Tokyo Disneyland And DisneySea Shut Down Over Coronavirus Scare

Starting February 29 to March 15, 2020, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea in Japan will be closed amid concerns over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have decided to proceed with an extraordinary closure,” said the theme parks’ operator, Oriental Land Co. in a statement today, February 28, in a report by The Japan Times. They hope to resume operations on March 16.

“Currently, we plan to reopen on March 16. But we’ll decide when to open by looking at the situation and developments. We’ll also consult (official) agencies concerned,” a spokesman told The Japan Times.

The announcement comes after the Japanese government tightened its measures to tackle the outbreak of the virus, which has infected over 200 of its citizens and caused four deaths in the country.

Among the measures that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced was the closure of schools in Japan for around a month, including elementary, middle, and high schools. He did not mention universities or daycare centers, according to The New York Times. The Japanese government has also urged employees to work from home, commute during off-peak hours, and to avoid large gatherings as much as possible.

The two theme parks are among the most popular tourist destinations in Tokyo, drawing more than 30 million visitors per year. According to the website Japan Info, the parks’ Japanese website has already announced refund procedures, but you will not see it on the English website. (Click here for the announcement.)

Those who have purchased tickets with admission dates of February 29 to March 15, 2020, or those with tickets that will expire on the said dates will be eligible for refund. You can also exchange these tickets for admission until March 31, 2021 with no additional fees.

Worried about COVID-19? Click here to know how you can protect your family in case it becomes a pandemic.