Updated September 29, 2020

For months we have been isolated from friends and family, had our Spring Break vacations cancelled, and have been home with our kids who have been out of school . It’s time for a vacation, right? Florida is open for tourist and summer is in full swing! Here is a list of Florida travel attractions open and awaiting your arrival. What should you expect when visiting Florida in our new normal?

As things continue to reopen or change, I will update this article. You should not rely on the information in this article solely. Please visit the Florida Department of Health website to get more information about openings, executive orders, and changes in Florida. In addition, you may seek guidance from the tourist location’s website.

Can you travel to Florida this Summer?

Yes. Florida is open for visitors and tourism. Florida is in Phase 3. This means all restaurants, gyms, theme parks, hotels, and attractions are either already open or will be opening in the near future . Short term rentals are also available again. Phase 3 allows everything to open at full capacity.

Be aware there are some restrictions for certain visitors.

• Research is key. Businesses and attractions are permitted to open at full capacity, however some have not changed their policies.
• Most beaches are open, however in Miami you should have a mask in hand and you will be required to wear it if you are not 6 feet from the party next to you.
• As of August 6, 2020, no longer must tourists from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Most counties and if not the county, cities within the county, still will require you to wear masks while in public. You will need to research the area you plan to visit as this is an fluid situation changes daily.

Updates on changes in Florida that may affect your travel plans:

• All Florida establishments may open at full capacity, however counties are adding certain restrictions. For more information, click here.
• Broward County is currently an epicenter for the virus, therefore restrictions on occupancy and reopening are in place. For more information, click here
• Miami-Dade County still has restrictions in place to include a 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. For more information, click here.

What Attractions Are Open In Florida?

The following is a list of major Florida attractions that are open currently or have a plan to reopen. There are restrictions at each location from requiring guests to wear masks to enhanced cleaning protocols. You should visit the included websites for specifics as to how each location is addressing COVID-19.

Walt Disney World Parks are open with reduced hours of operation

One of the major draws to Florida is Walt Disney World Parks and Disney Springs. Whether you are looking to dive under the sea with Ariel or battle a Storm Trooper, Disney is the most magical place on Earth. Disney has a phased opening plan. Though the parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot) opened on July 11th, only certain attractions will be open.

Florida theme parks are permitted to open at full capacity after Governor DeSantis implemented Phase 3. Disney currently has not announced a change in operation. Read the current plan for reopening.

Disney Springs

A hub of food, entertainment, and shopping, Disney Springs is the perfect location to grab a bite to eat, cocktail, bowl, see a movie, or take a boat ride. Though currently open, Disney Springs will open in phases.

You may park in the Lime and Green Parking garages. Temperature checks and wearing masks are necessary when visiting Disney Springs. Disney Springs is restricting the number of guests and staff allowed in.

Click here to see a list of open restaurants and shops.

Disney Theme Parks

 Walt Disney’s Theme Park (not water parks) are open with reduced operating hours. The most important thing you should know about Disney’s reopening plan is you MUST have a reservation to enter the parks. Right now, there are no new ticket sales. Customers who have an annual pass and/or customers who had tickets they purchased prior to the closure can make reservations. This also applies to new hotel reservations.

With the use of Disney’s Park Pass system, park capacity is limited. This requires you to have a valid park ticket AND a park reservation before entering the park. Park hopping is not permitted.

Disney is being pretty strict with their mask policy. Though they allow you take your mask off when eating or drinking, you must be stationary to do this. This restricts you from getting a beer at Epcot, taking off your mask to sip it, while you stroll through the park.

Precautions implemented to address COVID-19 include:

• You will be required to wear a face mask if you are over the age of 2.
• Additionally, you may undergo a temperature screening with no-touch thermometers.
• Physical barriers are located where it is difficult to maintain strict physical distancing guidelines such as near cash registers or Guest Relations.
• Purchasing items with your credit card instead of cash is recommended.

Disney Water Parks

Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon are not reopening at this time.

For detailed information on the plan to reopen Disney, click here.

Universal Studios and City Walk are open

Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay were the first theme parks to reopen in Florida. With increased safety precautions in place, visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, take a plunge on one of the many roller coasters in the park, or feel the rush of being thrust through a volcanic water slide!

