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California theme parks can finally begin reopening in April after being closed for a full year, but for anyone that’s been craving the thrill of jumping on a roller coaster, just know that you can’t scream, because if you do then you’re breaking the rules.
The California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) has advised new guidelines for its ‘Responsible Reopening Plan’ which explain that park visitors should avoid activities that increase the spread of COVID-19, such as singing, shouting, heavy breathing and raising one’s voice.
While the guidelines don’t blatantly say ‘no screaming,’ last I checked the act of screaming falls under the same umbrella as ‘shouting, heavy breathing and raising one’s voice.’
These rules apply when visitors are on rides, meaning that the Parks Association is literally telling people to be quiet while on roller coasters. Good luck with that.
Changes are being made to “seat loading patterns” as well to try and mitigate the effects of shouting. This makes it sound like the Parks Association knows its ‘no screaming’ rule isn’t going to hold water, so it’s going to have to spread riders out on the actual ride.
California isn’t the first to implement these types of rules. When Japan began reopening theme parks, it too told patrons not to scream. The Fuji-Q Highland amusement park even came up with the bizarre slogan of “please scream inside your heart.”
California parks can begin reopening on April 1 at 15 percent capacity in certain counties and 25 percent capacity in others, depending on the state’s rating system in relation to the virus. Disneyland is set to reopen on April 30 at 15 percent capacity.