KPBS Midday Edition

California Theme Parks Not The Happiest Places Right Now

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Pat Finn / Producer

Published October 26, 2020 at 11:30 AM PDT

This story was published more than 4 years ago.

The entrance to Legoland California Resort is seen here on Aug. 28, 2020.

California theme parks and their surrounding communities face the loss of billions more in revenue as the state's coronavirus restrictions threaten to keep parks such as Legoland and Disneyland closed during the holidays.

New state coronavirus regulations announced last week will not allow the state's large theme parks, such as Legoland and Disneyland, to reopen until new cases of COVID-19 in their surrounding counties drop significantly — to 2% or less.

After being closed for seven months, leaders of large theme parks expressed their fury at what they see as unfair and unreasonable treatment by the state at a news conference and indicated that litigation was a possibility.

Kurt Stocks, president of Legoland in Carlsbad said the regulations will destroy the industry and the economic impact to businesses that rely on theme parks will be catastrophic.

Become a KPBS sponsor

California's blueprint for reducing COVID-19 includes a four-tier system with criteria for loosening or tightening restrictions on activities. San Diego County is currently in tier two, which is color-coded red, for substantial risk, with a seven-day average of 5% to 8% positive tests.

Dropping to tier four — which indicates minimal risk — is likely to take many months.

Lori Weisberg, The San Diego Union-Tribune reporter covering tourism and hospitality, joined KPBS Midday Edition on Monday to talk about the effect of the pandemic on theme parks and the reaction to the regulations for reopening.

Tags

KPBS Midday Edition Tourism COVID-19

Maureen Cavanaugh

twitter

Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

What do you want to hear host Jade Hindmon talk about on Midday?

Pat Finn

Pat Finn previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and KPBS Evening Edition. Finn began her career in broadcasting at KTLA and KCET in Los Angeles. In 1979 she became KPBS’ Public Information Director, then Director of Advertising and Promotion, Program Director, and Director of Broadcasting. She oversaw the station’s local and national productions, including the one-hour documentary Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar, and Child Protective Services, a one-hour look inside the San Diego County agency responsible for the welfare of at risk children. Both programs also aired on public television stations nationwide. Finn has earned honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Pat Finn