Which theme park changes should stay long-term after the COVID-19 pandemic?

on March 2, 2021

We all know the changes that our lives have faced from the coronavirus pandemic. Theme parks are no different and have had to face several changes in order to open and do so safely not only for their guests but also their employees. Each theme park developed ways to do so efficiently but also still bring joy and magic to each guest that walks through the gates.

Not all of these changes have been a bad thing in my eyes though. There are several changes to the theme parks that frankly I wouldn’t mind if they stayed around forever!

One aspect I really enjoy is the cavalcades or floatillas we see at the Walt Disney World parks. Each park has unique offerings that best fit those parks. Obviously, the Magic Kingdom is known for its show stopping parades and I surely cannot wait for Festival of the Fantasy to return when it can. However, at the other parks that don’t have normal parades I would love to see them keep offerings like the cavalcades to give a bit of character magic to your park experience.

Another example is the various character appearances in the parks. At Epcot, Joy and Winnie the Pooh can be seen throughout the day frolicking or chasing butterflies next to The Land pavilion. I totally understand people wanting character meet and greets back and I definitely do too but I also don’t always need a meet and greet. Watching and interacting with a character like Joy from Inside Out as she tries to catch some butterflies or hide behind a tree is something that just makes me happy.

Universal is also currently offering some distanced meet and greets where a character might be on a stage or behind something to keep appropriate distance. Doing things like this make the parks feel more alive especially during a time when maybe they aren’t always. Universal will also set out a parade float and keep it static with a character or figure on it so then people can walk by to enjoy it.

Enhanced cleaning measures is something I could see staying around for quite sometime and I certainly would not be against it. I believe the pandemic has made all of us think a bit more about our hygiene or cleanliness. Keeping the hand sanitizer dispensers around the parks long term is something I see as a positive. Especially at rides that require a lot of hands on such as Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom or Men in Black at Universal.

The last big thing many people have really embraced not only during these pandemic times but even before is mobile ordering. Disney really started rolling out mobile ordering in 2019 and into 2020 and many haven’t looked back since. Currently when visiting Walt Disney World or Universal they both really emphasize using their mobile apps when ordering food at quick service locations. At Walt Disney World several locations will not let you inside until you have a mobile order ready for pick up. Doing it this way really helps turning over tables instead of having people just sit at them without any food and you are stuck eating off a trash can. Both Universal’s and Disney’s mobile ordering services can be problematic at times but when they work they are a huge asset to visiting the theme parks. This is something I certainly don’t see going away.

Of course not everything that has changed will stay nor should it. These few examples are some aspects that came from COVID restrictions that could continue in the future.

Do you think any of these aspects should stay? Are there any examples I missed? Let us know in the comments!