Ride enthusiasts who show up to Six Flags Magic Mountain on reopening weekend can expect their favorite coasters to be running with longer-than-usual socially distanced lines and half-full ride vehicles as employees adjust to the new normal of running a theme park.
The message here is simple: Be patient. Most of us haven’t been in a theme park in over a year. Enjoy it. And remember many Magic Mountain employees haven’t been to work in a year either and they have a ton of new procedures to master. Be kind. Don’t complain. And have fun. No matter how long it takes to get on Tatsu, Twisted Colossus or X2.
SEE ALSO: When California theme parks will reopen
Six Flags Magic Mountain will be one of the first California amusement parks to reopen on Thursday, April 1 — joined by Legoland California in Carlsbad, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Universal Studios Hollywood (April 16), Disneyland (April 30) and other California parks will return at later dates.
The Valencia amusement park will reopen for season passholders and members today, April 1 and Friday, April 2 before swinging open the gates to the general public on Saturday, April 3.
California theme parks have been closed since March 2020 under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Magic Mountain held a series of drive-thru events without coasters or rides during the pandemic closure.
California theme parks can reopen on April 1 with rides and attractions provided the counties they reside in reach the red/substantial tier 2 risk status of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s updated Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Magic Mountain’s advance reservations for April 1 and 2 had reached capacity and April 3 was mostly booked before Los Angeles County was cleared to move from the red to the orange tier. Magic Mountain could release additional reservations under the increased capacity limits.
SEE ALSO: No screaming on California roller coasters and thrill rides, state guidelines say
California theme parks can reopen at 15% attendance capacity in the red/substantial tier 2, 25% capacity in the orange/moderate tier 3 and 35% capacity in the least-restrictive yellow/minimal tier 4.
What is Magic Mountain’s maximum attendance capacity? Park officials won’t say, but Magic Mountain would run out of parking long before the park hit capacity. And Magic Mountain has a lot of parking.
Magic Mountain drew about 3.6 million visitors in 2019, according to Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM. The Mountain moved to 365-day year-round operations in 2018 — meaning the park attracts just under 10,000 visitors on an average day.
Magic Mountain’s maximum capacity is approximately 65,000 visitors, according to the Park Database, which collects data on the attractions industry. Magic Mountain could allow in just under 10,000 visitors at 15% capacity and just over 15,000 at 25% capacity, based on the Park Database estimates.
Regardless of the capacity levels, expect Magic Mountain to feel a little empty by design when the 260-acre park first reopens. The goal is make visitors feel safe and comfortable as they adjust to the new normal.
SEE ALSO: How Disneyland rides will change under COVID-19 state guidelines
Single-day visitors, passholders and members will be required to make advance online reservations.
Advance reservation — limited only to California residents — will only be available online at the Magic Mountain website. Zip codes will be verified online and IDs will be checked at the park entrance. No tickets will be available at the front gate due to the state’s COVID-19 mandates. Reservations will have staggered arrival times designed to reduce crowding at the front gate.
Regular visitors will be greeted by a new arrival procedure. Visitors will walk through a tunnel where temperatures are automatically checked without any need to slow down or stop. A walk-thru security screening area will employ blade-like metal detectors that don’t require visitors to remove their belongings from their pockets. Any visitors who trigger concerns at the temperature and security checkpoints will be directed to secondary screening areas.
SEE ALSO: Disneyland unveils plans for theme park, retail and parking expansion
Once inside the park, visitors will find COVID-19 health and safety reminders everywhere they look.
Do the Six signs will remind visitors to follow the now-familiar COVID-19 health and safety protocols with required masks, social distancing, enhanced sanitization, hand washing and cough covering. The sixth reminder: Have fun.
Ground markers will keep parties socially distanced in ride queues. Plexiglass dividers have been added to front gate turnstiles, cash registers, food pickup areas and anywhere visitors and employees might come in close contact.
Most of Magic Mountain’s major rides will be running, though six attractions won’t reopen as soon as the park returns. The Batman coaster is getting painted while the Crazanity pendulum swing and Whistlestop Train kiddie ride are undergoing maintenance. The Looney Tunes Lodge play structure and Jammin’ Bumpers bumper cars don’t lend themselves very well to COVID-19 restrictions. The Tidal Wave water ride will remain closed.
SEE ALSO: California theme parks must close some indoor rides and shows, state guidelines say
A few attractions with indoor queues — Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom drop tower, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis dark ride and the Apocalypse, Superman: Escape from Krypton and West Coast Racers coasters — will employ outdoor queues.
Most rides will load every other row or limit one group per ride vehicle to maintain social distancing. Families and groups will be seated together in consecutive rows.
Riders who lose their masks will be provided new ones. Plus the park will sell themed masks.
Despite the capacity limited crowds, expect socially distanced ride queues to look a lot longer than normal. Magic Mountain’s operations team plans to run as many ride vehicles as possible to offset the lower ride capacity levels due to social distancing. Ride operators will be watching loading issues closely during the opening weekend and will make adjustments to improve load and wait times.
Rides will be sanitized frequently — which will likely slow load and lengthen wait times.
Front-of-line Flash passes won’t be sold when the park returns, but will be available soon.
SEE ALSO: Say goodbye to single rider lines at California theme parks
Additional tables have been set up throughout the park to facilitate increased outdoor dining. Eateries with indoor tables have moved the seating outdoors. The Full Throttle Sports Bar will not reopen immediately.
Capacity will be limited in shops and not all retail locations will be open based on the limited daily attendance.
No character meet-and-greet opportunities will be available when the park first reopens.
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