FAQ of Universal’s June 5th Reopening

Universal Orlando has officially announced its June 5 reopening for all three of its theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.

Here are some of the details:

General Information – Temperature Checks, Face Masks, Halloween Horror Nights, and More

1. Where do I have to go to get my temperature taken?

Guests will have their temperatures taken in a screening area inside the parking structure, prior to the security checkpoint.

2. What will happen if a guest has a high temperature?

Any guest that has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be able to enter CityWalk and it will be requested that the individual see a doctor, per CDC guidelines.

3. Will I be required to wear a face covering?

Yes. We are following CDC guidelines as well as local health protocols. If you have a disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering you will be referred to guest services to discuss ways we can accommodate you. If you do not have a face covering, we’ll have them available for purchase. Also, per CDC guidelines, children under the age of two are not required to wear facial coverings.

4. What is considered an appropriate facial covering for my visit?

Facial coverings in line with CDC’s guidelines are considered appropriate for a visit to Universal Orlando Resort, and should cover an individual’s nose and mouth. Costume masks and veils will not be considered as facial coverings and per our costume guidelines, are not permitted.

If a guest has a disability that prevents them from wearing a facial covering, they’ll be directed to our Guest Services team to discuss reasonable accommodations. Also, per CDC guidelines, children under the age of two are not required to wear facial coverings.

5. Where can I purchase a face covering? Are they available in various sizes?

Face coverings will be available for purchase at a merchandise cart in the screening area within CityWalk. At this time, face coverings are available in one size.

6. What about face coverings when guests are eating?

We have arranged tables and seating so that guests can remove their face coverings while they eat. But we ask that they wear them at all other times.

7. Who will be the “limited number of guests” during your first days of operation?

We are still working through those details and will share soon.

8. Are cashless payments available?

Yes, guests can use Apple Pay or Google Wallet for cashless payments at merchandise and quick service food locations.

9. Is Mobile Food Ordering available? And at which venues?

Yes, mobile food ordering is available for Voodoo Doughnut, Red Oven Pizza Bakery and Cinnabon. To use it, download the official Universal Orlando Resort App and select “Order Food and Drinks” under the drop-down menu. Then, select the food location you’re interested in to view the menu. Make your selection(s) then follow the prompts to place your order.

10. Will these new procedures be in place for Halloween Horror Nights and the 2020 Holidays celebration?

More details about these events will be shared at a later time.

11. Grad Bash 2020

Due to the parks’ temporary closure, all Grad Bash 2020 events have been cancelled.

12. Gradventure 2020

Due to the parks’ temporary closure, all Gradventure 2020 events have been cancelled.

13. Will you have themed face coverings for sale?

Yes, we will have themed face coverings available for purchase in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for updates.

Theme Parks – Reservations, Attractions, and Volcano Bay

1. Are the parks reopening at reduced capacity during this phase?

Yes, we are limiting attendance at our theme parks during our phased reopening.

2. Is a reservation required in order to visit the theme parks beginning June 5?

No, a reservation is not needed in order to visit the theme parks. Please note that since we’re limiting attendance, there may be times when the parks reach capacity and additional guests will not be admitted.

3. Will all rides and attractions be open?

Majority of the attractions and experiences within the parks are scheduled to open. Select experiences will not be available during this phase, and some queue experiences may be slightly altered as we implement our new procedures. Additional details and specific experiences will be shared soon.

4. Will I have to wear my face covering while on the attractions?

Yes, guests will be required to wear face coverings on attractions. The only exception will be for attractions that include significant amounts of water as part of the experience, as well as Volcano Bay’s slides and pools.

5. Will I have to use my own hand sanitizer in order to board a ride vehicle?

Universal Orlando team members will provide guests with the hand sanitizer that is required prior to boarding a ride vehicle.

6. What is Virtual Line?

Virtual Line allows guests to select a time to experience an attraction via the Official Universal Orlando Resort app so they’re minimizing the time they’re actually waiting in the queue line. Guests can make Virtual Line selections while they’re onsite at the parks on the day of their visit. Virtual Line will be available for select attractions.

7. How will you implement social distancing guidelines at Universal’s Volcano Bay?

Overall, Universal’s Volcano Bay will follow the same guidelines and procedures as the other theme parks. Some of the specific measures we’re taking to implement social distancing at Volcano Bay include:

  • We will limit capacity on each attraction – including rivers and pools
  • For multi-person raft rides, only one travel party will be allowed to ride in a single raft. Please note that Volcano Bay’s standard height and weight requirements will be applicable.
  • Lounge chairs will be placed in a fashion that allows travel parties to sit together, while also maintaining at least six feet of distance between other guests.
8. At Volcano Bay, will I have to wear my face covering while on the slides?

