You’re up, SeaWorld.
That park, along with Aquatica water park and Discovery Cove re-open this morning at 10 a.m. after being closed since March. It’s the second theme park complex to open from its coronavirus-forced shutdown; Universal Orlando Resort came back to life next week.
You’ll need to make an online reservation so the parks can maintain a 30 percent maximum capacity. But you can still get reservations for today (Thursday) for SeaWorld and Aquatica. Discovery Cove has Florida Resident discounts going on.
In June, SeaWorld is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays (after today) in order to deep clean the park. Aquatica is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays and Wednesdays.
Expected COVID-19 checks will take place on entry and while in the park. When guests and employees arrive on-property, they must undergo and pass temperature screening using the CDC temperature recommendation of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Employees and guests 2 years of age and older must wear face coverings while in the SeaWorld, and while entering or exiting Aquatica and in retail and food service areas (but not by or in the water). Guests are not required to wear them while eating and drinking, or in designated relaxation areas of the park.
The six-foot markings will appear throughout the parks, and they encourage contactless payments and plexi-glass will be installed in high-traffic or close-contact areas to maintain a physical barrier.
Remember, as the parks have posted on its websites, the pandemic isn’t over, and exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present. Take your precautions to limit any exposure.
The Busch Gardens/Adventure Island complex in Tampa also opens today.
Disney’s parks reopen in July; Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom come back July 11 and Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15.
