After 2 long months Universal is opening back up! Back on March 15th Universal announced that it would be closing both parks, Volcano Bay, CityWalk and all the resorts due to COVID-19. I don’t know about you but I got through the time looking at old pictures from trips and from the awesome #UniversalAtHome videos people were posting on Twitter, and let me tell you what there were some really good ones. This one here is probably my favorite one that I saw; they did an amazing job recreating the E.T. ride.
Then on May 14th CityWalk re-opened in a limited capacity with only some restaurants and stores opening that day, since then more things have opened up to guests. New guidelines were put in place to keep people and team members safe. A limited amount of guests were allowed in, there were six-foot social distancing markers and “Do Not Stand Here” stickers, as well as warnings for face masks to be worn at all times by anyone three years or older. The only time guests are allowed to take off their mask is for when you’re sitting at a restaurant and eating. I do believe that if you have a drink and are walking around you can have your mask down but they do have team members monitoring people.
When guests arrive in the parking garage right before going through security there are temperature check stations. If a guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher they will not be permitted into CityWalk. Universal was also encouraging guests to use the Universal App to order and pay for food. Some places at CityWalk were also only accepting credit card payments instead of cash. Things have seemed to be going well at CityWalk and it looks as if people are complying with all the new procedures.
On May 21st Universal proposed their re-opening plan, procedures and dates; June 1st and 2nd for team members, June 3rd and 4th for Annual Passholders and June 5th for the general public. Earlier today Universal sent out emails to Annual Passholders to register and reserve a date and time to enter the parks. Guests can expect to see the same safety procedures from CityWalk carried over to the parks as well. Now not all attractions, entertainment, food and merchandise venues will be available. Universal has yet to say what will be open but I would say we’ll have that information sometime this coming week after their Team Member preview.
If you’re an Annual Passholder you can go here to see if there are any spots open to get a reserved time to visit the parks. You will need your Annual Passholder number and your last name, you may have to check back throughout the day. The site was having some glitches most likely from everyone trying to get a spot. When I first tried I got an error message but a few hours later we were able to get in and see options. Also time slots will open back up if people cancel their reservation so don’t give up.
Now when it comes to rides; we’ve seen other parks that have begun to open to guests are seating people every other row to keep social distancing on rides. Universal has said that Single Rider line will not be open at this time. This is very understandable they want to only seat parties together and not risk putting someone not in your party in your row. We will also see an increased use of Virtual queue lines, that way people aren’t stuck in the lines too long with a bunch of other people. I am very interested in seeing how everything is going to work, it is definitely going to take some getting-used-to but I am just happy to see the parks opening back up.
The parks aren’t the only things opening up, Volcano Bay water park and H20 live are both opening up as well. I read that all rafts will be single parties only and that the life vests will be in holders that have extra disinfectant solution in it. Masks will be required, I am not sure if you will be required to wear them on the water rides and lazy rivers but we will update when we find out. Guests will also be required to have their temperatures checked before being allowed to enter. Below you will find the new hours of operation for all the parks and CityWalk.
On June 2nd all Universal hotel resorts, with the exception of Portofino Bay Hotel and Endless Summer and Dockside Inn (which were supposed to open in March but have been pushed back to later in the Summer), will open back up. Like everywhere else guests will have their temperatures checked before entering the hotel. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher you will have two opportunities to have it rechecked but if it doesn’t go down then you will not be permitted into the hotel. I did read that if your temperature is normal you will receive a wristband for that day and that if you go to the Parks or a Waterpark you won’t need to be checked again that day.
Guests will be required to wear face coverings whenever they are not in their rooms, so that means in any common spaces and going to and from the pool. I have read that once at the pool and you’re properly social distanced from others you can take your face covering off and they are not permitted on water slides.
Like I said all these new procedures are going to take a lot of adjusting to, so please be nice and patient with the team members who are working. This is all new to them as well and they are doing everything they can to still try and make your visit as great as it would be if this hadn’t happened. It’s a new normal for all of us and slowly but surely we will figure out how to navigate. Be sure to check back as things open and as we get new information we will post it and share with you all! Stay safe!
The Halloween Corner 