Business Insider
Newsletters
News

Photos of Disneyland reopening show fans soaking in the moment

By Joey Hadden
Disneyland
People pose for a picture on reopening day at Disneyland on April 30, 2021. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort
  • Disneyland reopened to California residents on April 30, ending its 13-month pandemic closure.
  • The parks are operating at a limited capacity with mask mandates and social-distancing regulations.
  • California residents are bringing vibrant, joyous energy to the park after a year of silence.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disneyland reopened on Friday after 13 quiet months of closure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to a press release Disneyland sent to Insider.

Disneyland reopening
A wide view of Disneyland on reopening day. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

The park is now welcoming California residents at 25% capacity as part of its phased reopening. "This is a homecoming for us," one park goer told the Los Angeles Times.

Disneyland
Guests enter the park on April 30, 2021. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Source: Los Angeles Times

Inside the park, everyone must wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot distance from others outside their group.

Disneyland
Masked employees greet guests from a distance on April 30, 2021. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Sanitizing stations are all around the park along with signs reminding guests to follow pandemic procedures like wearing a mask and staying away from other groups.

GettyImANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 30: People are required to follow COVID-19 safety protocol at Disneyland Park as it reopens for the first time since the COVID 19 pandemic forced the park to shut down last year on April 30, 2021 in Anaheim, California. California saw some of the highest infection rates in the nation over the winter but now enjoys some of the lowest. Los Angeles County, for example, is now expected to move from the orange tier of the states economic reopening system based on COVID-19 metrics to the least restrictive yellow tier, which would allow greater reopening freedoms, as early as next week. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)ages 1232611969
COVID-19 safety protocols at Disneyland Park on April 30, 2021. David McNew/Getty Images

While parades and fireworks displays are still on pause to keep crowds at a minimum ...

Disneyland
A double-decker drives through Disneyland on April 30, 2021. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

... most of the park's rides are open, save for the ones that are in tight spaces, like the "Finding Nemo" ride.

Disneyland
Disney's Tomorrowland park on reopening day. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Source: Disneyland

Guests can download Disneyland's app to order food, buy souvenirs, and get in a virtual line for the "Star Wars" ride, according to Disneyland's press release.

Disneyland
People walk though the park in masks on opening day. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Excited park visitors and others are flooding social-media networks with their excitement.

Disneyland
Guests ride the teacups at Disneyland on April 30, 2021. Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

At the time of writing, the hashtag #Disneyland on Twitter showed a compilation of pictures and videos sharing the joyous energy felt in the park on opening day.

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 30: People enter Disneyland Park as it reopens for the first time since the COVID 19 pandemic forced the park to shut down last year on April 30, 2021 in Anaheim, California. California saw some of the highest infection rates in the nation over the winter but now enjoys some of the lowest. Los Angeles County, for example, is now expected to move from the orange tier of the state's economic reopening system based on COVID-19 metrics to the least restrictive yellow tier, which would allow greater reopening freedoms, as early as next week. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
People enter Disneyland Park as it reopens on April 30, 2021. David McNew/Getty Images

Source: Twitter

Disneyland's reopening made some guests feel emotional.

Guests at Disneyland on reopening day on April 30, 2021.
Being back at Disneyland brought some visitors to happy tears. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger made an appearance, bumping elbows with a Disneyland employee.

Bob Iger at Disneyland
Bob Iger bumped elbows with a Disneyland employee. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Cristy Simpson went to the park on opening day and enjoyed a long walk down Main Street before heading to Fantasy Land.

Screen Shot 2021 04 30 at 4.05.38 PM
A selfie from Simpson's April 30 Instagram post. @mvpcristy.happyplacevacations/Instagram

Source: Cristy Simpson's Instagram

"It took me a good long time to walk down Main Street, soak in the beauty of the moment and the hub area," Simpson wrote in an Instagram post.

Screen Shot 2021 04 30 at 4.06.01 PM
A snapshot of Main Street from Simpson's April 30 Instagram post. @mvpcristy.happyplacevacations/Instagram

Source: Cristy Simpson's Instagram

Until further notice, Disneyland is only open to California residents, according to its website.

Disneyland
Disneyland visitors take a selfie with Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background on April 30, 2021. Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images

Source: Disneyland

Read next

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

HOME Subscribe

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account