COVID-19 & Coasters: Coronavirus Impacts on the Amusement Industry

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Hershey already got rid of reservation requirements for season pass holders, likely because demand is so light relative to capacity. My guess is they are really struggling to sell day tickets as well based on the hefty sales they are having that are not that typical.

It’s still early, but it’s not looking good right now. Between some people being nervous going out where there are crowds, some potential guests not wanting to wear masks at a park, and other guests worried as soon as they see mask violations, it adds up to a big drop in demand.

Hershey can survive this downturn as their parent makes money in a downturn, but I’m not as confident for SEAS and Six Flags handling really low attendance, particularly if it goes on for any length of time.
 
I’ve heard rumor that at Hersheypark part of the decision actually comes from the fact that there’s far more pass holders showing up almost daily than daily ticket holders showing up, and cutting hours is a way for them to cut back on hours to save money.
 
Right now the value proposition for daily tickets at Hershey’s is pretty poor even with the discounts. A good chunk of the park is still closed particularly for kids, though if all you want to do is ride coasters all day, it’s about as good as it gets with short to no lines. If you’re looking for a nice day at the water park or have kids who are too small for coasters, it’s definitely not up to their normal operations yet.
 
The thing is that's true for all parks. Things closed, not having normal operations. Some parks decided to do it with closing down for entire days that were not busy. Hershey is choosing to do it with shortened hours. Hershey's issue isn't not being busy though. It's that they are finding (through the rumor I heard) majority of their daily crowds are pass holders.

And on that, blaming operations with what is open is a "bad faith" argument IMO. I think it's more reflective of the fact that most non-enthusiast and non-pass holders don't feel comfortable going. Most people who would buy a daily pass aren't thinking about kids rides being closed, most coasters being open, when and what at the water park is open.
 
^^-- everything is a factor in making a decision. I already believed that late hours had more to do with swaying decisions than people actually staying late, because it happened to me so many times. The total time, possibility of night times, or maybe we couldn't get there super early -- but still left earlier, maybe not my idea but not so hard to influence. More recently, it contributed to my passholder loyalty.

With the question of "do I want to do this even if a mask?" it changes with degree of difficulty: how long, how hot, any relief, you name it. I've thought "this is fine" when shopping and then they're out of the second thing I came for. Next day somewhere else it's hot and humid in there and I can't even decide what to get. I think I've already had it twice and if this thing kills me it will still be because I say FU to the wrong person, start driving more to get to parks in other states, or buy a motorcycle or something.
 
This is @bill s I would agree with extended reasoning in normal times that you are bringing up. Right now reasoning is starting with “do I feel comfortable in large groups”.

Part of the reason I suspect that Hershey is seeing the increased pass holder usage they are is they did not extend the pass due to the close down. If you visit twice in 2020 you cannot extend your pass into 2021. So when you combine that policy with the non-pass holders feeling of not wanting to go you get these things.

Right now the national news is talking about the fact that the same thing is happening at Disney and Universal as well.
 
I would say that the deals are also not quite as great. I was looking at Hershey and they deals they have just don't help me much. If I were to go it would be a solo 1 day trip especially with the current situation. There deal are 20 off with a choice of either a two day ticket or two for one. That a great deal for some people but still means I am looking at 90 bucks for my entrence once tax and parking are figured in. That more then I am willing to dig out for a partially open park. Personally I would be more likely to go with parking waved or some other options other then the current 2.

As a side note when I was at SFA I made a point to get lunch at the park something I NEVER do there as a way of supporting them I encourage others to do similar stuff.
 
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warfelg said:
The thing is that's true for all parks. Things closed, not having normal operations. Some parks decided to do it with closing down for entire days that were not busy. Hershey is choosing to do it with shortened hours. Hershey's issue isn't not being busy though. It's that they are finding (through the rumor I heard) majority of their daily crowds are pass holders.

