Gov. Gavin’s Newsom’s decision to move nearly all of California into the most restrictive tier of his Blueprint for a Safer Economy puts Disneyland, Knott’s and other major California theme parks one step further away from reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Newsom announced that Orange County — home to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Knott’s Berry Farm — will be moving into the state’s most-restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 during a news conference on Monday, Nov. 16.
Large California theme parks remain closed and 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.
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California issued separate reopening guidelines for small and large theme parks. Small theme parks with a capacity of fewer than 15,000 visitors can reopen in the orange/moderate tier 3 while large theme parks can return in the yellow/minimal tier 4.
All of California’s major theme parks are now in the state’s most restrictive risk level with the movement of the counties of Orange (Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Knott’s), Santa Clara (California’s Great America) and Solano (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom) into the purple/widespread tier 1. The counties of Los Angeles (Universal Studio Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain) and San Diego (SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California) were already in the purple/widespread tier 1.
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Most of California’s major theme parks have partially reopened without amusement rides for dining and shopping. The backward slide into the purple/widespread tier 1 shouldn’t have too big of an impact on California theme park dining and shopping — beyond eliminating indoor dining and lengthening the lines for some retail locations.
The move to the purple/widespread tier 1 means restaurants can allow only outdoor dining. Bars are closed in the state’s two most restrictive tiers of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Downtown Disney businesses will have to stick to outdoor dining and limit retail shopping to 25% capacity. The same goes for Buena Vista Street when the main entry area of Disney California Adventure partially reopens for shopping and dining on Thursday, Nov. 19. Expect virtual queues for Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street shops to grow longer with the shift to the stricter regulations. Carthay Circle restaurant will offer outdoor dining while other Buena Vista Street food locations will serve to-go orders.
Downtown Disney’s Splitsville Luxury Lanes remains closed under the state’s family entertainment center guidelines that keep bowling alleys shuttered in the two most restrictive tiers.
Disney is expected to restrict the number of visitors allowed into Buena Vista Street to manage crowds and promote social distancing.
Universal CityWalk next to the still-shuttered Universal Studios Hollywood had already been operating under the most-severe restrictions in the state’s tiered system.
SeaWorld San Diego and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom had partially reopened without rides under the state’s zoo and aquarium guidelines. SeaWorld had already closed indoor aquariums and Legoland’s SeaLife aquarium had temporarily reclosed its doors with San Diego’s earlier move into the purple/widespread tier 1. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will also have to close indoor animal exhibits with Solano County’s slide into the most restrictive tier.
Knott’s has been offering a series of outdoor food festivals while the park’s rides remain closed. The Taste of Merry Farm event at the Buena Park theme park is not expected to be affected by Orange County’s move to the purple/widespread tier 1.
Six Flags Magic Mountain will let visitors drive through a display of millions of holiday lights from the comfort and safety of their car starting on Friday, Nov. 20.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk became the first amusement park in California to reopen under the state’s guidelines for small parks. The Beach Boardwalk reclosed after only two days of operation when Santa Cruz County slipped from the orange/moderate tier 3 to the red/substantial tier 2. Santa Cruz County has now moved back another rung to the purple/widespread tier 1 — pushing the Beach Boardwalk even further from returning.
