By: Mike Mustiglione
It’s a sad sign for sad times: Disneyland is closing due to the pandemic.
Disney released a statement that said: “While there have been no confirmed cases of Covid19 at Disneyland Resort to date, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of California’s executive order, and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, beginning the morning of March 14th through Tuesday March 31, 2020, as currently scheduled.
“The hotels of Disneyland Resort will close at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 16th, and Disney owned and operated locations within the downtown Disney district will close at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 16th. Non-Disney owned businesses may also closed. Checking with the location prior to visiting is recommended.
“We will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and the guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visit, and will provide refunds for Disneyland Resort hotel rooms with arrival dates during this closure. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and we appreciate our guests patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries. Many reservations may be canceled online without calling. Please contact the Walt Disney Travel company for questions and modifications at 714-520-5050.”
The Walt Disney Company of course, together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks; Parks, Experiences and Products; Studio Entertainment; and Direct-to-Consumer and International. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $69.6 billion in its Fiscal Year 2019.
The announcement “follows the company shuttering some of its parks overseas because of the virus. Disney (DIS)’s theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong, for example, were closed earlier this year due to the outbreak,” CNN reported. “Disney closing Disneyland is no small act. In fact, the park has only closed a few times since its opening in 1955. The park has closed for the national day of mourning following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the terror attacks of September 11.”
Many around the Magic Kingdom, however, refused to be downcast. “For several dedicated Disney fans, it was clear it would take much more than gloomy skies and the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them from enjoying the last hurrah Friday before the Anaheim theme park temporarily shut down following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state,” reported the LA Times.
