Florida has approved SeaWorld Entertainment's plan to reopen its Orlando theme parks in mid-June. And, the parks just announced more information on what guests can expect.
SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Discovery Cove will reopen on June 10 for an employee appreciation day and then to the general public on June 11.
The company presented its reopening plans last week to the Orange County Task Force, which approved the proposal. State leaders have since given the final green-light.
“I am pleased to announce that I have received word from Halsey Beshears, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, that Walt Disney World Resort and Sea World have received approval of their re-opening plans. SeaWorld will re-open June 10 and Walt Disney World Resort will be July 11," Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said last week.
SeaWorld Entertainment parks outside Orlando, including Busch Gardens in Tampa, also announced official reopening plans. Busch Gardens and Adventure Island will also open to the public on June 11.
“We thank Governor DeSantis, Orange County Mayor Demings, Orlando Mayor Dyer, and the members of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for their support of tourism in Central Florida as we prepare to reopen our Orlando parks to the public on June 11,” said Marc Swanson, interim CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. “Over the past two months, we have worked with state and local health officials, third party medical and epidemiology experts, and attraction industry leaders to enhance our strict health, safety, and cleanliness standards. We are committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and animals in our care, and will continue to follow the guidance of health officials as conditions evolve.”
The reopening of the parks also includes a new online reservation system that will help manage capacity. Guests will be required to make a reservation before traveling to the parks.
Reservations will open at 10 a.m. June 8.
Find more information here:
SeaWorld
Aquatica
Discovery Cove
Here's an overview of what SeaWorld's reopening plans look like for its Orlando parks:
- Face coverings: Guests age 2 and up will be required to wear a face-covering when in the parks
- Physical distancing: Ground markings will be installed at key guest areas as well as signage throughout the park
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitation: Especially in high-contact areas
- Employee and guest temperature screening: For both employees and guests
- Work and sick policies: Encourage employees who are sick to stay home.
- COVID-19 training: More training of all employees of new procedures and ways to keep themselves and guests safe.
"The health and wellbeing of our employees and guests is our top priority," SeaWorld Entertainment said in its plans. "We are confident in our ability to operate safely with our enhanced protocols and will manage capacity to ensure our ability to operate with these changes."
More specific proposed changes include:
- Encouraging contactless payments across the parks
- Installing plexiglass in high-traffic and close-contact areas
- Increasing hand sanitizing stations
- All guests will undergo temperature screenings before entering the parks
- Seating layout changes in restaurants to promote social distancing
- Tables and chairs will be frequently sanitized; condiment and topping stations will be closed; utensils will be prepackaged
- Paper menus will be used
- Buffet service will be adjusted or closed
- Retail lines and shops will have more markings to promote social distancing
- Bagging and wrapping material will be given to guests to minimize contact
- Animal viewing areas will have markings for distancing
- Certain tours and interactions will be restricted to one person at a time
- Certain animal attractions will be modified
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