Temperature checks and wearing masks are necessary when visiting Universal Studios Park. There is a limited number of guests allowed in the parks. In addition to increase sanitation procedures, there will be virtual line experiences to provide social distancing.

Universal Studios does not require advanced reservations. This is one of the stark differences between these parks and Disney. Be spontaneous and plan park admission at any moment. Park hopping is permitted as well!

If you are looking to stay at a Universal Studios hotel, many of the hotels are open, however several will not be reopening until January 2021.

UPDATES:

You must wear a face shield if you cannot wear a face mask due to a disability. If this applies to you, you will receive a white checkered wristband from Guest Services. Every ride will not allow face shields.

Universal Orlando has announced the theme park resort will begin closing its Volcano Bay water park on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 8. 

For more information on Universal Studios reopening plan, click here.

Sea World, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove are open

Are you looking to visit dolphins, penguins, and sea lions at Sea World? Do you want to swim with a dolphin, feed exotic birds, all while enjoying an all-inclusive paradise at Discovery Cove? Would you rather zip down a water slide and relax on a lazy river at Aquatica? You are in luck! Sea World, Aquatica and Discovery Cove all opened on June 11th.

Sea World, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove did not announce a change in their capacity limits after the Governor’s announcement of Phase 3 on September 25th.

The most important thing you should know about your visit is your need a reservation to get into any of the three parks. In addition, you can pay for parking in advance as well if you wish to have contactless payment options.

Here is a list of some of the safety precautions in place for Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica. For more details, refer to their website:

• Anyone over the age of two is required to wear a face mask
• Employees and guests will undergo and pass a temperature check upon arrival at the park.
• Social distancing is encouraged.
• The cleaning and frequency of cleaning of the park will be increased.
• All employees will receive COVID-19 training.
• Queue lines for all rides have markings for physical distancing. Modified seating is in place to maintain physical distancing. 

Water attractions

At Discovery Cove and Aquatica, face coverings are required for guests 2 and older in certain designated areas of the park (e.g. the park entrance, retail areas, food and beverage areas and other designated areas). Face coverings are not required in the water (e.g., the lazy river and all other water attractions).

Busch Gardens and Adventure Island

Busch Gardens and Adventure Island are open. Experience thrilling coasters, see over 200 animal species, get ready for twists, turns, drops, and surprises or relax in the 17,000 square foot wave pool or a calming lazy river.

Busch Gardens and Adventure Island did not announce a change in their capacity limits after the Governor’s announcement of Phase 3 on September 25th.

Safety precautions are in place. The most important being you need a reservation to go to either park which should be purchased in advance. At Adventure Island, face coverings are not required and prohibited in the water (e.g., the lazy river, the wave pool, all water slides, and all other water attractions in the water park). Face coverings are required for guests 2 and older in certain designated areas of the park (e.g., the park entrance, retail areas, food and beverage areas and other designated areas).

At Busch Gardens, employees and guests 2 years of age and older must wear face coverings. A mask is not required while eating and drinking or in designated relaxation areas of the park.

Both parks have enhanced cleaning protocols, both parks will require a temperature check for employees and guests upon arrival, and both parks will encourage social distancing within the park with markings in all queue lines and hand sanitizer available at the entrances and exits of rides.

For more details, refer to the following website.

LEGOLAND Florida reopens

Are you a LEGO enthusiast? LEGOLAND Florida, LEGOLAND Water Park, and the LEGOLAND hotels to include the all-new LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel are open and waiting to welcome you. Enjoy attractions such as THE LEGO^® MOVIE™ Masters of Flight, The Great LEGO Race, LEGO NINJAGO^® The Ride, The Dragon, and Unikitty’s Disco Drop. At the water park, cool off from the Florida heat while relaxing on a raft you build from LEGO blocks.

LEGOLAND Florida did not announce a change in their capacity limits after the Governor’s announcement of Phase 3 on September 25th.

LEGOLAND Florida has reopened with the addition of hand sanitizing stations, increased parking space, and temperature checks for employees as well as guests. The City of Winter Haven requires face masks. For additional information on the precautions in place to address COVID-19, click here.

ICON Park is open and ready to entertain you

ICON Park is home to several attractions that will thrill adults and children alike.

