Staying Fit
Many amusement and theme parks in the United States that closed suddenly in March due to the pandemic have now opened — including biggies such as Disney’s four parks in Orlando, Florida.
But across the board, new rules and changes are in effect, such as requiring face coverings unless you’re eating or on water rides, reminders for physical distancing and handwashing, hand-sanitation stations throughout the properties, and blocked-off seats on rides to keep guests apart. (They haven’t gone as far as Japanese amusement parks, which have asked roller coaster riders not to scream because that could potentially spread the coronavirus.)
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And it might take longer just to get inside the parks: All of the country’s big attractions listed below — including Disneyland, Hersheypark and Universal Orlando — are requiring visitors and employees to have their temperatures checked with a touchless thermometer. Anyone with a reading of 100.4 F or above won’t be admitted.
Bottom line: Visiting these popular amusement destinations this summer will be very different than it was in 2019. Before going, you need to assess your own risk tolerance and consider the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance for travel, which includes asking:
- Whether COVID-19 is spreading in your community or the area you’re visiting. If so, you may have a higher chance of becoming infected or infecting others.
- f you or a loved one has an underlying condition that might increase the risk for complications from the disease.
- If you’ll be able to maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and others during travel and at your destination.
- Whether the destination requires that visitors quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival.
Park officials’ goal will be to allow people to have fun safely. They’ll try to prevent drawing large crowds to one spot where it would be hard to stay physically distant, says Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. “You’ll still be able to get your family picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle or Hogwarts,” he notes, but “don’t expect to see fireworks, big parades or nighttime spectaculars.”
Here’s more on what to expect at some of the hottest attractions around the country — with a reminder that temperature checks and masks for everyone 2 and older are required at each.
Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando
When you can go: The Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park opened July 11, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot opened July 15.
The openings come with a new reservation system and ticketing protocols that require guests to book their park reservations in advance. On July 9, Walt Disney World Resorts’ reservations system opened to the general public; it initially only allowed guests with existing tickets, annual passholders and those with hotel reservations to book. (Learn more about the new Disney Park Pass System online.) Anyone can also now purchase tickets and make hotel reservations for 2021.