New rides at Disney resorts, other theme parks on hold during coronavirus closures

What will your favorite theme park look like once coronavirus-caused closures end?

Not much different, in most cases. Disneyland, Walt Disney World and other theme parks have stopped construction on upcoming attractions during the shutdown.

Several states across the United States have imposed shelter-in-place orders, while resorts in other states have voluntarily closed to reduce the risks of coronavirus exposure.

More than 458,000 cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed worldwide with more than 20,000 deaths as of March 25, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 62,000 confirmed cases with more than 800 deaths.

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a global pandemic, and the United States has declared a national emergency.

Closures of Disney theme parks around the world may cost the company up to $500 million in lost admission revenue, according to The Orange County Register.

Seeking a silver lining, some theme park fans had hoped closures might speed up construction on upcoming rides and attractions with no crowds to impede workers, but it’s not to be in most cases.

Work on Avengers Campus and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim has been halted, The Orange County Register reports.

Ongoing refurbishments of the Haunted Mansion, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and King Arthur Carousel also have been halted, according to the publication. A planned refurbishment of Indiana Jones Adventure this summer also may be affected.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are set to remain closed through at least the end of March, The Orange County Register reports.

At Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the company did not respond to requests for information on upcoming “Ratatouille,” “Tron” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” rides, but contractors report being told to stop work on at least two projects, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Testing on the newly completed Ice Breaker coaster at SeaWorld Orlando also has halted, while the status of the new Iron Gwazi coaster at Busch Gardens Orlando remains uncertain, according to the publication.

“I would expect these rides to be delayed by weeks after the parks reopen, but not much beyond that,” said Bob Boyd, a theme-park analyst at Pacific Asset Management, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

“These projects are far enough along and enough money has already been spent that finishing them will make sense to have a new attraction,” Boyd said, according to the publication. “However, projects that haven’t begun construction are very likely to be delayed until there is better information about the future.”

Work continues on new projects at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando, which plan to remain closed until at least April 19, the Los Angeles Times reports.

A ride based on “The Secret Lives of Pets” is being built at the Hollywood park, according to the publication.

In Orlando, a new show called “The Bourne Stuntacular,” based on the Jason Bourne films, has been in the works, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

In other theme park news, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, has extended its shutdown to mid-May, while Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, has not said whether it will reopen at the end of March as originally planned, the Los Angeles Times says.

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 1:17 PM with the headline "New rides at Disney resorts, other theme parks on hold during coronavirus closures."