Here are the Re-opening Guidelines for the major Theme Parks in Central Florida
Each Theme Park was required to submit their plan for reopening to the county health officials and political leaders first and then to Governor DeSantis for final approval, which they have. Each have determined the best path forward to trying to minimize the spread of Covid-19 while recognizing there is no way to assure their Guests that they will not be exposed to it. The parks are doing what they can to minimize the spread of Covid-19, but as Bob Chapek, CEO of Disney said, "the Guests will have to do their part too."
6/1 -Lego Land was the first major theme park to open and they "strongly encouraged" the use of face masks but did not require them. They offered complimentary disposable masks to guests but few were wearing them saying they did not want to wear them because of the heat, they felt like the social distancing was enough, they thought it was hype and unnecessary. The park operated at less than 50% capacity and brought back less than 50% of their furloughed workers. They had signs encouraging guests to wear face masks. Lego Land is in Polk County, Florida
6/5-Universal Orlando is requiring masks/face coverings and temperature checks will be done upon entry as well as social distancing. Universal City Walk has been partially reopened and operating under these guidelines already. Signs state that there is no guarantee that you will not be exposed to Covid-19 while on their premises. (UO is inviting team members and some annual passholders for a preview earlier in the week to test their application of the plan.) Universal plans on having Ambassadors around the park to remind people of the guidelines and answer any questions about them. Since a wet mask doesn't work properly UO is suspending their misting stations and water rides for now.
6/11- Sea World Orlando will reopen with requirement of face masks, temperature checks, increased sanitation and social distancing. Sea World tested their rides with riders wearing masks to make sure it could be done. The masks did stay on without them having to hold them on with their hands. Sea World has added plexiglass partitions at the turnstiles so guests can simply hold their tickets up and have them scanned through the plexiglass by a crew member on the other side making it a contact-less system. Riders will be seated on a staggered pattern and they intend to continue their parade and character meet & greets. They have increased signage and sanitation stations throughout the park.
7/11- Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom will reopen and guests(over the age of 2) will be required to wear face masks at all times except when eating, have their temperature scanned prior to entry, adhere to social distancing and increased sanitation. All queues have markings to indicate social distancing spacing, there is increased signage and they added a great deal of sanitation both before and after an attraction and throughout the entire WDW Resort. Guests will have touchless entry at the turnstiles, use digital maps on their phones to find their way around the park, and to do mobile ordering for food. They will find digital copies of the menus on the MyDisneyExperience app. Trash can swinging closures have been removed so there is touchless trash disposal. Guests will even be required to attain a special Reservation to even enter one of the amusement parks PLUS have valid ticket for admission. Disney is temporarily suspending the fireworks, parades, character meet and greet, Disney Dining, and FastPass+ as well as Extra Magic Hours. Disney plans on having a task force of CM's out in the parks to remind Guests of the guidelines and answer any questions. They will enforce the guidelines for the safety of the Guests as well as their Cast Members. Capacity will be limited.
Disney Resort hotels and restaurants will also be opening at this time but the list of restaurants opening and the capacity will be limited. All dining reservations, special experience reservations, FastPass+ reservations and Disney Dining Plans have all been cancelled. It is expected that restaurant reservations will open up with this opening and going forward people will only be able to make plans 60 days ahead of their Disney Resort reservation.
7/15-Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT will reopen with the same requirements as the rest of Disney World opened with. No word yet on if they will do boarding passes for the very popular Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy's Edge. Walt Disney World is doing everything to communicate to Guests before they even leave home what their plan is and what to expect when they arrive as well as repeating the warning that you have a good chance of being exposed to Covid-19 wherever you choose to be that has large groups of people there and urges those who are elderly/have pre-existing conditions to consider the danger they are putting themselves in if they choose to go to the parks. Increased signage, sanitation stations, wearing masks, scanning for temperatures, markings to show social distancing, are all a part of the reopening of Walt Disney World for the Guests and the Cast Members. Forget those touchy distractions in some of the newer queues or any other highly touchable areas, character meet & greets, parades and fireworks that draw a crowd, they do not belong in this phase of reopening. Also Epcot will have a different feel within World Showcase as the International College Program cast members that were sent back home at the beginning of the pandemic would need to be reached and travel back to the US, so in the meantime it will be staffed by other Cast Members. The parks will operate at a smaller capacity and not all of the furloughed WDW Cast Members will be brought back in this first phase of reopening. It is unsure when the shows, parades, and meet & greets will be brought back.
Here are the CDC guidelines for face masks:
CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Wear your Face Covering Correctly
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
- Make sure you can breathe easily
- Wear a face covering to help protect others in case you’re infected but don’t have symptoms
- Keep the covering on your face the entire time you’re in public
- Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead
- Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands
Follow Everyday Health Habits
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home
- Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
- Handle only by the ear loops or ties
- Fold outside corners together
- Place covering in the washing machine (learn more about how to wash cloth face coverings)
- Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.
Obviously, if you are visiting one of the park hotels you may not be doing laundry every day so keep in mind you can wash out your mask with soap and water in the resort room sink and hang it to dry overnight. It is a good idea if everyone in your party could have three masks, one to wear, one you washed and another one for emergencies.
We hope this helps you be better prepared when heading off to the theme parks this summer. If you still need masks we are here to help with that too! We have many, many fabrics to choose from when designing your custom made face masks. Just visit us HERE and we will help you get what you need.
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