Grab your wands and face masks: Universal Orlando is reopening on June 5

After over two months, the gates to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — along with the rest of Universal Orlando Resort – will officially open again on June 5.

On Thursday, May 21, Universal Orlando received unanimous support for its reopening plan from the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force members. The final approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis came on Friday, May 22, making Universal the first Orlando theme park to reopen after unprecedented closures.

The Universal Orlando website now states, "We're preparing to reopen!" and includes a list of new safety protocols along with a notice about the "inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19" in public areas.

Similar to the Universal City Walk shopping and dining area that partially reopened last week, guests wishing to enter the Universal Orlando theme parks must wear face masks and undergo temperature checks. Guests need to have a temperature below 100.4 degrees to gain entry, and disposable face masks will be provided if needed.

(Photo by Paul Hennessy / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Universal Orlando informed the committee that it intends to manage park capacity and gradually increase attendance, although details are still being finalized on its FAQ page.

The park plans to not only cap overall attendance but also restrict capacity in each restaurant, attraction, and show. For instance, single rider lines will be removed, allowing only groups to ride together. Additionally, virtual queuing, already implemented on some rides and at Universal's Volcano Bay waterpark, will be extended.

Social distancing measures will be enforced to manage lines for park guests — likely akin to what we've observed at the recently reopened Disneyland Shanghai.

Disneyland Shanghai (Photo by Hu Chengwei/Getty Images)

In the parking area, you'll notice staggered parking arrangements to ensure you’re not loading or unloading too close to others.

While cash transactions will still be permitted at the theme park, there will be a strong focus on mobile ordering and payments wherever feasible. At Universal's dining venues, all menus will be designed for single use.

Universal's interactive play zones will remain off-limits due to the difficulty of maintaining distance among children in play structures. Additionally, water features on rides and mist areas will be closed to prevent any potential increase in virus transmission.

Universal Orlando hotels, including Aventura Resort and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, are now open for bookings starting June 4 and beyond.