Theme Parks During a Pandemic: What It's Really Like

As I made my way through security at O’Hare in Chicago, I still had a lot of questions in my head as to what everything would look and feel like. Will the mask be overwhelming? How long will the lines be? What happens if I fail the temperature check? So many questions that only time would solve.

​AIRPORT

As I walked through the airport, I was surprised to see 95% of people wearing masks. United required me to also wear a mask while on the plane except when eating or drinking. A funny side note: The guy across from me brought popcorn and continued to “eat” throughout the entire flight so he never had to put his mask on…

After landing in Orlando, I walked outside to feel the heat and humidity, and it really does smack you in the face. It was a humid 94 degrees outside. I started dreading wearing a mask for a whole day outside immediately. I grabbed an Uber and headed to my destination, Universal Studios Orlando.

HOTEL

When I arrived at the on-site hotel, my temperature was immediately checked. If I failed, I would be placed in an air-conditioned room and tested 2 more times. If I failed all three, I would be advised to seek “medical attention” and would not be allowed on site. Thankfully, I passed! I was given a bracelet to wear for the day that exempted me from all other temp checks including at the theme parks. There were signs and hand sanitizer everywhere. For example, the elevator bay had a sign that stated only one family or travel party in the elevator at a time. Since the hotel was only about 1/3 full, it was never a long wait.

 The rooms were spotless and smelled like Clorox which was a welcomed smell honestly. Like most hotels, there was no housekeeping for the 4 nights I was there. If I wanted something, I could either call the front desk or text a number and it would be delivered to my room in a sealed plastic bag hung on my door. This was easy. I just had to remember to make my bed every day!

There were only two spots in the hotel where you were not required to wear a mask. First was your own room for obvious reasons. The other location was the pool deck. The lifeguards and staff still wore them, but guests were not required. In the pool is pretty self-explanatory, but they did not require them even if you were just sitting in a chair which was nice. No face mask tan at least.

TRANSPORTATION

As I made my way to the parks, all transportation options were available including the buses and boat shuttles. Seats and rows were marked off to maintain social distancing, but since there was a limited number of guests at the hotel, it was never an issue catching the next bus. The buses and boats bypassed the temp check station and took you directly to the park entrance. 

THEME PARK

​I was immediately greeting with a recording asking people to wear masks and maintain 6 ft between you and the group in front of you. This repeated about every 30 minutes over the loudspeaker. Just in case you forget, there are floor markers all over the place. They are marked about 12 feet apart due to several parties being 4-5 people. However, I was amazed at how empty the park felt. I visited last October and felt overwhelmed with the crowds in Harry Potter world. There were lines all over the place. That was not the case this time. Several times I was able to take a photo with very few people in the way. 

October 2019

October 2019

July 2020

July 2020

WAIT TIMES

​To answer the line question, most rides were only a 10 to 20-minute wait compared to the normal 30 to 40-minute wait. Another big upgrade was the use of Virtual lines for more popular rides. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, which was drawing crowds when it opened last fall, was only about a 20-minute wait if you were lucky to secure a virtual line return time. The wait time in October was between 3-4 hours! I secured one each morning and was able to ride it 3 times each with only a 20-minute wait. Since all the waits were so short, I rode 19 rides the first full day. This is roughly 1 ride every 30 minutes and included breaks for food and drinks. If you are an avid theme park goer, 1 ride every 30 minutes is impressive! Before every ride, a staff member would give each guest some hand sanitizer. This got a little annoying after a while as your hands started to feel gritty, (19 rides will do this to anyone) but honestly it was a small price to pay for a short line.

MASK WEARING

As the day warmed up, the mask became more apparent, but still did not get that annoying. With short lines and wait times, you always have something going on to take your mind off the mask. Another important thing is that 60-70% of Universal’s rides and queue lines are indoors! So, the only time you really dealt with the heat and sun was going in between rides. I had a bigger issue trying to keep my mask on for the roller coasters.

There were a few times that I could remove my mask. The first was on any water ride. If there was a chance of getting wet, you could completely remove you mask for the ride. (a quick but important side note: the waterpark is mask free except for when entering the park and indoor shops). The second time was in relaxation zones. These were areas marked off where people could go to sit and relax and remove their mask. I only saw outdoor options, and they were usually empty. The last one is when you are eating or drinking. If you chose a sit-down restaurant, you could remove once seated. If you buy food or drink on the go, you can also remove your mask while eating or drinking. 

​Staff members are all over the mask rule and will friendly remind you when you forget to pull it back up. They also require the mask to be pulled up over your nose, so do not think you are going to cheat the system. They will ask you politely. If you do not eventually comply, they do have the right to remove you from the park.

FINAL OVERVIEW

Overall, I was willing to trade the mask wearing for what felt like an empty park. For Universal, I do not think their nighttime shows, parades, or characters meet and greets are that disappointing to miss out on. I went with two recent high school graduates and they are more about the rides that anything else.
This past week Disney opened and similar experiences with wait times and park traffic was reported. However, I would argue that almost half of the fun at Disney are the fireworks, meet and greets, and parades. It all depends on who you are and what you are looking for in the parks. If you want to do all the rides, then this might be the perfect time for you!

PICK THE RIGHT MASK

​One HUGE tip: Pick the right mask and bring multiples. Test out a few masks before you leave; walk around outside. I had one that was easy for quick in and outs but was uncomfortable for the whole day. I tried a different cloth mask and that was way better. Each person is different so try them out and see before you go. Also, bring extras. They will get wet, sweaty, smelly, etc. Its nice to be able to change them out!