SANDUSKY, Ohio — Although it remains unclear when Cedar Point will open for the 2020 season, we now know more of the company’s plan to keep park guests safe during their next visit.
Cedar Fair, the parent company of Cedar Point and Kings Island, has expanded their mobile apps to “enable a safe and efficient park reopening experience.” Company officials say these changes will allow each of their parks "to open with capacity limitations and processes in compliance with state and local health guidelines, while enhancing the guest experience overall."
The new safety plan involving Cedar Fair's enhanced app technology is outlined with the following key aspects…
PLANNING AND PREPARATION:
- Guests can make their required reservations online or through the mobile app, reserving a specific day and time to visit the park based upon capacity availability. The guest will receive a time-bound entry voucher, which will automatically appear in the guest’s mobile app when they are logged in.
- Guests who have purchased a season pass will be able to process their passes through the website or mobile app, rather than visiting the pass processing center within the park.
- Park mobile apps and websites will be enhanced with thorough information to prepare guests for changes the will see at the parks.
ARRIVAL AND ENTRY:
- Upon arrival, the guest’s reservation will be confirmed and their ticket / season pass scanned.
- All guests entering the parks will be required to complete an initial health check; guests with the park’s mobile app can complete most aspects of the health questionnaire online prior to visiting.
- Targeted messages delivered through the mobile app will remind guests of new processes and procedures; in addition, the app will provide real time alerts regarding any capacity constraints that may affect their visit.
ENJOYING THE PARK:
- Enhanced cashless payment methods are being introduced to reduce touchpoints and expenses, as well as improve efficiency and throughput.
- Mobile food ordering is being expanded to at least four parks in 2020 to improve guest service and eliminate long lines at selected food locations.
- The mobile app’s mapping and wayfinding modules, which already allow guests to easily find things like restrooms and phone charging stations, are being leveraged to monitor potential overcrowding in various areas of the park throughout the day; this will help determine where to deploy crowd control measures and enable appropriate social distancing. These modules will also direct guests to the closest hand sanitizing stations.
EXITING THE PARK
- Enhanced guest surveys will provide the park with firsthand feedback about their visit and the updated protocols and processes for continuous improvement.
- Location services on the mobile app will be able to help manage guest flow and maximize park capacity without sacrificing safety.
“The safety of our guests and associates has always been, and will always be, our highest priority,” Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman said. “I’m pleased that our internal health and safety experts, as well as state and local government officials, have informed the development and implementation of these technology enhancements, which when combined with our other in-park safety procedures being implemented, should help renew the public’s confidence when visiting the parks.”
Zimmerman recently announced other safety measures -- including capacity limits, virtual queue lines and enhanced cleaning efforts -- that could be implemented once Cedar Fair’s parks are clear to open.
Earlier this week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said, "We're certainly not there yet," in regard to Cedar Point's reopening. He’s expected to address the reopening process on amusement parks next week.
Cedar Point was originally slated to open for its 2020 season on May 9. Although the park is still aiming to reopen at some point this year, the park has postponed all of their 150th anniversary season festivities and attractions until 2021.
MORE COVERAGE:
- RELATED: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to address Cedar Point, other amusement parks, zoos next week
- RELATED: Conneaut Lake Park cancels 2020 season amid coronavirus
- RELATED: Gov. Mike DeWine reveals thoughts on reopening Cedar Point: 'We're certainly not there yet'
- RELATED: Cedar Point awarding 10 ‘everyday heroes’ with lifetime tickets: Nominate a hero
- RELATED: Cedar Point postpones opening of new ride, all 150th anniversary festivities until 2021 season
- RELATED: Cedar Point plans to open ‘as soon as it is safe’ later this year: ‘We will ride again soon’
- RELATED: Take a virtual ride on every Cedar Point roller coaster while the park remains closed due to coronavirus