Disneyland Reopening Speculation Superthread

[Lumpy1106]

Anybody else anxious about once the parks do reopen how quickly they could shut down again? I would be coming in from out of state and I could see Newsom deciding while I am on the plane "Oh by the way, theme parks have to shut down tomorrow."

Do you think that they should have to give a little bit of notice if theme parks have to shut down again, and what kind notice would be deemed sufficient?

In a word, YES. Newsom would have shut down WDW before they even opened. I'm surprised DeSantis is not taking a victory lap - he let WDW stay open despite the COVID numbers and it worked out. There's your proof though - WDW's procedures are more than adequate to keep COVID from spreading and there is no reason it woudn't work in DL/DCA too.

 

[midnight star]

OC is in purple now. They can go to red if they meet the red criteria for 2 weeks. They could then go to orange in 3 weeks, if they meet the criteria for orange right away (which they don't right now - just giving an example - you can't skip a color).

Thant's the way I read it.

OC will be in red on Tuesday

 

[DLgal]

OC will be in red on Tuesday

Yes, it's basically a guarantee at this point based on the numbers from 8/25-9/1, which will be the data used to determine tiers next week.

 

[Katie Count]

In a word, YES. Newsom would have shut down WDW before they even opened. I'm surprised DeSantis is not taking a victory lap - he let WDW stay open despite the COVID numbers and it worked out. There's your proof though - WDW's procedures are more than adequate to keep COVID from spreading and there is no reason it woudn't work in DL/DCA too.

WDW is having a special room rate discount right now for most Southern states. Why not add on the Pacific coast/Western states and try to entice some people to make the cross-country flight? At least you know the parks will be open when you get there.

We have a DL reservation for the last week in October (which has been modified many times before the new color tier system was put in place). I told my husband that we probably need to try and be at DL the first/second week that they are open if we really want to make sure that our trip happens. I don't trust that the DL/DCA parks will remain open once they are allowed to open.

 

[DLgal]

The Zoom class was dismissed early so now I'm listening to the live feed of the Governors update. Just talking about the eviction moratorium. Nothing interesting yet.

 

[mel2014]

For what it's worth, we had reservations at the new Element hotel for next week that I hadn't gotten around to cancelling yet; I got an email yesterday that the hotel is delaying opening until "at least 10/15/20 due to COVID-19 as we await word on when Disneyland and the Anaheim Resort Convention Center will reopen", so they're not betting on a near-term opening (although their calculus is obviously driven by weighing the costs of opening a brand new hotel against possibly low demand even if the resort is open).

I'm beginning to lose hope for any "Halloween" opening, which is unfortunate because we were really looking forward to visiting during Halloween time and our APs will be expired by next Halloween -- this was supposed to be our "year of Disney." I know we'll still end up getting 365 days on a our APs, but getting to experience the Halloween decorations was important to us.

 

[disneychrista]

Isn't part of the new color system the requirement to remain in the color for 2 weeks before any new sectors are allowed to open, or does that just apply to schools? I'm so confused because that used to be the rule with the old watchlist for just schools, but it sounds like it now applies to ALL sector reopening once counties switch colors.

So, in this scenario, Sept 22 would be the earliest allowable reopening date.

I think it is only schools, where the county has to be in RED for two weeks before they can reopen to in person instruction. A county has to be meeting the metrics for 2 weeks before they can move to a new category (if they have been there for at least 3 weeks) but once they are moved they can reopen the associated businesses.

 

[DLgal]

Literally no relevant theme park information from today's update.

 

[montreid]

@12:40 news conference Gov Newsom - Q+A from reporter regarding theme park and Friday meeting: 'progress being made' 'meeting with people' 'nothing yet to publicize'

 

[DLgal]

"Progress is being made in theme park reopening and we will share that as soon as we are ready to publicize plans."

Response to a question from an OC Register reporter asking about where theme parks will stand in terms of the new guideline colors. He asked at what point they would be allowed to open for outdoor and modified indoor operations. He also asked how the meetings went last Friday afternoon.

The Governor's answer didn't directly address either question.

 

[midnight star]

@12:40 news conference Gov Newsom - Q+A from reporter regarding theme park and Friday meeting: 'progress being made' 'meeting with people' 'nothing yet to publicize'

 

[StormyCA]

"Progress is being made in theme park reopening and we will share that as soon as we are ready to publicize plans."

Response to a question from an OC Register reporter asking about where theme parks will stand in terms of the new guideline colors. He asked at what point they would be allowed to open for outdoor and modified indoor operations. He also asked how the meetings went last Friday afternoon.

The Governor's answer didn't directly address either question.

I think because there's nothing to address. No decisions have been made, no standards have been set. I assume that means the Friday meeting came to no 'meeting of the minds'.

 

[midnight star]

I think because there's nothing to address. No decisions have been made, no standards have been set. I assume that means the Friday meeting came to no 'meeting of the minds'.

I wonder if there was even a “meeting” to begin with

 

[StormyCA]

I wonder if there was even a “meeting” to begin with

Who really knows. 'Meeting' covers a lot of territory.

I'm sure they're doing something re parks reopening as far as 'talks', 'meetings', conversations'. But who knows how far apart the State and the TPG (theme park guys) are. I'm sure Disney's & Universal's TPG presented their plans a la their FLA parks, tweaked here and there for California standards.

I've wondered now and again if it's all settled and they just don't want to publicize the plans to avoid an avalanche of complaints from people thinking they're too strict/loose, needs to be sooner/later, why is X allowed to open but Y can't, ad infinitum. Much easier to wait and announce it close to the actual dates of reopening.

