After spending months in a continuous coronavirus pandemic in the spotlight because he tried repeatedly reopen the gates at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland finally lets Californians in … but not for a walk on Haunted House or sip green milk to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Orange County officials confirmed that the Anaheim theme park will become one of the first distribution points in the county (POD) for the distribution of covid-19 vaccines. Unlike his sister resort in Orlando, Florida, Disney World, Disneyland in California was closed since March due to coronavirus blocking orders (except a limited reopening from the Downtown Disney shopping area adjacent to the parks, which has been open to guests since July). Disney World controversial reopening in July and is currently the host both for guests and for a state-run covid-19 test unit.
Disneyland will be one of five “Super POD” sites in Orange County, presumably with the capacity to distribute thousands of doses of vaccine daily and is expected to operate later this week.
“Disneyland Resort is proud to help support Orange County and Anaheim with the use of our property and we are grateful for all their efforts to combat COVID-19,” said Dr. Pamela Hymel, Disney Parks Medical Director. , Experiences and products, said ABC7 news. “After a year in which so many in our community have faced unprecedented hardships and uncertainties, there are now reasons to be optimistic about getting a vaccine.”
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It was a strange journey to get to the quasi-reopening of Disneyland here (no, they probably won’t let you climb the Space Mountain after your shot, unfortunately). The famous theme park was at the forefront of California appearances to be reopened, citing economic damage the ongoing pandemic has caused the region as well as the relative success of the controlled reopening of Disney World in Florida, as incentives for the happiest place on Earth to start serving guests again. But state health officials have remained adamant about strict guidelines for theme parks, Disneyland or elsewhere, to open even at a severely reduced capacity – guidelines that have not yet been implemented, given current covid case numbers.
Even if the park is not yet open to guests, helping to distribute coronavirus vaccinations is infinitely more useful than access to Mount Splash and churros is right now.
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