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We are super excited that Disneyland has reopened, and we know that you are too. Get all of the information we have about Disneyland’s opening. Will you need a face covering? Will Magic Morning be discontinued? How will you know you can get in the parks? We are covering all of that and more below.
Below you will find out all of the current information we have about the Disneyland Resort reopening. Disneyland closed March 13, 2020 (at the end of the park day) and remained closed for more than a year.
Disneyland Resort Parks Opened April 30, 2021
Disneyland resort announced on March 17, 2021 that they will reopen on April 30, 2021.
Finally! Disneyland Resort has reopened. WOOHOO! But before you pack your bags, there are a lot of restrictions, changes, and more that you need to know about. So let’s break it down.
Disneyland opened April 30, 2021 but you may not be allowed to visit.
Even though Disneyland reopened April 30, 2021, you may not be able to visit. Due to California’s reopening guidelines (some of the strictest in the nation), Disneyland will have to not only open at an extremely reduced capacity, but will also be limited to California Residents for the time being.
Disneyland guests booking park reservations are asked to check a box verifying their California residency. Photo ID may be required at the gate.
When will non-California Residents be allowed to visit Disneyland?
That is the million dollar question. As an Idahoan, and someone who helps people plan trips to Disneyland from all over the nation and world, I am right there with you. Unfortunately we do not have an official answer.
But let’s speculate for a moment…
We know that all tiers of the reopening plan state that Theme Parks may only open to California Residents. This may seem hopeless at first, but California has announced it plans to fully reopen, with minimal mitigation efforts, on June 15, 2021.
We believe that once that happens, out of state visitors will be allowed in the parks.
For those of you out of the country, you will need to follow restrictions on international travel before planning a visit.
Reservations Will Be Required
When Disneyland opens, they will require reservations to visit the park. Walt Disney World has been using a reservation system since their reopening, and it seems to work well.
While we do not have the details yet, I have detailed what you should do now to prep to get Disneyland Reservations. I will also update that article with all of the details as we learn more.
What About Tickets to Disneyland?
Ticket sales resumed in mid-April 2021. Anybody can purchase Disneyland tickets at this time, even though only California residents may visit.
What About Tickets I Already Have From Before The Closure
If you are still holding onto unused Disneyland tickets, don’t worry. Disneyland has extended the expiration of tickets.
If you have children that turned three, and now need a ticket, or children that have turned 10 and need to upgrade to an adult ticket, you will need to contact Disneyland, or if you purchased through my ticket partner Get Away Today, you can contact them directly.
Disneyland Canceled Annual Passes
Disneyland cancelled all annual passes in January. We really hope Disneyland will find a way to honor its most loyal fans and allow them advanced access to either the parks or ticket sales.
You can learn all about Disneyland Annual Passes being canceled, and look over what types of Annual Passes were offered in the past on my Disneyland Annual Pass Guide. I will also update this if/when Disneyland offers a new pass.
Will Everything Be Open When Disneyland Reopens?
Disneyland will have some major changes when it reopens. In addition to temperature screenings and mask requirements, here are some other changes that have been announced or we expect to happen. These changes could be temporary or permanent. So be sure to follow along on my Facebook page for any updates.
- No Early Morning Access – Disney has announced that when Disneyland reopens, the parks will no longer offer Magic Morning or Extra Magic Hour for the time being.
- No Fastpass or MaxPass – Disney has also announced that they will discontinue Fastpass and Disney MaxPass services upon reopening.
- Some Entertainment Will Be Suspended – in order to help avoid crowds, some entertainment will not be available upon reopening. This includes parades, fireworks, and possibly some shows.
- Characters Will Be Different – Character Meet and Greets will not be happening, but Disney will have characters throughout the parks at a distance. This has turned out to be well received in Walt Disney World and I truly believe guests will enjoy seeing characters in new ways.
- Parkhopping – Parkhopping will be allowed, but guests with parkhopper tickets must wait until 1 pm to hop parks.
- Reduced capacity and some closures – Depending on state guidelines, current spread, and other factors, some attractions or dining options may not be available. I have listed all of the dining options that are open as well as rides open on opening day (which I will be updating soon as more rides open).
What About The Disneyland Resort Hotels?
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel reopened on April 29, 2021, just in time for the parks reopening. Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen on June 15, 2021. The Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date.
While anybody may book a hotel stay, remember only California Residents will be allowed into the Theme Parks at this time.
And other hotels:
Some of our favorite hotels are already open, and others plan to reopen soon. No matter where you plan to stay, my partners at Get Away Today can help you book your vacation. You can also save $10 when you use code ThisCrazy10.
TIP: Book your hotel with them now to lock in low prices.
If you need an idea of where to stay, check out my huge list of Disneyland area hotels that can sleep 5 people and more!
If you would like to stay up to date on Disneyland Opening announcements, I suggest Following my Facebook Page (opting to “see first” ), and turn on live stream notifications for the page as I will hop on there first to share when things are announced. You can also join my Disneyland Friends Newsletter below to get info straight to your inbox!
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Secondly, be sure to join my Facebook Group: Disneyland with Kids because I and the other co-founders will be keeping everyone up to date there as well.
We have the Disneyland Hotel booked for December 2020, but not our tickets yet. Do you think Disneyland will stop selling tickets and hotel rooms like WDW did when a reopening announcment is made? If so, do you think we will have the option to purchase them, since we have a hotel already? OR, would you advise purchasing them now? Thank you so much!
I think hotel guests will at an on-site hotel will be taken care of but I still suggest booking them now because ticket prices may be increased at anytime. I would also purchase them through my partner at Get Away Today to get a little extra discount.
Can you still bring food into the park?
Yes, but the lockers inside the parks are closed. If you need a locker you will need to utilize the outside lockers in the esplanade or picnic area.