As a result of the growing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Disneyland Resort, including Disneyland and Disney California Adventure is closing to guests the morning of March 14, effective immediately.

All Disneyland Resort hotels will remain open through March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements. The closure is expected to take place through the end of the month. During this time, Downtown Disney is expected to remain open, however Disneyland expects to monitor the ongoing situation and adjust hours as necessary. Disney will also continue to pay Cast Members during this time.

Historically, this is only the fourth time in the park’s history that all operations have been fully suspended. Prior closures include the national day of mourning for JFK in 1963, the Northridge earthquake in 1994, and the September 11th attacks in 2001.

The news comes after the City of Anaheim issued guidelines calling for the modification of postponement of non-essential gatherings of 250 or more people through March 31st, which the resort is complying with.

This is the fourth Disney resort worldwide, and the first American resort, to close temporarily as a result of the pandemic. Shanghai Disney Resort was the first to close, but has recently opened up areas of the resort not including Shanghai Disneyland. Currently, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort remain closed. Disneyland Paris has suspended all outdoor shows and parades, as well as severely restricted capacity for attractions, shops, and restaurants, to comply with the French ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people, but the resort remains open for the time being.

Guests with packages booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company may currently reschedule for a “future date in 2020” without having to pay the $50.00 change fee.

Keep reading WDWNT and Disneyland News Today for continuing coverage of this ongoing story.