MASON, Ohio — There are a few things to know for Kings Island season pass holders before they go to the amusement park when it reopens to them on Thursday.
"It definitely is a little bit different this year at Kings Island," said Chad Showalter, director of communication for Kings Island. "And it starts when you are still at home."
Kings Island will be open to pass holders only through July 11 and then open to the general public on July 12.
The park is requiring both pass holders and general guests to go online and reserve the time they plan to visit Kings Island. That process includes answering a short questionnaire about any possible exposure to the coronavirus.
Guests also will be asked to submit to a temperature check and answer three more yes-or-no questions before being allowed to enter the park when they arrive.
Showalter said once inside the park, guests will then be asked to follow a few simple rules.
"We're encouraging hand washing as much as possible for our guests," he said. "One of the ways we've made that easier to keep your hands clean is by installing more than six hundred hand sanitizing stations throughout the park."
The park also used stickers throughout Kings Island to remind people of the suggested six-feet social distancing rule.
"Throughout the park, face coverings are required for all of our guests that are over the age of two," Showalter added.
He said roaming park ambassadors have been trained to kindly remind guests to put back on masks if those guests are spotted not wearing one.
"The ambassadors are also trained to let them know where that closest relax zone is so they can take a break if they are feeling hot and need to take a break and take their mask off," Showalter said.
There are multiple gated-off relax zones throughout the park with limited capacity where people can take masks off while safely social distancing.
Masks also will not be required while people dine at one of Kings Island's food venues or while they ride water rides. They will be required though when people ride other rides, such as Kings Island's new gigicoaster, Orion.
"The rides are being sanitized routinely," Showalter said. "Their ride operators will stop the ride and sanitize everywhere our guests are coming into contact with."
He said the new rules serve one single purpose.
"What we mainly are motivated by is when you come into the park you're healthy and you are able to answer the questions and enjoy your day at the park," Showalter said.
For more information about when the park will open to the public and more detailed information about those new rules, visitvisitkingsisland.com.