 

[EDS19]

I think because there's nothing to address. No decisions have been made, no standards have been set. I assume that means the Friday meeting came to no 'meeting of the minds'.

I wonder if there was even a “meeting” to begin with

While it seems pretty straight forward to us, my guess is during that meeting maybe they reviewed a preliminary draft of the plan for Theme Parks, then the Theme Parks shared their thoughts, the State shared its thoughts. The State says they will work over the next few days to make further modifications to the document and then they can talk again next week. Since they were meeting on Friday afternoon people wouldn't likely work on any changes until Monday or Tuesday. While it is a priority for us, Disney, and many cast members... this isn't as big of a concern when it comes to a State that is worried about an overall pandemic response, wildfires, homelessness, etc.

 

[midnight star]

While it seems pretty straight forward to us, my guess is during that meeting maybe they reviewed a preliminary draft of the plan for Theme Parks, then the Theme Parks shared their thoughts, the State shared its thoughts. The State says they will work over the next few days to make further modifications to the document and then they can talk again next week. Since they were meeting on Friday afternoon people wouldn't likely work on any changes until Monday or Tuesday. While it is a priority for us, Disney, and many cast members... this isn't as big of a concern when it comes to a State that is worried about an overall pandemic response, wildfires, homelessness, etc.

I feel like it would be a concern since it is a big employer in the state as well as for Anaheim. But I don't want to get off topic in regards to that.

I just don't understand why he can't just review what plans theme parks were going to submit back in late June/ early July. Disney was going to be one of the last ones to reopen with a July 17th date. Other parks were aiming for July 1. So I'm sure they had drafts of what procedures they were going to do. The state just needs to review and say yes..

 

[Lumpy1106]

I feel like it would be a concern since it is a big employer in the state as well as for Anaheim. But I don't want to get off topic in regards to that.

I just don't understand why he can't just review what plans theme parks were going to submit back in late June/ early July. Disney was going to be one of the last ones to reopen with a July 17th date. Other parks were aiming for July 1. So I'm sure they had drafts of what procedures they were going to do. The state just needs to review and say yes..

Add to that, it's not like there isn't a real world example of what each park intends to do, already fully implemented. Just hop a plane a go take a look. I'm sure Disney/Universal would be happy to make accommodations. The governor has hopped on a plane on the State's dime for a lot less important reasons.

 

[montreid]

"
Anaheim, Calif. — A recent study by three Cal State Fullerton economists determined that in the fiscal year ending in 2018 Disneyland® Resort created $8.5 billion in economic impact and more than 78,000 jobs in Southern California. The study confirms that Disneyland® Resort continues to be a major generator of jobs and catalyst for Southern California tourism, while driving significant municipal and state tax revenue.

The study by Anil Puri, Aaron Popp and Adrian Fleissig of Cal State Fullerton’s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting shows that Disneyland® Resort’s economic impact has jumped by 50 percent since 2013, as a result of its continued investment and business growth. The resort’s $8.5 billion in economic impact to Southern California is generated by the millions of visitors who stay in the Anaheim and Orange County area and their offsite purchases totaling $2.5 billion at local businesses.

“Tourism is one of the major and growing segments of the economy as consumers shift more of their spending to leisure activities. Disneyland® Resort has shown phenomenal growth,” said Puri, director of the Woods Center. “Disneyland® Resort also plays an important role in propelling the economy forward through programs like Disney Aspire, a free education program, and other programs offering skills for economic mobility and advancement.”
Disneyland® Resort’s impact on jobs in Southern California has grown at a 7.2 percent average annual rate since 2013, surpassing the rate of job growth in the same region. Disneyland® generates more than 78,000 jobs in Southern California. More than 57,000 of those jobs, or 73 percent, are in Orange County and account for 3.6 percent of all jobs in Orange County."

-Yeah, small potatoes these theme parks. We can walk and chew gum.

--DLR needs a way forward and the path already trailblazed by Knott's

 

[disneychrista]

I just don't understand why he can't just review what plans theme parks were going to submit back in late June/ early July. Disney was going to be one of the last ones to reopen with a July 17th date. Other parks were aiming for July 1. So I'm sure they had drafts of what procedures they were going to do. The state just needs to review and say yes..

Do we even know that plans or an agreement with the state was ever made for a July opening? Just because they were making plans to reopen doesn’t mean there were any final guidances in place. The state could have very well told them NO to the plans they submitted but our cases got out of control before they could even get to that conversation.

 

[mel2014]

My speculation, and I think this was backed up by some of the Governor's commentary in the press conference last week about "smaller" amusement parks, is that the state knows that Disney and Universal will adhere to any guidelines approved by the state, but that it will be a free-for-all at other parks.

There is no way that a Great America or Six Flags staffed by seasonal teenage workers that provide a sub-par guest experience already is going to implement and enforce rigorous safety standards. Even in Florida, the reporting that I've seen has been that adherence to safety requirements has been lackluster at Sea World, Legoland, and regional parks. Has that led to outbreaks yet? No, not that we know of. But I don't see Governor Newsom approving an opening plan that he knows some parks won't follow and any plan that says "theme parks that charge and make a lot of money can reopen but other theme parks can't" is not legally defensible.

Part of this could just be a waiting game -- all of the water parks already gave up on 2020 and have moved on to 2021. This is the time of year when some regional parks move to weekend-only operations, so if the Governor keeps pushing off reopening, they may just decide not to reopen until summer 2021, which may make it easier for the Governor to move ahead with allowing limited reopening, knowing that practically speaking only some of the big parks (like Disney) will choose to reopen.