Universal Orlando Plan for Parks: June 5, 2020 Reopening
Universal Orlando Resort closed March 16, 2020, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Universal initially expected to reopen in mid-April but now expects to remain “closed through at least May 31, 2020.”
This article was edited on May 22, 2020, to add new information on park hours, operations, and availability.
Today, Universal Orlando Resort presented a phased reopening plan to Orange County. Universal Orlando will start training Team Members this weekend for reopening. The current proposal brought to Orange County today was for Team Member-only preview to be held on June 1 – 2, invitation-only testing on June 3 – 4, and a reopening of the parks to the public on June 5.
The following precautions and policies will be implemented:
- Increased signage inside the parks
- Guest temperature testing using hand-held thermometers
- Valet parking will not be available
- Mandatory mask usage for all guests and staff except on water rides or in Volcano Bay
- New Team Member position that answers guest questions about new policies and to sanitize park
- Increased Team Member breaks to wash and sanitize
- Hand sanitizer stations for guests throughout the park
- Reduced capacity in the parks and on attractions
- Virtual Queuing for a majority of attractions
- Elimination of the Single Rider line
- Hand out 3D glasses to individuals
- Removal of water effects on attractions (such as Hydro-Man in Spider-man or Aguamenti in Gringotts)
- Social distancing markers in queues
- Mobile Ordering of food and contactless payments
- Temporary menus offered at sit-down restaurants
- Characters to meet and greet guests from a distance
- Interactive play areas will be closed
The plan was passed unanimously by the board. Universal announced on Friday, May 22 that they will reopen their three parks on June 5, 2020 for guests. The following venues will be open for these hours:
- Universal Studios Florida: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Islands of Adventure: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Volcano Bay: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- CityWalk: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The parks will be first come, first served with no reservation system; the parks can close throughout the day if capacity is reached.
Universal Orlando resorts and hotels remain closed with no announced reopening date. CityWalk Cinemark Theater and Blue Man Group Orlando remain closed during this time.
Follow TouringPlans Blog and TouringPlans on Twitter for the latest reopening information for the Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
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So now that Universal has announced their opening date, when will the crowd calendars be updated?
Earlier this month Steve Bloom said that “we will update the Crowd Calendar once Disney announces the opening date.” Is that true for Universal as well?
No thanks. Don’t seem like a fun time to me. I’ll wait to things get back to normal.
What does this mean for the resort hotels if anything? Especially at Universal where they are operated by a separate company? I currently have a Labor Day trip planned but at this point would strongly consider doing a resort only stay at Cabana Bay (Lazy River and pool time would be plenty) and/or volcano bay (where everything was already virtual queue), but I’m wondering if the hotels will open up back with the parks and what if any limitations they will have?
I’m aware of the risks, and prefer Disney.
But I may be spending my 11-night June vacation at Universal if Disney remains cautious.
“Removal of water effects on attractions“.
Will that mean water rides (Jurassic Park, Ripsaw Falls, Bilge Barge, particularly) will be shut down, or just the places you get soaked will be turned off?
Any word on the Express pass or if they are not accepting them for the time being?