After spending months in the spotlight of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic for trying repeatedly reopen the gates for the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland is finally allowing Californians to enter … but not for a ride in Haunted Mansion or take a sip of green milk in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Orange County officials confirmed that the Anaheim theme park will become one of the county’s first distribution points (POD) for the distribution of covid-19 vaccines. Unlike its sister resort in Orlando, Florida, Disney World, California Disneyland has been closed since march due to coronavirus block orders (outside of a limited reopening Downtown Disney retail area adjacent to the parks, which has been open to visitors since July). Disney world controversially reopened in July and is currently the host for both guests and a state-owned covid-19 test facility.
Disneyland will be one of five “Super POD” locations in Orange County, reportedly capable of delivering thousands of doses of vaccines to people daily, and is due to start operating later this week.
“Disneyland Resort is proud to help support Orange County and the city of Anaheim with the use of our property, and we are grateful for all of their efforts to combat COVID-19,” Dr. Pamela Hymel, Medical Director of Disney Parks , Experiences and Products, counted ABC7 News. “After a year in which so many in our community have faced unprecedented difficulties and uncertainties, there is now reason to be optimistic about administering a vaccine.”
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It was a strange journey to reach Disneyland’s near reopening here (no, they probably won’t let you enter Space Mountain after your jab, unfortunately). The famous theme park has been at the forefront of California’s efforts to reopen, citing the economic damage the ongoing pandemic caused the region, as well as the relative success of the controlled reopening of Disney World in FlorI would goa, as incentives for the Happiest Place on Earth to start serving guests again. But state health officials remained adamant about strict guidelines for theme parks, Disneyland or others, to open even with severely reduced capacity – guidelines that have not yet been put into practice, given the current coveted case numbers.
Even though the park may not yet be open to visitors, helping to distribute coronavirus vaccines is infinitely more useful than access to Splash Mountain and churros is now.
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