Universal Orlando Resort officially re-opened to the public June 5th, 2020 and I am SO excited to be back in the parks! I had the opportunity to visit the parks and think Universal has done a phenomenal job with their re-opening guidelines and making guests feel safe with their new protocols and policies. I can confidently say that I felt safe (safer in the parks than I have than at our local grocery and hardware stores…) Universal has done a phenomenal job cleaning EVERYTHING (I saw them even cleaning a concrete bench!) along with ensuring guests practice social distancing and following their new rules.

Universal currently has special health measures in place:

Face coverings for guests 2 and older are required.

Temperature checks are required upon arrival. Security officers will wave a forehead thermometer in front of you. Guests with temperatures above 100.4 will not be admitted.

Social Distancing of 6 feet or more must be maintained.

Guests should stand on floor markings until the group in front of you moves forward (when present)

Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Parking will be staggered in garages to maintain distance. Valet parking is not currently allowed.

All team members are also undergoing temperature checks and are required to wear masks.

Capacity is limited to maintain social distancing.

Tables, chairs, and all high-touch areas are being continuously cleaned and disinfected.

Cashless payments are available at all areas (guests can use mobile ordering at select locations).

Hand sanitizer locations are available throughout Universal and individual bottles are also available for purchase.

When you enter the park, you will scan your ticket. The finger touch point scanner will no longer be used.

Virtual Lines

One of the biggest changes to the new Universal guidelines is virtual lines. These were originally in place for a small number of rides in the past. The most important thing to do is download the official Universal Orlando app before you enter the park.

Make your reservation and ride the same day. You’ll need to be on property to select a Virtual Line time. (You can start making reservations BEFORE you enter the parks. I HIGHLY suggest this, especially if you are wanting to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure)

Set your group size to reserve for multiple people.

Add another ride each time an existing reservation window has passed.

Most rides are now only doing Virtual Line reservations. You can pick 2 rides at a time to make times for. Do this as soon as you can, so that way you can pick another early time, and once you are finished, continue to pick another once you finish the first one.

If you are having trouble making a reservation for virtual lines, exit out of the app, go to the app settings, clear the “CACHE” and reopen the app. If it still doesn’t work, try turning on Park Wifi and connecting that way. Having multiple people in your party will also help with booking a virtual line reservation.

Select an Attraction

In the app’s left-hand menu, select “Virtual Line.”

Tap on the “Virtual Line Venues” tab to see a list of available attractions.

Select the attraction you want to ride and tap “Virtual Line Pass – Reserve”

Set Your Pass Details

Select how many people are in your travel party.

Select your return time.

Tap “Reserve Virtual Line Pass” to complete your reservation.

Relax, play and explore until your ride time.

Head to the Attraction when it’s Your Reservation Time

Head to the attraction entrance anytime within your reservation window.

Make sure you have your QR code accessible and that your entire party is with you.

Once your time has passed, you can book another Virtual Line reservation.

Virtual Queues are available for:

Universal’s Islands of Adventure:

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Pteranodon Flyers

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

Universal Studios Florida:

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

Revenge of the Mummy

Attractions at Universal

Ride lines will now have floor markers set to show physical distancing between parties. These are spaced 6 feet apart and will allow you to have enough space between everyone. Locker attendants will also direct you to specific locker stations so that way you can put your belongings in a locker without tons of people cramming all around you. In between uses, team members were cleaning the lockers and the areas around them.

Rides also had empty ride vehicles with empty spaces between them to maintain social distancing. The single rider line is now longer available. All parties will wait in the regular line and single riders will not ride together.

Before you load onto the attraction, a team member will give you hand sanitizer to use before you ride. You cannot decline the hand sanitizer. If you plan to spend the entire day at the parks, be sure to bring some lotion for your hands if you are sensitive to hand sanitizer.

Universal Express Passes are still available both for purchase and if you are staying at a premier resort. The Express Passes are still available for use at most rides and I highly encourage using them or purchasing them if you can. Most lines have gone to virtual queues, and even these lines can get long. Having the Universal Express Pass still allows you to bypass most of the lines.

If you plan to ride a water ride at Islands of Adventure (Jurassic River Adventure, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges) you must wear your mask while waiting in line. However, you can remove the mask while on the actual ride.

If you plan to ride the Hogwarts Express between the parks, each party will receive their own cabin. The conductors will tell you where and when to load and then will also come to you when it is time to exit. Masks must be worn at all times, but it is so nice having the entire cabin to yourself with just your family. It makes the experience that much better!

U-Rest Areas Located in the Parks

 Universal has set up U-Rest areas where guests can safely remove their masks. A team member keeps track of the capacity inside a U-Rest area so it doesn’t overflow, but there is no time limit for how long you can stay. Parties can stick together, and there is seating available in each area.

Currently, there are 2 U-Rest locations found in each park where guests can rest while social distancing without masks on.

Guests are permitted to remove their masks and relax.

The seating at many of these venues doesn’t provide social distancing markers, but signs posted around the U-Rest Areas inform guests they are required to perform social distancing when removing their face coverings.

