UPDATE: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be closed starting on March 14, 2020, through the end of the month. Read the full statement from Disney.
The Spring Break season started on Monday (March 9) and attendance at Disneyland has been strong so far this week, showing no signs of being impacted by coronavirus. With many schools in the area now cancelling in-person classes and more public events being cancelled or postponed, however, things could change in the coming days as we continue to monitor this evolving situation. Check out the Disneyland Crowd Calendar for the latest forecast and the Disneyland Crowd Tracker for live crowd updates and wait times.
Original post covering last week’s crowds below…
Coronavirus fears may be making the “Happiest Place on Earth” just a little less crowded.
As Disneyland and other theme parks head into the usually busy Spring Break and summer seasons, visitors are enjoying shorter lines amid concerns over the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Last week, the average wait time for attractions at Disneyland fell by as much as 50 percent from the previous week, as two new cases of coronavirus were found in Orange County and a state of emergency was declared in California.
Attendance at Disneyland on March 3-6, 2020, was low enough to earn a “Ghost Town” rating on the Disneyland Crowd Calendar, as even the park’s popular discounted ticket offer for SoCal residents wasn’t enough to bring in the crowds during the week. Still, don’t count on the parks to be completely empty—at least not yet anyway. On Saturday (March 7), attendance picked up, but was still mostly manageable for a weekend. While the popular rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Millennium Falcon still averaged around 30min waits, most of the lines for other attractions were only 10-15min long. We’ll get a better idea of how much an impact, if any, coronavirus is having on attendance in the coming weeks as the Spring Break season begins.
it may sound bad but i may sound happy when it comes to Corona causing less travel meaning that Disneyland wait times are alot shorter, but i am worried a decent bit about traveling during this time. Its not gonna stop me, but the worry is still there
hope everyone stays safe 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/rcgHgbcPXL
— 〄 Nick 〄 (↑↑↓↓←→←→BA) 🅙 (@GlythixAWOL) March 6, 2020
Disney has also addressed coronavirus concerns at its U.S. parks and resorts for the first time, reassuring visitors of high standards of cleanliness as well as having health and safety protocols in place.
“As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance,” Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel said in a statement. “Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies.”
Shout out to the Corona virus for making Disneyland empty
— Nick Nguyen (@nick_pls) March 7, 2020
Wish I was at Disneyland rn, with this coronavirus outbreak them lines be looking real short 👀
— T R I L L I O N A I R E 💎 (@Yeyavarela) March 7, 2020
I know of at least 10 families canceling their Disneyland spring break trip, and part of me just really wants to go for the weekend because it’ll be so empty?? pic.twitter.com/XcUTWzhfTV
— mrs nesbitt (@mackaraena) March 5, 2020
Still, coronavirus concerns are already affecting tourism in and around the Disneyland Resort, as a growing number of vacationers cancel their hotel reservations and Disneyland area travel plans. Natural Products Expo West, the second largest convention of the year at the nearby Anaheim Convention Center, has been postponed—and other scheduled shows may be next.
The full impact of coronavirus on Disneyland’s attendance is yet to be seen. The upcoming Spring Break season, starting in mid-March through mid-April, traditionally attracts more crowds from schools on spring recess, including many locals with annual passes. If families opt to stay away from busy public places like theme parks, however, light crowds and short lines may be the norm at Disneyland this spring—and possibly into the summer season.
Everyone: “CORONA VIRUS. WEAR MASKS. STAY OUT OF PUBLIC”
Me: *Goes To Disneyland* pic.twitter.com/vOmqCMnSMY
— Ash 🦥 (@ashleeeeean) March 7, 2020
For the best and worst days to visit Disneyland, be sure to keep an eye on the Disneyland Crowd Calendar. The forecast is updated regularly, so check back often. As of right now, there have been no major changes to the forecast due to coronavirus.
What do you think about the coronavirus fears? Are you planning on visiting Disneyland anytime soon? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Image: briangaither
Some of the Spring Break crowds started arriving this week and they don’t seem to mind the coronavirus at all.