Disneyland Resort closed on March 14, 2020 in response to the global health crisis. The unprecedented closure lasted over one year. But, as of April 30, 2021, the Disneyland theme parks — Disneyland and Disney California Adventure — are REOPEN to guests!

Here we are sharing everything you need to know about this historic reopening of Disneyland Resort — The Happiest Place on Earth!

“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.” — Walt Disney

We were able to attend a preview ahead of the official reopening — and were back again on REOPENING DAY — and you can see our experience here!

Click here to step INSIDE Disneyland as the parks are NOW REOPEN!

Reopening Guidelines

Reopening Capacity

The reopening of Disneyland Resort is following guidelines as set by the state of California. During the initial reopening, only California residents were permitted to attend the theme parks.

However, Disneyland opened to out-of-state guests on June 15, 2021. Visitors are not required to be vaccinated, but the State of California does recommend vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Health and Safety Measures

Disneyland Resort has implemented many of the health and safety measures that have already been put into place since the reopening of the Downtown Disney District. These have included — but are not limited to — heightened cleaning and sanitation measures, physical distancing measures, and the required wearing of face masks.

As of June 15th, fully vaccinated guests were not required to wear a face mask either indoors or outdoors, while guests who are not fully vaccinated were required to wear masks indoors. However, Disneyland has announced that masks will now be required indoors, reversing the policy changes made in June. As of July 30, 2021 all Cast Members and guests ages 2 and up are required to wear appropriate face coverings in all indoor locations at Disneyland Resort regardless of vaccination status. 

Read about the face mask policy at Disneyland Resort here. 

Temperature checks were previously required upon entry; however, these ended on June 15th.

Park Pass Reservations and Tickets

Similar to the current procedures in use for the Walt Disney World theme parks, ALL Disneyland Resort guests are required to obtain an advance reservation for park entry with the Theme Park Reservation System. Guests ages 3 and up need valid admission in addition to that Park Pass reservation. Also remember that groups must be smaller than 3 households in order to visit.

The use of the reservation system helps to monitor entry since theme park capacity is significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing. These reservations MUST be made in advance.

Find out everything you need to know about making Theme Park Reservations here!

Please Note: guests with valid theme park admission who are staying at the reopened Disneyland Resort hotels also need to book theme park reservations in advance. So, a hotel stay does NOT guarantee a park reservation.

This reservation system launched on April 12th for guests with existing tickets, and ticket sales for eligible guests resumed on April 15th! Upon purchasing valid tickets, guests are immediately able to make park reservations, too.

For guests who NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET:

For guests who HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED A VALID TICKET:

If you have already purchased a ticket, but haven’t made reservations yet, you can also head to the Disneyland Park Reservation website and hit “Make Park Reservation” after logging in to your account. You’ll then create a reservation using the steps below.

As for the tickets themselves, the previous five-tiered ticket system remains in place. These tiers allow Disneyland to charge less for entry on slower days, and more on busier days. You can find those tiered prices below. And as before, your Park Hopper tickets cost more.

Find more details regarding Tiered Tickets and ticket blockout dates here!

Yes, Park Hopping has returned, and begins at 1PM each day! Park hours are currently scheduled for 9AM-7PM. Guests will need to make a Park Pass reservation for your first park of the day.

Guests are able to park at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures off Disneyland Drive. And the Toy Story Parking Lot will reopen on June 18th.

The Theme Park Experience

Disney Characters

Disney shared that when the California theme parks reopened, “characters from dozens of favorite Disney and Pixar stories will entertain and delight guests across both parks,” and we have certainly found that to be the case!

Characters make surprise appearances along Main Street, U.S.A. and Pixar Pier, and there are also other playful character interactions.

CLICK HERE  to find the Disney Characters we saw on Disneyland’s REOPENING DAY!

The characters are set to “pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing.”

You may be able to see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (and more!) waving from the train station.

More of a Disney Princess fan? Disney Princesses such as Mulan and more may appear at the Royal Theatre to wave and pose for some socially distanced selfies.

Just like in Disney World, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has a few familiar faces like Rey, Chewbacca, and Vi Moradi above the speeder garage at Black Spire Station and Stormtroopers with Kylo Ren at the TIE Echelon starfighter platform.

Of course, there are characters in Disney California Adventure too. Disney characters may appear at Carthay Circle and the Pixar Pier bandshell. Plus, you’ll be able to spot Disney Junior characters like Vampirina and Doc McStuffins at the Disney Theater in Hollywood Land. And, of course, you can take photos with Mater and Lightning McQueen along Route 66 in Cars Land.

We just so happened to spot Miguel from Coco!

Avengers and heroes such as Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Dora Milaje are hanging around the NEW Avengers Campus!

See ALL the Marvel characters we spotted on Avengers Campus here!

Entertainment — Parades and Fireworks

As previously announced, “experiences that draw large group gatherings,” such as parades have been temporarily suspended.

According to Disney, parades “will return at a later date.” However, fireworks, which were previously suspended, are BACK at Disneyland Park as of early July!

Mickey’s Mix Magic has returned with its projections, lasers, and (of course) fireworks above Sleeping Beauty Castle!

And we’ve got some more GREAT news… the Dapper Dans made their return to Disneyland on September 3rd!

The Dapper Dans are back on Main Street, U.S.A., joining already returned entertainment like the Bootstrappers, Pearly Band, Five & Dime, and the Coke Corner piano player.

Theme Park Attractions

CLICK HERE to see what it’s like to ride a Disneyland attraction under initial Reopening Guidelines. 

