Busch Gardens Tampa Reopening June 11 – Here Are the New Procedures

Busch Gardens in Tampa has announced they will be reopening to the public on Thursday, June 11, 2020 (following an employee preview/appreciation day on June 10), following an almost 3 month closure due to the world health crisis. This reopening also includes the Adventure Island water park.

Here’s what we know so far…

Hours of Operation

The park will be open Thursday through Monday, remaining closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Hours will be 10:00am to 6:00pm. According to the park’s website and app, this will be the schedule through August, with 7-day operations resuming in September.

Safety Measures for Reopening

Here’s a summary of the changes and safety measures the park will have in place (taken from the park’s reopening proposal that was submitted to and approved by Tampa city officials and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor):

• Employees will be required to wear face coverings.
• Guests age 2 and up will be required to wear face coverings. The park is encouraging guests to bring their own.
• Social distancing will be promoted throughout the parks with markings on the ground and signage.
• Contactless payment will be encouraged via Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
• Plexiglass will be installed in high-traffic and close-contact areas.
• Cleaning and sensitization will be increased significantly, especially in high-contact areas.
• The number of hand sanitizing stations throughout the parks will be increased.
• CDC guidance will be followed on temperature checks.
• All guests and employees must undergo and pass temperature screenings before entering the parks.
• There will be single-direction flow of guests walking through some areas.
• Single rider lines will be eliminated.
• Queues for lines will promote physical distancing.
• Some rides will get modified seating to create distancing.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and exit of rides.
• Rides will be sanitized more frequently.
• Open play areas will remain closed unless they meet distancing protocols.
• New protocols will be implemented on water rides.
• Some components of parades and meet & greets will be limited or removed.
• Character interactions will be modified to allow for physical distancing, as will photo opportunities.
• Spacing will be increased for touchless turnstiles at entrances.
• Seating layouts in restaurants will be modified create more distancing.
• Tables and chairs will be sanitized more frequently.
• In restaurants, condiment stations will be closed, utensils will be pre-packaged and more single-use products will be used.
• Paper menus will replace traditional menus.
• Buffet-style services will be altered or closed (we’re very curious how this will play out as the majority of Busch Garden’s restaurants are buffteria-style).
• More grab & go and pre-packaged food items will be added.
• Lines and shops will have markings to encourage physical distancing.
• Shops will have signs directing guests to defined entry and exit points.
• All open animal viewing spots will have markings to promote physical distancing.
• Some tours and interactions will be limited to one party at a time.
• Only tours that allow for social distancing can operate.
• Some animal interactions will be modified.
• Employees with flu-like symptoms cannot come to work.
• Employees are required to follow CDC guidelines for self-isolation and symptom-free periods before returning to work.
• Employees will get coronavirus-specific training