Dateline: May 29, 2020
Hi! Finally we have some good news about a re-opening, instead of news of a delay or closure! Before I begin with this blog entry, I want to emphasize that the decision to travel at this time is highly personal. While I encourage guests to make decisions based on facts rather than perception, it is also extremely important that you do what is right for you and your family. Look at the facts, speak with your doctor, and then decide if, and where you want to vacation! Right now, a vacation to a theme park may not be what you are looking for. If not, together, we can come up with a perfect vacation for you! Whether you’d like to take a cruise down the Mississippi, see Egypt with Adventures by Disney or relaxing in a tropical paradise with a butler, for travel now or later, I’m here for you and hope to help you in any way that I can! For now, though, here is the OFFICIAL news from the Universal Resort in Orlando!
Beginning June 2, 2020, select Universal Orlando Resort hotels will reopen to guests. The reopening of the hotels will be carefully managed and phased, and includes a wide range of new and enhanced best-practice health, safety and hygiene procedures.
The phased reopening of the hotels will include Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites. Guests staying in these hotels will be able to visit the theme parks on June 3 and 4, prior to the public reopening on June 5.
Plans for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites will be announced at a later time. Guests who have booked reservations at these two hotels through me will be contacted to modify their reservation if it has been affected.
Universal Orlando’s resort hotels, co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co, have enhanced their standards and protocols throughout their operations. These enhancements currently include:
• Guests, team members and vendors are required to wear face coverings in public areas
• Team members and vendors will be required to have temperature checks upon arrival. Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to work.
• Guests will be asked to self-screen for COVID symptoms and comply with quarantine orders prior to arrival
• Guest will have temperature checks upon arrival and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will require medical clearance in order to enter the hotel
• Hand sanitizer stations in public areas and elevator landings
• Enhanced cleaning of guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas with an EPA-approved cleaner and disinfectant
• Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas such as telephones, remote controls, door handles, light switches, elevators, and table tops, among others
• Food & Beverage outlet capacities limited based on latest recommendations and guidelines
• Social distancing signs and reminders of social distancing requirements in high-traffic areas
• Several contactless experiences for guests, including hotel texting-services, express checkout and contactless room deliveries
Universal CityWalk is now open with select venues and with new health, safety and hygiene procedures in place. Universal Orlando’s three theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay – will reopen to the public beginning June 5.
For information on CDC guidelines, click here. Due to the evolving nature of this situation, details are subject to change without notice.
All Universal guests are urged to follow CDC guidelines and self-assess for potential symptoms of COVID, including cough, temperature, and difficulty breathing, prior to their arrival. Guests should also evaluate their own risk before they visit – and it is not recommended that individuals at high-risk with serious underlying medical conditions visit the destination. People who show no symptoms can still spread COVID-19 if they are infected. Any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and Universal cannot guarantee guests will not be exposed during their visit.
In addition, guests should be aware of and comply with government guidelines regarding travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What specific guidelines are the hotels implementing?
Universal Orlando’s resort hotels have enhanced its standards and protocols throughout its operations. These enhancements, which are subject to change as guidance from health and government officials is updated, currently include:
• Guests, team members and vendors are required to wear face coverings in public areas.
• Team members and vendors will be required to have temperature checks upon arrival. Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to work.
• Guests will be asked to self-screen for COVID symptoms and quarantine orders prior to arrival/entrance
• Guests will have temperature checks upon arrival and return unless previously checked at the park that day and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater after three checks, including one with a new thermometer, will be asked to seek medical attention and obtain medical clearance prior to being permitted to enter. We understand some guests may feel they have special conditions, which we will consider upon request.
• Hand sanitizer stations in public areas and elevator landings
• Enhanced cleaning of guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas with an EPA-approved cleaner and disinfectant
• All guest rooms will be serviced after checkout. When possible, guest rooms will be left vacant for 24-48 hours upon checkout, before thoroughly cleaning and checking in a new guest.
• Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas such as telephones, remote controls, door handles, light switches, elevators, and table tops, among others
• Food & Beverage outlet capacities limited based on latest recommendations and guidelines
• Guests and staff are required to practice social distancing; social distancing signs and reminders will be in high-traffic areas
• Several contactless experiences for guests, including hotel texting-services, express checkout and contactless room deliveries
Why are hotels opening before the theme parks?
