NEWS! Governor Newsom is Sending Teams to Visit With Theme Parks This Week!

Governor Gavin Newsom made several remarks regarding the work taking place between the state and the theme park industry, despite what seemed to be a disagreement between Newsom and Disney last week.

Gavin Newsom ©(Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press)

During these remarks, we learned that a team from the state of California may be visiting not only the Disneyland Resort this week, but could soon be visiting Disney World soon as well.

While the progress to reopen California theme parks has been slow and as Governor Newsom said “stubborn,” it appears as though there may be new collaborative developments taking shape. During a news conference today, Newsom said that “we’ll be visiting with some of the larger theme parks” this week! These visits are a part of the work being done “to get people back to work and to create more entertainment options,” but the Governor stressed the importance of doing so “with a health-first frame,” echoing the remarks he made last week.

Disneyland Entrance

Newsom did not confirm which theme parks specifically his team will visit. Beyond those in-state visits, he also revealed in response to a reporter question that he is sending teams “to these sites, as it relates to theme parks.” And that “we’re doing our own stubborn research and going across states to learn more and not just making this an academic exercise.” Again, Newsom himself did not confirm which “sites” his team would visit, although Disney World was mentioned by a reporter.

Health and Safety Digital Sign at Downtown Disney

Another reporter asked about the nuances between large and small theme parks and if those would be separated into separate guidelines. Governor Newsom pointed out that “if you have in a park, in a city, a ferris wheel, that’s not a “theme park” in the sense that so many of us consider, and so one has to distinguish between the two.”

Disney California Adventure Park Signs

Another distinguishing factor Newsom may look to in separating large and small theme parks is total capacity. He noted that just “five percent at a (large) theme park” is “thousands and thousands of people,” and “if you say that at something on a pier in a smaller community, that’s a few hundred.” He cautioned that having so many people gathering in close proximity is something to be mindful of, especially as the country enters flu season and a time of year where more indoor activities take place, such as the holidays.

We will continue to keep a watchful eye on more announcements and updates coming from Governor Gavin Newsom!