With the reported number of Coronavirus cases growing in the Hong Kong region, Hong Kong Disneyland has decided to shut its gates effective today to help prevent the spread of the virus. This follows the closure a few days ago of Shanghai Disney Resort. Both closures come during the Spring Festival, aka Lunar New Year, which is typically one of the busier times of the year for travel in China.
Unlike the closure at Shanghai Disney Resort, HKDL won’t be closing its resort hotel, just the theme park.
The following message was posted to the Hong Kong Disneyland website:
As a precautionary measure in line with prevention efforts taking place across Hong Kong, we are temporarily closing Hong Kong Disneyland park starting from January 26, 2020 out of consideration for the health and safety of our guests and cast members. The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort hotels will remain open. We are in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation and will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable.
The Standard Park Ticket is valid for six months from the purchase date. If needed, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will assist in the refund for guests who have purchased tickets for admission to Hong Kong Disneyland park or have booked a resort hotel.
From what we’ve been reading in the press, it’s definitely better to be cautious about the spread of the Coronavirus and not risk the health of guests and cast members. One of the ways to get the Coronavirus under control is by reducing opportunities to contract it. So two of Disney’s theme parks in the region are now closed for an unknown period of time.
Update: 1/27 — It sounds like this closure, and the Shanghai Disney Resort closure, may be for around a month. China is said to be closing other places like Zoos, museums, historic sites, and movie theaters to help control the spread. What this means for Disney’s theme parks remains to be seen. To be closed for a month is a big revenue hit, but for health and safety reasons you have to do it. There are also new reports that world tourism numbers are taking a hit as Chinese citizens are opting to stay home and not travel out of the country.
This is a developing story and we will update this story with more information as it comes in.