Face coverings are recommended when guests cannot socially distance. They will not be permitted on slides and in pools.

9. Will all Volcano Bay team members wear face coverings?

Face coverings are required for team members in “dry” roles. Team members who have “wet” roles, such as lifeguards, will wear a balaclava when they cannot socially distance. These will not be worn on slides or in pools for safety reasons.

10. Will the TapuTapu wearables be cleaned and sanitized?

Yes, per our standard practice, all TapuTapu wearables will be cleaned and sanitized prior to guest use.

Hotels

1. What about hotels? And what if I have a hotel reservation?

Our hotels are an important part of our guest experience and we will share details soon. We are still finalizing our reopening plans and will contact those guests with reservations as soon as our plans are available.

2. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites

We have postponed the scheduled March 17 opening of our new hotel, Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites, as we continue to evaluate our offerings during this time. A new opening date will be announced at a later time.

Guests have the option to modify or cancel room or package reservations. Guests with specific questions can call this number for more information: (877) 801-9720

3. Hotel and Package Bookings

Guests can modify or cancel room or package reservations held for our closure period with no penalty or fee. During our park closure period, cancellation fees will be waived for hotel reservations cancelled prior to 24 hours of arrival.

4. What if I make a booking while you are closed?

Ticket purchases, hotel reservations and packages purchased between March 4 and May 31 qualify for our Stress- Free booking policy, which means they may be modified or canceled with no fee at least 24 hours prior to arrival. We will continue to evaluate this policy after May 31. For details, click here.

Tickets and Annual Passes

1. Are the limited-time increased Passholder discounts still available?

Passholders can take advantage of their increased limited-time discount at select Universal CityWalk venues through May 31, 2020. There will be additional special offers and discounts for passholders once the parks reopen. Additional details will be shared soon.

2. How will my Annual Pass or Seasonal Pass be affected?

All Annual and Seasonal Passes will automatically be extended by the number of days our theme parks are closed. There is no action required from the Passholder. Existing benefits and restrictions will continue to apply.

3. Will my monthly payment be charged during the park closure?

If you are signed up with FlexPay, we have postponed all monthly payments effective March 25, 2020. We will be in touch with further details on when payments will resume. If you need to make any changes to your credit card information, please contact Passholder Services at 1-888-5-FLEXPAY

4. Will there be changes to blockout dates for Seasonal and Power Passes?

Current blockout dates remain and can be found at www.universalorlando.com/apblockout. Any future updates will be communicated.

5. Can I get a refund?

Unexpired single-day tickets that have already been purchased will be valid on any day for 365 days from the purchase date. Unexpired multi-day tickets that have already been purchased will also be valid for first use on any day from 365 days from purchase – but, as always, must be used within seven days of first use. Florida Resident discounted ticket usage windows and blockout dates remain unchanged unless otherwise communicated. If you cannot travel during this time, you can apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward a new purchase.

6. What if I purchased Blue Man Group tickets?

Blue Man Group’s shows through at least Sunday, May 31 are cancelled. Guests who have purchased tickets for Blue Man Group shows during this time can call (407) BLUE-MAN (258-3626) for assistance.

Is this a precursor to what you can expect to see at WDW?

WDW To Possibly Reopen At 20-30% Capacity

Walt Disney World remains silent on the subject of its park reopenings, likely monitoring the progress of the ongoing phased reopening at Disney Springs. In the meantime, Universal Orlando has gone from presenting its reopening plans, to proposing a reopening date, having it approved on county and state levels, and announcing an official reopening to the public all in the course of 24 hours. While Walt Disney World won’t be submitting its plans until sometime next week, we may have some idea of one of the key operational aspects of its reopening: capacity.

According to Amanda Dukes of WESH 2 News, a Disney executive has informed Governor Ron DeSantis and Vice President Mike Pence that the company is considering reopening the park at 20-30% capacity.

This is not unlike the scenario at Shanghai Disneyland, which reopened at 20% capacity on Monday, May 11, with a reservation system in place. The park plans to increase ticket sales by 5,000 each week until Shanghai Disneyland is selling at 30% capacity. Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek referred to Shanghai as a short-book market, where typically tickets are sold on a week-by-week basis, and believes that the company needs to be “very conservative, very prudent” in moving forward.

