The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force has laid out preliminary plans for eventually reopening the Orlando area attractions, hotels, and businesses, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.
While the stay-at-home orders expire this Thursday, there will be phased openings that MAY begin as early as May 11. However, that date is not confirmed.
These are initial guidelines from The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force to the theme parks, and you can expect that the theme parks will have additional measures in place to ensure the safety of their guests and Cast Members. These have not yet been released!
MANDATORY for Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
- All employees are required to wear face masks.
- Touchless hand sanitizer must be available at all ticketing entries and turnstiles.
- Touchless hand sanitizer must be installed at the entries and exits of all rides and attractions.
- Temperature checks will be done for all staff prior to their shifts.
(Cast members with a temperatures above 100.4 will not be allowed to enter the premises.) - All employees with flu-like symptoms are advised to stay at home.
- All railings and surfaces will be wiped down after every use.
- Phase 1: 50% capacity
- Phase 2: 75% capacity
OTHER GUIDELINES INCLUDE
- Tape markings will keep people 6 feet apart in attraction queues.
- Staff will regularly wipe down surfaces at random.
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
MANDATORY for hotels
- All employees will be required to wear face masks.
- Hand sanitizer must be available in plain sight upon entry into the hotel.
- All employees with flu-like symptoms are advised to stay home.
- Front desk staff will sanitize themselves on a regular basis.
- There will be consistent cleaning of all guest areas.
- Front desk staff will utilize sneeze guards.
- All service items in guest hotel rooms will be removed, including but not limited to glassware, coffee cups, and such.
- Mini bars are not to be stocked.
- Self-serve food services will not be offered.
- Pool furniture will be spaced according to distancing guidelines.
- Pool gates and pool chairs will be sanitized regularly.
- Door handles, elevator buttons, and railings will be sanitized regularly.
- All coffee makers from guest rooms will be removed.
- All guest collateral items, except those that are single-use, will be removed.
- Guest keys will be sanitized before and after each use.
- Bell carts will be sanitized after each use.
- Phase 1 and 2: No conferences
- Promote social distancing for all guests and staff.
OTHER GUIDELINES INCLUDE
- Phase 1: Housekeeping services will be limited to allow for limited guest and employee exposure.
- Phase 1: Mobile check-in will be promoted if available.
- Phase 1: Housekeepers will only clean upon request, or when a guest departs.
- Phase 1: Employees will be allowed to work from home if they are not playing a critical role in serving guests.
- Phase 1: Room service will be delivered only to guest doors.
- Phase 1: Self-parking will be provided.
- Social distancing for guests and staff will be promoted.
- Increased cleaning services/additional sanitation services will be obtained through cleaning companies.
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
MANDATORY for restaurants
- Hand sanitizer must be available in plain sight upon entry into restaurants.
- Hand sanitizer will be at every table.
- All employees are required to wear face masks.
- There will temperature checks for staff prior to shifts. (Those with temperatures over 100.4 will not be allowed to enter the premises.)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms are advised to stay home.
- Doors will be wiped regularly.
- All staff behind counters must wear gloves, except for bartenders.
- Bartenders must sanitize hands after making each drink.
- Seated tables to be six feet apart.
- Phase 1: Limit restaurant to 50% capacity
- Phase 2: Limit restaurant to 75% capacity
OTHER GUIDELINES INCLUDE
- Disposable menus will be used.
- Guests will be encouraged to place takeout orders and order online.
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
We reiterate that these are just preliminary guidelines and they are subject to change. We are certain that many more guidelines will follow and implementation may take time. Neither Walt Disney World nor Universal Orlando have announced any reopening plans yet.
More information on all COVID-19 closures can be found here.
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