Universal Studios:

Central Park Lagoon

Fear Factor Live’s Outdoor Amphitheater

Islands of Adventure

Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show

Port of Entry near Incredible Hulk Coaster

City Walk

            Location near Toothsome’s Emporium and Hard Rock Restaurant

Character Interactions

Characters are still available for meet and greets, however you can only meet them from six feet apart or atop raised platforms. They will also be wearing masks for health and safety reasons. If you are looking for the Knight Bus conductor, he can be found at the back of the bus. Show performers (like the Frog Choir) wore masks as well.

Parades & Shows

While the majority of rides are open, some shows are not running and most play areas are closed. In addition to Fear Factor Live, Universal Horror Make-Up Show, Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration and The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle are not available. Curious George Goes to Town, Fievel’s Playland and Me Ship the Olive are closed.

Parades have currently been suspended, however, parade floats will still come out spontaneously. Since the Universal Superstar Parade is not running, the floats like Spongebob and friends, Secret Life of Pets, Despicable Me, and Dora and Diego alternate at different times and will come out by themselves. Without a ton of people around, it’s really nice to have more interaction with the float riders and characters on the floats.

Place Mobile Food and Drink Orders from Select Restaurants:

            How to Order:

Set up a Payment Method Ahead of Time.

Create a Universal Orlando account or log in to an existing account.

Set up your Wallet and link a credit card.

Easily pay for purchases through the app.

Order Food and Drinks in the App

Open the side navigation and select “Mobile Food & Drink Ordering.”

Browse available restaurants and make a selection.

Browse menu options.

Customize Items and Add to your Order

Choose your items:

Entrees

Drinks

Snacks

Customize with sides, toppings and options.

Select your quantities.

Check out and Pick Up Your Food

Tap “Prepare My Order” when you’re at the restaurant.

Wait at either the designated tables or pickup window to receive your order.

Freestyle mugs can still be ordered through the Mobile app. You can also still use the freestyle machine. An attendant is currently in place to sanitize the machine after each use and will direct you to which machine you can use.

Volcano Bay

I highly recommend Volcano Bay during your stay. If wearing a mask is a concern for you, breaking up your visit to start your day at either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure is a great idea. Then, finish the day with a visit to Volcano Bay, so that way you don’t have to wear your mask the entire day!

Volcano Bay does not allow you to wear your mask on water rides or in the pools. The only time you are required to wear your mask at Volcano Bay is when you cannot remain socially distant like when you pick up your food from the Mobile Order windows or when inside a store.

Staying On-Site at Universal Resort

When staying on-site at a Universal resort, you will enter the lobby and a  health screener will welcome you to take your temperature. If your temperature is under 100.4 degrees, you will be given a wristband to wear confirming that you have been cleared and will not need your temperature taken for the remainder of the day. The wristband color changes daily, so you will have to take your temperature each day and receive a new wristband for the following to be allowed back into the parks. The wristband indicates you have been cleared and continue on with your stay.

Universal is doing a great job allowing for rooms to sit empty 24-48 hours before the next set of guests check into their rooms. Masks are required when you are in all common areas of the resort.

Currently, housekeeping services have been suspended, so if you need anything for your room, you will just call down to the front desk and they will help you with what you need.

When you are at the resort, you will find hand sanitizing stations throughout the resorts along with tons of signage stating to maintain social distancing. 1 family is allowed in each elevator at the time.

All pools are open and masks are not permitted in the pools. You must wear your mask until you arrive at your pool chair, but then you can remove the mask.

If you plan to take the bus or water taxi to the parks, social distancing is still in place. The buses have lowered their capacity and you will find empty rows on the water taxis in between families.

City Walk

Dan and I at at Margaritaville outside on their porch and it was SO nice to feel a sense of normalcy. All team members and wait staff wore masks the entire time. The menus were paper, so they could be thrown away after each use. They even had live music on the porch, so it really felt like it was a normal stay-cation! Tables were all socially distanced, and it never felt overcrowded. Each restaurant will have a limited menu and limited seating available. Dining reservations can only be made online for specific restaurants.

The following Universal CityWalk restaurants, shops, and entertainment are now open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily (CityWalk will stop allowing entry to incoming guests at 7 p.m.):

Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market

Cinnabon (mobile ordering available)

Cold Stone Creamery

Hard Rock Cafe

Hot Dog Hall of Fame (mobile ordering available)

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (outside & Lone Palm)

NBC Sports Grill & Brew

Red Oven Pizza Bakery (mobile ordering available)

Starbucks

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen

VIVO Italian Kitchen

Voodoo Doughnut (mobile ordering available)

Airbrush

Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company (retail only)

Universal Studios Store and select merchandise carts

Hollywood Drive-In Golf

Universal Orlando has done a wonderful job of establishing its new opening procedures. I feel safe, other guests all followed the same rules, and think they have done a wonderful job with everything. I am excited to visit the parks in the future and know that Universal will continue to uphold its safety measures as well!

If you’re looking to make a visit to Universal, now is a wonderful time to do it, with the low crowd and wait times! Don’t let wearing a mask scare you and be a concern. It will be ok! If you’re interested in planning a future vacation to Universal Orlando, feel free to contact me. Remember, my services are always free!

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly