Later this morning, Disneyland will swing open its gates and welcome the first guests in more than 13 months. While self-imposed limits such as only allowing in-state residents to visit are combined with state-imposed limits such as a maximum operating capacity of 25% remain in place, today is a start. It’s the start of the return of magic to Disneyland, and its the start of the economic recovery of Anaheim – the city that is so closely tied with the financial successes of Disneyland.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu issued a statement on the reopening of Disneyland. In the statement, Sidhu called today a “monumental day for Anaheim”. He noted that the city, small businesses, and families of Anaheim have been devastated by the State’s decision to keep Disneyland closed more than 9 months after their originally planned reopening. Finally, he notes that this is the start of economic recovery and hope for the city of Anaheim.
The statement is an obvious one in that it clearly outlines the city’s dependence on Disneyland and the tourist dollars it brings in.
If Disney can manage the reopening responsibly (as we suspect they will), they will be holding quite a strong hand as it relates to their DisneylandForward plans. With DisneylandForward, Disney hopes to petition the city for a rezoning of some of their existing land to develop more theme park spaces. For a full breakdown on Disneyland forward, check out our piece below.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!