Most noteworthy attractions at ICON Park:

• The Wheel, the most popular attraction, is a 400 foot ferris wheel which can be seen for miles. Experience The Wheel in a Sky Bar capsule or a private capsule with up to 15 others.
• Purchase a combo ticket and also visit Madame Tusssauds Orlando. This wax museum allows you to take a selfie with celebrities such as the Justice League heroes or even Taylor Swift.
• Looking for even more excitement, buy a three attraction combo ticket and also visit the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium where you can view sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and much more.

Other things to do at ICON Park:

Grab a seat on the Orlando StayFlyer, play games at the arcade, or experience the 7D Dark Ride Adventure. In addition, grab something yummy at one of the great restaurants, have an ice cream, or even a cocktail. In the mood to shop? There are several stores in the ICON Park as well.

How is the ICON Park addressing COVID-19 precautions? Sanitation efforts are increasing while staff and guests over the age of 2 are required to wear face masks. Most importantly, all tickets for The Wheel will be upgraded to a private capsule, regardless of ticket type purchased. The Wheel’s air conditioning system draws in fresh outside air (rather than recirculating air such as on an airplane).

For more information, click here.

Gatorland is opens after the largest overhaul of the park in 70 years.

Gatorland Florida is up and running to include their new Gator Gully Splash Park. Check out a variety of exhibits to include snakes, tortoises, birds, wild cats, and of course plenty of gators! In addition, to the park, there are special experiences available such as a zipline, off road adventures, and trainer for a day.

Gatorland brags they have “embarked upon the largest overhaul of the park in their 70-year history“. Rides require social distancing. All rides, show seating, transaction counters, and pin pads will be disinfected after every ride, show, or transaction. Employees will submit to temperature checks. Effective Saturday, June 20th Face masks are Mandatory in Orange County. Employees and guests will be required to wear one.

For more information, click here.

Wild Florida outside of Kissimmee is open.

Take a walk on the wild side at Wild Florida. Both the Gator park, airboat rides, and the drive-thru safari are currently open with advanced reservations. I have noticed Wild Florida sells out of tickets for the drive -thru safari most weekends so I recommend making advanced reservations.

Make sure to check their website and Facebook pages for deals. There is normally a great entry price for Florida residents.

All Florida Top Golf locations open with the exception of Miami

Top Golf locations nationwide are opening. All Florida Top Golfs, except the two Top Golf locations in Miami, are currently open.

What is Top Golf? A semi-indoor, multi-floored, driving range, Top Golf’s golf balls use a micro-chip to track the location on a screen. You choose from a multitude of different games, many of which are family-friendly. Whether you are a novice golfer or on the PGA tour, the concept is loads of fun for everyone!

RELATED: DRIVE SHACK VERSUS TOP GOLF: WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Top Golf is allowing 11 feet between bays as well as an 8.5 foot x 5 foot divider between the bays. Their associates will wear masks. All guests in Orange and Hillsborough County, Florida will wear face masks.Top Golf will provide you disinfected golf clubs to use, however they encourage you to bring golf clubs from home.  You can review their website for more details.

iFly Indoor Skydiving is open

Are you looking for an adrenaline rush? iFly Indoor Skydiving have several locations in Florida.

What is indoor skydiving? Simply put–you fly. Any age person, as young as three years old, can indoor skydive. Prior to entering the wind tunnel, you will receive detailed instructions and equipment. An instructor is with you inside the wind tunnel at all times. He/she coaches you on what you are doing well and what you can do better in order to get maximum fly time.

A big misconception is there will be a feeling of falling. This is far from the truth. In fact, the dropping feeling in your stomach never occurs. You simply float up and down within the chamber. There is never a feeling as if you are not in control or the sensation of losing control.

RELATED: My Review of iFly Orlando

iFly is open for business with enhanced safety precautions. Some of their new procedures include: Ability to complete waivers online, Touchless temperature readings for all entering the buildin, contact-free check-in, and floor markings indicating distancing requirements, All equipment including helmets, goggles and flights suits will be sanitized and washed after each use. All guests in Orange and Hillsborough County, Florida will wear face masks.

For more information, click here.

Dinosaur World is open with limited attractions

Located between Tampa and Orlando in Plant City Florida, Dinosaur World brings dinosaurs back to life. Wander among hundreds of life-size dinosaurs, play on a dinosaur themed playground, dig for fossils and participate in interactive exhibits.

