Phones are whipped out as people make their way towards the entrance of Universal Studios Singapore (USS) at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). But the first image they snap isn’t that of the iconic rotating globe; it’s a SafeEntry QR code.
After closing its doors for some two months during the circuit breaker, the amusement park finally reopened July 1 – alongside enhanced safety measures including social distancing guidelines, the compulsory use of face masks, and temperature checks.
But how does a visit to the theme park look like during this new normal? The Time Out Singapore team heads down to find out.
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Entry to USS is only available via advance ticket sales on its website. For those with open-date tickets and annual or season passes, reservations have to be made online, too.
Do note that the park has revised its operating hours as well. It currently operates from Thursdays to Sundays, 2pm to 9pm. Tickets for locals are priced at a discounted rate of $59 from now till July 31.
Unless you’re a one-eyed minion or a talking cat in boots, you need to wear a face mask at all times. This applies to park-goers and staff members alike. And yes, the face mask has to stay on even while you’re zipping through the Battlestar Galactica or snapping a photo during a meet-and-greet. You are, however, allowed to scream to your heart's content.
In a bid to prevent large crowds from forming, all stage shows, indoor shows, and other performances have been temporarily suspended. Shrek 4-D Adventure is also closed for the time being. Meet-and-greet sessions still take place throughout the park and remain the only way for you to get up-close (but not too close) with your favourite characters.
Alas, safe distancing measures apply to the Minions, too. Beyond keeping at least one metre away from other park-goers, you also need to respect the boundaries of the characters. At meet-and-greet sessions, selfies can only be taken from a distance. And the staff will not be able to help you take a picture, either. So your best bet is to bring along a selfie stick.
When in line for rides, stand within the markers on the floor. Most rides are operating at a reduced capacity, with seats blocked out to ensure distance is maintained between park visitors. "We wipe down our ride vehicles, including seats and harnesses, after every use," shares a spokesperson from RWS. The cleaning takes place between each ride – which could result in a slightly longer wait time for park-goers.
USS has implemented a new queue system that helps prevent long lines from forming. For popular attractions, visitors can grab a coupon from the staff; each will state a time for the guest to return, thus preventing the formation of huge crowds. We heard from a staff member that there are also plans in the pipeline to create a virtual queue system that can be accessed via a mobile application.
High-contact points, including railings and the handlebars of trash bins are lined with an anti-microbial coating. Hand sanitiser dispensers have also been installed at various parts of the parks.
Want to see how that adorable Elmo headband that caught your eye will look on your head? Accessory samples are available for guests to try but come lined with plastic to enable easy sanitising between use. Transactions are conducted behind screen guards and contactless payment is encouraged.
Large crowds are no longer a concern now that the park is running on "social distancing-friendly capacity". Grabbing unobstructed pictures of the castle and attractions has never been easier. There's no need to wait in line for the washroom, either. But the usual buzz of a theme park – the screams, the noise, the street performances – are noticeably absent.
With a thinner crowd, the queues at each ride are definitely shorter. But with the stepped-up cleaning procedures, and social distancing reducing the capacity of rides, wait time still averages to some 40 minutes for popular attractions.
Still, after months of hunkering down at home, it's heartening to see a semblance of normalcy returning. An RWS representative shares: "We know that many families, friends, and theme park fans are looking forward ... to relive the moments they have missed out on in the past few months."
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