OC Register - Disneyland and Universal Studios ask Newsom not to finalize theme park reopening plans just yet

[TP2000]

So I'll technically be more youthful looking in several years when Disneyland reopens thanks to the Governor's toxic chemicals ban?

You won't be technically more youthful looking, you'll be scientifically more youthful looking.

We only follow the science in California. Also data and safety. But mostly science.

 

[Curious Constance]

So I'll technically be more youthful looking in several years when Disneyland reopens thanks to the Governor's toxic chemicals ban?

Are you kidding? Those toxins are probably the only thing keeping Californian’s skin attached to their faces. Good luck with that in five years.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Have some perspective. Its been six months and this story isn't getting any traction outside of theme park circles. I posted Newsom's poll numbers in another thread, but long story short: this isn't impacting him politically at all.

I’d have to disagree in part that this isn’t gaining some traction in part because it’s on most the LA daily news broadcasts and publications which has picked up since the poll was taken. But I actually understand and agree with those polled that it was reasonable for the Governor to decline the original 7/17 opening (among other sectors this summer), and roll back many of the other reopenings. Nor do I think the parks can just “pry the gates open” tomorrow.

But I guess I would’ve hoped that in the 6 months of consideration available we could have arrived at some guidelines that were both as safe as possible and more flexible/scalable to the specific industry in question, particularly given the long term lagging economic impacts these closures will also have on local governments for years. As others mentioned perhaps this was a strong arm tactic to negotiate a compromise or to achieve the perpetual delay he wanted.

We shall see how this polling shakes out though over time.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The polls are always accurate.

 

[Pacnw]

The polls are always accurate.

Lol....indeed

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Amusement parks are closed in other parts of the US and the world, including Sweden.

There may be some other lingering outliers but that is what they are at this juncture... outliers.

I admittedly haven’t been researching this as much as everyone else but here’s the latest list of major international parks I’ll use as reference (assuming we can share this as it’s not my list, credit to the folks at Screamscape). Happy to compare lists if a more accurate one exists.

Reopening Parks

 

[Sailor310]

There's a silver lining in every cloud. I bought my annual pass Feb 14th. When they closed, I took the option to get reimbursed for every month they're closed vs extending the pass. I'm making back money through all this.

 

[cmwade77]

There may be some other lingering outliers but that is what they are at this juncture... outliers.

I admittedly haven’t been researching this as much as everyone else but here’s the latest list of major international parks I’ll use as reference (assuming we can share this as it’s not my list, credit to the folks at Screamscape). Happy to compare lists if a more accurate one exists.

Reopening Parks

And not a single case attributed to a single one of them, despite many states trying to attribute cases to them.

Theme parks are extraordinarily safe, far safer than the corner liquor store, which has been able to stay open this whole time and is absolutely NOT essential.

 

[lazyboy97o]

There may be some other lingering outliers but that is what they are at this juncture... outliers.

I admittedly haven’t been researching this as much as everyone else but here’s the latest list of major international parks I’ll use as reference (assuming we can share this as it’s not my list, credit to the folks at Screamscape). Happy to compare lists if a more accurate one exists.

Reopening Parks

I’m aware of the other parks are open, but my point was to highlight that the situation is not unique to California or even places that have tried to handle the pandemic in a similar manner. Much of the US has also given up in many ways while the rest of the world has been far better at containment.

 

[cmwade77]

I’m aware of the other parks are open, but my point was to highlight that the situation is not unique to California or even places that have tried to handle the pandemic in a similar manner. Much of the US has also given up in many ways while the rest of the world has been far better at containment.

Actually, they haven't, we just have been testing far more of our population.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Actually, they haven't, we just have been testing far more of our population.

There are actually means of assessing whether or not there is enough testing, but I’m sure you have yet another conspiracy to explain it away.

 

[The Mom]

Please don't bring old arguments from one thread to another. Thank you.

 

[OrlandoRising]

Now back to theme park news....

There may be some other lingering outliers but that is what they are at this juncture... outliers.