Dinosaur World reopened in May, however only the Dino Walk and the indoor museum are open. All hands-on activities remain closed. They have reduced the admission cost to $10.

Starting June 20th, all guests in Hillsborough County, Florida will wear face masks.

For more information on Dinosaur World, click here.

The Holy Land Experience is NOT open

Located in Orlando, the Holy Land Experience provides guest with shows, reenactments, and unique attractions based on biblical events, stories, and history. The Holy Land Experience is simply a “living, biblical museum that bring the world of the Bible to life”.

Holy Land Experience does not have an expected date to reopen after closing in March.

Fun Spot’s two locations in Orlando and Kissimmee are open.

With two Florida locations, Fun Spot is open for business after closing in mid-March. Fun Spot is an amusement park with the feel of a state fair. Enjoy a variety of rides from roller coaster to bumper cars. There is fun for all ages!

In a statement, management stated they spent the 8 weeks closed cleaning their parks as well as training staff on new procedures. They require staff to undergo temperature checks, enhanced sanitation will occur to include wiping down all railing, surfaces and high-touch areas regularly, and all Food & Beverage and cash-handling team members will be required to wear face masks and gloves.

Effective Saturday, June 20th Face masks are mandatory in Orange County, everyone will be required to wear one.

For more information, click here.

WonderWorks Orlando

Have you seen the upside down building? “WonderWorks is an amusement park for the mind with 35,000 square feet of “edu-tainment”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination.”

To address COVID-19, the following precautions are in place:

• Everyone is required to wear a face mask in Orange County.
• Social distancing of 6 feet is required
• Water fountains are not open at this time
• Some interactive exhibits may be closed

For more details, click here.

Crayola Experience has now reopened

Explore color and art through hands-on activities at The Crayola Experience located in Orlando Florida. They are now open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Be aware there will be timed entry to the experience as well as capacity restrictions. If you bring in a bag, it must be clear to ensure contactless security checks. Guests three years old and older must wear a face mask as well as undergo a temperature check.

For details and to stay abreast of their reopening, click here.

Weeki Wachee Springs still remains closed.

The home of the famous Mermaid show, Weeki Wachee Springs is currently closed. Should you wish to kayak on the Springs, the kayak launch is currently open.

For details on the reopening, click here.

Sunwest Park

Lounge on the beach, swim in spring fed water, wake board, kayak, or enjoy the inflatable aqua park. Sunwest Park located in Hudson is open sunrise to sunset. There is a $5 parking fee to access the beach, swimming area and restrooms. Should you wish to participate in the water sports run by The Lift Adventure Park, there is an additional fee.

The Aqua Park, now split in half, allows guests access only one of those halves. Which half you get to run on will determine on the session your in. In addition, there will be limited capacity. Book your spot online to reserve it early!⁠

Pasco County has a mandatory mask requirement so you should have a mask in the office of The Lift Adventure Park. You will not need to wear the mask in the water.

For more information, refer to their Facebook pages or click here.

RELATED: My Review of Sunwest Park

Popular Florida Summer Locations Reopen

Are you looking for fun in Florida? Florida towns boasting some of the best summer activities include Crystal River, The Florida Keys, and Miami.

Crystal River

Crystal River, Florida is located on the west coast of Florida. Other cities in the the immediate area include Homosassa Springs, Inverness, and Floral City.

Located right on the crystal clear waterways, Crystal River is most known for outdoor water adventure. The home to thousands of manatee in the winter months or a great location to scallop in the summer, Crystal River Florida hosts a vast number of family-friendly adventures.

Crystal River National Refuge

Comprised of 70 springs pumping out 600 million gallons of freshwater per day from the Florida aquifer, the major springs in the Crystal River National Refuge include King Spring, Tarpon Spring, Three Sisters Springs, Idiots Delight, Hunter Spring, Jurassic Spring & House Spring.

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge consists of 20 islands in and around Kings Bay. The 80-acre refuge (only accessible by boat or paddle craft) was established in 1983, to protect the West Indian Manatee. In 2012, Kings Bay was designated a Manatee Protection Area called the Kings Bay Manatee Refuge. The Refuge is maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Scalloping

“2020 Scallop season in Citrus County runs from July 1 through September 24. Part snorkeling experience, part underwater Easter Egg hunt and part saltwater fishing trip, scalloping along the unspoiled shores of Crystal River and Homosassa provides a salty adventure to water lovers of all ages.”

