Following a statement by The Disneyland Resort that the park would re-open next month, visitors have started a petition to delay this re-opening. With concerns over the safety of guests and staff, many are worried the resort is opening too soon.
On June 10, Disneyland announced its three-phase plan for the re-opening of its parks. On July 9, the Downtown Disney District would re-open, July 17 would see the re-opening of Disneyland Park and the California Adventure Park, and on July 23, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Pier Resort Hotel will once again open their doors. Earlier this year on March 13, Disney made the decision to close all of its parks and resorts amid coronavirus concerns. The closure of the parks followed the World Health Organization's declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Disney stated the safety and well-being of their guests and staff was top priority and they would not re-open again until it was safe to do so. With many states now lifting their own restrictions, amusement parks/resorts such as Disneyland are beginning to do the same.
Shortly after the announcement, a petition was uploaded to Change.org to delay the opening of the park, as there is still a great concern for the health and safety of staff and guests alike. The creator of the petition accurately states in the description that COVID-19 cases are continuously rising rather than falling, and Disney has planned it re-opening regardless of this fact, and many patrons and employees are voicing their opinions in the comment section: "It's too early to open," says Russell Tom, "Coronavirus cases have been going back up in CA/Anaheim." Various staff and cast members have also stated they don't think it is safe to open in the middle of a pandemic, and do not want to necessarily put themselves and their families at risks.
July 17 also happens to be the 65th Anniversary of the park's grand opening, which could explain why executives are pushing for this date. The petition also states the concern about the second wave of the novel virus. Health officials around the country have already stated that it's not a question of if, but when the second wave will hit, and it will likely be much worse than what the country has experienced the last three months.
Many will make the argument that things are now safer than they were in March, however, the rise in case numbers following the recent protests and large gatherings such as those on Memorial Day should show that things are not as safe as they seem. Disneyland may need to make up for lost revenue, but it is important to keep in mind the health of those working and visiting at the parks. Even with increased social distancing and disinfecting measures throughout the attractions, it still may not be enough to slow the spread of a volatile virus when people begin to flock from all around the country and even the world.
Source: Change.org