Politics Theme Park Reopening Guidelines to be released 10/20/20

[TP2000]

Yeah USH is definitely the one hurt the most by these guidelines. There already isn't much there to do beyond a day and practically every major attraction is exempt minus the tram tour. On the other end SFMM will probably be in the best situation whenever they could open. That is probably the most outdoor park in SoCal easily.

Maybe we are getting this part wrong and they just mean limiting indoor queues? To me, this is just as bad as being in the yellow tier because you are limiting 60% of the major attractions in DLR...but still paying the same price? This isn't going to jive with most people even if the parks opened tomorrow.

As I read the guidelines, I think it just means a park can't queue up people indoors. You can let people walk through an indoor queue as long as it's wide open and you are just walking freely to the loading dock without stopping.

But how do you do that? What about stuff like Guardians of the Galaxy where you enter a pre-show room first? I assume that is forbidden, and you just have to walk straight into the loading area. Haunted Mansion? Indiana Jones Adventure? Soarin'? Target Run and Rise Before Dawn in Star Wars Land? Roger Rabbit? Star Tours? Buzz Lightyear? Monsters Inc.? Splash Mountain? Any theater lobby? How do you do all that and keep all riders and audiences outside until it's time to board a vehicle?

I guess since you can only let in 25% of your capacity the lines will be short, but still, the whole concept of storytelling and showmanship in queues is gone.

It honestly feels like Sacramento wants the theme park industry removed from California permanently. There's something bigger going on here. It's just like gasoline powered cars soon being illegal in California, but they don't have to wait ten years to get there. They can just implement all these new rules immediately that basically make it impossible to run a theme park in California, much less make a profit at it.

 

[Stevek]

Makes you wonder what they saw during their visit to WDW. Did they think Disney is doing it wrong there or were their minds already made up and it didn’t matter how good Disney was...would never have been good enough?

 

[Sharon&Susan]

IMO unless if public opinion overwhelmingly becomes pro-theme park and anti-Newsom, I think Disney is going to avoid being the first one to sue to avoid being painted as the big conglamerate that doesn't care about the health of your local GrandparentsTM. More likely California Attractions & Parks will represent all the parks or they'll let Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Merlin, etc. sue first and then they sue where it'll be joinder in as one big lawsuit .

 

[Figments Friend]

Reader's Digest Version:

Disneyland will remain closed at least until the summer of 2021, when OC enters the Yellow Tier.

Unless Governor Newsom suddenly amends or rescinds the rules he just laid out today.

And when Disneyland can reopen, they can't use the indoor queue at Tony's Indiana Jones Adventure.

Thanks my friend.

I just read today's posts , and the above, so I am now all caught up.

Three words to describe it all at the moment ?

Absolute **** show.



Four weeks ago I returned from a week long visit to WDW.
In 'Covid Capital' Florida.
Flew two hours + on a airplane.
Stayed at a Disney Resort hotel.
I survived the entire experience microbe free.


What I observed in Orlando was that Disney had a good handle on things in the safety restrictions department.
Distancing measures, mask policies / policing by Cast, dining restrictions, queue changes, etc.
Other's milage may have varied with their own personal experiences, but there wasn't a time or a situation where I observed or experienced something that felt 'unsafe'.
Cast did a great job and I saw quite a bit.
Folks here know I tend to be observant when in the Parks on both coasts.
Folks here also know I am very pro-Disneyland these days, but WDW was on their game as far as the Covid Apocolypse restrictions implementations went.
They handled it well.

Now, why the Disneyland Resort in Southern California cannot operate in a similar way to what I observed at WDW is somewhat puzzling.
Literally, a near exact system currently being done to operate WDW now could be implemented at the Disneyland Resort.
Why this cannot be allowed to happen staggers the mind and contemplative thought processes.


-

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Makes you wonder what they saw during their visit to WDW.

Pandora: The World of Avatar, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, Disney Springs, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, World Showcase, Living with the Land...you know, all the same stuff DLR has.

 

[TP2000]

Literally, a near exact system currently being done to operate WDW now could be implemented at the Disneyland Resort.
Why this cannot be allowed to happen staggers the mind and contemplative thought processes.

-

It's really one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen a state government do to a legal and productive industry.

You really just have to sit back for a moment, quietly reflect on where we've been the last 8 months, and marvel at where we currently are.

Disneyland has been closed for seven months. It can not open until sometime later in 2021, likely past a full year of closure. And even when Disneyland is allowed to reopen at that unknown future date, it's entire operation will be turned upside down and severely limited and highly regulated.

It's all just... staggering.

 

[el_super]

Why this cannot be allowed to happen staggers the mind and contemplative thought processes.

If you understood the nature of this pandemic, you would understand why Disneyland can't reopen.

You would also understand that Florida isn't in such great shape right now either. If Disneyland had reopened the same time Florida did, Cast Members would still be laid off, tourism would still be down, and those businesses along Harbor that people suddenly have an interest in, would still be shuttered.

 

[Figments Friend]

( looks into hypothetical, conversation inducing crystal ball )

So basically when they are allowed to reopen again, the two Parks at the Disneyland Resort will be operated like today's Epcot -

Focus will be directed more on 'dining and shopping' and less on actual content like entertainment, atmosphere, and...oh that other thing - 'Attractions'.

With so many Attractions seemingly unable to operate due to the restrictions, Disney is going to have to find some other way to extract cash flow from a potential Day Guest.
Dining and shopping can still operate, with obvious reduced capacity.

