Are you planning on going on a roller coaster in California any time soon?
If you are, I have some good news and some bad news for you.
Good news: amusement parks in California will re-open in April.
One example (after one-year with closed gates) is Disneyland Adventure Park, which is planning to reopen on April 30, 2021. Additionally, Six Flags Magic Mountain will be opening its Valencia theme park to pass holders on April 1 and to non-pass holders on April 3 [1].
Of course, this sounds amazing! We can finally go on a roller coaster, woo-hoo! Are you ready for the bad news? You can’t scream.
Unfortunately for thrill-seekers, their favorite roller coaster is no longer a place where they can express their amusement.
COVID-19 affects roller coasters too
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you may have heard of a little thing called COVID-19. The virus that started overseas spread to the rest of the world in late 2019/early 2020, causing a global pandemic to start in March 2020.
For this reason, all businesses have had to adjust their operations to amp up safety measures for their staff and customers. Unfortunately, for places that draw in a large crowd (like amusement parks), restrictions need to be stricter to keep everyone safe.
Consequently, the operation of every roller coaster within California amusement parks has to adjust to new regulations, which include no screaming or singing.
California’s Attractions and Parks Association’s responsible reopening plan [2] encourages park officials to ask riders to significantly reduce the amount of screaming they do while on the ride.
With this in mind, I don’t know how many people would go. I know I couldn’t go on a roller coaster without screaming. However; if some of you can, go for it!
To ride a roller coaster here’s what you have to do
Here are some other restrictions that you will need to follow before getting on a California roller coaster:
- You may be required to wear a mask at all times in the park, including all rides.
- There will most likely be limited seating or modification of where riders are allowed to sit.
- Parks will have a limited capacity, so you will need to reserve your spot ahead of time.
So there you have it, no screaming on the roller coaster. Easier said than done!
Keep Reading: Scientists Explain How Intuition May Be The Highest Form of Intelligence
Sources
- “California theme parks can soon reopen, but please don’t scream on the rides, industry group asks.” ABC 7. March 18, 2021.
- Re-Open CA Amusement Park