Disneyland plans to reopen its parks July 17

Disneyland Resort plans to reopen Disneyland and sister theme park Disney's California Adventure on July 17, the 65th anniversary of Disneyland's opening.

The Anaheim, Calif., theme parks will open a week after Walt Disney World in Florida,  pending local and state government approvals, Disney says in a statement posted on its website Wednesday. The parks have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus crisis.

The statement says park capacity will be limited, with advance reservations required. It does not provide any other details except to say they will "be available soon'' on the parks' website. 

The parks' signature parades, nighttime shows and meet and greets with Disney characters will not resume immediately. Characters will roam the parks, though.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcoming guests to Disneyland

"It's time for magic and we look forward to welcoming you back,'' the company says.

Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney park to reopen, in May. 

There, Disney has limited the number of park-goers, required masks and is checking the body temperature of everyone entering to make sure they aren't running a fever, one of the symptoms of the coronavirus. It's yet to be seen what safety measures are required at Disneyland.

Downtown Disney District, a shopping and entertainment district at Disneyland Resort, will open first, on July 9.

Disney has not said when reservations will open, only that details "will be available soon.''

Three of the hotels in the Disneyland complex are scheduled to open on July 23, also pending government approval. They are the luxury Grand California Hotel & Spa, the more moderately priced Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney Vacation Club Villas, a timeshare.

Disney did not say when Disneyland Hotel will reopen.

The reopening can't come soon enough for Anaheim, where Disneyland is the largest employer. The park's temporary closure has led to projections of a $75 million deficit in the city budget next fiscal year, since hotel room taxes are the biggest source of revenue, city spokesman Mike Lyster said in an interview with USA TODAY.

"Disneyland, for many, captures the hopes, dreams and spirit of America, so when it closed, it really had a significant impact," Lyster said. "Now, as we gradually and safely move forward, it represents an incredible morale boost not only for Anaheim, but California and the nation as well."

He said a July 17 reopening date appears realistic, pending state approval. 

Lyster said he expects there will be changes in attractions that would normally have guests in close proximity to each other, like the gathering room at the Haunted Mansion, where park-goers would normally be packed together, or queuing tightly to wait for a trip on the Peter Pan's Flight ride.

But, Lyster pointed out, Disney can use its expertise in reservations, which it had been using to keep crowds manageable in its popular Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area.