Thread by @latimes

It has been 214 days since Disneyland closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and Disney fanatics are struggling.
latimes.com/lifestyle/stor…

When the coronavirus pandemic forced the park to close in March, it left thousands of its fervent fans — annual passholders who spend $400 to $1,500 a year to visit the park on a weekly basis — without a beloved escape from reality. latimes.com/lifestyle/stor…

Against the backdrop of a pandemic, it’s easy to understand why people miss Disneyland. For more than 60 years, it’s has been the ultimate social and fantasy experience. But now that many are self-quarantining, those thrills are difficult to find. latimes.com/lifestyle/stor…

For Disneyland enthusiasts, the thrill is gone. The park is closed. The magic is missing. How to keep going when the “Happiest Place on Earth” is closed?

“I’ve been watching videos of Disneyland parades on YouTube and crying,” Stacey Major, a 32-year-old teacher said.

Some fans are coping by finding creative ways to keep the magic alive: consulting Disney-inspired cooking blogs, participating in Disneybound costume challenges on TikTok and Instagram, watching Disney+, hosting outdoor movie nights and stay-at-home Disney Days.

But Disneyland could remain closed for a long time.

On Oct. 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that although Walt Disney Co. had to lay off 28,000 domestic employees, he is in no rush to open California theme parks. latimes.com/business/story…

A week later, Newsom announced that he was sending a team to Disney World in Florida, as well as other theme parks, to learn what they are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 since reopening in July. latimes.com/business/story…

Read more from @LisaBoone19 about how Disney fans are handling the extended shutdown of the Happiest Place on earth. latimes.com/lifestyle/stor…