Major aspects of the theme parks and attractions in California are beginning to reopen! We recently went on a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood to see what was up at CityWalk, which reopened to the public on June 10!
Main Entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood
After our first trip to CityWalk in Orlando, we were eager to see how the two shopping and dining districts compared! Much of what we saw was the same, but there were a couple of major differences!
Parking and Entering
Arriving at Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk was a breeze! The current operating hours at CityWalk are 12:00PM through 8:00PM daily, and we arrived just after opening.
Welcome to Universal Studios Hollywood!
There was no line of cars to get into the parking garage, which was our first sign that CityWalk would be totally quiet!
Hardly no cars entering the parking garage at CityWalk
Folks visiting CityWalk are directed to park in the Jurassic Parking garage.
Jurassic Parking Garage
Like CityWalk in Orlando, self-parking is staggered, with every other space coned off. In Orlando, those coned off spaces were eventually filled as more cars came in, but it was so quiet the day we visited Hollywood, there was no need to do so!
Staggered parking at CityWalk
Then it was time to head towards security, where the temperature screenings would take place! But first, we noticed one MAJOR difference from what we saw (or rather, didn’t see) in Orlando. Universal Studios Hollywood is selling face masks BEFORE you go through security.
Vending machine selling face masks
The vending machine is located just before the temperature check, where you can purchase washable masks for $7.00 each…
Face masks for sale!
…you could also purchase tubes of hand sanitizer, also $7.00 each.
Hand sanitizer for sale!
You could also purchase various multi-packs. One pack sold two 3-ply masks, while another pack sold masks and gloves! Again, these were $7.00 each.
Multi-pack of face masks and gloves
As long as you were stocked up and wearing your face masks, you could proceed to security and the temperature screening!
Temperature Checks
The temperature check was a breeze! This was in part due to the fact that hardly no one else was in line with us, but also because the temperature check itself is quick and easy. Before getting your temperature checked, there are a couple of spots to get hand sanitizer, and a board with all the safety information you need to know.
Signage and hand sanitizer heading into security
There were a couple of security Team Members stationed to take your temperature.
Temperature check at CityWalk
The process was very similar to what we experienced in Orlando, just with fewer people!
Temperature check
After our temperature was taken, we briskly entered CityWalk to check the place out!
Walking Around, Signage, and Restrooms
Like we’ve seen at both CityWalk and Disney Springs, signage was abundant throughout the area. The first sign we spotted was soon after we parked, well before we reached security.
Signage at CityWalk
Once we passed security, there was additional signage as soon as we entered CityWalk.
Signage at CityWalk
The reminders to observe physical distancing were abundant!
Signage at Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk
It was extremely easy to observe physical distancing when we visited because it was literally empty!
An empty CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood!
And, in case we needed the reminder, there were signs to tell us that the theme park was still closed.
CityWalk
In the restrooms, there was some signage to remind us of the sanitary precautions we could take to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. We noticed that every other sink in the restrooms was “closed.”
Restrooms at CityWalk
When it’s time to leave CityWalk, several signs were present with QR codes for guests to scan to take a survey on their experience.
QR code survey at CityWalk
There was definitely plenty of signage to make sure everyone was informed and up-to-date on the health and safety procedures Universal had put in place!
Dining
We made a couple of food stops along the way during our visit! Our first stop was Johnny Rockets!
Johnny Rockets
This is where we saw another MAJOR difference from Orlando. We were given traditional, reusable menus at our table!
Something we didn’t think we would see: a REUSABLE menu!
Other than the menus, we noticed a lot of the typical measurements taken by table service restaurants. Seating was staggered to every other table (again, it was so empty it was hard to even notice!).
Staggered seating at Johnny Rockets
And, of course, we had to grab some fries and a shake! When in Rome, you order chili cheese fries and a chocolate milkshake!
Yummmmm
There were some other minor things we noticed, like a lack of gloves on the staff (they were all, of course, wearing face coverings). While none of the health measures were lined out for us when we visited, the protocol was still visible.
Johnny Rockets
Our next stop was Voodoo Doughnut! We stopped by the Orlando location so we had to see how Hollywood’s measured up!
Voodoo Doughnut
In case the crowds do get busy, Voodoo Doughnut had an extended outdoor queue area with physical distancing floor markers ready to go!
Physical distancing floor markers in the extended queue outside Voodoo Doughnut
Inside, the floor markers continued. An employee was present to make sure parties did not get too close together.
Physical distancing floor markers at Voodoo Doughnuts
We were given a disposable menu (or a “souvenir menu” as they called it) for us to make the incredibly difficult decision of choosing which doughnuts we wanted.
Voodoo Doughnut disposable menu!
When it was time to order, the register had a sneeze guard to keep everyone extra safe.
Sneeze guard at Voodoo Doughnut
Don’t worry! All of the doughnuts were just as delicious as we would expect!
Voodoo Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut in Hollywood was beyond prepared to welcome back guests, and we saw multiple instances of distancing and added safety procedures!
Overall, the crowds were much lower than what we saw in Orlando. When we visited Hollywood, there was a limited amount of dining locations and shops available to visit. We would imagine that as more things open, the crowd level may go up.
Have you visited CityWalk in either Orlando or Hollywood? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments!
From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, News, california, CityWalk, Hollywood, Universal, Universal Studios, universal studios hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk
