Two Disneyland theme parks in Southern California are set to open this spring after a yearlong closure brought upon by the coronavirus pandemic.
CEO Bob Chapek announced in an interview on Wednesday that the theme parks will reopen on April 30.
“We’ve seen the enthusiasm, the craving for people to return to our parks around the world,” Chapek said.
“We’ve been operating at Walt Disney World for about nine months, and there certainly is no shortage of demand.”
“I think as people become vaccinated, they become a little bit more confident in the fact that they can travel, and, you know, stay Covid-free,” he added.
“Consumers trust Disney to do the right thing, and we’ve certainly proven that we can [open] responsibly, whether it’s temperature checks, masks, social distancing, [or] improved hygiene around the parks.”
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is scheduled to reopen on April 29 but will be operating with limited capacity.
On the other hand, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park will reopen on April 30 while the Vacation Club Villa at the Grand Californian will reopen on May 2.
“The day all of us have long been waiting for is almost here,” said Disneyland Resort president Ken Potrock.
“We’re excited to have more than 10,000 cast members returning to work as we get ready to welcome our guests back to this happy place.”
Due to state health guidelines, only California residents may visit the parks “until further notice.”
Safety measures such as mandatory masks for guests over the age of 2, social distancing and use of a new ticketing system will be strictly implemented to help manage capacity.
The theme park’s reopening is “phased and subject to change” according to evolving guidance from authorities.
The announcement comes after the state of California said that it would allow amusement parks to reopen with limited capacity starting on April 1.