JACKSON – Six Flags Great Adventure announced a July 3 opening for members and season pass holders, and July 4 for the general public.
Gov. Phil Murphy gave the approval for amusement parks to reopen, and provided guidelines for safety. Until now, only the Safari was open at Six Flags, and it was self-guided like it was years ago.
The park announced that there will be new health procedures and ways to allow parkgoers to social distance. They also noted that they might change procedures on an as-needed basis to comply with state recommendations.
For example, thermal imaging will be used for temperature checks. Screening technology will allow for touchless bag checks. Mobile food ordering will reduce interaction with staff.
There will be an online reservation system to keep track of attendance, and to schedule guests for when they enter. This way they will arrive at staggered time and reduce exposure.
While these new regulations might make for a different experience, park management said that it’s the safest way to proceed. Some rides, retail and food locations might not be available upon opening. The park team will open additional attractions as they become available.
“We have developed a comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes protocols designed by theme park and waterpark industry experts, along with best practices from top destination parks from around the world, which will allow guests to experience our parks in the safest way possible. This ’new normal’ will be different in some ways, but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment,” said Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos. Reopening procedures include:
Health Screenings
- Contactless infra-red thermal imaging will be used to screen temperatures of guests and employees prior to entry.
- Individuals will be required to acknowledge and abide by the company’s health policies, which prohibit park entry if guests have recently been exposed to or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
- Following CDC guidelines, all guests over the age of two and all team members will be required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth throughout their visit/work day. The park will also offer “mask break zones” in select locations to provide socially-distanced areas for guests who wish to temporarily remove their masks.
- Masks will be available for sale at the front gate for any guest without one.
- Masks will not be required on waterslides, water attractions, or in pools.
Strictly Enforced Social Distancing
- Easy to identify distance markers will be added in all park entry, ride, restroom, retail locations, and dining queue lines.
- Dining areas will be adjusted to allow ample space between seated parties.
- Guests will be separated by empty rows and/or seats on all roller coasters, rides, and attractions.
- Six-foot viewing areas will be marked for guests to observe game play while adhering to social distancing requirements.
- Advanced security screenings will enable touchless bag checks.
- Guests viewing outdoor entertainment will be separated by at least six feet.
- Capacity at indoor venues and on some attractions, including the Wave Pool and Lazy River, will be reduced to meet social distancing requirements.
- Guests will be allowed to ride on a tube with family/group members, but will not be allowed to share a tube with those not in their immediate party.
- A limited number of complimentary lifejackets will be available upon request; however, families are encouraged to provide their own coast-guard approved lifejackets for children under 42 inches, or those who are not strong swimmers. All Hurricane Harbor lifejackets will be sanitized after every guest use.
Extensive Sanitization
- Trained and dedicated cleaning teams have been put in place.
- Rides, restraints, and handrails will be cleaned throughout the day.
- Team members will frequently sanitize and disinfect high-touch points, including the following, such as seats, tables, doors, and trash cans.
- Restroom staff will be stationed to disinfect each stall, sink, and shower area on a frequent basis.
- Multiple hand-washing and alcohol-based hand-sanitizer stations will be located throughout the parks.
- All team member work areas will be regularly sanitized and disinfected.
Food Service
- Modified menus and implementation of mobile food ordering will help facilitate touchless transactions.
- Self-service buffets and salad bars will be reconfigured to eliminate guest contact with food.
- Condiments, self-serve cutlery, and napkins will be provided to guests with their meals as required.
- Beverages will be served by attendants; any drink bottle refills will be served in a paper cup each time guests refill.
Cleaning And Distancing
- All employees will be issued Team Member Action Packs which will include the following items: a safety face mask, safety glasses, and disposable gloves.
- Low pressure backpack sprayers will be utilized for disinfecting large areas.
- Abundant supplies of sanitizers and disinfectants will be available.
- Microfiber cloths will be used to sanitize surfaces.
- Queue line supplies, fencing, and tents will be in place to promote safe social distancing.
- Frontline team members will go through extensive COVID-19 training.
- Safety messaging and reminders will be displayed on Six Flags’ website, and in newsletters.
- Distance markers and physical distance indicators will be in place.
- Informational safety signage will be posted throughout the park.
Attendance
Great Adventure will set attendance caps to a limit that would allow people to social distance. All Members, Season Pass Holders and all guests with a single-day or group ticket will need to make a reservation at sixflags.com/reserve. Guests who need single day tickets will be able to reserve during the purchase process. The process will take 5-7 minutes, and guests will complete the following steps:
- Enter their online order number, ticket number or Membership/Season Pass number.
- Select the day and the approximate time they want to visit.
- Acknowledge their understanding of the company’s health policy.
- Order pre-paid parking, if they do not already have a parking pass.
- Watch a brief video describing new social distancing and sanitization procedures.
The park’s website and social media channels will announce the reservation system’s launch date. Guests will be contacted electronically (either by email, text or both) the day before their scheduled visit to confirm their intent to visit. All Members and Season Pass Holders will receive booking priority over single-day and group ticket buyers.
“Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor are beloved outdoor destinations for so many in the northeast, and we look forward to welcoming families back to our parks. The safety of our guests and team members remains our number one priority, and the new safety guidelines we have put in place are designed to create a safe environment for everyone,” said Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor Park President John Winkler. “We greatly appreciate the support of Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, Deputy Chief of Staff Mike DeLamater, Senate President Steve Sweeney, the New Jersey Amusement Association, and Governor Phil Murphy throughout this reopening process.”
