Florida’s Gatorland amusement park resumed over Memorial Day weekend break– total with a new mascot to urge social distancing and also admire neighborhood tale at the exact same time.
Meet the Social Distancing SkunkApe
A costumed variation of this local take on Sasquatch is advising individuals of the advantages of being far-off and also evasive– and also sharing some standard health and wellness pointers to avoid the spread of the coronavirus:

FULL STORY

ORLANDO, FL

Walt Disney World and SeaWorld will present reopening plans to an Orange County task force Wednesday morning, the first step before both theme park giants can welcome back tourists.
Orange Mayor Jerry Demings confirmed during a Tuesday afternoon briefing that he saw a preview of plans from both companies and called the anticipated presentations “good news” after Orlando’s biggest tourist draws, led by Disney, shut themselves down 10 weeks ago to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.



FULL STORY

​

May 26, 2020
First Theme Park to Reopen June 5
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America, today announced that Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will reopen with limited capacity beginning June 5, 2020. In accordance with Governor Stitt’s Open Up and Recover Safely Plan (OURS), and following Mayor Holt’s recent proclamation allowing businesses to reopen, the park will begin operating at reduced attendance levels and will operate in a preview mode June 5-7 for Members and Season Pass Holders only. After a short initial reopening phase, the park will gradually increase attendance levels throughout the month. The park is implementing extensive new safety measures and hygiene protocols, including several new advanced technology systems to protect guests and employees.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200526005337/en/
Social distancing markers will be placed in all park entry, ride, restroom, retail locations, and dining queue lines. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We are excited to welcome Oklahomans back to Frontier City as we introduce new safety procedures for everyone’s protection. The health and safety of our guests and team members remains our number one priority,” said Frontier City General Manager Trevor Leonard. “All government officials, along with city and county health departments, have been extremely supportive of our efforts to reopen in accordance with state and local guidelines.”
“Frontier City, like all Six Flags parks, is an outdoor attraction that poses a significantly lower risk of exposure than indoor venues. Our guests are not confined to one space for lengthy periods. Guests move constantly throughout their experience; some are riding rides, some are eating in restaurants, while others are shopping in our souvenir stores, or playing games. Because our parks cover dozens or even hundreds of acres, we can easily manage guest throughput to achieve proper social distancing,” said Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos. “We have developed a comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes best practices from theme park and waterpark industry experts, along with top destination parks from around the world, which will allow guests to experience our parks in the safest possible way. This ’new normal’ will be very different, but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment.”
All parks will employ a sophisticated online reservation system to manage attendance, schedule guests for entry by day, and stagger arrival times to minimize proximity exposure. Other new technologies include:

• State-of-the-art thermal imaging for temperature checks;
• Advanced security screening technology for touchless bag checks; and
• Expanded mobile food ordering.

The park reopening plan, which the company developed with its epidemiologist consultants, meets or exceeds federal, state, and local guidelines. It sets standards for executing at the highest levels of hygiene and social distancing protocols.
Health Screenings for Guests and Team Members

• Contact-less IR thermal imaging will be used to screen temperatures of guests and employees prior to entry; and individuals will be asked if they are healthy and will be required to acknowledge the company’s health policies;
• All guests over the age of two and all team members will be required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth throughout their visit/work day. Accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis for persons with disabilities, health concerns, religious restrictions, or other circumstances that in Six Flags’ discretion warrant a modification of this face mask requirement; and
• Any guest without a mask will be able to purchase one at the front gate.

Strictly Enforced Social Distancing

• Easy to identify distance markers will be added in all park entry, ride, restroom, retail locations, and dining queue lines;
• Dining areas will be adjusted to allow ample space between seated parties;
• Guests will be separated by empty rows and/or seats on all roller coasters, rides, and attractions;
• Six-foot viewing areas will be marked for guests to observe game play; arcade games will be reconfigured or deactivated to comply with social distancing requirements;
• Advanced security screenings will enable touchless bag checks;
• Capacity at indoor venues will be reduced to meet social distancing requirements; and
• Guests viewing outdoor entertainment will be separated by at least six feet.

Extensive Sanitization and Disinfecting Protocols

• Trained and dedicated cleaning teams have been put in place;
• Increased sanitization and disinfecting of high touch points including all public seating, tabletops, counters, doors, and trash cans will occur frequently;
• Rides, restraints, and handrails will be cleaned throughout the day;
• Restroom staff will be stationed to disinfect each stall and sink area on a frequent basis;
• Multiple hand-washing and alcohol-based hand-sanitizer stations will be located throughout the park; and
• All team member work areas will be regularly sanitized and disinfected.

Sanitized Food Preparation and Service

• Modified menus and implementation of mobile food ordering will help facilitate touchless transactions;
• Self-service buffets and salad bars will be reconfigured to eliminate guest contact with food;
• Condiments, self-serve cutlery, and napkins will be provided to guests with their meals as required; and
• Beverages will be served by attendants, and guests will receive any drink bottle refills in a paper cup each time they refill.

Commercial-Grade Cleaning Equipment and Supplies

• All employees will be issued Team Member Action Packs which will include: a safety face mask, safety glasses, and disposable gloves;
• Low pressure backpack sprayers will be utilized for disinfecting large areas;
• Abundant supplies of sanitizers and disinfectants will be available;
• Microfiber cloths will be used to sanitize surfaces; and
• Queue line supplies, fencing, and tents will be in place to promote safe social distancing.

