SEAWORLD ALLOWS OUT-OF-STATE GUESTS
Guidelines now permit them if vaccinated; other parks restrict access to Calif. residents
In a break from other Southern California theme parks, SeaWorld decided this week to open its gates to out-of-state visitors who are vaccinated, saying that it’s now allowed under newly revised state COVID-19 guidelines.
Meanwhile, Legoland is restricting visitation to California residents, as are Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland, whose representatives said Wednesday that they are only allowing in-state visitors, based on their current reading of the guidelines.
Theme parks were thrown into a state of confusion this week when California public health officials quietly updated their statewide reopening blueprint, inserting an addendum noting that “fully vaccinated persons from out of state may visit or attend activities or events that are restricted to in-state visitors.” Guidance in the color-coded chart, though, still says for theme parks in the least restrictive orange and yellow tiers “in-state visitors only.”
Hence the confusion. But a California Department of Public Health spokesperson indicated Wednesday afternoon that SeaWorld’s interpretation was correct.
The department had not formally announced this week any change to its guidelines for theme parks. However, in an email it sent Wednesday responding to queries from the Union-Tribune about whether its addendum applied to theme parks, a department spokesperson clarified that the “addendum to the Blueprint grid permits fully vaccinated people from out of state to participate in activities restricted to in-state visitors. This includes theme parks.”
To become fully vaccinated, a person must wait two weeks after their final shot — their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or their one and only Johnson & Johnson dose.
The California Amusement
Parks and Attractions trade group, initially caught off guard Tuesday by SeaWorld’s move to allow out-of-state guests, was unaware at the time of any major change to theme park guidelines. It released a statement Wednesday confirming that the new addendum to COVID-19 reopening rules allows fully vaccinated individuals from out of state to visit California theme parks.
“As vaccinations become more widespread and state guidance evolves, individual parks may update their own responsible reopening plans in accordance with state and local public health regulations,” the association said.
Universal Studios Hollywood spokeswoman Audrey Eig offered a slightly revised statement based on the state addendum and comment made by the theme park association.
“While visitation to our theme park is currently available to California residents only, we are assessing next steps to implement changes to previously released guidance, and will share updated information when it becomes available,” she said.
Disney released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that “Until further notice, only California State residents are allowed to visit Disneyland Resort theme parks.”
Ever since the state announced last month it was accelerating the allowed reopening of theme parks, Southern California parks began preparing for their long-awaited return to business — albeit with capacity limits of 25 percent in the orange tier and 35 percent in yellow.
Legoland initially reopened for passholders April 1 — the first day California theme parks were allowed to resume operations following a more than yearlong closure due to the pandemic. Universal Studios Hollywood opened April 15 to passholders and April 16 to all other California visitors. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park are scheduled to open April 30.
SeaWorld, which has been open since early February under separate, more relaxed state guidelines for zoos, reopened its rides April 12. On Monday, it noted on its website that it was making a change for visitors from outside California, stating, “now outof-state visitors will be required to show proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their park visit (required for guests 3 & up). Guests may also be asked to present proof of residency upon entry.”
That verbiage, though, changed on Wednesday when SeaWorld removed the reference to allowing out-of-state visitors with a negative COVID-19 test. SeaWorld San Diego spokeswoman Tracy Spahr said the change was made to eliminate any confusion. “We updated our website to match the language in the addendum to be consistent and for clarity,” she said.
Todd Regan, who operates the theme park fan site MiceChat, said he suspects that the state’s decision to not call attention to the changed guidelines was deliberate and was done in the interest of safety.
“The addendum seems to have been slipped in under the radar and without additional clarification, leaving parks to make their own decision as to whether it applies to them or not,” he said. “I feel like it was done intentionally to prevent a flood of visitors. Theme parks seem to be thankful the state is allowing them to reopen finally so they’re doing their best to comply with all the guidelines so additional relaxing of restrictions will come sooner.”