Universal Orlando’s theme parks and water park will reopen to the public on June 5, almost 10 weeks after shutting down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The resort’s plan for Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, has the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Universal said Friday afternoon, making it the first of the big three theme parks to welcome back tourists after unprecedented closures. Walt Disney World and SeaWorld could present their plans to an Orange County task force as early as next week.
Orange Mayor Jerry Demings sent proposals from Universal and a dozen smaller attractions such as Gatorland and Fun Spot America to DeSantis in the past 48 hours. Demings said some attractions received in-person visits Friday from an official with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which inspects amusement rides at the smaller parks.
Fun Spot opened its doors Friday afternoon and Gatorland planned to open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“We’ve done a lot of work,” said Gatorland CEO Mark McHugh. “We’re just ready to put this in the rear-view mirror.”
The openings of the smaller attractions as well as Orange County’s public boat ramps came on the same day DeSantis lifted restrictions on youth sports and summer camps and just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend.
But officials continue to keep a close eye on health statistics, which show new cases of coronavirus found in Orange County every day. The death toll in Orange County remained at 38 on Friday.
Dr. Raul Pino, local officer for the Florida Department of Health, said he plans to visit the amusement parks once they open — which he likened to “secret shopping” — to get a better idea of how strictly people are adhering to guidelines to wear masks and follow social-distancing guidelines.
“Could we see an increase in the number of cases? Yes, we could,” Pino said Friday afternoon. “That’s why we’re so actively watching that data.”
Among the changes that visitors can expect when Universal reopens are required face coverings and temperature screenings, which have already been in place since Universal CityWalk, a shopping and restaurant district, opened last week. The parks will also limit capacity, but they haven’t said by how much.
Before the general public returns to Universal attractions, there will previews for its employees on June 1-2 to fine-tune its new procedures followed by two days with a limited number of invited guests on June 3-4.
Some attractions may remain closed, Universal says. The resort will limit ridership, attendance at shows and inside restaurants.
“We want to invite guests back to our theme parks in a cautious and thoughtful way,” Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive officer for Universal Parks & Resorts, said in a news release.
“Doing this the right way will take all of us — and we need everyone’s help,” he said. “Guests should follow our guidelines and continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and health officials.”
Shawn Tucker, a longtime annual passholder at Universal, said he was both apprehensive about the pandemic and eager to get back into the theme parks.
“I think almost any activity will come with a certain amount of risk. We’re probably never guaranteed 100 percent safe,” he said Friday. “We just do our best, take as many precautions as you can. I feel like the parks are doing that, and I plan on doing that myself.”
Other changes include staggered parking inside the resort’s garages, increased disinfection of ride vehicles, restrooms, food-service locations and other frequently touched places, social distancing throughout the parks and virtual lines.
Visitors will be required to use hand sanitizer before boarding ride vehicles, and for 3-D attractions, Universal Orlando team members will distribute 3-D glasses instead of riders picking them up themselves. There will be staggered spacing in attraction vehicles
Hours of operation, beginning June 5, will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Volcano Bay water park will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Universal CityWalk will expand to an 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule.
The resort is still finalizing its plans to reopen its on-property hotels. Universal said it will have more details about procedures for its 2020 Halloween Horror Nights and holiday events at a later date.
Orange also received permission from the state to reopen vacation rental homes, a day after Osceola County got the same approval.
The rules include stringent cleaning requirements, limits on occupancy and prohibit renting to anyone from states with more than 700 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents. That includes states such as Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Massachusetts.
With the theme parks opening, Demings sounded optimistic that activity could return again soon to the Orange County Convention Center, the nation’s second-largest meeting space. A group of businesses who depend on the center sent a letter to Demings this week asking that he help them advocate for DeSantis’ approval to reopen.
“If we can open theme park and we can open places for sporting events, there’s a way for us to open the convention center as well,” Demings said.
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To contact Stephen Hudak, call 407-650-6361 or email shudak@orlandosentinel.com
