How America’s biggest theme parks are responding to coronavirus

Numerous theme parks throughout the nation have been closing their doorways in response to the unfold of the coronavirus, which the World Well being Group (WHO) categorized as a pandemic on March 11. The unfold of and prevention efforts over COVID-19 have compelled high-profile cancellations, equivalent to South by Southwest, Coachella, and the Digital Leisure Expo, together with numerous main film delays.

After the WHO announcement, California Governor Gavin Newsom referred to as for the banning of public gatherings of 250 or extra, placing strain on Disneyland to make an official assertion. Regardless of ambiguous earlier plans, Disney introduced on March 12 that it will formally shut its California places on March 14, with the the Florida parks closing their doorways on March 15.

The Disney resorts are only a few of the various theme parks throughout the nation, the place hundreds of visitors flock to each day. Whereas some, like Common Studios, have additionally made the decision to close doorways, others are preserving the parks open or nonetheless readying for an upcoming vacationer season. We’ll replace this story as new data emerges.

Walt Disney World Resorts: Closed

Photograph: James Bareham/Polygon

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Disney introduced that its places in Florida would shut on Sunday, March 15 via the top of March. This contains Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Motels will stay open, in order that visitors could make journey preparations. Retail and eating complexes in Disney Springs can even stay open.

Disneyland Park And California Journey: Closed

Disney’s California places, together with Disneyland and California Journey, will shut their doorways on March 14 via the top of the month. As with Walt Disney World, the retail and eating areas in Downtown Disney will stay open, as will lodge places. Disney has acknowledged that they may work with visitors relating to rebooking and also will present hotel refunds to these with rooms booked in the course of the closure interval.

Common Studios Parks: Closed

Photograph: James Hilger for Polygon

All Common Studios places in america — Common Studios Orlando, Common’s Islands of Journey, and Common Studios Hollywood — will briefly shut. Common Studios Hollywood will shut on March 14 with plans to tentatively reopen on March 28. Florida places will shut doorways on March 15. Eating and retail places at Common’s Citywalk in Orlando will stay open, as will motels.

SeaWorld Places: Open

Each SeaWorld places in Orlando and San Diego will stay open. SeaWorld launched a statement about COVID-19 considerations.

“The well being and security of our visitors, ambassadors and animals are our high priorities,” reads the weblog put up. “Our parks make use of skilled well being and security groups and have protocols to observe excessive sanitary and cleanliness requirements consistent with the CDC suggestions.”

Busch Gardens Places: Open

Photograph: Courtesy of Busch Gardens

The Busch Gardens places in each Williamsburg and Tampa are nonetheless open. The parks are owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Leisure, so the corporate’s launched assertion extends to the non-aquatic parks.

Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Level, And Different Cedar Truthful Parks: Closed, However Opening As Scheduled

Of all of the parks that fall below the huge Cedar Truthful umbrella, solely Knott’s Berry Farm is open year-round. On March 13, Cedar Truthful introduced that Knott’s Berry Farm can be closed until the end of the month, starting March 14.

The opposite places (Cedar Level, California’s Nice Journey, Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Gilroy Gardens, King’s Dominion, King’s Island, Michigan’s Journey, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Enjoyable), which open their doorways beginning in late March and all through the spring, are scheduled to proceed opening as regular. A letter from CEO Robert Zimmerman states the following:

Six Flags Parks: Open And Opening As Scheduled

Photograph: Courtesy of Six Flags

Whereas Six Flags Magic Mountain closed its doorways on March 10 because of rain, there may be at the moment no indication the park will shut down as a result of coronavirus considerations. Different Six Flags places are set to seasonally open as regular. Six Flags president and CEO Mike Spanos released a statement addressing considerations about COVID-19.

“We’re taking a number of actions that can assist you really feel assured about your well being and security if you are in our parks. We’ve considerably enhanced our cleansing and sanitation efforts on all visitor and worker contact factors; moreover, we’re offering an abundance of anti-bacterial cleaning soap in all hand-washing stations, and have positioned dozens of alcohol-based hand sanitizers all through all areas of the parks,” reads the assertion. “Lastly, we’re steadily cleansing and disinfecting all trip automobiles, queue traces, restrooms, meals places, and worker break areas.”

Hersheypark: Open

The Pennsylvania-based theme park intends to maintain its doorways open. A letter from president and CEO John Garden reads: