New Orlando Theme Park Guidelines Set By Task Force

The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force set theme park guidelines for Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando reopening.

The task force meeting took place online on Tuesday April 28, 2020. It set a list of basic requirements for businesses as Central Florida plans to reopen. The mandates for theme parks were fairly specific—and expected. In Phase 1 of reopening, theme parks can only function at 50% capacity. Phase 2 includes a 75% capacity cap.

Theme parks are required to practice social distancing when reopening including attraction queues with minimum 6-foot marked spaces. Cast and team members must also wipe down surfaces regularly. However, nothing specified if ride vehicles must be wiped down between uses.

Furthermore, “touchless” hand sanitizers must be placed at entries and attraction queues. All employees must also wear face masks and undergo a temperature check before working. If a temperature reads above 100.4 degrees, the employee must go home. Additionally, all employees 65 and older are encouraged to stay home during the phased reopening.

Resort hotels are also required to take special precautions. During Phase 1, the task force encouraged hotels to practice social distancing by limiting housekeeping, providing mobile checkin, and increase grounds sanitizing including touchless hand sanitizer for guests. Like at the parks, employees must wear face masks and undergo temperature checks.

It appears that pools and other common areas may also reopen. However, other amenities such as provided glasswear and coffee makers are instructed for temporary removal.

Restaurants also have similar guidelines to the hotels and theme parks. With restaurants running at 50% capacity, self-service food areas such as Club Level snacks, are to be temporarily suspended.

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Now, if all of this sounds very unappealing for a vacation, we’re not as concerned. If anyone can make visiting a theme park resort enjoyable under these circumstances, it’s Disney. After all, we don’t know the total timeline of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. With that said, we expect Walt Disney World to take extra measures such as limiting the parks to as little as 25% capacity. We also expect virtual queues and mobile food ordering to be recommended.

Disney executives were among the 44 members that comprised the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. Though these regulations span both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, we anticipate that the theme parks will work together to make tourism feel safer. In the end, guest safety will determine at what capacity the parks can reopen.

Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have no set a reopening date, but we anticipate that news soon. To get updates on Walt Disney World and Universal reopening, sign up for our free e-mail newsletter! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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Full List of Theme Park Guidelines Set by the Task Force

Guidelines

• Tape marking of 6 feet apart in ride/attraction queues
• Staff to regularly wipe down surfaces at random
• PHASE 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ are encouraged to stay home

Mandates

• All employees required to wear face masks
• Touchless hand sanitizer at each ticketing entry and turnstile
• Touchless hand sanitizer at each ride/attraction entry and exit
• Temperature checks for staff prior to ship (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
• All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay at home
• Wipe down of all railings and surfaces after every use
• PHASE 1: 50% capacity
• PHASE 2: 75% capacity

Restaurants

Guidelines

• Paper/disposable menus
• Encourage takeout/online orders
• Touchless sanitizer at entry
• PHASE 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ are encouraged to stay home

Mandates

• Hand sanitizer at every table
• Hand sanitizer at entry to be in plain visible sight
• All employees required to wear facemasks
• Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
• All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
• Doors to be wiped regularly
• All staff behind counters must wear gloves (except for bartenders)
• Bartenders to sanitize hands after making each drink order
• Seated tables to be six feet apart
• PHASE 1: Limit restaurant and bar capacity to 50%
• PHASE 2: Limit restaurant and bar capacity to 75%

Hotels

Guidelines

• PHASE 1: Housekeeping services to be limited and allow for minimal guest and employee exposure
• PHASE 1: Promote, if available, mobile check-in
• PHASE1: Housekeeping services only clean upon request, or when guests depart
• PHASE1: Allow employees to work from home if not playing a critical role in serving guests
• PHASE1: Only deliver room service to guest’s door
• PHASE1: Provide self-parking
• Promote social distancing for all guests and staff
• Recommended touchless sanitizer at entry
• Increase cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
• PHASE 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ are encourage to stay home

Mandates

• All employees required to wear facemasks
• Hand sanitizer at entry to be in plain visible sight
• Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
• All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
• Front desk to sanitize themselves on a regular basis
• Consistent cleaning of all guest areas
• Front desk to utilize sneeze-guards
• Remove all service items in guest rooms to include glassware, coffee cups etc.
• Mini bars not to be stocked
• Do no offer self food services
• Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines
• Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitized regularly
• Door handles, elevator button and railing to be sanitized regularly
• Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms
• Remove all guest collateral items, except for those that are single use
• Sanitize guest keys before and after each use
• Sanitize bell carts after each year
• PHASE 1 & 2: No conferences