Grab your Minnie ears and pin trading lanyard, because for the first time in over a year Disneyland Resort is opening its gates! Both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure plan to reopen on April 30.
The parks will open with a limited capacity and, until further notice, to California residents only. Similar to Walt Disney World’s current operations, Disneyland will use a reservation system where guests will have to obtain a valid ticket and a reservation for the day they want to visit the parks. In addition, enhanced health and safety measures will be implemented, including increased sanitizing, social distancing, and masks.
Disney has not yet released a list of what specifically will and won’t be available to guests when the parks first reopen. However, they have revealed that fan favorite attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the Incredicoaster, and Peter Pan’s Flight will be among the open attractions. Additionally, Disneyland will unveil Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, a new version of the existing dark ride. The attraction has always been a bit unsettling — when it opened as part of Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955, it was called Snow White and Her Adventures. But children were leaving the ride in tears, so Imagineers renamed the ride to Snow White’s Scary Adventures so “scary” would actually be in the title. Now, 65 years later, Imagineers have done it again and reimagined the ride to be more magical and less traumatic, replacing scenes featuring the old hag and other macabre decor with the dwarves’ diamond mine and other colorful scenes.
Like at Walt Disney World, character interactions will remain at a distance, and some have already debuted as part of the now sold out “Touch of Disney” event running through April 19. Entertainment that draws big crowds like fireworks and parades will return at an unannounced later date.
Guests can also stay on property as part of their stay! Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa plans to reopen on April 29, and Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will plan to reopen May 2. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will remain closed until a later date.
Cast Members will be invited to preview the park opening after over a year before opening to the public, and more details are still to come. Stay tuned on official Disney social media channels or Disneyland.com for specific updates regarding operations.
