How The Decision Came To Light

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company said on Wednesday that it would not get state clearance in time for its proposed July 17 reopening of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.

Since June 23, California observed 7,149 cases of COVID-19, which holds a record for the home of the Hollywood scene.

Disney explained in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:

"The State of California has now indicated that it will not issue theme park reopening guidelines until sometime after July 4. Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials. Once we have a clearer understanding of when guidelines will be released, we expect to be able to communicate a reopening date."

Disney Works With The Government To Enforce Safety Protocols

We're excited to welcome you back to the Disneyland Resort! Here’s a look at what you need to know about the phased reopening of Downtown Disney District, beginning July 9.

— Disneyland Resort (@Disneyland) June 22, 2020

Even though the Downtown Disney area and the dining district is scheduled to reopen July 9, Disney has been working with California Governor Gavin Newsom to keep parkgoers safe. Communications director Nathan Click confirms this to The Hollywood Reporter:

"The Governor appreciates Disney's responsiveness to his concerns about reopening amid the recent increases in COVID-19 infections across many Southern California counties. The state and our public health experts continue to be in contact with the company and their workers -- as well as other theme parks in the state — as we track and combat the spread of the virus."

Disney acknowledged its response to Newsom's actions, noting:

"We have had positive discussions and are very pleased to have signed agreements from 20 union affiliates, including the Master Services Council which represents more than 11,000 of our cast members. The signed agreements detail plans that include extensive safety protocols that will allow us to responsibly reopen, and get thousands of our cast members back to work."

Disney's Actions To Prevent The Spread Of The Virus

At Disney, safety starts with our cast members. This #NationalSafetyMonth, meet some of our talented cast members who work together to promote a healthy and safe environment at our Disney Parks, Resorts and Stores around the world. https://t.co/ZqLGZmNCup pic.twitter.com/ZP2H99Nm9K

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 17, 2020

The Hollywood Reporter further reports that Dr. Pamela Hymel, Disney Parks chief medical officer, has shared ways that Disney will be taking action. She says:

"We're taking a multi-pronged approach to our reopening, after considering the guidance of various governmental authorities and health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and recommendations from our team of health and safety experts. We're also actively working with industry groups and research universities to discuss best practices. At both parks, this includes reducing capacity; temperature checks for guests prior to entering our theme parks; increasing cleaning and disinfecting, especially in high-traffic areas; adjusting experiences to accommodate physical distancing; requiring face coverings for guests 2 and older; and empowering our guests with options like contactless payments and easy access to handwashing and hand sanitizer locations."