OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland Plus Other Attractions and Restaurants
Reopening Thursday in Time for Memorial Weekend
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – (May 18, 2020) – Aligned with the state’s phased approach and its public health directives, the businesses at Arizona Boardwalk announce today they will reopen to the public Thursday, May 21, in time for Memorial Weekend. The attractions in the Arizona Boardwalk entertainment destination that will reopen include OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Laser + Mirror Maze, Surprise Your Eyes, and Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs with updated, safety protocols. Restaurants, including Johnny Rockets, Nékter Juice Bar, and Pizza Time, among others, will also be reopening.
“Our priority is to keep everyone who visits Arizona Boardwalk, as well as our employees, healthy and safe while providing a fun and engaging environment,” said Ran Knishinsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Arizona Boardwalk. “We recognize how stressful this situation has been for our community and the world at large, and we look forward to once again providing a safe, family-friendly experience to our guests.”
OdySea Aquarium, Arizona Boardwalk’s anchor attraction, will operate with new guidelines that include timed-ticketed entry, limiting the number of visitors entering the Aquarium at one time, and new standard operating procedures to safeguard guests, animals and team members. Along with capacity limits that support physical distancing, other health and safety initiatives at OdySea Aquarium include touchless ticket sales through online and kiosk purchase options, social distancing markers at key exhibits, additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the aquarium, and enhanced cleaning methods that focus on high-touch areas such as restrooms, counters, escalator railings, elevators and exhibit-glass. The Kids Cove play area, animal touch exhibits, and 3D movie will remain temporarily closed, and animal encounters and behind-the-scenes tours are suspended at this time.
“We are excited to reopen to the public after nearly eight weeks without visitors,” said Greg Charbeneau, Vice President and General Manager of OdySea Aquarium. “We have worked thoughtfully and within the state’s recommended guidelines on our reopening plans as the health and wellbeing of our guests, team and animals is our top priority. We are taking a phased, controlled approach to reopening yet will continue delivering a wonderful, memorable guest experience while ensuring we operate safely and responsibly.”
Team members at OdySea Aquarium will have their temperature checked when they report for their shift and will be required to wear masks in public spaces. Guests are strongly encouraged to wear face masks as well, visit in groups of less than 10, practice social distancing as they tour the Aquarium, and if they are not feeling well, are asked to postpone their visit. The Odysea Treasures gift shop will have face masks for sale for guests.
Those visiting OdySea Aquarium are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online (and at a discount!) in advance. Limited capacity and timed ticketing will be strictly enforced to maintain safe social distancing practices throughout the Aquarium. Ticket entry times will be sold in 30-minute time slots and guests will be required to enter during their specific time. Online sales, time reservations and hours are available starting today at odyseaaquarium.com/tickets-savings-2/.
With strict safeguards in mind, and in line with recommended health and state guidelines, the other attractions, restaurants and shops at Arizona Boardwalk will be setting capacity limits to maintain proper social distancing, minimizing touch points, and increasing cleaning protocols as they too reopen their doors to the general public on May 21. Like OdySea Aquarium, visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online in advance for the attractions, wear face masks, visit in groups of 10 or less, and if not feeling well, reschedule their visit.
“We can’t wait to see visitors and familiar faces come through our doors again,” said Dee Mangulins, Executive Director of Butterfly Wonderland. “Outside of lovingly taking care of our butterflies and other animals, we’ve used the last two months wisely to spruce-up, paint, deep clean and implement our new safeguards and guidelines to be in the best possible position to safely welcome back our beloved visitors. We made the most of our quarantined time, and we are now anxious to help families make memories again at Butterfly Wonderland.”
Outside of the attractions, other businesses re-opening on May 21 at Arizona Boardwalk include Arizona Territory Trading Post, Four Peaks Mining Co., and Vitality Oxygen Bar & Aqua Massage. Visitors looking to make a day of it with lunch/dinner or a snack at the entertainment destination can choose from Coffee Cove, Frozen Penguin Ice Cream, Johnny Rockets, Nékter Juice Bar, Pangaea Dino Grill, Pizza Time, The Reef Snack Bar, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Sugar Drop Candy Shop. Please contact individual businesses in advance for their up to date hours and operating guidelines.
Below are the hours for the attractions at Arizona Boardwalk.
OdySea Aquarium
Sunday: 9AM – 6 PM
Monday – Saturday: 9AM – 7PM
Butterfly Wonderland
Sunday – Wednesday: 9AM – 5PM
Thursday – Saturday: 9AM – 6PM
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Sunday – Thursday: 9AM – 6PM
Friday and Saturday: 9AM – 7PM
Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs
Sunday – Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
Laser + Mirror Maze
Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
Monday – Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
Surprise Your Eyes
Sunday – Thursday: 10AM – 6PM
Friday and Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
VR Xtreme and Polar Play Ice Bar will not be re-opening in this first phase. Please check arizonaboardwalk.com periodically for updates on their future re-opening dates.
