COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW

[Memles]

Personally, I think that anything will feel crowded compared to we've been experiencing. I just want to caution and say that this doesn't mean no shows. Just that the park can't operate indoor theaters. So there could be a show at Royal palace or a show in the festhaus while people are eating

I hope they go Royal Palace over Festhaus for a show, mainly because I have no intention of going into Festhaus for any period of time but would be curious to see what they pull together. I suppose somebody will be likely take a video.

I think you’re right that anything will feel crowded compared to the current events, but I guess it’s a question of whether or not those crowds create more congestion. It really comes down to the calculus of what’s open, what’s not, and how that matches up with each day’s crowd and their respective interests.

But gone are the days when you can spend two hours at the park and pretty much do everything you wanted to do, that’s for certain.

 

[BGWnut]

I hope they go Royal Palace over Festhaus for a show, mainly because I have no intention of going into Festhaus for any period of time but would be curious to see what they pull together. I suppose somebody will be likely take a video.

I think you’re right that anything will feel crowded compared to the current events, but I guess it’s a question of whether or not those crowds create more congestion. It really comes down to the calculus of what’s open, what’s not, and how that matches up with each day’s crowd and their respective interests.

But gone are the days when you can spend two hours at the park and pretty much do everything you wanted to do, that’s for certain.

I know that the festhaus show for instance is apparently going to be similar to the show we had in Marco Polo last year. So it'll basically just as singer and a piano player singing Christmas songs.

 

[Jonesta6]

Sounds safer for the performers.

Not sure how they could do RPT since that'd require guests to sit in the cold for awhile to watch the show. Maybe a space heater for each group (assuming separation of seating between groups)?

 

[Memles]

Sounds safer for the performers.

Not sure how they could do RPT since that'd require guests to sit in the cold for awhile to watch the show. Maybe a space heater for each group (assuming separation of seating between groups)?

Have you never braved the cold for Twas the Night? (I do think people will be LESS likely to wait for a show that isn’t ice skating).

 

[Jonesta6]

Have you never braved the cold for Twas the Night? (I do think people will be LESS likely to wait for a show that isn’t ice skating).

I don't think I went through that - but I'd guess that only a select segment of the park's overall guests would be all that interested to watch an ice skating show in general; an even smaller segment would be willing to see it more or less straight on in a theater vs looking down on the skaters like you'd generally do in an arena.

Definitely not likely, but maybe if they somehow combined the funkiness, fireworks, and laser show aspects of Imaginique with a Holidays show, that could be a winner.

Side thought - though the event name usually has Christmas in the title, it'd be really neat to have a bit more incorporation of other major religious festivities... Food, music, entertainment, etc.

 

[Memles]

I don't think I went through that - but I'd guess that only a select segment of the park's overall guests would be all that interested to watch an ice skating show in general; an even smaller segment would be willing to see it more or less straight on in a theater vs looking down on the skaters like you'd generally do in an arena..

"Twas The Night" is regularly packed, with long lines of people queueing for good seats for upwards of an hour before they open the gates, plus the park makes extra coin by selling "priority seating" to those who don't want to wait in line. It's a big draw that people show up for each year.

 

[Jonesta6]

"Twas The Night" is regularly packed, with long lines of people queueing for good seats for upwards of an hour before they open the gates, plus the park makes extra coin by selling "priority seating" to those who don't want to wait in line. It's a big draw that people show up for each year.

Ok, I'll assume I'm wrong then? Having not seen it is it advertised as an ice skating show? Did the guests that saw the show generally want to see it again on the same or subsequent visits?

 

[Nicole]

‘Twas That Night was (is) very popular. There were always huge crowds and devoted fans.

And, yes, it was marketed as an ice show. The professional ice skater they brought in was a huge draw. A lot of people were very excited to have an ice skating show in the park.

BGW Entertainment - 'Twas That Night

For the first time in 13 years, the stage of the Royal Palace Theatre will once again glisten with the return of a full-scale ice show. ‘Twas That Night, an all-new ice show, reimagines the magic of Christmas Eve and the classic poem A Visit From St. Nicholas. World-champion figure skater Elvis...

parkfans.net

 

[Jonesta6]

‘Twas That Night was (is) very popular. There were always huge crowds and devoted fans.

And, yes, it was marketed as an ice show. The professional ice skater they brought in was a huge draw. A lot of people were very excited to have an ice skating show in the park.

BGW Entertainment - 'Twas That Night

For the first time in 13 years, the stage of the Royal Palace Theatre will once again glisten with the return of a full-scale ice show. ‘Twas That Night, an all-new ice show, reimagines the magic of Christmas Eve and the classic poem A Visit From St. Nicholas. World-champion figure skater Elvis...

parkfans.net

Thanks - I'll stand fully corrected

 

[WDWRLD]

I hope they go Royal Palace over Festhaus for a show, mainly because I have no intention of going into Festhaus for any period of time

Festhaus is probably safer than RPT....I mean have you ever tried eating in there at CT? Its hurricaine force winds coming out of the vents and almost imossible to keep your napkin on the table.

