A couple of weeks ago, Orange County in California re-entered the most restrictive reopening tier, the Purple Tier, due to a rise in positive case rates. Since then, the county has had to close indoor dining operations, as well as reduce capacity at indoor retail locations to 25%.

Disney California Adventure Park

Now, 11 counties across Southern California, including Orange County where Disneyland is located, will enter a new stay-at-home order.

It was announced today that 11 counties in the Southern California region currently in the Purple Tier will fall under a stay-at-home order, effective Sunday, December 6th, at 11:59 PM. This mandate was triggered by ICU capacities falling below 15%, which Governor Gavin Newsom designated as the threshold for needing more severe restrictions. As of Friday, the 4th, ICU capacities dipped down to 13.1% indicating a need for the stay-at-home order.

Source: State of California’s Coronavirus Site

Let’s take a quick look at some of the important details behind this new stay-at-home order, and how long it is expected to last.

Under this new stay-at-home order, the following measures are being put into effect:

• Non-essential travel will be restricted
• Restaurants will be limited to take-out and delivery only
• Schools with waivers will be allowed to remain open
• Retail stores can remain open at 20% capacity and are subject to county curfews already in place
• Gatherings with those outside of one’s immediate household are prohibited with few exceptions

Governor Gavin Newsom ©California

How long will this measure be in place?

In terms of how long this stay-at-home order will be in effect, it was noted that the mandate will remain in place for at least three weeks. That timeline will be determined by a number of factors, which now include hospitalization and ICU rates, which were not primary determining factors in county movement earlier this year. If ICU capacity projections are above the 15% threshold on December 28th, then the stay-at-home order will likely be lifted.

Disney California Adventure Park

Because of the growing concerns regarding hospitalization rates and ICU capacity, the state has enacted this new stay-at-home measure in the hopes of alleviating pressure off of the health care delivery system. At Gavin Newsom’s news conference on November 30th, it was noted that “We’re not just now looking at positivity rates, we’re not now just looking at case rates. We are now looking in real time at hospitalization numbers and ICU capacity.” In Southern California, it is expected that total ICU capacity could be met somewhere in mid to late December.

Health System Projections as of November 30th. Source: State of California

How does this affect Disneyland Resort?

Disneyland Resort updated its website with a statement that as of December 7th, restaurants and dining locations that do not offer take-out will close. However, retail locations will remain open. Hotels will also remain closed.

Disneyland Statement about Stay at Home Order ©Disney

It also mentions that guests will not be allowed to open or consume food and beverage while on property. Also food and beverage that is purchased on property must be taken to-go.

©Disney

According to the OC Register, about 350 Disneyland Resort employees will return to furlough due to the order. Existing dining reservations at Carthay Circle will be cancelled automatically with no fee. It also mentions that Downtown Disney plans to add additional retail locations soon, so we will be on the lookout for that.

Carthay Circle

As always, we will keep a close eye on all of the latest news coming out of the Disneyland Resort as well as the state of California.

Click here to read more about Los Angeles County’s stay at home order which went into effect on November 30th.

Have you been to Downtown Disney since its reopening this past summer? Let us know in the comments below.