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

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Zachary said:
If you feel safe in a Walmart right now, I think you may be in the minority there. I honestly don’t know anyone who feels safe in any populous, public, indoor space. And to be fair, the science says we really shouldn’t feel safe in a circumstance like that right now.

Most people are going to stores right now because they need food and whatnot—not because they want to enjoy a day out at the local Walmart.

And, much like tracing moderate spread back to parks would be next to impossible given our current testing and contact tracing infrastructure, tracing an outbreak back to a Walmart is much the same. There are too many people present and the spread isn’t likely to be severe enough for the cluster to be obvious.
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I don't have much issue going into stores right now. I get in and get out to limit indoor air exposure and everyone has masks on to keep particles from someone coughing getting in my body.

However, I have serious concerns with going to bars, movie theaters, offices, and most anywhere that includes long term indoor exposure unless they can show they are constantly cleaning the air with UV to kill the virus (the airlines are about the only ones I've seen do this).

Parks I don't have issue with for anything outdoor, even when it's busy. However, I won't do indoor queues or theaters that create a prolonged exposure - a gift shop is fine for a few minutes though.
 
So Hersheypark has announced expanded seasonal events of Hersheypark in the Dark and Christmas Candyland with more weekends. UOR seems to be figuring out a few HHN houses and here sits BGW with a 1000 person cap, not able to open the whole park and no word on HOS or CT. All these bonus perks for continuing to pay every month that we can’t use. And now offering that if you buy a 2021 fun card you get the rest of 2020. The rest of what?
 
Bonus perks you can’t use? Isn’t FREE admission to a special event a bonus perk? Don’t your visits to these special events *NOT* count towards your total membership length? We’re getting free months... Some complained for having to pay while the park was closed (which I hated) but now the park has been open for 2 months when they still could be closed like the other park down the road. You’re clearly having a good time if you continue to visit and critique. You have a membership and you currently have access to the park. You are actively paying for something.

Give the park a damn break people, they are trying. Is the park perfect right now? No, but we didn’t expect it to be and us Virginia theme park fans shouldn’t expect the park to be open under its normal operation. We need to be supporting the park! It just isn’t feasible to open like some are dreaming... We’re in a fucking pandemic. Like holy shit... The parks need us now more than ever and some are shitting on them non stop. It’s so godamned annoying.

And comparing Florida and Pennsylvania theme parks to Busch just isn’t fair right now. Each state is doing what they think is enough. I may not be the biggest fan of our governor, but he is absolutely right to limit the amount of guests at a theme park. We don’t need the crowds that are at Hershey - it’s a shit show up there. I feel so bad for any employees at the parks LITERALLY risking their lives just to cater to entitled jerks.

Be nice to one another. Think positive. Wear a damn mask. Be grateful for what we have. And *please* don’t give park employees a hard time...

Now back to your regularly scheduled Thursday programming....
 
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When Covid started they upped everyones pass level for the rest of 2020. They also offered $50 in Busch Bucks per pass that I found out later you could not redeem at BGW. Since the park closed after 2019 they have taken $540 out of my accountso far in return I get a chance to go to a 1/4 of a park with many things closed, one night having to wait in my truck to be let in since they over sold the reservations, last night my reservation canceled because of rain. No mention of what happens to my all season 2020 dining and drink plans that I paid for.....just some explanation on what they plan to do would be nice......but no...nothing......but they have had time to rethink the membership levels and prices and start selling 2021 memberships that get you the rest of the 2020 special events for free.
 
I think that is a mis-characterization. You get a free extension on your Membership to make up for the COVID closure. Technically the park is still closed. So, there is no reason to expect anything right now.

I am concerned about the perks that we missed like free food at F&WF.
 
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I agree will all that....but the bonus things they offered to keep people from canceling like the busch bucks and upping everyones membership level. What happens to that? I dont expect anything right now but if they dont open this year those were things that were only promised through 2020. $150 Busch Bucks is alot of missed free churros!
 
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I agree that the tier upgrades that no one has ever been able to use are an interesting question.
 
