COVID-19 notes: Epic Universe delayed, not dead / Disney Springs’ next reopening phase

The coronavirus pandemic may have delayed construction on Universal Orlando’s third theme park, Epic Universe, but the resort’s parent company still believes in it.

Not all construction on Epic Universe will be halted, as some road work and site preparation will continue. In a virtual interview at the J.P. Morgan Investor Conference, Comcast chief financial officer Mike Cavanagh said “confidence is high” in the expansion, but the rest of the work will wait until the economy begins to recover from the sudden impact of the pandemic.

“All things considered, it’s a big capital swing, so better to really march forward with that when we have just a bit more visibility on what’s going on with the economy post-COVID,” Cavanagh said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “I can’t tell you when that’s going to be when we revisit it.”

Epic Universe, located on a 750-acre parcel of land near the Orange County Convention Center, was officially announced last August. Universal later revealed it would house the Orlando version of Super Nintendo World.

The park was originally scheduled to open in 2023. While Universal and Comcast have not given an updated timeline since announcing the construction delay, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings quoted Universal officials saying it would be pushed back one year.

Report: Some Disney-owned shops, restaurants to begin reopening May 27

A week after Disney Springs begins its phased reopening, some Disney-owned shops and restaurants will join locations owned by third parties in welcoming back guests.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the May 27 reopening will include the World of Disney store, along with other, unspecified Disney-owned retail and dining locations.

Eric Clinton, president of Unite Here Local 362, said custodians will be among the first to return to work to prepare the shopping and dining district. 117 custodians will report for duty on May 16 — ahead of the May 20 reopening — followed by another 59 on May 24.

Disney Springs has been closed since March 17. With the COVID-19 pandemic far from over, the complex will incorporate new safety requirements.

All guests and employees will be required to wear masks, temperature checks will be done before entry and capacity and seating will be limited to allow for social distancing. Plexiglass dividers will also be installed at registers and guests will have to swipe their own credit cards.

Similar procedures are being implemented at Universal CityWalk, which will begin its own limited reopening Thursday.

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