Legoland Florida to reopen June 1, no face masks required

Legoland Florida is scheduled to reopen on June 1, 77 days after the coronavirus pandemic forced the Winter Haven park to close.

The park’s reopening plan had previously been endorsed by the Winter Haven City Commission before being sent to final approval to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“We’re ready to play, and we look forward to reopening Legoland Florida Resort as a safe and memorable place for families to play again,”Legoland Florida general manager Rex Jackson said in a press release.

The plan includes limiting the park to 50 percent of its capacity — around 6,000 guests — while encouraging physical distancing, adding hundreds of hand-sanitizing stations and requiring temperature checks for all employees and guests. Cash will no longer be accepted on property and character meet-and-greets will be suspended.

Operating hours will also be limited. The theme park will open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while daily hours at the Legoland Florida water park will be reduced to just four hours, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Unlike plans from Disney and Universal, however, Legoland Florida will not be requiring guests to wear face masks, only recommending that they be used.

“We recommend and encourage guests to bring and wear masks for everyone’s safety,” Legoland said on its website. “We will have disposable masks available for pick-up on-site as well. For the water park, masks are only recommended for use when they are dry.”

Legoland did not respond to two emails from Orlando Rising asking why the park is choosing only to recommend face masks rather than require them.

The June 1 reopening will also mark the debut of Legoland’s new Pirate Island Hotel. The third on-site hotel at the resort was originally set to debut in April and has been accepting reservations for the past year.

The 150 rooms at the hotel will feature a separate kids’ sleeping area with themed bunk beds and its own television, while the entire room will include “interactive Lego Pirate models throughout,” according to Legoland.

UPDATE: Gov. DeSantis approved Legoland Florida’s reopening plan on May 27.

“This is important not only for the 1,500 employees that represent the Legoland family but also residents of Polk County and Winter Haven, including the elected officials, who have reviewed and endorsed this reopening,” DeSantis spokesperson Helen Ferre said to the Orlando Sentinel.

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