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WDWRLD said:
When Covid started they upped everyones pass level for the rest of 2020. They also offered $50 in Busch Bucks per pass that I found out later you could not redeem at BGW. Since the park closed after 2019 they have taken $540 out of my accountso far in return I get a chance to go to a 1/4 of a park with many things closed, one night having to wait in my truck to be let in since they over sold the reservations, last night my reservation canceled because of rain. No mention of what happens to my all season 2020 dining and drink plans that I paid for.....just some explanation on what they plan to do would be nice......but no...nothing......but they have had time to rethink the membership levels and prices and start selling 2021 memberships that get you the rest of the 2020 special events for free.
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You don't get the $50 at BGW because it hasn't fully reopened yet. Once the park reopens then you will be able to redeem them.
 
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So, Universal is doing away with the skipping rows and seating all rows on Hulk and Rip Ride Rocket. They say they moving on with their reopening plans.
 
WDWRLD said:
So, Universal is doing away with the skipping rows and seating all rows on Hulk and Rip Ride Rocket. They say they moving on with their reopening plans.
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Smart. Being close on the ride for a couple minutes is better than for long periods of time in a queue.
 
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I previously posted a similar CNN article, but this video from CNA looks at more ideas that the Japanese amusement industry is testing for its haunts during COVID.

Go to 15:20

www.channelnewsasia.com

CNA Correspondent - S1: A New Normal: Here And Hereafter

As COVID-19 continues to upend lives on Earth, there's no escape for the spiritual realm either. Find out what's different about this year's Hungry Ghost Festival as our correspondents look at the new normal, here and hereafter.
www.channelnewsasia.com www.channelnewsasia.com
 
HHN may be cancelled, but Universal Studios Orlando will be opening two haunted houses for daytime guests this weekend along with Trick-or-Treating at IOA. The current rumor is if this goes smoothly, we could possibly see other original IP houses open up each weekend. Team Members are currently scheduled until the end of October, but this could change based on the success of this weekends limited run.
 
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Connor said:
HHN may be cancelled, but Universal Studios Orlando will be opening two haunted houses for daytime guests this weekend along with Trick or Treating at IOA. The current rumor is if this goes smoothly, we could possibly see other original IP houses open up each weekend. Team members are currently scheduled until the end of October, but this could change based on the success of this weekend.
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As with everything going on, this really is a case of how experimental parks are having to be in order to figure out what they're able to manage financially/safety-wise in the current circumstances. Curious to know what their benchmarks are—Attendance? Guest satisfaction? "Safety"?—for moving forward.
 
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Well, i’ll be there Saturday at UOR and many people I know say they too are going. I have a funny feeling park will hit capacity. Looking over at WDW all 4 parks are showing no reservations for saturday.
 
The headline on this article is pushing a strong claim, but in truth all we know is that no park is publicly claiming awareness of any cluster of cases in one of their parks, and no state health officials have successfully traced a cluster to the parks. Does this mean no one has caught the virus at a park? No. But I imagine it will be fuel for the California parks to open as we get into the fall as they get closer to the reopening stages happening elsewhere around the country.

www.ocregister.com

Largest U.S. theme parks report no COVID-19 outbreaks since reopening

No outbreaks have been reported at Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Legoland and Cedar Fair parks in Florida, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan, according to state health agencies…
www.ocregister.com www.ocregister.com
 
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WDWRLD said:
I agree will all that....but the bonus things they offered to keep people from canceling like the busch bucks and upping everyones membership level. What happens to that? I dont expect anything right now but if they dont open this year those were things that were only promised through 2020. $150 Busch Bucks is alot of missed free churros!
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For the record, I talked to Guest Relations a couple weeks ago about the Busch bucks and was able to get all $50 right there on the spot. All $50 is redeemable at any Sea World park as well. You can choose to get all $50 up front or you can get it in increments of $10, but all you have to do is ask. I redeemed most of it on the expensive pins, but I'm saving the last $10 for BGT/SWO next month.
 
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