How and when will Walt Disney World reopen? Florida theme parks have a plan
The theme parks are coming back to life.
Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have announced their plans to reopen during the summer — and have passed the first hurdle toward allowing guests in again.
But don’t expect to just pour into the parks like old times. Each park is taking things step by step. And face masks and temperature checks will be part of the plan.
On Wednesday, the Walt Disney Company and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment presented their reopening plans to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, which is the first of three crucial steps before their parks can reopen.
.JPG "SPORTS-BKN-SEASON-DISNEY-OS (2).JPG")
Disney proposed a phased opening schedule, beginning with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, with cast and “soft opening” preview days. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios would then reopen on July 15.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is hoping to reopen SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and its water parks on June 11 to the public, with parks opening a day before on June 10 for employee appreciation night.
Both plans require visitors and employees to wear face masks and undergo temperature checks before being allowed into the park. The attractions would also increase use of contactless payment at restaurants and shops.
Parades, meet-and-greets, fireworks and other events that attract crowds would be temporarily suspended at all Disney parks. For parks operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in Orlando, “certain components” of parades, meet-and-greets and photo opportunities will be limited, modified or suspended, depending on whether social distancing measures can be enforced.
Disney’s plan also includes a new park reservation system for entry into the parks. No additional details about the system are available yet, but the company says reservations “will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability.”
Only a few hours after Disney presented its plan, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings sent a letter of approval for it to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to be signed and implemented.
Disney also announced Wednesday that its Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach will reopen to members and guests starting on June 15. Its Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World, along with Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will slowly reopen on June 22.
The company says it will be temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations, excluding Disney Vacation Club members, to prioritize guests with existing tickets and reservations. It also will give existing ticket holders and annual passholders the ability to request reservations “in phases” before new tickets are sold.
Disney World and SeaWorld shut down in mid-March, two months ago, furloughing part-time workers. SeaWorld furloughed 90 percent of its employees. On May 20, Disney reopened Disney Springs, with nearly the same safety guidelines presented in Disney’s new safety plan. Only about 44 shops and restaurants out of the 168 at Disney Springs reopened.
Universal Parks & Resorts already presented its reopening plan in front of the task force, which unanimously approved it. Demings approved the park’s reopening strategy on Friday, clearing the way for DeSantis to make it official.
None of the plans specified if guests would have to wear masks or face coverings while on the rides. Last week, SeaWorld was spotted testing a possible new mask on rides policy. Employees with an assortment of face masks were seen test-riding SeaWorld’s Mako and Kraken, some of the park’s fastest roller coasters, at least 15 times.
Disney World parks are reopening after coronavirus: What to expect
▪ All guests and employees are required to wear a face covering (a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose). Guests younger than 2 do not have to wear a mask/face covering.
▪ Everyone, including guests and employees, will have to undergo a temperature check before being allowed into the park. For cast members, this includes checking your temperature at home and then at the park gates.
▪ Expect to see an increase of contactless payment options, including Magic Bands, Apple Pay and Google Pay at restaurants and retails throughout the parks, along with mobile ordering capabilities for food and drinks. Plexiglass will also be installed at restaurants, shops and in areas where social distancing is not possible.
▪ “High touch experiences” such as meet-and-greets and playgrounds are temporarily suspended, along with fireworks, parade and other events that create crowds
▪ Disney says it will also be limiting the amount of people allowed inside its theme parks, restaurants, retail stores, attractions, buses, monorails and other transportation options to enable “appropriate physical distancing.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people stay at least six feet away from others.
▪ Besides increasing its cleaning and sanitation requirements, Disney says it will also be posting general health and safety signs throughout the park to remind visitors and employees to wash their hands frequently, follow social distancing requirements and utilize the different contactless options available. Social-distancing markings will also be found throughout the park.
SeaWorld, Busch Gardens reopening after COVID-19: What to expect
▪ All guests age 2 or older and employees are required to wear a face covering (a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose).
▪ Everyone, including guests and employees, will have to pass a temperature check before being allowed inside the park. You will also no longer have to scan your finger at the park entrance. Entry will be contactless.
▪ Expect to see an increase of contactless payment options, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay at restaurants and retails throughout the parks. Physical maps are also gone and will be replaced with mobile maps.
▪ Single rider lines will be removed and all ride lines will have markings to promote social distancing. Rides and attractions will also have modified seating arrangements to maintain distancing between people, with hand sanitizer available at the entry and exit of all rides.
▪ Plexiglass will be installed in high-traffic or close-contact areas like at cashiers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and social distancing markings and health safety signs will be found throughout the park, including in restaurants and retailers. Some areas will also have one-way traffic.
▪ Restaurants will be offering additional grab-and-go and pre-packaged food offerings, with buffet-style services either being adjusted or closed until further notice.
▪ Aquatica and Discovery Cove water parks will increase cleaning of playgrounds, pools and hot tubs and will also allow a limited amount of people inside its pools and rivers. Rafts and rides will also be by party. This means you will not ride with strangers.
▪ Certain animal tours and interactions will be restricted to one party at a time (you won’t be in a group with strangers) and may have some new social distancing-era modifications. All open animal viewing spaces will also have markings to promote social distancing measures.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 11:47 AM with the headline "How and when will Walt Disney World reopen? Florida theme parks have a plan."
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)