(Walt Disney World has lifted the last of its mask requirements, meaning face coverings will be optional for visitors at all locations on the central Florida Disney property.)
The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force held a meeting today to discuss some initial guidelines for reopening businesses in the central Florida area due to the coronavirus outbreak. The task force shared details that provide a potential look at what might occur when the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, restaurants, and hotels reopen following the coronavirus closures.
Keep in mind that these are initial guidelines. The theme parks themselves will also likely have additional measures in place in order to protect both Guest and Cast Member/Team Member safety.
Disney and Universal guidelines will include:
- Tape marking 6 ft apart in attraction queues.
- Staff to regularly wipe down surfaces at random.
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
Mandates will include:
- All employees must wear face masks.
- Touchless hand sanitizer must be stationed at each ticketing entry/turnstile.
- Touchless hand sanitizer at each attraction entrance and exit.
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift. (Those with temperatures over 100.4 will not be allowed to enter premises.)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms will be advised to stay at home.
- Wipe down all railings and surfaces after every use.
- Phase 1: 50% capacity
- Phase 2: 75% capacity
Hotel guidelines will include:
- Phase 1: Housekeeping services to be limited and allow for limited guest and employee exposure
- Phase 1: Promote, if available, mobile check-in
- Phase 1: Housekeepers only clean upon request, or when a guest departs
- Phase 1: Allow employees to work from home if they are not playing a critical role in serving guests.
- Phase 1: Only deliver room service to guests doors.
- Phase 1: Provide self parking
- Promote social distancing for guests and staff
- Recommended touchless hand sanitizer at entry
- Increased cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
Hotel mandates will include:
- All employees will be required to wear face masks
- Hand sanitizer at entry to be available in plain sight.
- All employees with flu-like symptoms will be 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 guests hotel rooms including glassware, coffee cups, etc.
- Mini bars are not to be stocked.
- Do not offer self food services.
- Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines.
- Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitized regularly.
- Door handles, elevator buttons, and railings to be sanitized regularly.
- Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms.
- Remove all guest collateral items, except those that are single use.
- Sanitize guest keys before and after each use.
- Sanitize bell carts after each use.
- Phase 1 and 2: No conferences.
- Promote social distancing for all guests and staff.
Restaurants guidelines are:
- Paper/disposable menus
- Encourage takeout/online orders
- Touchless sanitizer at entry
- Phase 1 and Phase 2: Staff 65 years or older are encouraged to stay at home.
Restaurant mandates are:
- Hand sanitizer at every table.
- Hand sanitizer at entry in visible sight.
- All employees required to wear facemasks.
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift. (Those with temperatures over 100.4 will not be allowed to enter premises.)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms will be advised to stay home.
- Doors to 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
As mentioned, these are just initial guidelines that have been set out by Orange County’s Economic Recovery Task Force to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Things could still change and likely will. You can watch the full task force presentation here.
Do keep in mind that currently there is not an opening date that has been announced for either Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. We will keep you updated regarding the reopening of the theme parks as we find them out.
