Universal Studios Theme Park to Reopen

Universal Studios Hollywood will reopen on April 16, after having been closed for the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to media reports.The Universal City theme park joins Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, which opens on April 1, and Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, opening on April 30, in welcoming back visitors.When the park opens on April 16, it will debut a new ride based on the animated film, “The Secret Life of Pets,” according to a story in the Los Angeles Times.Featuring hyper-realistic animated characters, the attraction is based on the 2016 movie about the adventures of pets in New York City. The new ride replaces the Globe Theatre, a venue that could accommodate up to 720 people and had been used for corporate and media events, the Times story said.Last week, the state released detailed guidelines for theme parks reopening. Among them are park visitors and employees must wear masks except when eating and drinking; all lines must be outdoors, with visitors from different households standing at least six feet apart; only visitors from California will be allowed in; and rides must be closed if there is a high number of riders losing their face masks while aboard.