Theme Park Industry Releases Intense Phase One Reopening Protocols
The country is slowly beginning to reopen after a couple of months of unprecedented and sudden shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One group that is ready to get back to business is the theme park industry, but it won’t be business as usual. According to the Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) trade organization, there’s list of protocols that parks are going to be working with in order to reopen and bring visitors a safe visit.
Check it out:
Employees
Separate work teams into groups to keep employees scheduled on different days in case one person tests positive for COVID-19. The team strategy allows operations to continue if one entire team or workgroup must be quarantined.
Wash and sanitize shared employee uniforms, costumes, equipment and props.
Security Checkpoints
Post signs at entrances notifying visitors of risks associated with gathering in public spaces.
Reduce the number of personal items visitors can bring into the park. Require all items fit into a clear plastic bag for touchless inspections.
Establish guidelines to deal with visitors who refuse to wear protective masks or want to wear ineffective or offensive face coverings.
Not Recommended Procedures
Temperature checks are not recommended due to the inconsistent nature of readings, particularly in outdoor environments. Visitors with COVID-19 could be asymptomatic and have a normal body temperature. Some government agencies may nonetheless require temperature checks.
Protective gloves are not recommended due to their ability to spread germs and the false sense of security they create. Frequent hand washing is preferable.
Sick Visitors
Establish a containment room or isolation area for visitors or employees with potential COVID-19 symptoms. Move symptomatic visitors and their immediate party to the containment area for further assessment.
Deny entry to symptomatic visitors and their immediate party. Offer guidance to symptomatic visitors regarding medical care or call an ambulance for visitors in distress.
Sanitization & Cleanliness
Create “Clean Team” uniforms for employees cleaning the parks to make sanitizing efforts visible to visitors. Remind visitors of recent cleanings and sanitization.
Dedicate employees to clean and disinfect restrooms frequently.
Assign employees to monitor restroom capacity to uphold physical distancing guidelines.
Disable every other toilet to maintain physical distancing protocols in restrooms.
Disable water fountains and other common use items if permitted by the health department.
Establish a tip line or create an app function for visitors to report health, safety or cleanliness concerns to management.
Rides & Attractions
Stagger attraction opening times based on capacity or budget concerns.
Eliminate single-rider lines designed to fill empty seats (an unnecessary practice in the age of social distancing).
Require visitors to wear protective face masks on rides. The dynamics of some attractions may prohibit the use of masks.
Sanitize storage areas where riders stow their personal belongings while on a roller coaster or other attraction.
Allow employees to use their feet or knees to physically verify safety gates are locked and secured.
Sanitize ride control and dispatch panels between each employee rotation.
Shows & Parades
Increase the number of show performances due to reduced seating capacity.
Make end-of-show announcements asking visitors to exit the venue by section or row to reduce crowding.
Develop character stage appearances or “drive-by” vehicle experiences to provide visibility from a distance.
Close & Cumbersome Attractions
Close play areas, interactive mazes, touch pools and props-based experiences due to physical distancing or sanitation concerns.
Close attractions that require VR headsets, 3D glasses, helmets or other accessories until cleaning protocols are established.
Reevaluate time-consuming attractions that require personal harnessing like ropes courses, climbing walls and steel-cable swing rides.
Food & Beverage
Eliminate self-service food operations like buffets and salad bars.
Assign employees to pour beverages at self-service stations to minimize contact and keep equipment clean and sanitary. Use a new cup for each refill.
Sanitize vending machines frequently. Offer sanitizing wipes in vending areas.
Shopping
Add signs reminding visitors to only handle merchandise they intend to purchase.
Allow guests to place purchased items into shopping bags themselves at register checkout.
Remove doors and other high-touch surfaces if possible and permitted.
Assign employees to sanitize point-of-sale terminals after each transaction.
Am I the only person who feels like this sounds incredibly stressful? I like the idea of fewer people in the park, which they’ve previously stated would happen in the first phases, and intensifying the cleaning standards is a good idea. But if everyone is going to be paranoid and call security if someone coughs, it feels like it takes the fun out of going to a theme park.
But that’s just my opinion. I think it’s a little early to open up, but I have a pre-existing condition, so I will continue social distancing longer than others anyway. Hopefully everything works out and life can go back to normal soon. I’m just glad I went to Disneyland this past Christmas, so at least it was recent enough to hold me over.
Are you planning any theme park trips over summer vacation?
via: MiceChat