Introduction to COVID-19 Precautions in Theme Parks
Five years ago, tourism officials were wrapping their heads around a new world of theme park reservations, temperature checks at turnstiles, amped-up sanitization procedures and the very concept of social distance as the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly transformed their business. Some procedures faded with the virus, and others evolved into practices that continue within the travel industry. In 2020 and 2021, the Orlando Sentinel asked five tourism experts what trends to anticipate. Now, in 2025, they talk about the pandemic’s lasting effects as well as new trends in international travel, room service and rooftop bars.
Lasting Effects on Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom visitors interact with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too, after masking restrictions were loosened in 2021. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Reservation Systems
Date-specific reservations for theme parks didn’t last in most places, but the technology used has accelerated related developments, said Curtis Parks, managing partner at Jacksonville-based Icon Experiences. “From that, spawns all these new options that you can do with your ticketing systems, from dynamic pricing to bundling your hotel and your park tickets and food, and passholders can now add friends to their ticket purchases, and online tickets being sent to digital wallets,” he said. Park reservations emerged as attractions ended pandemic-related shutdowns in 2020. Walt Disney World continues to require reservations with some ticket types, although with fewer restrictions.
Cashless Parks
An emphasis on online purchases and cleanliness influenced the trend of cashless parks at SeaWorld attractions, Busch Gardens and Six Flags locations, Parks said. Disney and Universal never stopped taking cash. “All the major players were all still taking cash, and then when the pandemic hit, they suspended that and went to cards only and pushing everybody online,” he said. “They say it’s faster and safer and more secure. … You don’t have the big cash vaults anymore like you used to have at the parks,” he said.
Investment in Theme Parks
On the upside, billions of dollars are being invested in paused or once-canceled theme-park projects, a sign of confidence, Parks said. “You’re betting on the American families and people visiting the parks, and that’s exciting to see,” he said. SeaWorld Orlando’s parking lot stands empty as theme parks experienced a pandemic-related shutdown in 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Fading Influences
The pandemic’s influence has faded as far as future attractions go, said Brian Morrow, owner of B Morrow Productions, a Kissimmee-based design studio that works on projects for theme parks, resorts and museums. “The words pandemic and COVID are rarely used in any design process currently. They were back in ‘21, but now you don’t hear it at all. … Clients aren’t using those words,” he said. Another bygone factor is the fear of touch screens. “We do some work in the educational category, so a lot of touch screens are used there … and all that [concern] has gone away,” Morrow said. “It really has dissipated. It’s not a top topic.”
Virtual Queues
Talk about virtual queues has decreased, but reservations have lingered at some attractions for crowd management and guest satisfaction, he said. Gaylord Palms Resort retained them for its holiday season “Ice” attraction. “They kept it because it allowed them to remove this massive queue line that they would build and these massive 9 a.m. arrivals for guests,” Morrow said.
Changes in Theme Park Dining
On the food front, dining at Walt Disney World is back to its old ways, with some exceptions, said AJ Wolfe, who runs the Disney Food Blog, a site independent from Disney World. “Everything is returned to normal in terms of character meals and buffets,” two fan favorites that were suspended during the pandemic, she said. Some restaurants inside the theme parks are not open as much as they were. And some eateries have altered dining options. For instance, Be Our Guest restaurant at Magic Kingdom bagged counter service at lunchtime in favor of a prix fixe menu, Wolfe said. A la carte service at California Grill atop the Contemporary Resort also is gone, she said.
Room Service
In Disney-owned resorts, room service is available at the Grand Floridian only, Wolfe said. It could be a staffing or financial issue, she said. There are also no 24-hour eateries on Disney property now, she said. “There were so many issues with staffing, and it could just be that they haven’t rehired for those particular things,” she said. There’s also been the rise of food-delivery services. It’s likely a less expensive option than room service would be, Wolfe said. “DoorDash or Uber Eats or whatever are so prominent, and they will deliver to your hotel,” she said. “The biggest difference is that you have to put on clothes because you have to go down and get it.” Universal Studios visitors ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster with empty rows providing social distance when the park reopened in June 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Hotel Occupancy and Trends
Hotel occupancy in the U.S. is not as robust as in 2019, said Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality, for CoStar Group, an Arlington, Virginia-based real estate company that tracks real-estate analytics. “You would think that we’ve made up for that,” he said. “The good news is that, of course, room rates are 30% higher than they were back then.” Industry trends that surged during the pandemic include keyless entry and remote check-in for rooms, and those have lasted. The mindset that rooms don’t need to be cleaned daily paired pandemic precautions with hoteliers’ desire to fulfill green expectations, Freitag said.
Rooftop Bars
A more visible hotel trend to emerge from the pandemic: Rooftop bars. “They were always sort of in vogue in, like, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, but I think if you build a hotel today, you will have a rooftop bar,” Freitag said. “It is just such a great magnet, and customers love it, and even locals like it. … Outdoors plus food and beverage makes for a winning combination.”
International Travel Trends
“Looking back to where we were in 2021, there was no immediate sign, certainly, of the international market coming back. There was a lot of doom and gloom about it,” said Simon Veness, co-author of “The Brit Guide to Orlando” as well as “111 Places in Orlando That You Must Not Miss” with his wife Susan Veness. For Orlando-bound Brits, “bookings for this year are pretty much on a par with last year, which were pretty much getting back to pre-pandemic levels,” Veness said. “The bad news, looking just beyond the U.K. market, is that Germany, France and Scandinavia are all trending down for us in visitation this year and especially in the last couple of months,” Veness said. “Orlando doesn’t rely a lot on those particular markets, but they’re not unsubstantial.”
Competition for European Tourists
Now competing for European tourists is the United Arab Emirates, which is marketing heavily in the U.K. and the U.S., he said. “That could certainly be one place that would have an immediate appeal for the U.K. and for Western Europe because it’s a shorter flight than to the U.S. or certainly to Florida,” Veness said. There is evidence that some people are “politically disinclined” to visit the United States now, he said. “The good news for Orlando and Florida is that it’s a slightly different kettle of fish,” Veness said. “The U.K., in particular, tends to still see it as this fantasy destination that is divorced from reality.”
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on the theme park industry, from the adoption of reservation systems and cashless parks to changes in dining options and hotel occupancy trends. While some pandemic-related precautions have faded, others have evolved into lasting practices that continue to shape the industry. As the industry continues to recover and adapt to new trends and challenges, it’s clear that the pandemic has left an indelible mark on the world of theme parks.
FAQs
Q: What were some of the initial COVID-19 precautions implemented in theme parks?
A: Initial precautions included temperature checks, social distancing, and increased sanitization procedures.
Q: How have theme parks adapted their reservation systems since the pandemic?
A: Many theme parks have adopted dynamic pricing and online ticketing systems, allowing for more flexible and convenient ticket purchasing options.
Q: What changes have been made to dining options in theme parks?
A: Some restaurants have altered their dining options, such as switching to prix fixe menus or eliminating counter service. Additionally, room service is no longer available at most Disney-owned resorts.
Q: How has the pandemic affected hotel occupancy and trends?
A: Hotel occupancy has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, but room rates are 30% higher than in 2019. Keyless entry, remote check-in, and rooftop bars have become increasingly popular trends in the hotel industry.
Q: What are some current trends in international travel to theme parks?
A: Bookings from the U.K. are on par with last year, but visits from Germany, France, and Scandinavia are trending down. The United Arab Emirates is also competing for European tourists with its marketing efforts.
