Disney playing with people’s lives and once again showing how little you care about your cast members that work hard every day to keep your executives living large. Walt would be ashamed of what you have become.
And now we await the backlash of the insane fans who just don’t get it.
Disney must have paid a nice bribe for this.
I’ll take the 25% capacity rather than 0% capacity lol. Nice to know some people in charge want Disneyland to open.
Having been furloughed, it sucks. And I was only on it for 3 weeks. These guys have been furloughed for MONTHS! I love Disney and would love it open. But it isn’t worth risking getting a bunch of people sick. Would 25% capacity even bring in enough income to pay all the workers required? All of the electricity needed?
I honestly don’t have a clue.
Besides all of the covid drama, I’ve thought it would be nice of Disney, instead of putting in a new hotel, to make housing for its employees. Nothing extravagant. And not for big families. Maybe something for up to 3 or 4 people. Kind of a “you work for an awesome company, have somewhere close to your job to live with cheap to no rent.” If the CEO’s can make millions in bonus’ at the end of the year, you can house your employees.
Which would help right now where they have no work and people are getting kicked out of their homes because they can’t pay $2500 for rent on a one bedroom apartment. Which is twice my mortgage.