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ABC News
ABC News
Health
By Tim Swanston

Please don't hug Bugs Bunny: What you need to know about theme parks reopening

Movie World will open on July 15.

Since March, Superman has been holed up in his Fortress of Solitude, trying to stop world threats over Zoom and probably baking sourdough.

But he'll shortly be out and back at a Gold Coast theme park soon, with all the major parks reopening in the coming weeks.

To avoid you and Wonder Woman catching coronavirus, there are some COVID-19 safe measures you'll need to adhere to if you're planning on visiting.

Here's what you can expect.

What's reopening?

Village Roadshow are reopening their line of parks from June 26, starting with Sea World and later moving onto Movie World and Wet'n'Wild on July 15.

The company is taking a "conservative approach" to reopening and will operate at half-capacity.

Ardent Leisure, which operates Dreamworld and Whitewater World, has said reopening dates for its parks would be confirmed in the coming weeks as it waited on more information on the opening of Queensland's border.

The basics

Before you go, you'll need to download an app for your entry tickets to limit contact with staff and to assist in contact tracing.

That same app will be used to allow you to virtually queue and pre-book your spot on a ride, so you're not standing around in a line with other groups.

Speaking of groups, your family or group is allowed to hang together and hop on rides as usual, but you'll need to be spaced 1.5 metres from the next group anywhere in the theme park, including on rides.

Please don't hug Bugs Bunny

After you've finished experiencing the joys (or terrors) of high-speed propulsion on an elevated railroad track, the ride will be cleaned and sanitised before the next group can hop on.

The spacing of people will depend on each different ride, but at minimum there'll be a 1.5-metre space between you and someone not in your group.

There'll also be increased sanitisation of "high-touch points" throughout the park and of attractions.

Leave your cash at home, as contactless payment anywhere throughout the park is encouraged.

If you were hoping to get up close and personal with your favourite character, tough luck — even Roadrunner can't escape coronavirus.

Characters will be behind a barricade of sorts to ensure physical distancing, so if you want a selfie, bring a stick or maybe ask someone you live with to take a snap.

Water fountains and printed park maps will also be removed.

Also, be prepared for some shows to be temporarily cancelled.

Village Roadshow is aiming to return to full visitor capacity by the September school holidays.

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