When the coronavirus pandemic really began to hit the United States in March 2020, most of us had a vague idea that this might all be over "soon." Soon means different things to different people, but it's safe to say that many people probably assumed we would be back to "normal" life in a month or two. Ebola never became the threat in this country that many people worried it would, and a lot of people probably figured the coronavirus would play out about the same way.
As we all know now, a full year after people really began to worry that this thing could be serious after all, the coronavirus is going steady. Case numbers and death rates in the United States are horrifying, and many of us have spent most of our days at home, with a goal of protecting the most people.
But there's another side to this experience, and it begins with the fact that many people want to understand what is and is not safe during the coronavirus crisis. If you had told me a year ago I would be taking my child to Universal Studios during a global pandemic, I would have been appalled. But when I had the opportunity to go this year, I just decided to take it; it was a calculated risk, and I was willing to assume full responsibility for what could happen.
I'm not a medical expert or even a health professional, and nothing in this piece should be taken as medical advice. But I am a mom who had an opportunity to give her kid a giant chunk of joy after an intense year, and I decided to take it. I learned that with a little thought and planning, it's possible to get out and do more than you might think.
How To Prepare for a Universal Studios Trip During Coronavirus
I knew that if we were going to take a trip like this during the pandemic, we would need to be extra smart. I sat down weeks before the trip and really planned out what I thought would work, including extra precautions. I chatted to a few friends who are health professionals and then basically closed my eyes and hoped for the best. Here are a few things we did:
- Booked an Airbnb instead of a hotel
- Packed a box of vinyl gloves and three-ply disposable masks
- Packed two giant bottles of hand sanitizer
- Packed our two-ply cloth face masks
- Made sure we had Express Passes to minimize our time waiting in lines
- Planned the trip for midweek during the off-season
- Quarantined at home for two weeks (only seeing our small bubble, who knew about our plans) before heading out
- Drove to Orlando instead of flying
Tip 1: Bring Disposable Face Masks
When I was looking online for other stories from families who have visited Universal Studios during the coronavirus crisis, the same tip kept emerging: wear disposable face masks. There are a few key reasons why people made this recommendation over and over again.
For starters, the masks are three-ply, which makes them safer against viral particles. People also noted that cloth masks (and your skin underneath) start to feel pretty grimy when you're wearing them all day in the sun. The weather was pretty perfect when we visited (low 80s and sunny), but we were still hot, smelly, and tired by the end of the day. While I prefer cotton masks because they breathe better, I appreciate the disposable masks because you can make sure they're securely attached over the bridge of your nose.
We decided against double masking once we got to the park and saw how few people were really there, but if I went during spring break or the summer, I would definitely wear a disposable mask covered by a cotton face mask, just to be even more safe.
Tip 2: Bring Your Own Hand Sanitizer
The team at Universal Studios is extremely diligent about making sure every guest gets hand sanitizer before and after each ride, but I was happy that we brought our own, too. For starters, maybe I don't need to, but I prefer a solid two to three pumps of sanitizer each time I use it, and the Universal team is generally dishing out one per person. Being able to pull out my own sanitizer just made me feel safer and cleaner.
It's also useful when you sit down to eat and realize that there's not a bathroom, handwashing station, or sanitizer nearby. It's just an added convenience, and I simply carried the sanitizer in my backpack all day and pulled it out when someone wanted it.
Tip 3: Pay Attention to the Social Distancing Markers
It's possible we just got lucky, or it's possible that planning our trip for the middle of the week in February was just a really smart move. Either way, the weather was perfect and the park wasn't full of people — not even close. It was tough to find out what Universal's capacity limit is these days before we got there, so we decided that if we arrived and it felt too crowded at any point, we would just leave. That's not an ideal scenario since tickets are expensive, but we chose to prioritize feeling and being safe over the financial hit.
Happily, the social distancing markers at Universal Studios made it really easy to keep ourselves away from others and vice-versa. We spent six hours in the park and never felt too close to anyone at all. Simply paying attention and following the rules helped us have a great time.
Tip 4: Go Easy on Your Kids
Taking trips to places like Universal Studios is super fun, but it can be a little stressful, especially if taking the trip comes with a bit of a financial hit in the process. Many parents know that the combination of being outside in the sun all day, being sweaty and probably a little dehydrated, and spending way more money than you expected inside the park can all add up to a day that isn't as great as it could be.
I went into this trip planning to be as chill as possible with my son, both because I wanted us to have the best time possible and for another huge reason: This trip was, by far, the biggest activity we had undertaken since March 2020. We went from traveling regularly throughout the year and spending significant time in some of the biggest, most populated cities in the world to … hanging out at our home, getting in touch with friends via the internet.
So when my son had a genuine anxiety attack in the middle of the day, it took me a second to realize that the overstimulation he was experiencing at the park was probably a huge reason why. While I hadn't been stressed, and I made sure not to make him feel forced to ride anything he didn't want to, I hadn't accounted for the fact that just being around that many people — even without the park being full — was a lot for him to process.
The short version: go easy on your kids. They've been through a lot in the last year, too.
Tip 5: Don't Forget To Have Fun!
It might sound cheesy, but the most important thing you can do if you're going to Universal Studios — or any kind of theme park — right now is to remember that it's supposed to be fun. I don't know about you, but fun has definitely felt like it's in short supply, and it was incredibly freeing to walk around the park, to see Harry Potter stuff and squeal, and to watch my kid and his friend enjoy themselves and just be kids.
Sure, things are different. You have to order lunch through an app. You have to wear masks. You can't get too close to other people you don't know. But a lot is still the same, and joy and fun can still be found and celebrated.
