The Walt Disney Company is temporarily closing Disneyland and its California Adventure Park in Anaheim, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park,” a spokesperson for Disneyland Resort said in a statement.
The closure will begin on the morning of March 14, through to the end of the month.
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The hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16, so guests can make necessary travel arrangements. Downton Disney, the outdoor shopping centre in Anaheim, will remain open.
“Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visit,” the statement continued, “and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period.”
This is only the fourth time Disneyland in Anaheim, California has fully suspended operation in its 65-year history. Previous closures came after September 11, the morning after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and the Northridge earthquake in 1994.
Disneyland’s sister parks in Tokyo – Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea – will remain closed “through early April”. Parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong closed in January.
It’s not yet clear if Disney is preparing to close Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The announcement comes a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia currently stands at 126, including three deaths.
