CA OK's Indoor Rides At Theme Parks, But Guests Must Mask Up

CALIFORNIA — Visiting a theme park in California will be a different experience in 2021. The state released further guidance on reopening theme parks just a week before they would be allowed to reopen.

Newly released guidelines say that theme parks can resume the operation of indoor rides that take 15 minutes or less to complete. Riders must wear masks and all lines should be outdoors, the state said.

This isn't great news for rides like Disneyland's "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance," which runs for about 18 minutes, according to Touringplans.com. The ride had just debuted in the park's Galaxy's Edge in January of last year.

Any ride "where use of face coverings presents a safety issue or high incidence of loss of face-covering during operation," should be discontinued, the state said. Also, masks must be given to anyone who loses their covering on a ride.

All workers and parkgoers must wear a face-covering except while eating and drinking — and eating will be strictly limited to dining areas, the state said. Performers, however, can remove their facemasks as long as they are 6 feet away from anyone else.

Parks across the state can open to a maximum of 15 percent capacity if they operate in a county that is in the red tier. Parks in orange tier counties can allow 25 percent capacity.

As of Sunday, 82 percent of Californians were living under the red tier and 10 percent were living under orange tier restrictions. Just 6 percent of the population remained in the purple tier, where no parks are permitted to open.

Six Flags Magic Mountain was expected to reopen Thursday while Disneyland announced plans to reopen April 30.

Disneyland Resort closed its main gates more than one year ago for the temporary shut down to do their part in slowing the spread of coronavirus. Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have remained shuttered for a year, with a small portion reopening to dining and shopping options, only within the Downtown Disney District.

"The day all of us have long been waiting for is almost here," said Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort. "We're excited to have more than 10,000 cast members returning to work as we get ready to welcome our guests back to this happy place."

SEE ALSO: Disneyland Resort Reopens April 30 After Over 1 Year Of Shutdown

Universal Studios Hollywood reportedly plans to open in late April and Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park could reopen in May.

To start off, only California residents will be allowed to enter the Golden State's theme parks.

Here are some of the latest theme park guidelines released by the California Department of Public Health:

• Indoor rides must be limited to no more than 15 minutes.
• All queuing must be performed in outdoor settings only and guests from different households or other parties must be at least six feet apart during queuing.

• Board household members in the same vehicle when possible. Passengers from different households must be at least six feet apart.
• Adjust seat-loading patterns, as needed, to comply with physical distancing requirements. Examples would include seating every other ride vehicle or vehicle row, further limiting capacity on a ride to allow for space between household groups, etc.
• Discontinue use of a ride or attraction where use of face coverings presents a safety issue or high incidence of loss of face covering during operation.
• Face coverings must be made available to visitors who lose their face coverings during a ride or attraction.
• Occupancy limits are based on the fire department occupant limit. If no fire department occupant limit is available for the total facility, the operating design capacity will be used as the basis for determining the reduced capacity.
• Park visitors are permitted to eat and drink only in designated dining areas.
• Concession stands must be accompanied by additional designated and shaded eating areas. Food and/or drink consumption is NOT permitted while queuing or using rides and attractions, including cinematic attractions.

As coronavirus cases continue to remain low and vaccinations rise, the state is loosening restrictions all over.

On Friday, California gave the green light for graduation ceremonies to resume — with precautions.

For all ceremonies, attendees and graduates will need to be 6-feet apart, which means handshaking and hugs "should not occur," according to the California Department of Public Health.

Also, graduating seniors may be discouraged from cap throwing, an age-old tradition that isn't considered sanitary in the age of coronavirus. The state says graduates should limit the "sharing or exchanging of materials," such as caps, programs, gifts or flowers.

READ MORE: No Handshakes: CA To Allow Modified Graduation Ceremonies

California coronavirus data as of Sunday:

• 3,562,191 confirmed cases to date.

• 2,998 newly recorded confirmed cases Saturday.

• 1.7% is the 7-day positivity rate.

• 53,384,553 tests have been conducted in California.

• 57,746 COVID-19 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic.

• 17,136,841 vaccine doses have been administered statewide.