Universal Studios Orlando Resort reopened the theme park for team members on the 1 and 2 of June, 2020 for a preview. However, the first major test in hotels for Studios Orlando Annual Pass Holders was a preview on June 3-4. Universal Studios and Universal Orlando Theme Park reopened on June 5, 2020 with a series of changes, including:
- Limited capacity
- Temperature controls and coatings mandatory for all visitors and team members.
- Improved “virtual line experience” to reduce the number of people queuing in physical proximity
- Disinfection stations that guests must use before entering the vehicle.
- Support for cashless payments like Apple Pay and Google Wallet
- Parking lot distribution in the park structure to promote social distance.
- Floor markings indicating a proper distance of six feet
Universal Studios Orlando Resort requires that all guests wear face masks when coming the park. Before entering Universal CityWalk, a temperature check is required in the garage and resort hotels. Guests with temperatures below of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit are welcomed at their Orlando resort, while guests with temperatures over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will not be permitted and welcomed to come back another time. In the park it is recommended to maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet between the group and the other visitors. Visitors are asked to wash hands consistently for 20 seconds.
The only exception is Universal Volcano Bay, a water park, where different rules apply. Masks are not permitted in the water or on the slides. Masks are said to be recommended if you cannot social distance. No one wears a mask other than the team members & those who’re there & do not enter the water.
The Theme Park Experience
In the theme parks almost all attractions are open with the exception of playgrounds. Virtual Lines are available on certain rides and Virtual Line availability may vary. All lines have social distance markers to separate groups and hand sanitizers are dispensed before entering the attraction.
The Universal Wizarding World of Harry Potter is always given praise for its original size, making this area compact and real. Characters get their own platforms or fenced areas where they can interact with visitors without getting too close. There are signs on the floor where you could stay to take your perfect photo or selfie, and it’s quite a very smooth and enjoyable system. Most characters even have masks dedicated to their costume, making the photos very unique for the time.
There are many signs on the floor at the front stage that lets you know of where you and your group are and can watch the show. Crowding has not been an issue, though it can definitely be a problem when the park gets busier. It’s fun to see park attendance near the stage aiding in showing guests where they can position to watch the shows given all the marked areas are occupied. It is great to see how the various actors have got used to the procedure. The Frog Choir in Universal Wizarding World of Harry Potter appears in masks, though Celestina Warbeck & Banshees simply drift away from one another. Universal Blues Brothers will take the stage in face masks, but then take them away for the show.
It is fun to walk in the Theme Park and absorb the atmosphere. Famous venues like Harry Potter, Hagrids and The Forbidden Journey / Escape from Gringotts and Revenge of the Mummy have the Virtual Line option as an option, where you can reserve time for your party in a universal app and then drive with minimal wait times. You can use Virtual Line for Forbidden Voyage and Harry Potter and it’s easy once you have a pass.
Feel free to learn more about our Universal Studios Orlando Packages. So much is changing but yet so much is staying the same.
