COVID-19 Impacts on Kings Dominion

[Memles]

In terms of their COVID protocols, everything is consistent with the Taste of the Season event except for this new wrinkle about Location Services:

They suggest it's to "allow us to send you real-time updates," but I have some questions about why they need location services to do that.

 

[Jonesta6]

In terms of their COVID protocols, everything is consistent with the Taste of the Season event except for this new wrinkle about Location Services:
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They suggest it's to "allow us to send you real-time updates," but I have some questions about why they need location services to do that.

Surprised they didn't just go straight to encouraging guests to download and use the Covidwise app for contact tracing.

Though maybe they improved their infrastructure and actually can geolocate you within the park enough to send relevant push notifications depending on where you're close to...?

 

[BGW Family]

Carowinds did this for their Winter event. They claimed it was to notify you of real-time updates if issues. We just turned the app and location service off after going inside.

EDIT: Other than using the phone instead of pass card, I had no indication the app served any purpose. Other than they had no printed maps, so that and events where only in apps and the two boards erected inside the park. I just took a photo of the board and didn't use the app.

 

[horsesboy]

Well one POSSABILTY that comes to mind would be that IF we see tight capacity limits that they could POSSIBLY limit the amount of time that guest are allowed in the park and use the app to send out warning and monitor compliance with the rules. I am just brain storming and have no info on this.

 

[bill s]

Actually you were supposed to bring your phone running the app already. I asked if I needed it and was told I really didn't. Would have been mad if I bought a smartphone for the purpose (actually it was a factor in determining inevitability). I expect it will be the same.

May 22 .. lame.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

Well one POSSABILTY that comes to mind would be that IF we see tight capacity limits that they could POSSIBLY limit the amount of time that guest are allowed in the park and use the app to send out warning and monitor compliance with the rules. I am just brain storming and have no info on this.

I hope they don't do this. Time limits are a major let down. Not sure how Bush Gardens is able to get attendance with that rule. These parks aren't close for everybody. Since the park is opening in May; that is around time that most colleges are done for the semester. Same goes for high school. Not sure how virtual learning may have changed this. I'm assuming that May weather would permit later evening hours. My guess is that the park would open at 10:00am and stay open to at least 8:00pm. I'm driving from Maryland, so it's a two hour ride for me. I'd rather be able to arrive at a certain time and stay the entire operation.

Just crossing my fingers that this doesn't limit attractions in any way. Can't wait to get some evening rides on Twisted Timbers.

 

[Memles]

Just crossing my fingers that this doesn't limit attractions in any way. Can't wait to get some evening rides on Twisted Timbers.

They're definitely leaving room for any number of attractions not to be running in the language on the website, but I think not running Twisted Timbers during the "regular season" is somewhat untenable. But, they also can't have people digging into the loose articles bag every time, and so I imagine you'll see them remove them temporarily and switch to requiring lockers. Even though we know that surface spread is an increasingly unlikely form of transmission, it's still a risk vector they would want to avoid.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

They're definitely leaving room for any number of attractions not to be running in the language on the website, but I think not running Twisted Timbers during the "regular season" is somewhat untenable. But, they also can't have people digging into the loose articles bag every time, and so I imagine you'll see them remove them temporarily and switch to requiring lockers. Even though we know that surface spread is an increasingly unlikely form of transmission, it's still a risk vector they would want to avoid.

The only reason that came to mind was that they may not have a full staff of employees to start off with. And of course Twisted Timbers always gets the axe; as we saw with Taste of Season. Now picture a ride like Flight of Fear that requires 1 person at the entrance and at least 4 attendants in the station. Of course their going to keep it closed if the park is short staffed. So in ways it would be like Taste of Season 2.0. We'd get Stunt Coaster, Dominator, Delirium and Racer 75. Wouldn't even count of Drop Tower being open.

If they do limited attractions; I'll take Twisted Timbers over Dominator.

 

[Memles]

The only reason that came to mind was that they may not have a full staff of employees to start off with. And of course Twisted Timbers always gets the axe; as we saw with Taste of Season. Now picture a ride like Flight of Fear that requires 1 person at the entrance and at least 4 attendants in the station. Of course their going to keep it closed if the park is short staffed. So in ways it would be like Taste of Season 2.0. We'd get Stunt Coaster, Dominator, Delirium and Racer 75. Wouldn't even count of Drop Tower being open.

If they do limited attractions; I'll take Twisted Timbers over Dominator.

With a large outdoor queue and large capacity, Dominatory is 100% staying open. Flight of Fear raises questions about indoor spaces that ultimately aren’t answerable four months out until we see the impact of more transmissible mutations of the virus. Timbers has issues with capacity as it is, but avoiding the loose articles situation could offset the slower loading/unloading doing one row at a time, so I think it would be a decent trade-off and allow them to feature the most recent new coaster at a time when they DO need to still be able to draw crowds.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

With a large outdoor queue and large capacity, Dominatory is 100% staying open. Flight of Fear raises questions about indoor spaces that ultimately aren’t answerable four months out until we see the impact of more transmissible mutations of the virus. Timbers has issues with capacity as it is, but avoiding the loose articles situation could offset the slower loading/unloading doing one row at a time, so I think it would be a decent trade-off and allow them to feature the most recent new coaster at a time when they DO need to still be able to draw crowds.

Having it open is the right mindset; but that's what we thought about Taste of Season. What would the harm have been?

Here's the issue with the time limits. If you want to stay the whole day; you have to buy a ticket for each slot. Not sure how it works for season pass members. And the time slots are only 4 hours if I'm correct. I can't imagine that too many people from D.C. and Maryland drove all the way to Bush Gardens, just to stay four hours and then drive another 3 and 1/2 hours back. Six Flags America had a lot of competition beat, allowing guests to stay until the park closed. KD should follow suite and satisfy the D.C/MD/VA region.

