The “happiest place on Earth” continues to bring smiles on people’s faces amid the coronavirus outbreak.
For the first time in years, Disneyland and Disney California Adventures have shutdown in an attempt to avoid the spread of CCOVID-19. The abrupt closure marks the fourth time in Disney parks’ history; the theme park also halted all operations while mourning the loss of President JFK, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and after 9/11.
Following last weekend’s closure, Disneyland announced that both resorts have plans to donate all of the remaining food from the parks to Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange to help those in need during this global crisis. Walt Disney World in Florida also got in on the grand gesture, confirming that it’d be donating “fresh salads, greens, and expertly cooked hot items” to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
The parks currently have existing partnerships with Second Harvest Food Banks, having donated over 20,000 meals in 2019; Disney World stated that their theme park donated close to 1 million meals with its program.
“These donations would not be possible without the dedication of cast members behind the scenes who collect, sort and distribute every item to ensure it’s delivered with the highest level of freshness, keeping food safety top of mind,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, director, External Affairs at Walt Disney World Resort in a statement. “We feel an immense sense of pride and excitement every time we see the Disney Harvest truck making deliveries in the community, and we’re so grateful for the team that makes these donations happen.”
All U.S. Disney theme parks will remain temporarily closed through the end of March. Downtown Disney, the park’s onsite shopping and dining plaza, has no immediate plans of closure and will remain open until further notice. Guests are welcome to The Walt Disney Travel Company at 714-520-5050 with any questions.
Featured photo: @disneylandfoodies