Disneyland is set to reopen on April 30 — here are 15 changes you can expect.

Starting April 30, it could be the perfect moment to experience Disneyland. Indeed, after being closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic, Disneyland has received the green light from California to reopen.

Other theme parks in California, like Universal and Knott's Berry Farm, may also open as early as April 1, provided their counties achieve the red/substantial tier 2 risk level first.

During Disney's Annual Shareholders Meeting on March 9, CEO Bob Chapek expressed optimism for Disneyland's reopening by 'late April', and now a specific date of April 30 has been confirmed, albeit with limited capacity. He mentioned that, although other parks might open on April 1 (as initially reported by the Orange County Register), Disneyland will need more time to prepare for guests' return.

Even when Disneyland finally opens its gates, guests can expect a different experience. Disney notes that, 'Certain experiences that attract large gatherings, like parades and nighttime shows, will be postponed until a later date.'

For now, here’s what we can share.

Expect to see enhanced health and safety protocols.

Upon reopening, Disneyland will implement improved health and safety measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. These will resemble the current practices at Walt Disney World. New protocols will include:

• Face masks will be mandatory for all cast members and guests aged 2 and older.
• Hand-washing stations will be installed throughout the park, and their usage will be encouraged.
• Physical barriers will be set up in various locations to provide additional protection between cast members and guests, as well as among guests.
• The theme park's capacity and operating hours will be limited.
• Signage will promote social distancing to assist guests.
• Guests will undergo temperature checks upon arrival, while cast members will have daily temperature screenings and health checks.
• Interactions between cast members and guests will be minimized, with cashless transactions encouraged through expanded Mobile Ordering in the Disneyland app and via platforms like Apple Pay.
• Disneyland will strengthen its current cleaning and sanitation practices.

These measures work together to ensure the health and safety of both guests and cast members.

Park reservations will be mandatory.

If you followed Walt Disney World's reopening, you’re aware that a park reservation is now necessary. Disneyland will adopt a similar reservation system upon reopening.

All guests, including Annual Passholders, must secure a reservation for the day they intend to visit the parks. Reservations will depend on availability in accordance with Disneyland's capacity limits.

At Disney World, while making a reservation is free, you must already possess a paid theme park ticket to secure it. The specifics of Disneyland's reservation system haven't been disclosed yet, but we anticipate it will be similar to Disney World's process.

Please note that new ticket sales, including Annual Passes and renewals, remain suspended for now.

Don't expect Fastpass or MaxPass services.

One key aspect to note about Disneyland's reopening is the suspension of two popular services designed to optimize your time in the parks: FastPass and MaxPass.

FastPass is a service that typically allows guests to save time waiting in line for the most sought-after attractions. By reserving a FastPass, you can join a much shorter line when it's time to ride. At Disneyland Park, you could obtain a FastPass for around a dozen highly popular rides, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Space Mountain, and more.

At Disney California Adventure Park, attractions on the list included Guardians of the Galaxy, Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin' Around the World, and others.

However, as of the reopening day, the FastPass service will be temporarily halted.

Similarly, the Disney MaxPass add-on, which merges FastPass attraction and entertainment selections with unlimited Disney PhotoPass, is also temporarily unavailable.

While the temporary loss of these services is disappointing, keep in mind that Disneyland will operate at reduced capacity, so you may not end up waiting longer in line for attractions—though this remains to be seen once the park reopens.

Cross Magic Morning and Extra Magic Hour off your list.

When the parks and Disneyland hotels reopen, Magic Mornings—typically available to guests with a three-day or longer ticket—will not be an option. Previously, Disneyland guests with the appropriate admission tickets could enter Disneyland Park an hour before the general public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

That 60-minute head start allowed guests to enjoy specific attractions, dining spots, and shops before the crowds arrived. It was a favored benefit for multiday ticket holders who didn’t need to stay on property, but this perk will be temporarily limited when Disneyland initially reopens.

The Extra Magic Hour program, aimed at guests of Disneyland Resort Hotels, will also be on hold during Disneyland's reopening. This perk enabled resort hotel guests to access Disneyland Park one hour before the general public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with similar access at Disney California Adventure Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

However, if you visit Disneyland when it reopens, neither Magic Mornings nor Extra Magic Hours will be available until further notice.

Parades and nighttime 'spectaculars' are currently on hold.

To minimize large gatherings, events such as parades and evening shows are temporarily on hold. Traditional character meet-and-greets will also be absent, but Disneyland is developing new, safer ways for guests to interact with Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang.

When is Disneyland set to reopen?

Disneyland will reopen its gates on April 30.

Currently, select stores and restaurants are open in the Downtown Disney District. Additionally, Buena Vista Street inside Disney California Adventure Park will launch 'A Touch of Disney' on March 18. This will be a new ticketed experience, and tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific date.

The rest of Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park remain closed for now. The good news is that a phased reopening of on-site hotels is in progress:

• Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is scheduled to reopen on April 29, with limited capacity (details to be determined)
• Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are set to reopen on May 2 (details to be determined)
• Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date (details to be determined)

There are additional conditions for the theme parks' reopening. For the time being, out-of-state visitors will not be allowed entry; only California residents can be admitted.

Park capacity will be restricted to 15%, making late April a potentially great time to visit Disneyland and other California theme parks—especially for those fortunate enough to be vaccinated. For context, Walt Disney World has been operating at 35% capacity, according to a recent Disney investor call.

Despite the California visitor restrictions, it is highly probable that those wanting to visit the 'happiest place on earth' will encounter significant competition for park reservations during the initial reopening days, due to pent-up demand and capacity limits.

Indoor rides and attractions will also have capacity limits imposed.

Despite these limitations, this is positive news for Californians eager to see life return to a sense of normalcy.