And on that, blaming operations with what is open is a "bad faith" argument IMO. I think it's more reflective of the fact that most non-enthusiast and non-pass holders don't feel comfortable going. Most people who would buy a daily pass aren't thinking about kids rides being closed, most coasters being open, when and what at the water park is open.
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Based on what I saw today at Hershey’s, passholders didn’t make up nearly as much of the crowd as opening weekend. The season pass parking lot was far busier opening weekend than it was today and general parking went further back. During the week this could very well be the opposite, which would make sense for cutting back hours.

Hershey‘s did have a lot more open today than last week, so far daily tickets it would be a good value again and there was enough attendance that I’m not as concerned about them needing to cut back. Much of this improvement was in kids and non-thrill rides getting opened and those rides had as much usage as the bigger rides.
 
I never understood the desire for parks to create a whole separate reservation system, at least for single day tickets. Why could they not have gone the dated and limited ticket sales route instead? Having two separate systems, one to purchase a ticket, and one to make a reservation seems overly complex. From a novice guest perspective, it seems like a lot of extra planning and hoping that you don't buy your ticket when you can't use it because there are no convenient reservations.

Overall, I think the mention of a reservation may also be partly scaring away potential guests. That might be somewhat okay if they are trying to keep crowds low, but crowds might perhaps be way too low.

I can; however, understand the need for reservations for pass and membership types. If only it could be marketed in a less restrictive and seemingly scary kind've way.
 
rswashdc said:
there was enough attendance that I’m not as concerned about them needing to cut back. Much of this improvement was in kids and non-thrill rides getting opened and those rides had as much usage as the bigger rides.
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Actually thinking about it from a business perspective: Cutting business hours while keeping work hours allows them to open more rides without spending more.

Across the industry these cuts should be somewhat concerning as it's showing that the projected enthusiasm to go back isn't what parks thought and that the downturn in attendance cold be concerning for the long term.
 
warfelg said:
Actually thinking about it from a business perspective: Cutting business hours while keeping work hours allows them to open more rides without spending more.

Across the industry these cuts should be somewhat concerning as it's showing that the projected enthusiasm to go back isn't what parks thought and that the downturn in attendance cold be concerning for the long term.
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The parks definitely need to rightsize operations for the amount of demand that's coming in the door. Having everything open with low attendance is killer on a park's finances, but having half the park closed upsets guests, particularly if they paid full fare.

Hershey's seems to be closing in on a good balance for this by cutting hours a bit, but usign that to get more rides open. They've also been doing rolling opening/closures of rides at times to get more attractions open, which I'd like to see formalized in the park app so you know what will be open when (e.g. the monorail will be open from 12-4).
 
BGW Family said:
Adds a second definition to Covidiots.

Edit: Retract that. Brain damage is serious for some people and does not make them idiots. People recklessly spreading Covid-19? Yeah, those are idiots. Seems like a karma result to fit the crime, tho'.
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Watch what you say because you know karma is a bitch. I know people that have only left their house in the past 4 months to go to the grocery store in the morning when crowds were less and were overly cautious, wore masks and gloves and yet they still recently fell ill and tested positive. I also know pwople that have not worn masks at all and been going about their business as normal and have been fine. Now I agree going to a bar and being packed shoulder to shoulder is wreckless but going to a theme park certainly is not. I just spent 9 days in central Florida and the only place I went that seemed to not be super clean was the Premium Outlets...in fact they seemed much dirtier that the last time I was there at Christmas. No one was wearing masks, we went into one store and left. Heck I felt so dirty there that day even without Covid we would have probably left. Covid testing is extremely slow here in Va, where I work we have someone that was outof the country, came home sick and was tested last week and is still waiting on the results. Yet we still have to work in the same workspace as him for extended hours yet going to a amusement park where you are mostly outside and always distsnced is wreckless. Then lets look at professional sports.....they are getting test after test after test will results in minutes. All professional sports should be halted untill regular folks can be tested as much as them.
 
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