Topline
Disneyland Resort in California will start welcoming guests from out of state starting June 15, Disney announced Wednesday, after the iconic theme park initially only reopened to California residents due to government public health restrictions that are set to soon be lifted.
The Wotter family of Lake Elsinore, California, takes a selfie at Disneyland Park on April 30, 2021.
Key Facts
Disneyland reopened April 30 at limited capacity after a year-long closure, but proof of residency in California has been required to visit the parks.
California’s public health guidelines did allow out-of-state guests in theme parks but only if they’re fully vaccinated, which other theme parks like Universal Studios Hollywood have been doing, but Disney did not follow suit.
There is no vaccination requirement for out-of-state visitors to Disneyland once the park reopens to them on June 15, though Disney noted the state of California “strongly recommends” guests get vaccinated or test negative for Covid-19 before their visit to the theme parks.
Until June 15, Disneyland is only open to California residents visiting in groups of three households or fewer.
June 15 is the day that California is set to drop its remaining social distancing restrictions, including its statewide mask mandate.
Guests visiting the park will still have to book a theme park reservation in addition to purchasing a ticket for the parks, which helps to limit park capacity.
What To Watch For
What happens to Disneyland’s mask mandate. With California’s mandate set to lift on June 15, Disney could follow suit by relaxing its mask order. Walt Disney World in Florida recently dropped its outdoor mask mandate in response to new public health guidance, but the resort still requires face coverings indoors even though Florida does not have a statewide mask order.
Key Background
Disneyland’s reopening on April 30 came after months of controversy, as local officials and Disney pushed back against the state government’s prohibition on theme park reopenings until the state eventually gave parks the green light to reopen in April. Disney’s parks division has suffered amid the Covid-19 pandemic as its parks around the world have been shuttered or restricted at various points over the past year. The company reported a 44% decrease in revenue in its parks division in the second quarter of 2021 as compared with the same period in 2020, with an operating loss of $406 million, down $1.2 billion from the same period a year ago. Disneyland’s expansion to out-of-state guests will be part of a broader return to normalcy for the Disney parks in June, however, as Disneyland Paris—right now the only Disney park worldwide that’s still closed—will reopen to guests June 17.
Further Reading
Disneyland Resort Theme Parks to Welcome Back Guests from Outside California Beginning June 15 (Disney Parks Blog)
Disneyland Reopens After Year-Long Closure (Photos) (Forbes)
