California has been hit hard by the coronavirus in recent weeks. With hospitals running low on available ICU beds, Governor Gavin Newsom decided to implement a Stay at Home Order in the state. Announced on December 3, the regional Stay at Home Order goes into effect for any region that has less than 15% ICU availability. Once triggered, the order remains in effect for three weeks.
The DVC Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian were scheduled to reopen on December 6 but after the announcement of the possible Stay at Home Order for the Southern Californian region, the reopening was delayed. Currently no new reopening date has been announced. The Grand Californian Hotel also remains closed.
While at the time of Newsom’s Stay at Home Order announcement none of the five designated regions were at less than 15% ICU threshold, over the weekend several regions fell below the threshold triggering the Stay at Home Order for 85% of California’s residents.
The Stay at Home Order was triggered in the Southern California region, home to Disneyland. The order states that amusement parks and non essential travel lodging must remain closed. The order also states that all restaurants must return to take-out or pick-up only. No indoor or outdoor dining is allowed.
Due to the new Stay at Home Order, all restaurants at the Downtown Disney District have suspended outdoor dining. Additionally, as part of the order, all retail shops must limit shoppers to a maximum of 20 capacity with entrance metering. No eating or drinking can be allowed inside the shops as well.
Currently, the Stay at Home Order has been triggered in the Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley regions. However, other counties have chosen to voluntarily follow the order in an attempt to curtail the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season.
The California Stay at Home Order states the following:
The following establishments must remain closed:
- Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds
- Indoor Recreational Facilities
- Hair Salons and Barbershops
- Personal Care Services
- Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums
- Movie Theaters
- Wineries
- Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
- Family Entertainment Centers
- Cardrooms and Satellite Wagering
- Limited Services
- Live Audience Sports
- Amusement Parks
Additionally, the following sectors have additional modifications while following masking and physical distancing rules.
- Outdoor Recreational Facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.
- Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
- Shopping Centers: Allow indoor operation at 20 percent capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
- Hotels and Lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.
- Restaurants: Allow only for take-out or pick-up.
- Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.
- Places of Worship: Allow outdoor services only.
- Entertainment Production including Professional Sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.
Critical Infrastructure, non-urgent medial and dental care facilities, child-care and pre-K are all allowed to remain in operation if no remote options are available.
Check back for updates on the reopening of Disneyland and Disney’s Grand Californian Resort.
Katherine Rand
DVC Shop Editorial Team
