California allows Disneyland theme parks to reopen

New rules announced Friday will allow Disneyland and other amusement parks to reopen theme parks as of April 1.

The change is taking place because new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are declining as more people are getting vaccinated, the state said.

Disney has not yet decided on a reopening date.

“We are encouraged that theme parks now have a path toward reopening this spring, getting thousands of people back to work and greatly helping neighboring businesses and our entire community. With responsible Disney safety protocols already implemented around the world, we can’t wait to welcome our guests back and look forward to sharing an opening date soon,” according to a statement released by Disneyland President Ken Potrock.

In addition to theme parks, the some other outdoor venues, including ball parks will be eligible to reopen.

The state divides all of its counties into four color-coded tiers based on the spread of the virus. The most restrictive is puple, followed by red, then orange and yellow. Limits on attendance are based on what tier the county is in.

Theme parks will not be allowed to reopen in the red tier at 15% capacity and only people who live in California can buy tickets. The orange tier increases the limit to 25% and the yellow tier increases limits to 35%.

Walt Disney World in Florida is currently running at 35% capacity.

In the meantime Downtown Disney is open and a special limited-capacity ticketed experience called “A Touch of Disney” will start March 18 at Disney California Adventure.

The food event will be offered Thursdays to Mondays from noon to 8 p.m. from March 18 through April 5, 2021.