The following attractions have now reopened (or are reopening soon) in the Disneyland Resort theme parks:

Disneyland:

• Alice in Wonderland
• Astro Orbitor
• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
• Disneyland Railroad
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Gadget’s Go Coaster
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones Adventure — NOTE: This ride is utilizing a Virtual Queue
• “it’s a small world”
• Jungle Cruise
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Main Street Vehicles
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon
• Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — NOTE: This ride is utilizing a Virtual Queue
• Storybook Land Canal Boats
• Tarzan’s Treehouse
• Tom Sawyer Island
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Disney California Adventure:

• Animation Academy
• Games of Pixar Pier
• Golden Zephyr
• Goofy’s Sky School
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
• Jessie’s Critter Carousel
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Weekends Only)
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Pixar Pal-A-Round – Non-Swinging
• Pixar Pal-A-Round – Swinging
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Silly Symphony Swings
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Sorcerer’s Workshop
• The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure — NOTE: This ride is utilizing a Virtual Queue

More Disneyland Resort attractions are reopening soon… See the list with dates HERE!

Keep in mind that attraction lines have new health and safety measures in place, as well. As per California’s theme park reopening guidelines, all queues for attractions and rides must be outdoors. Social distancing is enforced, and  plexiglass has been installed to ensure that guests are properly spaced.

Additionally, the guidelines note that guests are prohibited from eating and drinking while waiting in a ride queue, and guests will spot distancing markers indicating 6 feet distances between parties.

Learn more about what to expect when waiting in line for attractions with new health and safety measure here. 

Theme Park Restaurants

If you’re planning on eating while you’re in the parks, reservations for select locations opened on April 22nd, with limited capacity. You are able to book your dining reservations for Table Service locations 60 days in advance. For Quick Service restaurants, you can utilizeMobile Order in the parks to place your order and pay ahead.

The following restaurants are now reopen or reopening soon in the Disneyland Resort theme parks:

Disneyland

• Alien Pizza Planet
• River Belle Terrace
• Plaza Inn 
• Bengal Barbecue
• Café Orleans
• Carnation Cafe
• Churros
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• Edelweiss Snacks 
• French Market Restaurant
• Galactic Grill
• Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
• The Golden Horseshoe
• Harbour Galley
• Hungry Bear Restaurant 
• Ice Cream Carts
• Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
• Kat Saka’s Kettle
• Little Red Wagon
• Market House
• Maurice’s Treats 
• Milk Stand
• Mint Julep Bar
• Oga’s Cantina
• Popcorn
• Rancho del Zocalo
• Red Rose Taverne
• Refreshment Corner 
• Ronto Roasters
• Ship to Shore Marketplace
• Stage Door Café
• Tiki Juice Bar
• The Tropical Hideaway

Disney California Adventure

• Lamplight Lounge
• Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining
• Carthay Circle Restaurant
• Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
• Angry Dogs
• Award Wieners
• Bayside Brews
• Churros
• Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream 
• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
• Corn Dog Castle
• Cozy Cone Motel (Churros, Ice Cream, Cone-coctions, and Popcone)
• Cappuccino Cart
• Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe
• Flo’s V8 Cafe
• Ghirardelli® Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
• Hollywood Lounge
• Ice Cream Carts
• Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums 
• Lucky Fortune Cookery
• Mendocino Terrace
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.
• Popcorn
• Poultry Palace
• Pym Tasting Lab
• Pym Test Kitchen
• Rita’s Baja Blenders
• Schmoozies! 
• Señor Buzz Churros
• Shawarma Palace
• Smokejumpers Grill
• Sonoma Terrace
• Studio Catering Co.
• Terran Treats
• Wine Country Trattoria

Disneyland Resort Hotels

Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa reopened on April 29th, 2021, with limited capacity. You can learn more about the booking process for room reservations here. 

Find our Complete Guide to Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel Reopening here!

Character dining, in-room dining, and any other character experiences are temporarily suspended. As far as recreation goes, guests will be able to enjoy the pools, fitness centers, and shops, but with limited operations. Hearthstone Lounge, GCH Craftsman Bar, and GCH Craftsman Grill reopened along with the hotel as well.

Napa Rose and Storytellers Cafe reopened on May 28th, 2021! Both restaurants are available to guests staying at the Grand Californian and non-hotel guests as well. 

And Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures returned to Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa on August 26th!

You can see more about the newly reopened and modified experience here!

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel reopened on June 15, 2021 with limited capacity!

Please be aware that Paradise Pier does NOT have any food and beverage options during the initial reopening. Guests at the hotel are able to visit nearby dining options at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as well as restaurants throughout the Downtown Disney District. Select restaurants in Downtown Disney will also offer delivery services right to the hotel lobby.

The Disneyland Hotel reopened on July 2, 2021! 

Three restaurants reopened along with the hotel: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill, and The Coffee House. Goofy’s Kitchen reopened on August 18th, although characters are NOT currently present. (Disney says they will return at a later date.)

A number of changes have been made to the guest rooms and other areas of the Disneyland Hotel.

You can take a FULL ROOM TOUR here!

“The Magic is Back” Merchandise

Guests attending the reopening of Disneyland Resort have access to a new line of merchandise just for the VERY special occasion: “The Magic is Back” merchandise!

See ALL of “The Magic is Back” line here!

We hope you join us here as we continue to cover the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort!

We will continue to update this page with ALL of the information for the reopening of Disneyland Resort during its reopening phase, so check back often!

Disneyland Reopening Details and Info

• Click HERE for the All Latest Updates

• Disneyland Reopening April 30th

• California Residents Will Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially

• Avengers Campus Set to Open June 4th

• Click Here to See All the Rides That Will Reopen Initially in Disneyland

• Click Here to See All the Restaurants That Will Reopen Initially in Disneyland

• Disneyland Ticket Price Info and Blockout Dates Released

• Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel Reopening Date Announced!

• Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks at a Disney Park

Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe