After a year of closing, California theme parks are taking all the precautions to safely welcome guests back. 

On March 30, the County of Los Angeles Public Health, announced that Los Angeles has now met the less restrictive orange tier. This now means different restrictions are put into place and more businesses can begin to open up. Within the first week of April, theme parks reopened. 

“I think this will be a super fun way for teens to venture out into “normal life” again,” junior Tia Jarrett said. “It will be really good for people who have struggled to be social during quarantine.”

Six Flags Magic Mountain announced reopened April 1 for passholders and starting April 3, they welcomed California residents. Universal Studios Hollywood reopened on April 16 but pass members have been allowed to enter the park since April 15. Disneyland will reopen on April 30. Each of these three parks will only allow 25% capacity and reservations are required. You can make a park reservation online on the theme parks’ websites. 

As for the safety guidelines, all three parks have similar steps to keep everyone in the park safe. Face masks are required all the time, unless you are actively eating or drinking. Six Flags Magic Mountain even offers a “mask break zone.” When entering the theme parks, you are required to have your temperature taken. There are markings on the floor that are spaced out between parties while waiting for the rides. There are also hand sanitizers placed all around the parks to encourage guests to sanitize their hands as much as possible. 

“I feel like it (theme parks reopening) will make teens happy because they get to spend time together and do fun things,” freshman Daniel Hernandez said. 

When students heard about theme parks reopening, it brought some hope that things are slowly returning to normal. Some students even went as far as planning some days to go and spend time with their family or friends. 

“I’m sure that since they are reopening that my family and I will be going again to Six Flags, I feel many teens think the same,” senior August DeFore said.