Disneyland Reopens On Monumental Day For City Of Anaheim

ANAHEIM, CA — Close your eyes and imagine for a moment you are one of the 25 percent invited to step through the main gates of Disneyland Resort after it's been closed for 13 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Can you hear the music? Smell the popcorn through your Mickey-, Minnie- or "The Child"-themed mask? All of those feels became reality for California residents lucky enough to get their tickets and reservations to the resort's reopening day Friday.

Returning to Disneyland was a long time coming for one Southland family. The Wotters of Lake Elsinore were some of the first guests to return to the park. They paused before the Sleeping Beauty Castle to mug — in masks — for a theme park photographer in a selfie commemorating the day.

Thousands more joined them in a procession of guests down Main Street. The visitors were welcomed by park workers — lovingly called "cast members" by both fans and the company. The joy was palpable to all, according to those present.

Visitors were reminded to stay within family groups, social distance, and, yes, wear masks.

This is Disneyland 2.0, reopened with caution and sanitation in mind. Park workers have been busy getting the "Happiest Place on Earth" ready for guests in recent weeks. The resort has actually been ready since July 2020, but strict rules put into place by California's Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health made it impossible to reopen and tens of thousands of workers were furloughed and ultimately laid off.

Read: Disneyland Resort Final Walt Disney Co. Property To Reopen

Closing Disneyland Resort had ripple effects across the city of Anaheim. "This is a monumental day for Anaheim," Mayor Harry Sidhu said. "We have all missed the joy of Disneyland, and we are so glad to have that back. But this means so much more to working families and small businesses and our city."

Read: Disneyland Officials Talk Closure Fallout, Anaheim Stores Hurting

The reopening marks the beginning of an economic resurgence for the beleaguered city. "This begins our economic recovery and brings hope back to Anaheim," Sidhu said.

City spokesman Mike Lyster agreed. "We've seen the return of fans to Angel Stadium, the Honda Center, and we're now hosting youth sports at the Anaheim Convention Center," he said. "But of course, Disneyland is so big and so significant."

The closing of Disneyland last year "brought home how serious the pandemic was," Lyster said. "So its reopening comes as the brightest moment in the last 14 months or so as cases are coming down and vaccines are coming up."

The reopening will especially benefit the hotels around the theme park, Lyster said. The city has about 75 hotels, and half of them have been closed for the past year, he said. "The other half have been scraping by with minimal occupancy," Lyster said. "We now have heard some could be near full over the next few days."

Disneyland is open only to California residents for the time being but it draws many visitors from the Bay Area, Lyster said. "Probably number one year-round in Northern California," Lyster said of out-of-town guests. "We welcome that. We know it will generate hotel stays for us."

Lyster was able to take a sneak peek visit to the theme park this week and was struck by the number of social-distance markers around Disneyland.

"The first thing you really notice from the minute you walk in is the floor markers everywhere," Lyster said, adding there are many employees available to guide visitors.

All of the waiting for attractions and rides takes place outdoors, Lyster said. Cast members appeared in the background in selfies, which is another new way to experience the Disney magic—without hourslong waits to see a princess.

"On the rides yesterday, I had a rocket to myself on Space Mountain," Lyster said, noting that park capacity is limited to 25 percent. "More commonly, it will be you in front and another party in the back."

Employees dressed as popular Disney characters helped create atmosphere since there will be no parades for the time being, Lyster said.

Another surprise to guests will be an upgraded Snow White attraction. "It's a lot brighter," Lyster said. "The ride before was a little dark. But it's noticeably brighter and newer."

The classic attraction features new music, LED black lighting and a new animation system, officials said. It also has about 50 new figures.

Orange County board Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, who represents the theme park, said the reopening is "very uplifting."

"My goodness, jobs are coming back," he said. "Businesses that feed off Disney will be able to start up again, and at night we'll see [Sleeping Beauty] Castle light up. Wow, that's a beacon. We love it. It's an inspiring sight."

Did you go back to Disneyland on reopening day? Tell us all about it in the comments or by emailing your Patch Editor.

City News Service contributed to this report

Read:

5 Things To Know About Disneyland Reopening

Disneyland Could Soon Welcome Out-Of-State Vaccinated Guests