Disney CEO says Disneyland to reopen April 30

Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced Wednesday that both of California’s two Disney theme parks will reopen at the end of April.

Chapek appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” and told host Julia Boorstin that Disneyland Resort and Disney’s California Adventure park are set to reopen on April 30. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will plan to reopen on April 29.

Chapek also said that public enthusiasm to return to the parks has grown with increased access to COVID-19 vaccines, according to CNBC.

“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,” Chapek said. “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.”

California closed all theme parks last March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus have kept Disneyland parks from being able to reopen, differing from Disney World in Florida, which has been able to operate at limited capacity since the summer, according to CNBC.

New state guidance, which was issued on March 5, allows amusement parks to reopen with 15 to 35 percent capacity depending on the prevalence of the virus in the area.

Disney is also implementing restrictions requiring visitors to wear face coverings, undergo temperature checks at certain entry locations, social distance and make reservations to enter the park.

California’s Orange County, which is where Disneyland and California Adventure are located, has reported about four new COVID-19 cases a day per 100,000 residents. The state overall has reported more than 3.5 million total cases since the start of the pandemic, according to California’s tracking dashboard.