SeaWorld Orlando has got the tentative green light to reopen and will welcome guests again on June 11.
That is a whole month ahead of Disney, which this week announced Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom would open its gates from July 11.
The Orange County task force approved SeaWorld Entertainment’s reopening plans, which like the Disney parks, will see significant changes due to new hygiene and social distancing measures.
Employees and guests will be required to wear face coverings while parades and meet-and-greets will be either restricted or suspended for the short term.
Special ground markings will instruct guests where to stand when waiting in lines, and all employees and visitors will undergo temperature screening.
High contact touchpoints and ride vehicles, rafts, tubes and life vests will receive enhanced cleaning, and SeaWorld said certain animal interactions will be limited.
The day before the official reopening SeaWorld will hold a special staff appreciation day, said acting CEO Marc Swanson.
Universal Orlando hopes to be the first major theme park to open on June 5.
All theme park operators including SeaWorld, Universal and Disney are still waiting on the final approval by Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis.
