News! California's Orange County Stays in the Red Tier as Theme Park Guidelines Remain Unknown

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly once again held his weekly news video conference which provided an update on the current tier status of the state’s counties.

Disneyland Park — Health and Safety Reminders

We learned during the update that Orange County, where Disneyland resides, is still in the red reopening tier, also known as “Substantial,” and will NOT advance to the Orange reopening tier at this time. Despite the lack of progress in Orange County, reporters continue to inquire on updates regarding theme park reopening guidelines, which are required in order for places like the Disneyland Resort to reopen.

It was revealed yesterday that Governor Gavin Newsom was sending teams to the “larger theme parks” across California as well as across the nation. During a question and answer session with reporters, Dr. Mark Ghaly was asked “If you could give us any more detail on the progress on the inspections of the theme parks in order to develop the guidelines for the theme park openings.”

Disney California Adventure Park

Dr. Ghaly replied, “On theme parks, and I know a number of people are continuing to wonder when that guidance is coming out and I’d like to say it will come out when we’re ready because we’re working closely with our industry partners, making sure that we take all feedback, use our own information from visits to operating parks in other states, and then some visits here in parts in California to understand how those plans will come together.”

Disney California Adventure Park Social Distancing Signs

Dr. Ghaly pointed out that “Not all of those visits are done, and so we look forward to compiling the information from those visits, having ongoing dialogue so we land with the guidance that really does make sense.”

Disney California Adventure Exit Gate

Dr. Ghaly concluded his response by stressing that “we will continue to lead with public health, we will continue to look at our data, we will continue to look at where each theme park is in their counties so that we make sure that when the guidance does come out, it’s appropriate and continues to follow the whole frame to our new blueprint, which is slow and stringent moving forward, making sure that we do that safely and methodically and so these guidances will be no different.”

Disneyland Main Entrance

Brady MacDonald, theme park reporter for the Orange County Register, asked a couple of follow up questions in regards to theme parks. He asked, “You mentioned a team went to Florida theme parks to help develop California reopening guidelines, and that a team of state agencies will visit California theme parks this week. Could you tell me which theme parks the team visited in Florida? And also what they learned there and what they hope to learn at California parks? And also why did the team visit Florida theme parks before they did in California?”

Plexiglass shields installed at the entrance to Disneyland

Dr. Ghaly did not say specifically which theme parks the teams visited, but instead he replied, “The team visited Florida theme parks, you can imagine likely in Orlando. I haven’t gotten the report back on what their findings and experience was but the reason why we sent people is to really understand in action how a park operates, how the community around it functions with the park open in a time where we’re facing COVID transmission and really how it plays out, not just within the park but beyond.”

Social Distancing Markers

Dr. Ghaly continued, “In terms of the California visits those are upcoming, and together the information, the dialogue with our theme park operators across the state will help us land in a place that I think we can all feel confident is based on the best and most up to date information.”