Here’s what boarding a theme park ride might be like in the near future

Face mask, check. Use of hand sanitizer, check. Empty seats around me, check. Now, it’s time for the wildest ride in the wilderness.

The use of face masks, social distancing and the use of hand sanitizers before and after riding a theme park attraction are just some of the recommendations the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions has in a new Reopening Guidance report.

The trade group representing over 6,000 amusement industry members worldwide released the 36-page reopening guidance for attractions earlier this week filled with recommendations for new procedures and policies, including ride operations as parks start to reopen with no vaccine to the coronavirus.

The plan, developed with consultation of an epidemiologist addresses all aspects of a park’s operation from selling tickets to proper storage.

We might see some of these procedures as Shanghai Disneyland starts its phased reopening on May 11. Some of these issues were also addressed by Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pam Hymel.

“These principles are designed for opening once government officials remove ‘stay-at- home’ orders, allow non-essential businesses to reopen, and say it is safe for citizens to move around their community. As a result, these guidelines are based on the knowledge that some carriers of COVID-19 show no symptoms,” according to the IAAPA document.

Let’s take a walk through the line toward the ride, based on IAAPA recommendations.

• Ideally, virtual queue systems should be used where possible. Once you get to the ride there would be designations on the ground of where you and your party can stand to maintain the 6-feet social distance. Forget the old prompts directing you to keep up with the people in front and to fill in all the available space. Also, some of the queue lines, with a lot of switchbacks, might need to be redone since physical distance also means side to side and not just front and back. You might also be asked to use a hand sanitizer before entering the line.

• You very well might be wearing a face mask/covering on some rides. The IAAPA recommends it to reduce the likelihood of airborne virus droplets transferring from one person to another during the ride. They should also be worn when interacting with employees and in areas where it would be difficult to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others including in elevators, indoor locations, or in other confined spaces.

Parks will need to evaluate the speed and other dynamics of an attraction to make sure masks and face oversing of various types (i.e. common surgical masks with loops around ears, masks/ face coverings with a strap what goes around the back of the head, fabric tied around head) can be safely worn and secured on rides. Masks and face coverings should not be a loose-article hazard or interfere with the safe operation of the attraction. (How many times have you been told to hold on to your hats and glasses.)

You won’t be alone wearing masks. Employees will most likely be wearing them as well.

• Employee/guest interactions will probably be shorter and no prolonged social conversation with employees.

• Height checks will stil be conducted according to existing protocols to ensure they are accurate, but they will probably be touch free and facemasks should be worn by guests and employees.

• Single-rider lines might be eliminated since they were designed to help fill in every open seat, which may not be the right approach in a time of physical distancing.

• Look around. Along with those signs that explain how to board, and how dangerous the ride might be, you’ll most likely see physical distancing message signs to remind you to maintain an appropriate distance.

• As you get to the ride vehicle you might see staff sanitizing ride surfaces where guests frequently touch, including handrails, armrests, restraints, lap bars, grips, seatbelts, and over-the-shoulder harnesses.

• You might be asked to use hand sanitizer just before boarding the vehicle and once you exit to help reduce the likelihood of guests leaving germs behind on surfaces.

• Family members and others living in the same household will be boarded in the same vehicle.

• As a general rule, employees might avoid physically assisting/lifting guests. If a guest needs assistance, a family member might be asked to help. (Employees may still need to physically assist/lift guests in the event of a ride evacuation.)

• You might see some empty seats around you as the guests per ride vehicle are redacted to help with physical distancing.

• When physically verifying that safety gates are locked and secured, you might see operators use their feet or knees to check movement. If hands must be used to ensure a gate is locked, operators should wash/sanitize hands before moving on to another task.

• Safety restraint checks will continue as normal. In most cases guests are already asked to push, pull or illustrate their restraint is in place.

And away you go.

• When exiting, you might again be asked to use hand sanitizer or at least have the option to use it, and you might be asked to make sure there is space between parties and physical distancing is maintained as you all walk out.

These procedures will also most likely evolve as circumstances with COVID-19 change and this takes into account there is no vaccine.