News: California Governor Says Negotiations With Theme Parks are “Open-Ended” as Orange County Moves to the Next Reopening Tier

While Downtown Disney has been open for Guests for two months, we still have no word on when Disneyland will reopen its two theme parks. No updates have been provided from Disneyland since they delayed the reopening of the parks, originally scheduled to take place on July 17.

Downtown Disney District

In a news conference today, California Governor Gavin Newsom commented on the ongoing progress being made in conversations with the theme park industry in the state, and noted that there are still some open-ended areas in their negotiations.

Since our last major update, it seems that California as a state as well as Orange County, where Disneyland resides, are seeing a decline in positive cases. In fact, Orange County was approved today to advance from the purple tier (Widespread) to the red tier (Substantial), as part of California’s new four-tier monitoring system.

Source: covid19.ca.gov

This means that Orange County has shown consistent, improving data in the areas of the number of new cases per 100,000 residents and the positive test rate for two consecutive weeks. At this time, however, the state has yet to release theme park industry guidelines. This means that theme parks must remain closed until further notice, despite the county’s movement into the red tier.

Source: covid19.ca.gov

Other sectors of the state’s economy have begun the process of reopening, including certain indoor operations. One reporter asked, “When it comes to the reopening of indoors, is the decline in the positivity rate leaning more towards these reopenings that we’re seeing across these counties?”

Disney California Adventure Park

Governor Newsom replied, “It’s an iterative process and again one which we’re constantly engaged with our mind not made up, but interested in evidence, and the data bears fruit, the epi-data shows us the way and provides us the capacity to make determinations. We will make those determinations in real time.”

Disneyland gate with plexiglass

The Governor continued on to specifically point out the progress being made on theme parks. Newsom commented that “it includes, by the way, conversations that are ongoing, just as a reminder, for theme parks, amusement parks, and the like. There are still many areas where we are open-ended in terms of our negotiation, making progress, and advancing in the same space, getting closer to concluding when and how to safely reopen those sectors.”

Sleeping Beauty Castle

So for now, it sounds like the state has still not reached a definitive conclusion on when or how theme parks like Disneyland can reopen, but progress is being made and conversations are indeed advancing. As of this writing, new Disneyland Resort hotel reservations are currently available for arrivals starting October 1.

Disneyland Hotel

That does not mean the parks will open on October 1, but we will continue to keep a watchful eye on Disneyland and will provide updates as we learn more!

What are some signs that Disneyland is preparing to reopen when the state gives them the green light? Click here to find out!

Has your 2020 travel plans to Disneyland been affected by the closures? Let us know in the comments!