Multi-Layered Guest and Team Member Communication

• Frontline team members will go through extensive COVID-19 training;
• Safety messaging and reminders on Six Flags’ website, newsletters, in-park announcements, and recorded phone messages will occur frequently;
• Distance markers and physical distance indicators will be in place;
• Informational safety signage is posted throughout the park; and
• Handouts outlining guest screening processes and safety procedures will be distributed at the Toll Plaza.

Park Reservations System to Manage Attendance
Frontier City will be operating under state and local guidelines for crowd capacity limits. The park has established attendance caps that will be well below the park’s theoretical capacity in order to allow for proper social distancing. All Members, Season Pass holders and all guests with a single-day or group ticket will need to make a reservation at www.sixflags.com/reserve. The process will take 5-7 minutes, and guests will complete the following steps:

• Enter their online order number, ticket number or Membership/Season Pass number;
• Select the day and the approximate time they want to visit;
• Watch a brief video describing new social distancing and sanitization procedures;
• Acknowledge their understanding of the company’s health policy; and
• Order pre-paid parking, if they do not already have a parking pass.

Guests will be contacted electronically (either by email, text or both) the day before their scheduled visit to confirm their intent to visit and their continued healthy status. Guests may cancel their reservation without penalty any time before 8:00 a.m. (local time) on the day of their scheduled visit. Diamond and Diamond Elite Members will automatically be added to the priority waitlist, and all Members and Season Pass Holders will receive booking priority over single-day and group ticket buyers.
The Six Flags brand is synonymous with family fun and thrills for all ages. These significant new changes are designed to improve the overall park experience while keeping guests and employees safe.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America, with 26 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 58 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling waterparks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SixFlags
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags
About Frontier City
Oklahoma's biggest and best theme park is home to more than 40 acres of fun for the whole family. Featuring more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions, guests can enjoy thrills for all ages including the extreme loop coaster Diamondback and Oklahoma's only suspended coaster, the Steel Lasso. Frontier City is the premier theme park for families to make memories together.
Facebook: @frontiercitythemepark
Instagram: @frontiercityokc


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200526005337/en/
Sandra Daniels

O: 972-595-5178

C: 817-929-5074

sdaniels@sftp.com



Christin King

O: 405-478-2140 ext. 299

C: 405-886-6044

crking@sftp.com
Source: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Few venues will be untouched by the changes wrought by the coronavirus pandemic when they reopen. But the modifications will be especially evident at theme parks—places designed to welcome large groups, with many congregating together. Indeed, when theme parks reopen, they're likely to do so with significant changes to their infrastructure, in details both large and small. And while guests might miss out on some cherished opportunities of the past (like hugging their favorite characters), they might find some changes actually improve the overall experience (like the end of snaking in-person lines). We asked experts to predict what theme parks will look like after coronavirus.


FULL STORY

ORLANDO, FL

​As we previously shared, Universal Orlando is officially opening back up for business to select park guests beginning June 3 with a full reopening to the public on June 5.
Universal Orlando will be reopening with the enforcement of new health precautions to help contain and stop the spread of the current pandemic. However, it seems the Florida Department of Health wants to also aid in this process by having “secret shoppers” walking around the parks monitoring guests in their efforts of social distancing.
“What is critically important as we increase economic activity is to have those measures in place to protect employees and protect consumers that are going to use the parks and all the attractions, not just the parks,” said Dr. Raul Pino, Florida Department of Health in Orange County director, to ClickOrlando.


FULL STORY

ELYSBURG, PA

The re-opening of Knoebels Amusement Resort for its 94th season remains an uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The state Department of Health indicated that amusement parks can operate in the green, or the final, phase of reopening, but the park is situated between Northumberland and Columbia counties. Northumberland has been in the yellow phase since May 8 and Columbia County since May 15, so it’s unlikely both counties will move to green at the same time.
“It’s tough to say what will happen,” said Knoebels Public Relations Manager Stacy Ososkie. “The business’s physical address is in Northumberland County. The challenge is half our rides and attractions are in one county and the other half in another.”


FULL STORY

ORLANDO, FL

​Fun Spot America Orlando is now open for business.
Fun Spot tweeted on Friday afternoon that the theme park's Orlando location opened its doors to the public.
Doors opened at 2 p.m. 
The tweet said the park would close at 10 p.m.
On Saturday, park hours for the Orlando location are noon to 10 p.m. until further notice. 


FULL STORY

ORLANDO, FL

​The Orange County Economic Recovery task force approved Universal Orlando’s plans to reopen theme parks to staff beginning June 1 and to guests on June 5, after listening to a presentation presented by a Universal executive.
John Sprouls, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts, presented Universal’s reopening plan to the task force Thursday as other theme parks and attractions in the area presented reopening plans.

FULL STORY

Jared Davis, head of Wisdom Rides of America, is remaining positive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  In addition to ensuring his company performs “business as usual” for their valued customers, the team at Wisdom is using this time to expand their current product line.  Like most in the outdoor amusement business industry, Davis is hoping all of his carnival and amusement park clients and friends are able to open soon in order to salvage as much as possible of the 2020 season.

FULL STORY

MIDDLEBURY, CT

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark is slated to open on June 20.
On Wednesday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that amusement parks will be part of the Phase 2 reopening, which is scheduled for June 20.
Quassy is currently hiring to fill dozens of positions in a variety of departments for the summer.

FULL STORY