NEWS:The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force has Established Initial Guidelines and Procedures for Walt Disney World Reopening

The Orange County Economic Recovery Taskforce held a meeting early Tuesday morning to establish initial guidelines for Orlando area openings including Orlando’s theme parks, hotels, restaurants, and other public gathering places. The task force and Mayor Jerry Demings noted that June would be a more realistic reopening date, as opposed to sometime in May, for Orlando’s major theme parks to reopen. Thomas Mazloum, the Senior Vice President of Walt Disney World Resorts and Transportation Operations, is a part of the Orange County task force and represents the Walt Disney Company, while Walt Disney World Resort president Josh D’Amaro was appointed to the state-wide task force to re-open the economy on a sate-wide basis.

Below is a recap of key guidelines that will be necessary to re-open Central Florida’s main tourist attractions and restaurants.

HOTEL 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 the guest’s door
• Phase 1: Provide self-parking
• Promote social distancing for all guests and staff
• Recommended touchless sanitizer at entry
• Increase cleaning services/additional sanitation services through cleaning companies
• PHASE 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ are encouraged to stay home

Hotel Requirements

• All employees required to wear facemasks
• Hand sanitizer at the 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 staying home
• Front desk to sanitize 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.
• Minibars not to be stocked
• Do no offer self food services
• Space pool furniture according to distancing guidelines
• Pool gates and pool chairs to be sanitized regularly
• Door handles, elevator button and railing to be sanitized regularly
• Remove all coffee makers from guest rooms
• Remove all guest collateral items, except for those that are single-use
• Sanitize guest keys before and after each use
• Sanitize bell carts after each year
• Phase 1 & 2: No conferences

Restaurant Guidelines

• Paper/disposable menus
• Encourage takeout/online orders
• Touchless sanitizer at entry
• PHASE 1 & 2: Staff who are 65+ encouraged to stay home

Restaurant Mandates

• Hand sanitizer at every table
• Hand sanitizer at entry to be in plain visible sight
• All employees required to wear face masks
• Temperature checks for staff prior to entering the premises (100.4+ will not be permitted to enter)
• All employees with flu like symptoms encouraged to stay home
• Doors will be wiped regularly
• All staff behind counters must wear gloves (except bartenders)
• Bartenders must sanitize 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%

Theme Park Guidelines

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

Theme Park Mandates

• All employees required to wear face masks
• Touchless hand sanitizer at each ticketing entry and turnstile
• Touchless hand sanitizer 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 staying at home
• Wipe down of all railings and surfaces after every use
• PHASE 1: 50% capacity
• PHASE 2: 75% capacity