Disneyland Paris to Close for Second Time Due to Pandemic

Disneyland Paris is scheduled to close for the second time this year due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in France. 

When the pandemic first started to spread globally and shut down theme parks around the world, Disneyland Paris was one of the later parks to close, shutting down for the first time on March 15th along with Walt Disney World in Florida and the two American based Universal theme parks.  Disneyland had shut down a couple days prior and the two Asia-based Disney parks had shut down in January.  By mid-July, most parks were reopening again, but Disneyland Paris now joins Hong Kong Disney, which closed again over the summer, with its decision to close for a second time.

The park had already had to adjust operations due to the recent curfew in France, which forced it to shut down earlier than normal.  The new lockdown guidelines mean it needs to cease operations entirely until the rules are lifted.  Residents will only be able to leave their homes for essential services.

Under the new French measures which come into force on Friday, people will be required to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to one hour a day. They will be permitted to go to work if their employer deems it impossible for them to do the job from home. Schools will stay open.

As in the darkest days of spring, anyone leaving their home in France will now have to carry a document justifying being outside, which can be checked by police.

At the current time, Walt Disney World, Shanghai Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland are all open after their first shut downs were lifted.  Hong Kong Disneyland emerged from its second shut down on September 25th.  Disneyland Resort in California has not yet reopened and has laid off 28,000 cast members due to the prolonged closure.  Walt Disney World has remained open despite a drastic spike in cases in Florida and accusations that they are covering up COVID-19 cases.  At this time there’s no word on if any of the three Disney Parks in Asia are headed towards an additional closure.

Stay up to date with coronavirus theme park closures at our Coronavirus Convention & Theme Park Impacts page.

Author: Angel Wilson

Angel is the admin of The Geekiary and a geek culture commentator. They earned a BA in Film & Digital Media from UC Santa Cruz. They have contributed to various podcasts and webcasts including An Englishman in San Diego, Free to Be Radio, and Genre TV for All. They’ve also written for Friends of Comic Con and is a 2019 Hugo Award winner for contributing fanfic on AO3. They identify as queer.

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