BREAKING NEWS: San Diego Theme Parks Devise Reopening Plans

The drumbeat for theme parks to reopen is pounding louder and louder. Legoland, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Safari Park, and the USS Midway have coordinated with the San Diego Tourism Authority to craft procedures for reopening in “Stage 3” of California’s 4-phase plan to get the economy going again. 

The state is currently in Stage One, with only essential businesses and services open. Stage Two involves lifting restrictions on some lower-risk workplaces, such as retail, manufacturing and some offices. This phase may be reached in the next few weeks. 

Stage Three will allow gyms, spas, salons, sports without live audiences, in-person religious services (among other business where customers come into close contact with staff) to open. Stage Three is expected to take months to reach, according to the Governor. 

Stage Four will essentially end the safer-at-home orders and allow for large public events such as concerts, conventions and sports with live crowds. This stage will require reliable therapeutics before it can be activated. 

Theme parks were not specifically indicated by the Governor when announcing his stages of reopening. That has led to much discussion about which phase the large parks fit into. But the latest plans of San Diego’s theme parks firmly place their operations in Stage Three, as outlined below.

San Diego Theme Park Health & Safety Reopening Plans

At the core of the plans for the San Diego theme parks (which might serve as a guide for other parks around the country) is the wearing of masks by guests and employees, social distancing, and increased sanitation. 

Here are the detailed guidelines which the parks have agreed to implement. . .   

Theme Park Screening Protocols

The coalition of San Diego theme parks has drafted front gate screening rules which will greet guests with quite a different theme park experience. Straight away, guests will submit to temperature and wellness checks. And all guests and employees must wear face coverings at all times. Security screenings will be reconfigured to allow for greater social distancing between guests as well as between security staff.    

Theme Park Distancing Protocols

On the subject of social distancing, many park modifications will need to be made. First of all, parks will need to limit their maximum attendance to allow for fewer guests in lines and fewer guests in contact with each other. Ride capacity will also be limited and steps taken to keep guests apart in attraction queues. Narrow pathways should be converted into one-way traffic. It won’t be easy for the parks to restructure themselves to control the number of guests in places like queues, bag check, ticket booths, turnstiles, rides, restrooms, restaurants, hotels, and character meet and greets . . . but that’s exactly what they must do. 

Sanitization and Disinfection Protocols

Hand sanitizers and handwashing stations are to be added everywhere. Hand to hand transactions are to be limited with expanded use of contactless payment options. Particular attention will be expended on sanitizing queues & restrooms and limiting the number of guests in them. Handrails, doorknobs, ride vehicles, and other touchpoints are to be regularly disinfected. And employee work and break areas will be similarly modified to allow for proper distancing.  

Signage & Communications

For distancing to work, the parks must make an extraordinary effort to inform guests about what’s expected. 

Food & Beverage Protocols

As with other areas of operation, park food & beverage locations will also limit touch-points and attempt to keep guests apart. 

Water Park Protocols

It will come as no surprise that water parks will adhere to all of the items above. In addition, they are to make locker rooms one-way traffic. 

The Race Is On

Having a solid plan in place for parks to work toward when the time comes is a good first step in eventually getting the parks reopened. And while Orange County Florida has also announced similar (though much less extensive) recommendations for theme parks there, and Six Flags has released its own plans for eventual reopening, we don’t expect the Disney parks to be the first to pull the trigger.  

---

---

Let’s Hear From You!

Do you think San Diego’s plans are prudent? Will guests be able to wear masks for long periods in the hot summer months? Will employees be able to keep themselves safely distanced from guests? Which major park do you expect to open first? Let’s hear from you in the comments below. 

Sharing is caring!