Disneyland, California’s acclaimed theme park, reopened to enthusiastic visitors Friday after an unparalleled 13-month closure in what tourism officials hope is a sign of the state’s reverberation from the coronavirus pandemic. The day began with Disney officials and park employees gathered in the park’s town square for the morning flag-raising ceremony. Disney CEO Bob Chapek expressed gratitude to the colour guard for raising the flag every day during the 412 days closure and asked employees to “bring the magic back” for visitors. Some visitors hailed as they entered.

The reopening comes just four months after California struggled to battle a flow in coronavirus hospitalizations. For now, the park is allowing only in-state visitors and operating at a limited capacity. The park has hand sanitizing stations and signs reminding visitors to keep their distance and wear masks. Theme parks were among the last businesses allowed to reopen in California. That’s a contrast to states with fewer restrictions such as Florida, where Disney World’s Magic Kingdom resort has been up and running since last July at lower-than-usual capacity.

Disneyland anticipated to welcome customers back last July but had to reverse course after state officials tightened reopening guidelines. Disney plans to reopen the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa on May 2 and the Paradise Pier Hotel later this year. Disneyland is a major economic engine in California, drawing nearly 19 million the year before the pandemic struck, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.

The park and neighbouring Disney California Adventure will reopen with a 25% capacity cap. Reservations are required, hugs and handshakes with Mickey and other characters are off-limits, and the famous parades and firework shows have been shelved to limit crowding. Disneyland expects to attract enough guests that it will turn a profit despite capacity restraints, Chapek has said. Disney’s California parks have long had a loyal local fan base while its Florida locations rely more heavily on international tourists, said Carissa Baker, who teaches theme park and attraction management at the University of Central Florida. Disneyland is expected to reopen popular rides such as Space Mountain and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. But there will be changes to the park, with masks required and no live theatre performances scheduled. This is how Disney started out at its Florida theme park and gradually phased back into entertainment.