A new video from Universal Studios Orlando reveals what the theme park will look like with its new social distance and health rules. The coronavirus pandemic forced Universal to close down back in March along with countless other public spaces. The parks in both Orlando and Hollywood initially hoped to reopen in April, but as the situation worsened, the closures were extended through May. In recent weeks, various states have begun the reopening process, and Universal has been among the first to attempt reopening an amusement park during this time. Universal Studios in Orlando is slated to reopen to the public this Friday, on June 5, with its Hollywood location aiming for July.
In order to open at this time, Universal has to implement a variety of safety guidelines. This includes face masks for both employees and guests, temperature checks at the park entrance, and distancing markers for ride lines. To further hype up its reopening, Universal released images of various Marvel and Scooby-Doo characters wearing masks. With Universal Orlando becoming the first major theme park in the United States to open up amid the pandemic, many are curious to see how it will operate and if it will cause any further health issues.
Ahead of its grand reopening, Universal Orlando Resort has shared a video explaining all the new changes to the park and how they will affect guests. Much of what is described in the video has been laid out in their reopening reports, but this time they are accompanied by helpful visualizations. You can see the video for yourself in the space below.
It seems like the biggest elements of Universal's reopening strategy comes down to face masks and the physical distance between guests. These are the biggest issues other public spaces are dealing with as they plan to reopen, such as movie theaters. The Disney parks will have to implement the same guidelines; in their case, Disney World in Orlando will reopen on July 11, while Disneyland in Anaheim, California has yet to set an official date.
In their video, Universal was careful to remind guests of the risk still posed by COVID-19, which is something people need to remain wary of as they gradually transition back to every day life. Universal will be operating at a lowered capacity, and the hope is that these new guidelines will prevent any major spread of the virus. For those planning a trip to Universal in the coming weeks, it likely comes as some relief that the park is taking things so seriously. In just two days, Universal Studios Orlando will be open for business once more, albeit in a different manner than usual.
Source: Universal Orlando Resort