Select hotels are opening a day prior to Universal Orlando’s parks to give guests the opportunity to check-in and get settled before visiting the theme parks and taking advantage of Early Park Admission. Guests arriving on June 2 will not be able to enter the parks until June 3.
Will hotel guests have access to the theme parks on June 3-4?
Yes, guests staying in our resort hotels will be able to visit to the theme parks on June 3 and 4, prior to our public reopening on June 5.
Why are Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites not opening on June 2? When will they open?
We are evaluating our offerings and limiting some of the experiences that will be available during this initial phase of reopening. Plans for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites will be announced at a later time. Guests who have booked reservations at these two hotels through Universal Orlando or Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations will be contacted to modify their reservation if it has been affected. If a guest made a travel reservation through a third-party partner, we ask that they please contact their preferred travel provider to modify their reservation.
How will temperature checks and screenings work at the hotels?
• Team members and vendors will be required to have temperature checks upon arrival. Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to work.
• Guests will have temperature checks upon arrival and return and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater will require medical clearance to enter. We understand some guests may feel they have special conditions, which we will consider upon request.
• If a guest registers a temperature of less than 100.4 degrees, they will receive a wristband for that day and are not required to be rechecked if visiting the theme parks on that same day.
• If a guest plans to visit the theme parks outside of their arrival date, they will be screened at the parks at the arrival locations for water taxis, resort shuttles and walking paths. Guests will be given a wristband after completing the screening and are not required to be rechecked upon re-entering the hotels.
• If a guest leaves the hotel for any other reason, they will be rechecked upon returning to the hotel, unless they are wearing the assigned wristband for that day.
What if a hotel guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater?
• If a guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater upon check-in, they will not be allowed to check-in until they receive medical clearance to do so. The rest of the guest’s party will be allowed to check in. We understand some guests may feel they have special conditions, which we will consider upon request.
• If a guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater anytime following the check-in screening, they are required to self-quarantine and seek medical attention. The hotel will follow medical professional’s recommendations as to whether the guest can safely remain on hotel property. An additional guest room may be provided for other members of their party and they will still be able to move about the resort as they continue to successfully undergo temperature screenings.
Will hotel amenities and dining locations be affected by these changes?
The availability of food service, pools, fitness centers and other amenities may be limited due to increased frequency of cleaning and sanitization or to comply with the latest guidelines and recommendations. Guests should check with the front desk for more details.
Will I still receive hotel benefits like Universal Express if staying at a Premier hotel?
Yes, guests who stay at Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort will receive Universal Express access to select attractions as well as their other hotel benefits.
Will Universal Express be available when the theme parks reopen?
Universal Express will be available for purchase for theme park visits beginning June 8. Hotel guests staying at Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort will be also able to take advantage of their Universal Express access benefit on any day of their visit. Premier Passholders will be able to use their Universal Express “after 4pm” benefit beginning June 5.
Is Early Park Admission still valid for hotel guests?
Yes, all hotel guests can take advantage of Early Park Admission as well as other hotel benefits during their visit. Currently, Early Park Admission is scheduled for 8:00 – 9:00 am at Universal Studios Florida and 9:30 – 10:00 am at Universal’s Volcano Bay.
How will resort transportation be affected?
Guests can still utilize water taxi and resort shuttle transportation to visit Universal CityWalk and the theme parks. Face coverings will be required for all guests using resort transportation. We will limit capacity on all shuttles and water taxis so wait times may be impacted. We will also increase our already-aggressive cleaning and disinfecting procedures on all forms of resort transportation.
Will hotel guests be turned away if the theme parks reach capacity?
We account for hotel guests when setting our capacity limits and they will not be impacted if the theme parks reach capacity. What if I’m visiting the hotels from out-of-state? Visitors from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Louisiana and international markets should be aware of and comply with government guidelines regarding travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines before visiting our destination.
Are you ready to begin planning your next vacation?
Cleared For Take-Off! 