ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) – Disneyland and California Adventure reopen on Friday for the first time in a year.

Only people with a reservation are admitted.

Some of them are already checking into nearby hotels – and can hardly wait.

This includes the Plaskett family from Northern California.

“I’m very excited to be back and feeling the Disney magic again,” said Andee Plaskett.

CONNECTED: Disneyland is preparing to welcome visitors again

The hoteliers are ready to welcome travelers again. Since Disneyland closed during the pandemic more than a year ago, businesses around the resort have struggled to stay open.

When you welcome guests and staff back, the resort area, as one hotel manager put it, comes back to life.

Brian Schinski is the general manager of the Courtyard Marriott across from Disneyland.

“We’re really, really, really looking forward to getting our employees back and breathing life into this part of Anaheim, this vacation district that has been so sleepy for a year,” said Schinski. “We’re really excited.”

Hoteliers say they are currently between 30% and 40% occupancy. Once the park opens, some say up to 60% of their rooms will be booked.

When the restrictions are lifted, more people will find their way to the happiest place on earth.

Fred Brown runs the Desert Palms Hotel and Suites next to the park.

If the state allows businesses and theme parks to fully reopen this summer, “I think it’s going to be a crazy, busy summer and everyone will get back to the magic we’re used to in Anaheim,” Brown said.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of this station.

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