For more information, click here.

Home of the manatee

Because Crystal River is one of the largest aquifers in Florida, it is home to more than 400 West Indian Manatee who migrate each year to the warmth of the springs. We have visited Crystal River in December and June and saw manatee both times of the year.

Crystal River is the home to manatee year round. You will have a better change to see manatee in the Winter months as they come for warm water and can be seen in large numbers huddled together.

RELATED: A Unique Tour of Crystal River On A Water Bike

The Florida Keys

Located at the southern most tip of Florida, the Florida Keys is a popular tourist destination. Home to beautiful beaches, amazing fishing, fantastic bars and restaurants, family fun is key in the Florida Keys. An advantage of the Florida Keys is that the 125-mile-long island chain has many wide-open spaces. The Keys offer a great opportunity to take advantage of outdoor activities and the natural beauty of sea and sky.

The Florida Keys reopened in June. The Florida Keys is requiring face coverings until June of 2021! Officials say facial coverings over the nose and mouth must be worn in business establishments and other public settings where there is a roof overhead. Some businesses in the Keys are requiring temperature checks before entering.

Community parks and other outdoor recreational facilities are open in the Florida Keys. Capacity limits are to be in place, as are contactless protocols such as electronic safety waivers for watersports, diving, snorkeling, fishing charters and boat tours.

State parks are open for daytime use, and some limited camping. Park visitors may not have access to certain amenities, such as restroom facilities, pavilions, picnic areas and campsites. The Dry Tortugas National Park is open with seaplane and ferry service resumed. The Everglades National Park is open for camping, but the visitor center is not.

Miami

With so much to do from aquariums to Monkey Jungle, Miami is the perfect location for a family vacation in Florida. Miami Florida is open! Though considered an epicenter of COVID-19 in Florida, Miami is slowly starting to resume tourism, though the reopening was delayed in comparison to other cities in Florida.

ALL employees and patrons over the age of 2, visiting essential retail and commercial businesses must wear a form of covering over their nose and mouth at all times. If you are visiting a City of Miami open parks, greenspace, beachwalks, or baywalks, a face covering is mandated unless social distancing can be achieved.

The reopening of tourist spots in Miami is a fluid situation, so I would recommend checking the website of the location you wish to visit before planning a trip to Miami. The following tourist attractions are currently open with travel restrictions. Refer to their website for more details:

• Miami Seaquarium
• Jungle Island
• Zoo Miami
• The Wynwood Walls
• Crandon Park
• Monkey Jungle
• Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens
• Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Update: Miami-Dade County Mayor will sign an emergency order to close beaches starting Friday, July 3rd and ending Tuesday, July 7th.

Florida Beaches

If an outdoor adventure in the ocean or building a sand castle is your cup of tea, Florida beaches are open! Jonesing for some sea therapy? Social distance at the beach. Beaches have been crowded as Floridians are looking to escape from their quarantine depression and relax in the beautiful Florida sunshine. Friends of mine who have made a day trip to the beach from their homes have complained there is no parking available.

Each county and/or city may have travel restrictions in place as it relates to mandatory face masks and social distancing; make sure to do your research before going.

Update: Miami-Dade County Mayor will sign an emergency order to close beaches starting Friday, July 3rd and ending Tuesday, July 7th.

RELATED: Complete Guide to Florida Destinations You Didn’t Know Existed

In summary

Florida is open for summer even amid the pandemic of the Coronavirus. Tourism is reopening statewide with precautions being implemented by most tourist locations. From increased sanitation protocols to required face masks, Florida is open for summer fun in the sun. From Disney World to Legoland, there is family adventure awaiting. Come see us!

Have you traveled to Florida? What is your favorite attraction? Drop me a comment, I’d love to hear from you.

Editor’s note: As the travel industry reopens following COVID-19 shutdowns, Tourist With Tots suggests you talk to your doctor, follow health officials’ guidance, and research local travel restrictions before booking a trip. For guidance and recommendations, I will be here to help you prepare; whether next month or next year.

Disclaimer:

This post includes affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission and/or points/incentives should you click on a link and make a purchase or sign up for a free service. This blog is independently owned and the reviews of any product and/or travel destination here are my opinion