Six Flags will use online reservations when it's allowed to reopen, officials say
While it remains unknown when or if Gurnee's Six Flags Great America will open this season, the theme park has unveiled a new online reservation system which officials say will help them enforce capacity limits.
Six Flags launched the online system for all parks this week, but officials are not yet accepting reservations. According to the company's website, the reservation system will launch before parks - closed now because of COVID-19 - reopen.
John Krajnak, the director of marketing for Great America in Gurnee, said the reservation system will be a major part of making sure reopening goes well.
"It will help with social distancing and our capacity at the park," Krajnak said.
Krajnak said no reopening date has been set. He said park officials are working with health and government officials to make sure everyone is comfortable with reopening.
When the reservation system begins, guests will visit sixflags.com/reserve and go through a process officials estimate will take five to seven minutes. Guests will select the date they wish to visit as well as the time. Guests will only be allowed in during the time period they selected, according to the company.
Guests must also watch a brief video on the park's social distancing and sanitation procedures. The park's full safety procedures have yet to be announced. There will also be an option for guests to order face masks that can be picked up when they arrive at the park.
Currently, the park plans to honor any 2020 missed days in 2021. Krajnak said pass holders and members will be able to make multiple reservations when the system is in place. According to the company website, pass holders and members will get first choice of reservation times.
"They're our best guests so we want to take care of them," Krajnak said.
According to the reopening plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined earlier this month, large venues like Great America would reopen in Phase 5 when COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment are widely available throughout Illinois.