The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force released reopening guidelines for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and other Orange County theme parks, this week. The Task Force is made up of 44 members of the Florida business community, Disney executives, and the CEO of NBA team the Orlando Magic.
These guidelines reflect how Walt Disney World and other area theme parks will open, but no date for opening has been set. It’s a long video, but this is the Task Force’s meeting where the guidelines were released.
The recommended guidelines account for two phases of reopening. The Task Force only addressed park capacity in phase two of the guidelines. In phase one, parks will limit attendance to 50% of capacity. In phase two, parks limit attendance to 75%. Again, no date has been set for the start of phase 1 or 2. Governor DeSantis will lift stay-at-home order on Monday, May 4th, 2020, but he did not indicate that theme parks will be included, in any way, in lifting this order.
Walt Disney World Reopening Guidelines
The Task Force recommended the following actions for all phases of “large” park reopenings:
- Guidelines:
- Tape marking of 6 feet apart in ride/attraction queues
- Staff to regularly wipe down surfaces at random
- Phase 1 and 2: Staff who are 65+ are encouraged to stay home
- Mandates:
- All employees required to wear facemasks
- Touchless hand sanitizer at each ticketing entry and turnstiles
- Touchless hand sanitizer at each ride/attraction entry and exit
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temp above 100.4 must not enter premises)
- Wipe down of all railing and surfaces regularly
- Phase 1: 50% capacity
- Phase 2: 75% capacity
Walt Disney World Resorts Reopening Guidelines
In addition to guidelines for the parks, the Task Force made recommendations for reopening Disney’s resorts.
- Guidelines:
- Housekeeping services to be limited and allow for minimal guest and employee exposure
- Promote, if available, mobile check-in
- Housekeeping services only clean upon request, or when guests depart
- Allow employees to work from home if not playing a critical role in serving guests
- Only deliver room service to guests’ doors
- Provide self-parking
- Promote social distancing for all guests and staff
- Recommended touchless sanitizer at entry
- Increase cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
- Phase 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ are encourage to stay home
- Mandates:
- All employees required to wear facemasks
- Hand sanitizer at entry to be in plain visible sight
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temp above 100.4 must not enter premises)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
- Front desk to sanitize themselves on a regular basis
- Consistent cleaning of all guest areas
- Front desk to utilize sneeze-guards
- Remove all service items in guest rooms to include glassware, coffee cups etc.
- Mini bars not to be stocked
- Do no offer self food services
- Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines
- Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitized regularly
- Door handles, elevator button and railing to be sanitized regularly
- Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms
- Remove all guest collateral items, except for those that are single use
- Sanitize guest keys before and after each use
- Sanitize bell carts after each use
- Phase 1 & 2: No conferences
These are only recommendations from the Task Force. Ultimately, the parks determine which guidelines to follow. They may implement stricter rules or more lax rules. Additionally, the state of Florida may implement different guidelines for the parks.
