Walt Disney Co. indefinitely delays the reopening of its theme parks in Anaheim, California, as COVID-19 cases rise in some states, including California.
Walt Disney Co. will no longer push for the planned reopening of its Disneyland and California Adventure parks, initially scheduled July 17. No changes, however, were announced on the July 9 opening of its Downtown Disney shopping district. The Master Service Union representing the retail cast has previously signed an agreement to return to work, the company said in its official statement.
The company decided to postpone the reopening because it could not reach agreements with its unions and get necessary state approvals in time. The company furthered that the reopening of its Downtown Disney district is on track under state restaurant and retail reopenings guidelines.
The company said that given the time required for them to reopen their theme parks and resort hotels and bring thousands of its cast members back to work, the company has no choice but to delay until approval from government officials is secured.
A coalition of 17,000 Disneyland-area resort workers and representative unions previously sought help from Governor Gavin Newsom. They asked for the non-approval of the reopening plans of the company amid rising concerns about safety protocols, specifically the lack of virus testing on-site and other safety measures.
Ada Briceño, co-president of Unite Here Local 11--labor union representing Disney's thousands of resort workers--said that the company is still to address their concerns. Specifically, conducting necessary steps such as testing workers and ensuring the highest level of cleanliness which Disney is yet to respond to. Because of this, Unite Here Local 11 will push through with its car caravan protest on Saturday morning, Briceño added.
Disney said that for the company to reopen its theme parks, it needs to negotiate agreements with unions to return their employees to work, the Disney statement said. The company had positive discussions and had signed agreements from 20 union affiliates. The signed agreement contains plan details, including enhanced safety protocols, to allow the company to responsibly reopen and get its thousand cast members back to work.
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More than 6,000 people have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Orange County, Florida - Walt Disney World Resort's locale. In a recent report, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County's Dr. Raul Pino said 3,764 have already tested positive for the coronavirus in the county between June 11 and 24, representing 58 percent of the total number of cases in the county to-date.
Disney's Florida-based theme parks are already set to open on July 11, Comcast Corp.'s Universal Studios, and SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. already opened their resorts, along with some other theme-park operators. No data showing a connection between the sire of COVID-19 local case and the reopening of theme parks, Florida Department of Health spokesman said.
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