Keep in mind that in many other states, there isn't a large enough theme/amusement park presence that state government would feel pressured to allow them to reopen. And it's lobbying power that matters here.

Illinois and Michigan come to mind, since both have only a single regional park and each only allowed water parks to reopen. I doubt Cedar Fair was wasting money on lobbyists to get the dry side of Michigan's Adventure to open for a month or two.

 

[The Mom]

Just a reminder - this is not the Covid thread. I know that Covid has an impact on every aspect of our lives these days, but please let's not make every thread a Covid back and forth argument. Thank you.

 

[el_super]

Just my attempt to inject some nuance into this highly-polarized debate that's unfairly being laid out in black-and-white terms.

I just wanted to thank you for posting that. I do still think there is enough justification for keeping the parks closed, at least at the moment. I don't think it's so much a matter of Newsom dragging his feet, as Disney having objections to what the scientists were suggesting, and thinking that safety is negotiable.

 

[cmwade77]

So far ruled in the governor’s favor against schools and churches. I think gyms filed suit a couple weeks back so they’d be next?

Yeah, the thing is he hasn't had anyone as well funded as the theme park coalition would be, I mean consider a lawsuit backed by:

• Disney
• Universal
• SeaWorld
• Legoland Parks
• Cedar Fair

Some smaller parks might toss in a few dollars too, but that is a serious powerhouse to contend with and they would be willing and financially able to take it further than the schools and churches could. From what I read over the weekend, the state has very real concerns that such lawsuits could completely overturn the state of emergency, effectively opening everything up in the state immediately with no requirements for social distancing. And given how other states, such as Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin and even Oregon (although I think that one is still being appealed) have had similar rulings lately, I don't think it can be entirely ruled out.

 

[el_super]

Some smaller parks might toss in a few dollars too, but that is a serious powerhouse to contend with and they would be willing and financially able to take it further than the schools and churches could.

There are a lot of reasons why this won't happen, but just to focus on a couple: it's very unlikely that an injunction of some sort would be filed that would allow the theme parks to open immediately, which means that legal proceedings would take *months* to complete, and there is a path to reopening that is much shorter than that.

Secondly, Disney would not want any argument that reopening the parks is inherently unsafe, to be made public. Even if, in the unlikely event that they could pull through and win a legal argument allowing them to reopen, the news that a subset of medical experts believe reopening would be dangerous, would open Disney up to personal liability lawsuits from potentially thousands of guests, all of which would need to be argued in court.

It would be hard for Disney to argue that they took every conceivable precaution in preventing the spread of the virus when opening, if that opening is only possible by violating the opinions of medical experts.

 

[Gottalovepluto]

...From what I read over the weekend, the state has very real concerns that such lawsuits could completely overturn the state of emergency...

I recall some folks mentioning that part but I know basically nothing about legal stuff so I didn’t know if this was something Newsom’s office even saw as possible. Sounds like it is on their radar then...

 

[lazyboy97o]

I recall some folks mentioning that part but I know basically nothing about legal stuff so I didn’t know if this was something Newsom’s office even saw as possible. Sounds like it is on their radar then...

Not to go too far down the rabbit hole, but it is something on every governor's and even the president's radar. Each executive has a staff of lawyers that reviews almost everything. Even things like simple statements will get a legal review to ensure they comply with applicable laws or don't suggest something illegal. Any actual action on policy or executive orders will also be reviewed and a legal defense prepared for the action. Obviously there are cases where the executive loses a legal fight, but it is something that is always on their radar and for which they do prepare.

 

[Tamandua]

So far ruled in the governor’s favor against schools and churches. I think gyms filed suit a couple weeks back so they’d be next?

That's not entirely true. Most have just given in. One church in California has made some leeway in fighting the state and a trial is pending.

Judge Grants California Church Trial To Defend Constitutional Right To Worship

Despite the obstacles the church faced over the last six months, MacArthur said the church will continue to be faithful in meeting and worshiping together.

thefederalist.com