Coronavirus May Have Closed Disney Theme Parks Until 2021, Analyst Says

Disneyland and Disney World have closed down due to worries that people visiting them may spread—or contract—COVID-19. Now, a Wall Street analyst projects that they may actually remain closed until next year.

According to Fox News, the theme parks had previously planned to reopen April 1. They had closed their doors in the middle of March as the world started grapple with the spread of the coronavirus, which began in China. When the gravity of the situation started to become clear, the theme parks changed their opening date to a warning of “closed until further notice.”

Swiss bank UBS Analyst John Hodulik said that he believes the effects of the outbreak—now labeled the “new normal”—will be felt by the businesses most of all. Crowd avoidance, lingering social distancing adherence, and newly picked-up health precautions might weigh heavily on places that rely on crowds for business, like Disney’s theme parks, for example.

The picture might be bleaker than anyone has ever thought of. Yahoo Finance reported that the parks might even remain closed throughout the year, opening only in January of next year.

Hodulik also cited other circumstances aside from the social distancing protocols continuing through the end of the quarantine and beyond. He pointed out that the economy may face a recession due to the lockdowns. Visitors may also have a newfound aversion for large crowds of people, until at least there is a working and widely available vaccine for the coronavirus.

Executive chairman Bob Iger said that the parks “may require more scrutiny and restrictions” should they re-open ahead of the discovery of a cure. It is Disney’s workaround to ensure that guests will feel comfortable and safe among a crowd when they visit.

There had been rumors among fans in internet forums that Disney has a plan for reopening. Those mentioned of a limited capacity reopening that would include measures such as temperature checks, a controlled number of crowds, and no parades or fireworks and shows.