I seriously hope this will not be the case and become the 'new contemporary Disneyland experience' , but I am not surprised by anything Today's Disney decides to implement at their U.S. properties.

And what about DLR Passholders?
I see that program turning to dust as far as revenue goes in the next two years.

-

 

[cmwade77]

Sea World still has the beer taps from when they were owned by Budweiser. The Sea World guys are probably all getting drunk this afternoon. Who can blame them.

Well, the only thing closed at SeaWorld are the few rides they have, their shows, etc. are all able to be open.

 

[Figments Friend]

If you understood the nature of this pandemic, you would understand why Disneyland can't reopen.

You would also understand that Florida isn't in such great shape right now either. If Disneyland had reopened the same time Florida did, Cast Members would still be laid off, tourism would still be down, and those businesses along Harbor that people suddenly have an interest in, would still be shuttered.

I fully understand all of the above.

Still find it odd however.

-

 

[DCBaker]

From Disneyland President Ken Potrock to CMs -

"Once again, I find myself sharing news that I’d hoped would be very different. Today, despite our best efforts to advocate for a different outcome, the governor’s office announced that large California theme parks have been placed in the state’s most restrictive category for reopening.

Clearly, this news is challenging for us and comes during what has already been an incredibly difficult month. To say I am disappointed and saddened is an understatement, particularly since all of our other theme parks both in the United States and around the world have been allowed to open on the strength of our proven ability to operate with responsible health and safety protocols in place for our Cast and our Guests.

I know this news will prompt questions about what this means for our Cast, our community and the overall resort. I can’t answer those questions today as we are doing our best to understand the implications of this decision. I know there are tens of thousands of people – including each one of you – whose livelihoods rely on the theme park industry in Southern California. We will not stop working until we reopen Disneyland Resort so we can bring our Cast back to work, get the local economy moving and share the magic and joy of Disney once again."

Disneyland President to Cast Members on Guidelines: "We Will Not Stop Working Until We Reopen Disneyland"

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

 

[TP2000]

From Disneyland President Ken Potrock to CMs -

"Once again, I find myself sharing news that I’d hoped would be very different. Today, despite our best efforts to advocate for a different outcome, the governor’s office announced that large California theme parks have been placed in the state’s most restrictive category for reopening.

Clearly, this news is challenging for us and comes during what has already been an incredibly difficult month. To say I am disappointed and saddened is an understatement, particularly since all of our other theme parks both in the United States and around the world have been allowed to open on the strength of our proven ability to operate with responsible health and safety protocols in place for our Cast and our Guests.

I know this news will prompt questions about what this means for our Cast, our community and the overall resort. I can’t answer those questions today as we are doing our best to understand the implications of this decision. I know there are tens of thousands of people – including each one of you – whose livelihoods rely on the theme park industry in Southern California. We will not stop working until we reopen Disneyland Resort so we can bring our Cast back to work, get the local economy moving and share the magic and joy of Disney once again."

Disneyland President to Cast Members on Guidelines: "We Will Not Stop Working Until We Reopen Disneyland"

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

That's just heartbreaking.

Clearly this is news that must be digested from a business planning perspective, and it means more pain is on the way for Cast Members and their families.

It's also obvious that Disney's senior leadership acknowledges Disneyland will remain closed until well into 2021.

 

[DanielBB8]

What’s Disney waiting for? They must sue immediately. Disney didn’t hesitate to sue day cares for daring to put up Disney characters on their buildings. They sue anyone for any reason except this time. Are they bowing down to dictator Newsom. Can it get worse? It certainly can. Business property tax increase is on the ballot via a proposition. I haven’t heard Disney campaigned against it.

 

[TP2000]

The local and national news is now realizing that Disneyland is likely closed until next summer...

Disneyland Might Not Reopen Until Next Summer

OC Supervisors blame the state’s requirement to lower coronavirus spread in poor areas for keeping Disneyland closed.

voiceofoc.org

Disneyland Could Stay Closed Into 2021. What to Know.

Both Disney and Comcast reopened parks in Florida, where the state has opted for looser guidelines on large gatherings. Shares of both Disney and Comcast were flat in after-hours trading.

www.barrons.com

Disneyland, California's major theme parks to remain closed

Those who were hoping to return to Disneyland and California's other major theme parks are going to have to continue waiting, according to state officials.

www.foxla.com

 

[Emmanuel]

 

[Figments Friend]

What’s Disney waiting for? They must sue immediately. Disney didn’t hesitate to sue day cares for daring to put up Disney characters on their buildings. They sue anyone for any reason except this time. Are they bowing down to dictator Newsom. Can it get worse? It certainly can. Business property tax increase is on the ballot via a proposition. I haven’t heard Disney campaigned against it.

It's coming.
Plans are already afoot behind the scenes as reported here earlier.

-

 

[el_super]

 

[Ldno]

Shut it down, Shut it downn forever!!(Dark city 1998)

Once that money stops coming in, the sing song will be the complete opposite, I am actually ed but Hey what can they do, Disney wants to lobby all they want to, but things will get completely worse from here.

I’ll shut my mouth about Rat not opening soon, in contrast, Avengers campus is off the table for the tome being

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Shut It Downers unite!

 

[Mouse Trap]

It's coming.
Plans are already afoot behind the scenes as reported here earlier.

-

It's honestly going to be a lot to fun to watch -- especially because I think the theme parks will actually win this.