Here's how I think most of the traffic will flow. If the park opens at 10:00am and closes at 8:00pm, most of the traffic from the norther VA and Montgomery County MD, and P.G. County, MD; will generally leave their houses at 10:00am and arrive at 2:00pm. Some may even arrive at 3:00pm. It still gives you a good five hours at the park. If they close at 8:00pm you could still get a few night rides in.

 

[bill s]

If they're going to wait until May 22 they better have every ride open.

 

[Zachary]

If they're going to wait until May 22 they better have every ride open.

I would advise against getting your hopes up for that. We’re still four months out, but don’t be surprised if everything isn’t open come late May.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

Two of my top three rides are for sure going to be closed. FoF and Boo Blasters.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

I would advise against getting your hopes up for that. We’re still four months out, but don’t be surprised if everything isn’t open come late May.

I hate to say it; but you might be right.

KD seems to be very budget tight with their money. Not sure how Bush Gardens and Six Flags America seem to blaze on as if it were a normal world. When it comes to KD, if they don't see the attendance, they don't open all rides. I'll give them a reasonable pass on Taste of Season. But by May, I'd expect most rides be open for the simple fact that weather is favorable. If they advertise, people will make their reservations and come. But that all depends on the ride list.

Here's the risk in running limited attractions. If they open in late May with limited attractions; it's likely to continue throughout the month of June give or take attendance. People who live further away may not bother wasting their money on the park if the hear that attractions are closed. This reverts back to the Taste of Season and WinterFest. How many times can they market the same list of limited attractions?

If the park opens in May and the only rides open are Dominator, Planet Snoopy, Berserker, Delirium and Racer 75; how many people do you think are going to show up?

 

[Memles]

If the park opens in May and the only rides open are Dominator, Planet Snoopy, Berserker, Delirium and Racer 75; how many people do you think are going to show up?

I don’t think there’s a likely scenario where they remain THAT limited in terms of attractions in normal weather conditions. There’s no reason to believe additional coasters/attractions would not be open.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

I don’t think there’s a likely scenario where they remain THAT limited in terms of attractions in normal weather conditions. There’s no reason to believe additional coasters/attractions would not be open.

If all the rides are open, that would be great.

The only thing left to speculate would be operations hours. I've been crossing my fingers for 10:00am-8:00pm for the month of May. Once mid June hits, you could start doing Mon-Thurs: 10:00am-8:00pm and Fri-Sun: 10:00am-10:00pm.

In the normal world, we would be doing 10:00pm closing daily operation; but with a pandemic it's probably wise to save a few dollars. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays could be your late closing hours. Remember; not everyone is going to stay the entire day. Some people will arrive at the park by 1:00pm or 2:00pm. I doubt with the pandemic that the water park will be open, so it's all games and rides.

So what will the park do with Flight of Fear? We've all speculated that it would be closed due to it being a enclosed building. There is a simple way to deal with this. I've mentioned this before. They could do a reverse queue. The exit would become the entrance. Once a full train is filled, the next group of people can enter the station. The returning train, then exits through the flying saucer, before the next group of people enter the station.

 

[horsesboy]

If all the rides are open, that would be great.

The only thing left to speculate would be operations hours. I've been crossing my fingers for 10:00am-8:00pm for the month of May. Once mid June hits, you could start doing Mon-Thurs: 10:00am-8:00pm and Fri-Sun: 10:00am-10:00pm.

In the normal world, we would be doing 10:00pm closing daily operation; but with a pandemic it's probably wise to save a few dollars. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays could be your late closing hours. Remember; not everyone is going to stay the entire day. Some people will arrive at the park by 1:00pm or 2:00pm. I doubt with the pandemic that the water park will be open, so it's all games and rides.

So what will the park do with Flight of Fear? We've all speculated that it would be closed due to it being a enclosed building. There is a simple way to deal with this. I've mentioned this before. They could do a reverse queue. The exit would become the entrance. Once a full train is filled, the next group of people can enter the station. The returning train, then exits through the flying saucer, before the next group of people enter the station.

The water park will probably open but I would assume that there will be a second reservation for it that was how SFA was operating
theirs last year. With Flight of Fear there is also the issue of IS it ready to operate? It was having significant refurb work including work on the track and was confirmed NOT to be ready for operation for the start of the 2020 season so who knows how much of that work has been done during the shutdown.

 

[Zachary]

It was having significant refurb work including work on the track and was confirmed NOT to be ready for operation for the start of the 2020 season so who knows how much of that work has been done during the shutdown.

Same story with Grizzly too. ? Considering that KD was planning to open without those two running before the world was turned upside down I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see both delayed past May 2021.

 

[MikeLovesKD]

I can't imagine that Flight of Fear isn't done. They've had a whole year to work on it. Unless they were unable to get the parts in; I can't imagine they used the pandemic as an excuse to not get work done. Premier Rides is located in Baltimore, MD. Not sure if the parts are there, but if they are; it shouldn't take all but a few hours to get the parts to the park. When did the ride begin maintenance?

Here's something to think about. If an ongoing pandemic restricts the parks from doing HAUNT MAZES; we may actually get to see Flight of Fear operate for HAUNT.

 

[Zachary]

They've had a whole year to work on it. […] I can't imagine they used the pandemic as an excuse to not get work done.

Basically all work ceased inside the park. Work on Grain & Grill—a project with a planned Spring 2020 debut originally—just recently resumed work. It is well within reason to imagine that Flight of Fear and Grizzly aren’t currently operational.