Six Flags Announces Extensive New Safety Measures for Reopening Parks
May 26 2020 - 08:00AM
Business Wire
First Theme Park to Reopen June 5
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the world’s largest
regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks
in North America, today announced that Frontier City in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, will reopen with limited capacity beginning June 5,
2020. In accordance with Governor Stitt’s Open Up and Recover
Safely Plan (OURS), and following Mayor Holt’s recent proclamation
allowing businesses to reopen, the park will begin operating at
reduced attendance levels and will operate in a preview mode June
5-7 for Members and Season Pass Holders only. After a short initial
reopening phase, the park will gradually increase attendance levels
throughout the month. The park is implementing extensive new safety
measures and hygiene protocols, including several new advanced
technology systems to protect guests and employees.
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Social distancing markers will be placed
in all park entry, ride, restroom, retail locations, and dining
queue lines. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We are excited to welcome Oklahomans back to Frontier City as
we introduce new safety procedures for everyone’s protection. The
health and safety of our guests and team members remains our number
one priority,” said Frontier City General Manager Trevor Leonard.
“All government officials, along with city and county health
departments, have been extremely supportive of our efforts to
reopen in accordance with state and local guidelines.”
“Frontier City, like all Six Flags parks, is an outdoor
attraction that poses a significantly lower risk of exposure than
indoor venues. Our guests are not confined to one space for lengthy
periods. Guests move constantly throughout their experience; some
are riding rides, some are eating in restaurants, while others are
shopping in our souvenir stores, or playing games. Because our
parks cover dozens or even hundreds of acres, we can easily manage
guest throughput to achieve proper social distancing,” said Six
Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos. “We have developed a
comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes best practices
from theme park and waterpark industry experts, along with top
destination parks from around the world, which will allow guests to
experience our parks in the safest possible way. This ’new normal’
will be very different, but we believe these additional measures
are appropriate in the current environment.”
All parks will employ a sophisticated online reservation system
to manage attendance, schedule guests for entry by day, and stagger
arrival times to minimize proximity exposure. Other new
technologies include:
- State-of-the-art thermal imaging for temperature checks;
- Advanced security screening technology for touchless bag
checks; and
- Expanded mobile food ordering.
The park reopening plan, which the company developed with its
epidemiologist consultants, meets or exceeds federal, state, and
local guidelines. It sets standards for executing at the highest
levels of hygiene and social distancing protocols.
Health Screenings for Guests and Team
Members
- Contact-less IR thermal imaging will be used to screen
temperatures of guests and employees prior to entry; and
individuals will be asked if they are healthy and will be required
to acknowledge the company’s health policies;
- 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. Accommodations may be made on a case-by-case
basis for persons with disabilities, health concerns, religious
restrictions, or other circumstances that in Six Flags’ discretion
warrant a modification of this face mask requirement; and
- Any guest without a mask will be able to purchase one at the
front gate.
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; arcade games will be reconfigured or deactivated to
comply with social distancing requirements;
- Advanced security screenings will enable touchless bag
checks;
- Capacity at indoor venues will be reduced to meet social
distancing requirements; and
- Guests viewing outdoor entertainment will be separated by at
least six feet.
Extensive Sanitization and Disinfecting
Protocols
- Trained and dedicated cleaning teams have been put in
place;
- Increased sanitization and disinfecting of high touch points
including all public seating, tabletops, counters, doors, and trash
cans will occur frequently;
- Rides, restraints, and handrails will be cleaned throughout the
day;
- Restroom staff will be stationed to disinfect each stall and
sink area on a frequent basis;
- Multiple hand-washing and alcohol-based hand-sanitizer stations
will be located throughout the park; and
- All team member work areas will be regularly sanitized and
disinfected.
Sanitized Food Preparation and
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; and
- Beverages will be served by attendants, and guests will receive
any drink bottle refills in a paper cup each time they refill.
Commercial-Grade Cleaning Equipment and
Supplies
- All employees will be issued Team Member Action Packs which
will include: 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; and
- Queue line supplies, fencing, and tents will be in place to
promote safe social distancing.
Multi-Layered Guest and Team Member
Communication
- Frontline team members will go through extensive COVID-19
training;
- Safety messaging and reminders on Six Flags’ website,
newsletters, in-park announcements, and recorded phone messages
will occur frequently;
- Distance markers and physical distance indicators will be in
place;
- Informational safety signage is posted throughout the park;
and
- Handouts outlining guest screening processes and safety
procedures will be distributed at the Toll Plaza.
Park Reservations System to Manage
Attendance
Frontier City will be operating under state and local guidelines
for crowd capacity limits. The park has established attendance caps
that will be well below the park’s theoretical capacity in order to
allow for proper social distancing. All Members, Season Pass
holders and all guests with a single-day or group ticket will need
to make a reservation at www.sixflags.com/reserve. 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;
- Watch a brief video describing new social distancing and
sanitization procedures;
- Acknowledge their understanding of the company’s health policy;
and
- Order pre-paid parking, if they do not already have a parking
pass.
Guests will be contacted electronically (either by email, text
or both) the day before their scheduled visit to confirm their
intent to visit and their continued healthy status. Guests may
cancel their reservation without penalty any time before 8:00 a.m.
(local time) on the day of their scheduled visit. Diamond and
Diamond Elite Members will automatically be added to the priority
waitlist, and all Members and Season Pass Holders will receive
booking priority over single-day and group ticket buyers.
The Six Flags brand is synonymous with family fun and thrills
for all ages. These significant new changes are designed to improve
the overall park experience while keeping guests and employees
safe.
About Six Flags Entertainment
Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest
regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks
in North America, with 26 parks across the United States, Mexico
and Canada. For 58 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of
families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling
waterparks and unique attractions. For more information, visit
www.sixflags.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SixFlags
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags
About Frontier City
Oklahoma's biggest and best theme park is home to more than 40
acres of fun for the whole family. Featuring more than 60 rides,
shows, and attractions, guests can enjoy thrills for all ages
including the extreme loop coaster Diamondback and Oklahoma's only
suspended coaster, the Steel Lasso. Frontier City is the premier
theme park for families to make memories together.
Facebook: @frontiercitythemepark
Instagram: @frontiercityokc
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