California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a press conference Wednesday that Disneyland and other large theme parks in California won’t be reopening anytime soon.
In recent weeks, Disney officials and Orange County lawmakers have stepped up pressure on the state to release guidelines that would pave the way for operations to resume.
Newsom’s administration had been expected to release the guidance last Friday, but scrapped the plan after the proposal came under criticism from industry leaders.
“We feel there’s no hurry to put out guidelines, and we continue to work with the industry,” said Newsom.
“We don’t anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data,” he added.
Disney later issued a statement from Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products that read in part, “We absolutely reject the suggestion that reopening the Disneyland Resort is incompatible with a ‘health-first’ approach.”
The California Attractions and Parks Association also responded saying in part:
We find it disconcerting that Governor Newsom has no planned timeline for issuing guidance for theme parks, and of great concern that he does not anticipate theme parks opening soon. Each day that parks are closed further decimates the amusement park industry. The Governor’s “no big rush” approach is ruining businesses and livelihoods for thousands who could responsibly be back at work.
Disneyland has been shuttered since March, when businesses across the country shut down in response to the pandemic. While Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, reopened with reduced capacity in July, Anaheim’s Disneyland has remained closed even as California has seen a gradual reduction in the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.