 

[rswashdc]

So I've alluded to it before, but the park has been allowed to increase their capacity. The Executive Order that outlined theme park attendance restrictions was amended on Thursday by the Governor. Here is the relevant portion and links. The way it is written it really only benefits BGW and KD. We could be seeing quite the capacity increase for this coming event. Basically, the parks capacity is based on the overall capacity of the attractions, shops and restaurants open. They can then have 50% of that max capacity.

View attachment 21409

Executive Actions

Abigail Spanberger, Commonwealth, Governor of Virginia, governor, virginia, VA

www.governor.virginia.gov

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-67-FOURTH-AMENDED-and-Order-of-Public-Health-Emergency-Seven---Phase-Three-Further-Adjusting-of-Certain-Temporary-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf

A few things I notice:
- BGW will need to expeditiously implement the health screening procedures in part g. I've had to do this at various sports classes and it definitely slows the check in process. Doing this for thousands or tens of thousands is going to require a different process from the current one or a huge expansion in the check-in stations as the per patron time will increase quite a bit from just doing temp checks.
- Mask relaxation zones will have to go based on part d.
- It looks like distancing on rides isn't being required, which is certainly needed to keep lines from becoming huge and overflowing the walkways - e.g. Verbolten has been having lines with the limited capacity events and I could imagine those being hours long with 50% park capacity and the current 4 rows filled per train.
- I hope for my kids that Santa's workshop is classified as retail (which it basically is) rather than an indoor attraction. They can keep the queue outside to limit bunching indoors.

 

[BGWnut]

A few things I notice:
- BGW will need to expeditiously implement the health screening procedures in part g. I've had to do this at various sports classes and it definitely slows the check in process. Doing this for thousands or tens of thousands is going to require a different process from the current one or a huge expansion in the check-in stations as the per patron time will increase quite a bit from just doing temp checks.
- Mask relaxation zones will have to go based on part d.
- It looks like distancing on rides isn't being required, which is certainly needed to keep lines from becoming huge and overflowing the walkways - e.g. Verbolten has been having lines with the limited capacity events and I could imagine those being hours long with 50% park capacity and the current 4 rows filled per train.
- I hope for my kids that Santa's workshop is classified as retail (which it basically is) rather than an indoor attraction. They can keep the queue outside to limit bunching indoors.

Santa will be there. They will likely do what you said and only have people using the outdoors queue portion.

My understanding is that they will be moving the main screening location to by the ticket booths. They will still keep one at the location in the England lot because they will use both for parking. This should alleviate some of the congestion.

 

[Jahrules]

Santa will be there. They will likely do what you said and only have people using the outdoors queue portion.

My understanding is that they will be moving the main screening location to by the ticket booths. They will still keep one at the location in the England lot because they will use both for parking. This should alleviate some of the congestion.

More importantly will a photokey continue to function as a fast pass for Santa pics?

 

[JohnD]

Christmas celebration tickets for sale - and purchased

 

[Bama]

Festhaus is probably safer than RPT....I mean have you ever tried eating in there at CT? Its hurricaine force winds coming out of the vents and almost imossible to keep your napkin on the table.

There is not gonna be a show in RPT only a piano player in the festhsus and i hear at a limited capacity i think i read where there is gonna be an ice skating show in Tampa but not here i heard last year that was the last year for Twas that night.

 

[tursiops]

Anyone think the park will just keep rolling in January and February with limited events? Might make sense to try to continue bringing in since revenue.

 

[Memles]

Anyone think the park will just keep rolling in January and February with limited events? Might make sense to try to continue bringing in since revenue.

I think the possibility of a Valentine’s event is definitely very real. Less sure about January, which doesn’t really have a good hook marketing wise.

 

[rswashdc]

Anyone think the park will just keep rolling in January and February with limited events? Might make sense to try to continue bringing in since revenue.

Weather alone will be a challenge. Early January is usually tolerable, but February is pretty hit or miss - mostly miss.

 

[RocketChk]

I don't think I went through that - but I'd guess that only a select segment of the park's overall guests would be all that interested to watch an ice skating show in general; an even smaller segment would be willing to see it more or less straight on in a theater vs looking down on the skaters like you'd generally do in an arena.

Definitely not likely, but maybe if they somehow combined the funkiness, fireworks, and laser show aspects of Imaginique with a Holidays show, that could be a winner.

Side thought - though the event name usually has Christmas in the title, it'd be really neat to have a bit more incorporation of other major religious festivities... Food, music, entertainment, etc.

Hey there! Imaginique Super Fan here. ? Cirque Productions, who ran Imaginique, has a Christmas show called Cirque Dreams Holidaze. They used to come to Chrysler Hall and it is a fun show. Loved every minute. They could do it, but if I remember right, that relationship did not end well.

More importantly will a photokey continue to function as a fast pass for Santa pics?

Asking the real question here. That thing was worth every penny not to stand in the whole Santa and Rudolph lines.

 

[Jonesta6]

Hey there! Imaginique Super Fan here. ? Cirque Productions, who ran Imaginique, has a Christmas show called Cirque Dreams Holidaze. They used to come to Chrysler Hall and it is a fun show. Loved every minute. They could do it, but if I remember right, that relationship did not end well.

I thought someone here had mentioned that it wasn't a direct Cirque production but instead a 3rd party that may have licensed part of it.

Bigger questions are cost, demand, space/technical requirements, and the ability for the show to operate outdoors in winter for at least a month or longer vs traveling through indoor theaters.