ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood, and other theme parks across the state will have to continue to wait for the governor’s guidance on when they can reopen.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced a new process for reopening businesses across the state amid the coronavirus pandemic called Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but it did not include guidelines for theme park operators.

What You Need To Know

  • Disneyland and other theme park operators still have not received guidelines from the state as to when they can reopen

  • Gov. Gaving Newsom unveiled a new process for businesses to reopen

  • The closures of Disneyland and other theme parks have hurt Southern California's economy

  • Newsom said he is working with theme park operators on how to safely reopen theme parks

When asked by a reporter on when Disneyland and other theme parks can safely reopen, Newsom said amusement parks are a separate business category and that he’s working with theme park leaders on guidance.

“We are working with them,” Newsom said during a press conference. “We set our discussions aside on that. It is a very dynamic conversation, and so we didn't include it in the update today. That is a separate conversation.”

Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland, and other theme parks across the state have remained closed since March when the state closed nonessential businesses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The closures of Disneyland, Universal Studios, and other theme parks have been hurting Southern California's economy especially in the peak summer season when tens of millions of visitors and tourists annually descend on the area for vacation. Several hotels in Anaheim's Resort District have closed because of Disneyland's closure.

Newsom said that one of his meetings Friday afternoon will be on how to safely reopen theme parks.  

"We are activley looking to see where we land on that," Newsom said. 

Under Newsom's new plan, Orange County, where Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are located, and Los Angeles, where Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain are located, are labeled as "widespread," the highest risk level. Under this tier, many nonessential businesses would remain close.