One of the biggest theme park controversies we’ve seen in recent years was the decision for theme parks to open this summer, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Though many shook their head at Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens reopening back in June, it was the recent reopening of Walt Disney World that got national attention this past July, with many damning the company for reopening during a global pandemic of which Florida is becoming the national epicenter.
However, while much of this chatter online came from social media accounts, it looks like the people who are actually going to theme parks have their own opinion about the safety measures in place at some of the world’s most popular destinations.
Guests overwhelmingly feel safe at theme parks
Last month Enigma Research conducted 1,000 exit surveys with guests visiting recently-reopened theme parks and other destinations including Disney Springs, The Fremont Street Experience, Navy Pier, Six Flags Over Texas, and Universal Orlando Resort. According to this limited study, 87 percent of guests enjoyed their overall experience, and a majority were pleased with the number of attractions operating at the scaled-back attractions.
However, perhaps most importantly, most guests seemed to appreciate the enforcement of rules in the theme parks, reacting favorably to safety precautions like face mask enforcement, physical distancing, and sanitization measures that have been newly enacted since the reopening.
“This shows that it is possible to produce a safe and enjoyable live experience using the same precautions we all see in retail stores, transit systems, and other public areas,” said Michael Harker, a senior partner with Enigma. “On average, 81% agreed that the attraction they visited succeeded at keeping visitors safe during the pandemic.”
And though the survey only sampled a small slice of guests, 95% of respondents said they were likely to return and just as many would recommend the experience to their friends or relatives, which is good news, as parks like Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld are seeing record-low crowds, with SeaWorld Orlando even operating on a reduced schedule to try and save money on operating costs.
COVID-19 cases are not being linked to theme parks…yet
Though many have been concerned about theme parks becoming super spreader areas, it looks like, while individual cases have been reported in Orange County FL, there have been no outbreaks or instances of community spread linked to the theme parks just yet, according to a briefing earlier this week by the local government. During a COVID-19 update, county health official Dr. Pino said:
We have had isolated individuals that have become positive. Now, remember, we rely on the data that is provided by individuals. So, it is self-reported. So someone could lie to us about where they were, where they live, or what the situation may be. So having that in consideration, we haven’t seen any large amounts or numbers of positive cases coming with tags that identify them to any of the parks.
At this time, Orange County has said that they will continue monitoring the status of positivity rates to determine how best to move forward with theme parks reopenings, and Orange County Mayor Demmings has said that he will consider mandating theme parks to close once again if the situation inside the theme parks change.
Though there is a lot of fear and anxiety around theme parks right now given the current climate, it looks like the guests who do visit the theme parks feel safe doing so, and medical officials in Orange County, Florida are reporting that so far, the safety measures that have been put in place are working.
