Visitors to California theme parks after pandemic restrictions end will face a myriad of conflicting coronavirus demands that are expected to continue to evolve as major tourist destinations navigate the latest “new normal” .

The full reopening of California’s economy on Tuesday, June 15 after a 15-month pandemic hibernation will allow theme parks across the state to return to full capacity and end most COVID-related health and safety measures -19.

Unraveling the state’s twisted network of coronavirus rules has left theme parks struggling to find the right way forward as they tackle their most important issue – safety.

Answers to questions about mask requirements, attendance capacity limits, advance reservations, physical distance, travel restrictions, and vaccination checks will vary depending on whether you are visiting Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood or one of the state’s other theme parks.

Expect the new California theme park ground rules to continue to change through June 15 and beyond, as businesses and customers across the state adjust to a new landscape without COVID restrictions -19. Best advice: check the website before you leave for the park.

The end of COVID-19 health and safety mandates in Governor Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy on June 15 means California theme parks will no longer need to reduce attendance capacity, restrict traffic. ride capacity, limit the length of trips, use only outside queues, or maintain six-foot distancing requirements.

New state guidelines beyond the master plan end restrictions that require California theme parks to limit attendance to 15% of capacity in Red / Substantial Level 2, 25% capacity in Level 3 orange / moderate and 35% capacity in yellow / minimum level 4 of the Master Plan for a safer economy. California theme parks will be able to return to 100% capacity on June 15.

The state’s public health department will no longer require visitors to fully vaccinated theme parks to wear masks starting June 15.

Under the state’s Beyond the Blueprint guidelines, California theme parks and other outdoor mega-events are “highly recommended” to verify that visitors have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or have received a recent COVID-test. 19 negative. Outdoor mega-events should require visitors who have not been vaccinated to wear a mask, as directed.

Disneyland

Disneyland will make changes to health and safety processes based on advice from state and local health officials with an upcoming announcement, according to Disneyland officials.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure plan to increase attendance capacity when state mandates end on June 15, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in late April.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek told a tech conference in late May that he expects the company’s U.S. theme parks to see small double-digit attendance increases in the coming months. and reach full capacity by fall.

Starting June 15, Disneyland and DCA will no longer be required to limit park attendance and ride capacity, which will allow parks to admit more visitors as part of a phased reopening approach.

Disneyland and DCA aren’t expected to increase attendance to 100% capacity immediately – with more than two dozen attractions still closed. It will take time to rehire and retrain the employees needed to operate these rides.

Disneyland restaurants may return to full capacity, but that will likely take time as well. More than two dozen restaurants and drinks at Disneyland and DCA remain closed – and cannot reopen until employees are rehired.

Dropping physical distancing requirements and again using queues for indoor attractions could help Disneyland clear the crowded walkways overrun by winding exterior lines that have turned some areas of the park into traffic jams.

Lifting the 15-minute time limit for indoor rides could mean the end of skipping pre-show items on the popular Rise of the Resistance ride in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – which had to be adapted for a shorter operating time under state COVID- 19 guidelines.

Advance online reservations for Disneyland and DCA are expected to stay in place until at least mid-October – and possibly longer depending on the park’s reservation availability schedule. The system allows Disney to make decisions about staffing, budgeting, marketing and a myriad of others based on anticipated attendance levels.

Disneyland has announced that temperature checks will end on June 15.

Universal

Universal Studios Hollywood will resume normal operations on June 15 and will no longer respect any attendance or ride capacity constraints.

Universal Studios Hollywood is still managing the ability to improve the guest experience, according to Universal officials.

While Universal Studios Hollywood will follow state mask requirements, the park continues to refine its guidelines, Universal officials say. The latest updates on Universal’s mask policy are available on the park’s website.

It is strongly recommended that unvaccinated visitors wear a mask in accordance with state COVID-19 guidelines. Universal will post vaccination signs in the park and online notices, but will not verify proof of vaccination.

The cinema theme park has already stopped taking reservations online in advance.

A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site at Universal Studios Hollywood operates through Sunday, June 13 and June 18 to 24 from noon to 6 p.m. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available.

Knott’s

Knott’s Berry Farm will return to full capacity at some point, but not on June 15. The Buena Park theme park will increase attendance as efficiently and safely as possible, according to Knott officials.

Knott’s rides, attraction lines, dining and shopping will return to full capacity on June 15 with no six-foot physical distancing requirement.

Bay Area partner park California’s Great America in Santa Clara will follow the same guidelines as Knott’s starting June 15. Online advance reservations for both parks will continue after June 15.

Knott’s and Great America are still evaluating mask requirements and vaccination checks.

Bigger indoor shows at the Walter Knott Theater and the Great America Theater won’t return until after the summer season.

Sea world

SeaWorld San Diego will return to full capacity on June 15 with advance reservations required for admission to the park.

Restaurants, shops, rides, and indoor exhibits such as the Penguin Encounter, Shark Encounter, and Turtle Reef will also return to full capacity with no six-foot physical distancing requirement. SeaWorld brought back the state-of-the-art Quick Queue system in early June.

Visitors to SeaWorld San Diego will no longer be required to wear masks starting June 15 – with one exception. The California Department of Public Health strongly recommends that visitors who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, or a negative coronavirus test in the previous 72 hours, wear a mask when visiting the park. SeaWorld will remind visitors of the state’s vaccination and mask recommendations, but will not require proof of vaccination after June 15.

The new interactive Sesame Street “Let’s Play Together” at the Mission Bay Theater will begin after June 15th.

Legoland

Legoland California will operate without attendance capacity restrictions, allowing the park to increase capacity to 100% on June 15. Advance online reservations will always be required.

Legoland rides, attraction lines, indoor shows, restaurants and shopping will return to full capacity on June 15. The use of masks and physical distancing will continue to be encouraged at the Carlsbad theme park.

Unvaccinated visitors are strongly recommended to follow state mask guidelines and will need to agree to these terms when purchasing tickets and making advance reservations on the Legoland website.

A new Legoland Discovery Center, which was originally slated to debut at the start of the pandemic, will finally open in Milpitas on Monday, June 14. The 31,000 square foot indoor family entertainment center features a Lego brick Miniland with Bay Area landmarks and over a dozen rides, attractions and courses.

Six flags

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo continue to assess the impact of the state’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines on theme parks starting June 15.