First Guidelines Set Out For Florida Theme Park Reopening

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The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force has started meetings to discuss the reopening of the state of Florida. They have laid out guidelines which all sectors of Disney parks and resorts will have to follow to open safely. They have broken down the opening into three phases. Phase 1 is said to begin in June, Phase 2 is an undisclosed period of time after that, and Phase 3 is considered "back to normal". Phase 3 is unlikely to begin until there is a vaccine or infection rates are extremely low.

Here are some of they key-points discussed and guidelines laid out (which are likely to change as the meetings go on for the foreseeable future).

Bars & Restaurants

Guidelines
- Paper or disposable menus only
- Encourage takeout/online orders (think mobile orders)
- Touchless sanitiser at entry
- Phase 1 & 2: Staff aged 65+ are encouraged to stay home

Mandates
- Hand sanitiser at every table
- Hand sanitiser at entry to be in plain visible sight
- All employees required to wear facemasks
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
- Doors to be wiped regularly
- All staff behind counters must wear gloves (except for bartenders)
- Bartenders to sanitise hands after making each drink order
- Seated tables to be six feet apart
- Phase 1: Limit restaurant and bar capacity to 50%
- Phase 2: Limit restaurant and bar capacity to 75%

Hotels

Guidelines
- Phase 1: Housekeeping services to be limited and allow for minimal guest and employee exposure
- Phase 1: Promote, if available, mobile check-in
- Phase 1: Housekeeping services only clean upon request, or when guests depart
- Phase 1: Allow employees to work from home if not playing a critical role in serving guests
- Phase 1: Only deliver room service to guest's door
- Phase 1: Provide self-parking
- Promote social distancing for all guests and staff
- Recommended touchless sanitiser at entry
- Increase cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
- Phase 1 & 2: Staff aged 65+ are encourage to stay home

Mandates
- All employees required to wear facemasks
- Hand sanitiser at entry to be in plain visible sight
- Temperature checks for staff prior to shift (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay home
- Front desk to sanitise themselves on a regular basis
- Consistent cleaning of all guest areas
- Front desk to utilize sneeze-guards
- Remove all service items in guest rooms to include glassware, coffee cups etc.
- Mini bars not to be stocked
- Do no offer self food services
- Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines
- Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitised regularly
- Door handles, elevator button and railing to be sanitised regularly
- Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms
- Remove all guest collateral items, except for those that are single use
- Sanitise guest keys before and after each use
- Phase 1 & 2: No conferences

Theme Parks

Guidelines
- Tape marking of 6 feet apart in ride/attraction queues
- Staff to regularly wipe down surfaces at random
- Phase 1 & 2: Staff aged 65+ are encouraged to stay home

Mandates
- All employees required to wear face masks
- Touchless hand sanitiser at each ticketing entry and turnstile
- Touchless hand sanitiser at each ride/attraction entry and exit
- Temperature checks for staff prior to ship (temps above 100.4 must not enter premises)
- All employees with flu-like symptoms advised to stay at home
- Wipe down of all railings and surfaces after every use
- Phase 1: 50% capacity
- Phase 2: 75% capacity

President Trump has also said he will soon make a decision on whether to require COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving on international flight.