Universal Studios Orlando Reopening

After being closed since mid-March, Universal Studios Orlando is starting its reopening today with very limited guests. On Friday, June 5, the two parks along with the water park, will be open to the general public.

Daily reservations are NOT required for the parks; however, that also means you could arrive and not be able to enter the parks if they're already at capacity. 

The new health, safety and hygiene procedures are in place for both team members and guests:

• Guests and team members are required to wear face coverings and observe social distancing guidelines
• Everyone required to have temperature checks before coming on-site; those with temperatures of 100.4 or greater will not be allowed to enter
• Reduced daily park attendance. Park hours 9am-6pm for Universal and Islands of Adventure; 10am-5pm for Volcano Bay.
• Reduced attraction ridership, show attendance and restaurant seating. Some areas and events may remain closed for now.
• Increased cleaning and disinfection of food locations, ride vehicles, restrooms and other frequent “touch points
• Social distancing practices at all locations through the parks, within attractions and queues and at restaurants
• Use of virtual lines at select attractions
• Cashless payments and “no touch” policies where possible. Guests are strongly encouraged to download and use the app for food mobile ordering, virtual lines, and more.

Hand sanitizer must be used prior to boarding ride vehicles, so it will be available in large vats (OK...large pump dispensers!) in the lines. Staggered seating on rides and social distancing in lines will be enforced and may cause longer waits.

While not announced, the official Universal Studios hotels are doing a soft opening at the same time. That basically means no new reservations yet, but the existing reservations appear to be allowed.

What about masks? Yep. Required everywhere EXCEPT while eating or drinking, of course, in pools, or on very wet rides. Universal has created some "face covering-free zones" where you are allowed to remove your mask and breathe normally! Of course, that may increase your exposure to germs, so it's a risk but it may outweigh breathing through your hot mask all day!

A couple of questions we’re getting regarding policies at Universal:

• 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 BUT attendance is limited so if park has reached capacity when you arrive, you may not be admitted.

• Will all rides and attractions be open? The majority of the attractions and experiences within the parks are scheduled to open.

• Will I have to wear a mask? Yes. If you have a disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering, you will see guest services to discuss options. Face coverings will available for purchase; children under the age of two are not required to wear facial coverings.

• Will I have to wear my face covering while on the attractions? Yes, EXCEPT for wet rides and Volcano Bay’s slides and pools.

Universal also released a video with some more information:

Please let us know what other questions you may have!