Fans flocked to Disney California Adventure after eight months of coronavirus closures to shop and dine in the Anaheim theme park even though the Incredicoaster, Radiator Springs Racers and other rides remained idled by state COVID-19 guidelines.
Disney California Adventure reopened as an extension of Downtown Disney at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 for shopping and dining along Buena Vista Street and throughout Grizzly Peak Airfield and Hollywood Land for the first time since the theme park closed in mid-March amid the global pandemic.
Across the esplanade, Disneyland remains closed as large California theme parks are unlikely to return to full operation until early 2021 or next summer under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state.
Die-hard Disney fans showed up early to be among the first visitors to step foot inside Disney California Adventure in more than eight months. The mask-wearing faithful gathered amid rain puddles and a morning chill more than three hours before DCA was set to open. By 6:45 a.m., more than 50 people had lined up in a socially distanced queue at the Harbor Boulevard entrance to the Disneyland resort, according to Disneyland News Today video posted to social media.
The current line of guests waiting at the Harbor pedestrian entrance to enter Downtown Disney for today’s opening of Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure! pic.twitter.com/RO82Cq5ohI
— Disneyland News Today (@dlnt) November 19, 2020
Disneyland annual passholders Jeramey Moore and Jessica Chavez drove down from Fresno just to get back into DCA.
“We are die-hards,” Chavez said.
The couple showed up at 6 a.m. to be first in line on the Disneyland Drive side of the resort — 3 hours before the Simba lot opened. By 9:30 a.m., the line had grown to hundreds of people.
“We wanted to get a little taste of being back in the park,” Moore said. “We’re taking what we can get.”
The couple want California to allow DCA, Disneyland and other theme parks to reopen. Tired of waiting, Moore and Chavez traveled to Florida about a month ago to get their theme park fix at Walt Disney World.
Crowds were light inside DCA on opening day — particularly by Disneyland standards. Around 11 a.m., there were no lines for corn dogs at Award Wieners, Starbucks coffee at Fiddler, Fifer & Practical or burgers at Smokejumpers Grill.
About half the tables spread throughout Hollywood Land, Grizzly Peak Airfiled and around the Carthay Circle fountain were filled with diners — required to remain stationary while they ate and drank. Sipping and strolling was prohibited.
The mobile wait list for Carthay Circle restaurant’s two dozen outdoor dining tables were all booked within 30 minutes for the lunch session between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The restaurant planned to reopen the wait list again for an afternoon session and then again just before dinner.
Outdoor vending carts selling churros, ice cream and popcorn had sporadic lines but were mostly walk-ups.
The mobile wait list for Buena Vista Street shopping was activated around 10:15 a.m. Thursday. Visitors could join the mobile wait list by scanning a QR code or giving their smartphone number to a cast members. By 11:30 a.m., it was taking about 90 minutes to receive a text message with a return time for Buena Vista Street shopping.
The lines for shopping were about a dozen socially distanced groups long on either side of Buena Vista Street. Inside the shops, capacity was kept at 25% or lower and felt much lighter than a typical day at DCA — particularly a week before Thanksgiving.
Disneyland resort President Ken Potrock said Disney California Adventure had significantly limited capacity on Buena Vista Street to less than what the state guidelines permit.
“This is symbolic to show that we can do things right,” Potrock said.
DCA began pulsing visitors into the park around 9:45 a.m. Cast members wearing white Mickey Mouse gloves waved to the first visitors as they walked along Buena Vista Street.
No admission will be charged to enter Disney California Adventure as the theme park’s shops and restaurants reopen as an extension of Downtown Disney.
Parking in the Simba lot for Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street will be $10 per car.
