24th April 2020 
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort CEO John Sprouls has outlined several ideas for how the theme park could reopen safely.
During conference calls with the reopen Florida task force created by Governor Ron DeSantis, Sprouls suggested how attractions could begin to reopen.
(Updates: 28/05/20 What should we expect when Orlando theme parks reopen? 26/05/20: Universal Orlando Resort confirms reopening and unveils health and safety measures 29/0420: The Recovery Task Force’s online meeting this week discussed guidelines for reopening safely.)
Ensuring visitors feel safe
Click Orlando reports that Sprouls has no set date for reopening Universal as there are several factors to consider. He did say that “We hope it’s sooner rather than later obviously.”
However, Universal is “thinking a lot about how and when to reopen” according to Sprouls. There are “multiple teams working on a number of different scenarios.”
Sprouls stressed that “the paramount issue will be feeling safe in our park. If they [guests] don’t feel safe, they won’t attend.”
Several plans to reopen
Universal is considering several options to ensure its visitors feel safe when it reopens. These include using social distancing measures on rides and queue lines and limiting the number of visitors in the parks.
Virtual line technology is currently already used at Universal’s water park, Volcano Bay, and this technology could be expanded to the theme parks. Other technology could be introduced to make some things touchless, and therefore more sanitary.
Sprouls also mentioned that seating on rides could be staggered. Cleaning and disinfecting measures are likely to be increased throughout the park.
Checking visitors and staff members
Furthermore, Universal is considering checking the temperatures of visitors before they enter. As well as making staff wear masks, they will also “screen every team member we have who comes in contact with guests every single day” according to Sprouls.
Universal is currently looking at how businesses like Walmart and Publix have implemented safety measures, and how their staff and guests are handling these measures.
Many of the procedures outlined by Sprouls are similar to the questions sent to Universal pass holders in a recent survey.
Universal have also patented new in-ride sanitation technology.
Open now Universal with the big problem to exist in the world, is something really STUPID. I do not agree.
I understand all the precautions you want to take but just set a date to reopen. There are many of us with businesses that depend on the attractions, I bring one. Without the attractions my business nor I have any income. Please open.
I’m Really hoping you open by June with everything in the world going on and fighting breast cancer my children and I have had this Vacation plan for seven months now then to have some kind of reality of what was would be amazing thank you!
Love universal we are pass holders and have been for 20 years. Plan on coming in September already have reservations. What ever it takes to make it safe universal will accommodate.
John Sprouls is not the CEO. He is the VP of Human Resources.
He has served as EVP for HR. However, he is currently the Chief Executive Officer, Universal Orlando Resort. https://www.nbcumv.com/executive/john-sprouls/bios_read_more?division=1&people=1
Not everyone gets a temperature as a symtom
Thinking that universal can let an amount of people in the park at once put X symbols on the ground and a arrow for customers to go in the right direction all walking the same path but keeping there distance. I think customers need to also wear there masks in the park! But open soon please this park was my getaway and stress reliever
You do realize it’s in Florida, right? I’m a pass holder and I am not going to wear a useless mask!! Good grief, you can barely breathe with Florida’s heat as it is! I can’t imagine people wearing a mask…ugh! The masks don’t do anything to stop this virus anyway!!
I will wash my hands more often than usual, but I do that during the flu season anyway.
if you are fashioning them after Walmart you already failed. The customers there DO NOT social distance at all. Everyone crowds the registers there and PUBLIX. One way lines don’t work either. Good luck. I will still stay home.
Close park until there’s a vaccine for everyone, you can’t beat this virus, you’re going to get more people sick for $
So wait until there’s a vaccine, a year! Glad you’re rich and able to stay home that long. Who cares about the rest of us, let us lose our homes and stave.
Never before in our history have we quarantined HEALTHY people. I am intelligent person, completely capable of evaluating risk and making my own decisions on how to deal with those risks. Personally, it is a violation of my civil rights to take that decision away from me. If you operate on fear, stay home. Me and my entire family have had and overcome this virus. Several with preexisting conditions over 50. None of us required any medical attention. Not everyone dies form COVID, and you can never eliminate risk of mortality. You could have a brain aneurysm, get struck by lightning, or a train, or die in a car crash just as easily as dying from COVID. Come on people- wake up. Our country is FOUNDED on freedoms; freedom to worship, speak and choose medical intervention as you believe. The devastation (financial and otherwise) that has come as a result of the “shut down” will be far greater than any curative impact. We still do not have a vaccine for the flu. Yet the flu causes thousands of deaths annually, and we never shut down for that- or SARS or MERS. Let use some rationale – and allow for independent choice.
