Disneyland reopens to the public for the first time in more than a year

Apr 30, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Disneyland reopens April 30 2021
Posted: Friday April 30, 2021 12:21pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt's Disney’s original Disneyland Park reopened to the public, along with Disney California Adventure Park, on Friday April 30 2021 after more than a year long closure as a result of the COVID pandemic.

Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company Bob Chapek participated in the daily ceremony to raise the American flag and shared brief remarks of inspiration for the cast members who were preparing for the momentous day.

The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are beginning a phased reopening. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa reopened on April 29, 2021, with limited capacity. Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa plan to reopen May 2. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date.

As at Walt Disney World, because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with state requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort is managing attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and older. Until further clarification from the state, only California residents are allowed to visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks, in groups no larger than three households.

Face coverings required for all guests ages 2 and older, temperature screenings prior to park entry, capacity measures and cashless transactions.

Guests will get to experience some updates to the classic Disneyland attractions at the reopening.

King Arthur Carousel has been refreshed with 14k gold leaf accents, vibrant details and bold colors and hand painted using more than 30 colors.

The Haunted Mansion has been updated with a few elements in and around the estate. One of the mansion's original portraits known as 'April to December,' seen here, once again graces the portrait hallway. As guests step closer to the doom buggy, they'll see the lovely young woman aging before their eyes.

State-of-the-art audio and visual technology has updated Snow White’s Enchanted Wish -  including new surprises as well as enhanced story elements throughout.

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truecoatSep 07, 2021

I heard nothing on that ride a few weeks ago except my entire log screaming from the amount of water coming in. I was soaked head to toe except a small part of my back that was against the back rest. If there was music in the ride or anything I was supposed to see, it was missed by me. I was just in a state of regret.

MisterPenguinAug 27, 2021

And you're doing it, too. The first several dozen times this tactic has been brought up has gone nowhere. But, if you keeps you busy, have at ti.

MisterPenguinAug 27, 2021

You mean to TP repeating this complaint ad nauseum hoping that if he says it one more time, it will rally a mob that will march on Glendale?

TP2000Aug 26, 2021

They delayed the Dapper Dans so a couple dozen people per hour on Main Street couldn't hear them sing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah? I highly doubt that was the reason. I think it was just budgets and the logistics of rehiring and remounting this little show. Every single day 1,500 riders per hour are going on Splash Mountain and hearing that song continuously. Disneyland was open today from 8am to 11pm. Splash Mountain averaged a 75 minute wait time today. That's at least 18,000 people who just heard Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah performed on Disneyland property today, sung by singing chickens no less. Well over 100,000 people per week are currently hearing that song at Disneyland. Even more per week at WDW's higher capacity version of the same ride. There is no known closure date for that ride on either coast.

MarvelCharacterNerdAug 26, 2021

So happy for this news! I'd heard they'd be back for Halloween Time. :) Along with clearly budget-saving reason of not having them back at park open as they were at WDW, I wondered if they weren't brought back for regular/non-holiday sets prior to now because they will need to revamp their main chimes set since it included "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" which is now gone from the parks music playlists. So by holding them back till Halloween, they can just do their Halloween sets and then go quickly into their Christmas sets before TPTB decide whether to give them the rehearsal time to redo the chimes set or simply send the chimes off to the company Archives as a part of pre-pandemic history... :/ I'd be sad to see the chimes set go, so I hope they let them rearrange and re-choreograph the set.

Disney AnalystAug 26, 2021

Seeing this reported: ETA: source https://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/25/dapper-dans-set-to-make-emotional-return-to-disneyland/

180ºAug 07, 2021

Maybe eventually they’ll bring show reservations back in the form of a virtual queue?

aaronmlAug 07, 2021

Without FP, I’m curious how they are going to handle viewing area access for both Fantasmic and WoC. Probably first come, first served for now, which would be unfortunate (since you’ll have to show up a lot earlier). I have a bad feeling though that when DPA (or some variant of it) launches, it will be included in that, and you’ll essentially be forced to pay up (via DPA or a Dining Package) for a good view.

Curious ConstanceAug 04, 2021

Thank you! I just saw that! I’m trying to not be sad about Goofy not being there lol

DCBakerAug 04, 2021

Goofy’s Kitchen opens on August 18th (bookings start August 11th). At reopening, Goofy and friends will not be there, however they will reportedly be returning later.

MarvelCharacterNerdAug 03, 2021

May the odds be ever in our favor! I hope it reopens soon for us all to enjoy the pb&j yumminess! :D

Curious ConstanceAug 03, 2021

We are trying the brunch too. And we got a reservation for Storytellers dinner. But we keep hoping to replace the dinner with Goofy’s. My kids have been eating the PB and jelly pizza since they were babies hahaha.

MarvelCharacterNerdAug 03, 2021

So with you on this. I am probably going to try Storytellers character brunch in a few weeks but I just can't get my enthusiasm up without the peanut butter & jelly pizza from Goofy's and its more casual/WDW style atmosphere. :(

ToTBellHopAug 03, 2021

Afraid not.