While Walt Disney World does receive many locals and Florida Residents, it also has a lot of national and international guests flying in. Governor Ron DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force Executive Committee has considered the notion of a phased reopening that includes only locals and state residents, but there is no confirmation on whether this will actually be the case.

Universal Orlando has stated that it will be reopening on June 5 with limited capacity, but has not given any percentages or numbers.

Disney Surveys Guests Regarding Safety Measures Ahead of Park Reopening

Reading through any comments section on posts regarding face mask use or new stringent health and safety guidelines at the parks will render it clear that these new protocols are divisive amongst parkgoers, to say the least. There are guests that are scared of other guests not wearing masks or adhering to the new regulations, and guests that feel inconvenienced by all the new rules. In any case, Disney wants to see what their prospective guests think on the matter in order to guide any future decisions on park reopenings. Guests leaving Disney Springs throughout the week received a QR code to scan and fill out a survey. Now, Disney is following up with a second survey to garner even more detailed responses.

One of the questions asks guests whether they feel that the bundle of new health & safety procedures is adequate, and to what degree. It is just right, not enough, or too much?

Following up on that question, they ask whether the same bundle of health & safety procedures, if implemented throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks, would affect guests’ willingness to visit the parks. Would you be more willing, less willing, or unchanged in your willingness to visit the theme parks?

Finally, Disney asks about the controversial required face masks, and whether the requirement of face masks for your entire party will impact your desire to visit again.

Walt Disney World is set to submit reopening plans to the county this upcoming week, so it seems they may be finalizing any requirements to include as part of their presentation and proposal. Universal Orlando, which presented its plans this week––and received near-immediate approval for a June 5 reopening––will require face masks for all of its guests. Guests with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a face covering will be referred to guest services to discuss possible alternatives and/or accommodations. For a full overview of all the new guidelines and operational changes leading up to their June 5 reopening, click here.

At this time, face masks are required for all guests over the age of 3 for entry to Disney Springs.

Disney Parks Guest Relations Releases A Statement On Park Closures

Disney Parks Guest Relations has released a statement regarding the ongoing park closures. You can read the full statement below.

An update from Guest Relations at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

Dear Guests,

It’s an understatement to say that the past few months have been a challenging time for us all.  As we navigate the longest park closures in our histories, we’ve loved hearing your kind words of hope and seeing how you’ve made your own Disney memories at home has uplifted and inspired us all.

During this time, we know it can be difficult to plan your Disney vacation. Now more than ever we’re longing for the opportunity to come together with family and friends to escape, to celebrate, to re-do missed milestones, like birthdays and anniversaries and to make new Disney memories.

Given the current uncertainty as to when we will reopen Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, we’ve had to periodically adjust the schedule for the ability to book hotel reservations at our resorts. While we’re currently accepting reservations starting in July 2020 at both resorts, as this situation evolves, timing may continue to shift.

As we continue to follow guidance from government and health care officials regarding how we’ll be able to reopen our parks and resorts in a responsible way, we may also need to make real-time adjustments to booked experiences, park tickets and park passes.

Please know that if any reservations you may have made need to change, we will work with you to make the necessary modifications.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out the recent blog post from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, on how we’re planning for re-opening our parks and resorts.

Our focus remains on the safety of the entire Disney community.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unprecedented time together. We continue to be moved by the incredible support and passion our guests have shown for our Disney family, and we hope to see you real soon.

Universal Orlando Resort Sends A June 5th Reopening Date To Task Force

There’s been a whirlwind of discussion lately regarding when the Walt Disney World Resort and surrounding theme parks, such as Universal Orlando, will reopen. Today, May 21, the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force allowed for theme park officials to present and submit their proposed reopening plans. Universal Orlando Resort was the first to submit their plans. Here are the details a follows:

Universal Orlando Resort submitted their reopening plans at the Orange County Task Force Meeting today (May 21) which includes a proposed reopening date to the public of June 5.

John Sprouls, Chief Administrative Officer and Rich Costales, Executive Vice President of Resort Operations, Universal Orlando shared they would like to open on June 1 and June 2 to select Team Members. On June 3 and June 4, Universal plans to invite select guests such as Annual Passholders. On June 5, they would like to open to the public.

The Universal officials shared they plan to make this a gradual capacity opening and ramp up slowly.

Key focuses will be the “three S’s” screening, sanitation, and spacing standards. They also include touchless plans. Signage will be present and Ambassadors will be extremely visible to enforce the guidelines.