What does California’s new coronavirus policy mean for Disneyland?

UPDATE: This has been updated to reflect a Thursday press conference by Gov. Newsom

Late Wednesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new recommended statewide policy for public gatherings across California.

The policy calls for modifying or postponing non-essential gatherings of 250 or more people through March 31 to help stem the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the state, according to a statement on the City of Anaheim’s website, the home of Disneyland.

“As a major visitor city, the guidelines cover Anaheim’s sports, entertainment, convention and other venues, as well as larger events,” the city announcement.

The guidelines do not cover schools, transit facilities, including the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, better known as ARTIC, and other operations considered essential.

On Thursday, Newsom further clarified the recommendation on Thursday, statting Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, and other large theme parks, theaters and casinos are exempted from his order against gatherings of 250 people or more due to coronavirus due to the “complexity of their unique circumstances”.

A similar ban in France, which consisted of a group of 1,000 people caused Disneyland Paris to cancel its nighttime shows for now.

Disney is reopening Shanghai Disneyland’s shopping area, park and hotel on limited operations and is requiring guests to go through a temperature screening. 

Disney closed Shanghai Disneyland on Jan. 25, 2020, due to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It will now reopen part of the resort with limited operations. The theme parks will remain closed during this phased reopening. 

As the first phase of the reopening, a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences are available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland remains temporarily closed. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, which were scheduled to reopen March 15 will remain closed and reopen in April, Disney announced earlier this week.