As we previously shared, Universal Orlando is officially opening back up for business to select park guests beginning June 3 with a full reopening to the public on June 5.
Universal Orlando will be reopening with the enforcement of new health precautions to help contain and stop the spread of the current pandemic. However, it seems the Florida Department of Health wants to also aid in this process by having “secret shoppers” walking around the parks monitoring guests in their efforts of social distancing.
“What is critically important as we increase economic activity is to have those measures in place to protect employees and protect consumers that are going to use the parks and all the attractions, not just the parks,” said Dr. Raul Pino, Florida Department of Health in Orange County director, to ClickOrlando.
Pino says (as of Friday) Orange County is seeing only 20 to 30 new cases a day and to stop this number from increasing the Florida Department of Health in Orange County plan to monitor guest activity to make sure they are abiding by social distancing rules and other guidelines.
Pino did not reveal what actions would be taken if park guests were seen not abiding by social distancing rules. However, it’s worth noting that Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has commented previously on the theme park’s reopening, saying:
“If we see where we can track new cases to a particular event, if it appears it is directly related to the reopening efforts then we’ll have to make an assessment of that and make an adjustment. Is it possible that we could find ourselves with some other restrictions put in place? It’s possible,” Demings said.
In Universal Orlando’s plan to reopen, they revealed a new set of guidelines both the company and guests attending would have to abide by in order for the theme park resort to reopen.
These new guidelines include:
- Universal Team Members performing self-temperature checks every day prior to arriving at the resort and again upon arrival
- Universal will provide a free, disposable mask for guests if they do not bring their own
- Social distancing in queue lines, merchandise stores, food outlets, and more
- Keeping a safe attendance maximum that Universal will manage
- Reduce and/or eliminate mist elements from attractions
- Implementation of virtual lines
- Eliminating single rider lines
- Elimination of post-show meet and greets
- Restaurant menus will have single use menus (paper). Once the guest is done with the menu, they will be disposed
- Touchless ordering of food and contactless payments will be encouraged (Minimization of cash use)
- Temperature checks and face coverings required for team members
- Ambassadors scattered throughout the park to help encourage sanitization, hand washing, and social distancing measures
This article originally appeared at InsideTheMagic.com on 5/25/20 by Sean Sposato.