People that refuse to wear a mask to prevent the further spread of this invisible and sometimes non symptomatic virus are the reason we can’t reopen as quickly as would otherwise be possible. Your rights were not taken away when the entire U.S. decided to implement a standard seatbelt law. I thankfully have never needed my seatbelt but I wear it every time I get in my car. You know “just in case.”
Forget about personal rights
Act responsibly and think about others. Your personal rights don’t include spreading disease to other citizens.
Well stated!
I think they have to think the better way to open but thinking this fast because a lot of people depending of those parks to working!
So I’m with you guys to reopen
Yes please people need this and work too
I feel social distancing and wearing a mask, including children, should do the trick. Also the idea of wearing the same wristband
Guest wear at volcano bay is an excellent idea for the theme parks. I feel with these three measures all will work out fine. All will be back to the new normal.
Thanks:)
That’s ridiculous. I am not wearing a damn mask outside!! This is so stupid that people are living in FEAR!! I live in one of the worst states (Michigan) and refuse to wear a mask out in the fresh air!! I have worked every day during this so-called Pandemic and not at home! I also do Shipt every day. I am out in the store every day. Don’t believe what you hear on the news or from the government. The majority of it are lies and misinformation!!
People that refuse to wear a mask to prevent the further spread of this invisible and sometimes non symptomatic virus are the reason we can’t reopen as quickly as would otherwise be possible. Your rights were not taken away when the entire U.S. decided to implement a standard seatbelt law. I thankfully have never needed my seatbelt but I wear it every time I get in my car. You know “just in case.”
Jake, that is a perfect analogy.
Doesn’t really tell us much, my wife, daughter and myself are booked to come over at the end of September this year. We were hoping you could tell us everything is going to be ok. By the way it’s for my wife’s 60th birthday, so we were hoping to make it something special. I realise it’s unusual times but here’s hoping. Sincerely Steve nolan
Hopi g opening sooner than later,maybe letting fla. Residents in first,
I’m so confused: now I’m not for or against reopening: I’m not sure how i feel but what will checking temps do? When a HUGE percentage of people are asymptotic or don’t show fevers right away ?
Hi, i am annual pass holder. All this mayhem. I need a escape! But also want 2 be safe about it. I am so ready to visit your parks an try 2 get back to somewhat normal. Hope annual pass holders get offers to return first. Off course at limit capacity. An social distance .
Im hoping that mask wearing is optional for guests because i have asthma and its already hard for me to breathe and if i do have to wear a mask im afraid i couldn’t breathe well or pass out. I definitely don’t mind a temperature check they are doing that at my job. I just hope you will make a post about everything on the Orlando informer so i can decide if im still going on my trip in July or moving it a few months later or if i have to cancel. I really hope that every thing will be back to normal next year because im still planning next year’s trip.
As long as visitors wear masks and the parks maintain social distancing, they should be able to reopen. Hand sanitizer should also be available throughout the park.
This sounds really good. I like the idea of constantly cleaning the rides. I wonder how many will be able to attend a park each day? If I’ve got a theme park ticket for 7 days will I be allowed to go to either park daily or would there be restrictions on this too?
I believe people with immune problems must take responsibility with Their personal Protection, have space in lines, could spray handles on rides Each exchange . Have medical tent where people could pay You for testing for covid 19 they take 5 min. if their not feeling well or afraid . If positive rain check them. Most of us know the risk we can’t quarantine the healthy.
I miss universal studios. I have annual tickets for all three parks and go often.
We have been to Universal 7 times, we go every other year. Our 9-day stay at Portofino was originally planned for May and we pushed it back to July. We really need to know what the standards are as we may cancel altogether if we have to jump through hoops on what we planned to be a relaxing vacation. Very sad 🙁