Universal Orlando Resort has presented a plan for reopening its theme parks with a proposed date to reopen to the public on June 5, 2020. (This would follow a proposed reopening to Universal team members on June 1st and 2nd and “invited guests” such as Annual Passholders on June 3rd and 4th.)
Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando — along with Walt Disney World Resort and SeaWorld — has been closed since mid-March in light of the global health situation. Along with the proposed opening date, Universal Orlando Resort has also presented safety measures to implement upon reopening, which we will be exploring here.
We have already seen new safety measures in action at the reopening of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk on May 14th, which is currently the only area of the Resort open to guests. (Disney Springs began its phased reopening yesterday.)
Bubba Gump at CityWalk
And Universal shared that they are looking towards a “gradual capacity reopening” with a slow ramp up and a focus on three types of measures: Screening, Sanitation, and Spacing Standards.
Guest Services at CityWalk
However, the theme parks will also operate under a set of guidelines encompassing the specific offerings within parks like ride and other attractions. The proposed measures would begin even prior to the guest’s arrival.
Pre-arrival Communications
According to the proposed plan, guests planning to visit Universal Orlando can expect to find pre-arrival communication on the Universal Orlando Resort website and on Universal’s social media accounts.
CityWalk Reopening
Within these communications, the goal will be to make it very clear to guests what Universal intends to do to keep them safe, and also what expectations Universal has for its guests. Representatives of Universal at the meeting shared that “some things are going to be different,” and that they will ask guests to “cooperate.”
Universal
And within the Resort, guests will continue to have access to helpful information. One way that will be presented is with “Ambassadors” placed throughout the Resort to help guests with the new procedures and answer questions. “They will be everywhere and very visible.”
Screening
Screening measures will apply to both Universal team members and guests. Team members will undergo temperature checks each day, as will guests upon arrival — as we’ve experienced already at CityWalk. (There will be additional procedures for team members to employ with guests, and training will begin this weekend.)
Temperature Check
Guests will also be required to wear face masks. Universal plans to provide a free disposable mask for guests who arrive without one.
Sanitation
Upon reopening, water and mist will be eliminated from rides.
Restroom Signs at Universal
Additional measures will include the requirement that team members wash their hands every 30 minutes, noting that Universal will increase amount of breaks for employees to wash hands and remove their masks away from guest areas.
Spacing Standards
Resort capacity will be “managed” and ramped up slowly. Spacing will start in the parking lots with staggered parking for team members and guests (while valet parking will not be in operation).
CityWalk Reopening
And capacity measures will continue to be managed throughout venues within the Resort, with plans in place for physical distancing in restaurants, stores, and more.
Store signage to promote distancing
For instance, attraction lines will utilize virtual queues while single rider lines will be eliminated. Attraction queue entry will have social distancing plans posted at the attraction to explain to guests what the system in place is.
Universal CityWalk signage
Post-show meet and greets will be eliminated (though performers will stay onstage so guests may take photos of them).
Safe distancing will be encouraged for team members outside of work. Mobile food ordering will be utilized in the “back of the house and the front of the house.”
There is more information to share, and we will continue to update this post with proposed plans from Universal Orlando Resort!
Universal Orlando Resort presented its plans to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings during today’s meeting of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. Mayor Demings has stated it will take 24-48 hours to review the plans before submitting them to Governor DeSantis.
This process of local approval is in keeping with instruction from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that theme parks should work alongside their local governments on their plans for reopening and that local government officials will need to endorse any potential plans prior to submitting them for state approval. So we will be keeping you posted on this developing story!
You can read more about the current status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world by following any of the links below.
Have you visited Universal while in Orlando? Please let us know with a comment.
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Filed Under: Featured, News, health and safety measures, Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando News, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal reopening, Universal Reopening Plan
