Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other California theme parks are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration not to finalize COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines without first working with the industry.
The California Attractions and Parks Association asked state officials on Thursday, Oct. 1 to listen to theme park operators’ recommendations and modify some protocols before issuing reopening guidelines.
“We ask the governor not to finalize guidance for amusement parks before engaging the industry in a more earnest manner, listening to park operators’ expertise and collaborating with the industry on a plan that will allow for amusement parks to reopen responsibly while still keeping the health and safety of park employees and guests a top priority,” CAPA executive director Erin Guerrero said in a statement.
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The Sacramento-based CAPA represents Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and California’s Great America.
California theme parks closed in mid-March and remain shuttered while they await guidelines for safely reopening from the state.
California plans to issue reopening guidelines this week that will allow theme parks in the state to resume operations after more than six months of coronavirus closures, according to state officials.
California theme parks have been left waiting on the sidelines while other segments of the economy have reopened under Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
“Today California amusement park leaders who have been working for months to prepare to reopen responsibly saw an initial draft of state guidance and blueprint placement for California’s amusement parks,” Guerrero said in a statement. “While we are aligned on many of the protocols and health and safety requirements, there are many others that need to be modified if they are to lead to a responsible and reasonable amusement park reopening plan.”
SEE ALSO: Disneyland layoffs include thousands of restaurant and hotel workers plus hundreds of Imagineers
A growing chorus of theme parks, city leaders, state lawmakers and industry associations have called on Newsom to reopen Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other amusement parks throughout the state.
Newsom said a month ago that he would announce a reopening plan for California theme parks “soon” and said two weeks ago that guidelines would be coming “very, very shortly.”
Disney announced this week 28,000 employees would be laid off at Disneyland and Walt Disney World as the company continues to struggle with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extended closure of its Anaheim theme parks.
Disney officials laid part of the blame for the layoffs at the feet of Newsom and his administration’s failure to issue theme park reopening guidelines.
The impact of the pandemic has been “exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen,” Disney parks chairman Josh D’Amaro said in a statement.