COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW

[horsesboy]

Last minute decision to come today if anything it's worse then yesterday. To make a point about the parks lack of desire to control the crowd I booked my resveration only about 20 minutes before arriving and found crowds like this. In my opinion in no way should the park be taking more resveration when they are this full!

 

[Memles]

Started to bleed into Twitter as well. (To the second tweet: the park is selling the weekdays for $60, which is technically not full price, but it's POSSIBLE people bought date-specific tickets before the season and chose to use them on this day.)

 

[ludmarco]

Last minute decision to come today if anything it's worse then yesterday. To make a point about the parks lack of desire to control the crowd I booked my resveration only about 20 minutes before arriving and found crowds like this. In my opinion in no way should the park be taking more resveration when they are this full!

Wow, very disappointing. Thank you for the pictures. I was hoping to go next week but now I’m going to think things through some more.

 

[dawno]

Honestly I would advise anyone who has to make any decent distance trip even if they ate not concerned about the virus to put it on hold. The lines were just simply horrific yesterday an 1hr plus to get into Fest House and then another 45 minutes to get food once in the building was one story I heard. 30 plus minutes lines at the Pretzel shop and long lines at Lefrites were also things I heard. Ride lines were visibly put of queues even for small flats and the train. Unless you are coming for Pantheon viewing I just don't see it as a fun trip. Hopefully next week with more Virginia schools out the situation might be better but I am not counting on it.

To the point I am see negative comments and post popping up on FB groups that usually are positive about the park experience so the disappointment and anger appears wide spread right now.

Thank you for this comment. It's a 6+ hour drive for us - both my husband and I have been visiting BGW since it opened, which was weirdly one of the things that built our relationship - but this is not what either of us want. I miss the park so much, have been living vicariously through posts here and on FB, but this is not the experience I want.

We let our membership / passes expire the fall before covid hit. I've been so tempted to renew, but not under these conditions. I'm hoping that things change for the better and we can visit in the not too distant future - sadly, as much as I love it, unless the situation changes drastically, we're going to miss F&W again. I'm so sad, as I love that event.

 

[Memles]

I'm hoping that things change for the better and we can visit in the not too distant future - sadly, as much as I love it, unless the situation changes drastically, we're going to miss F&W again. I'm so sad, as I love that event.

The good news is that #PantheonWatch means that forum members will be going to the park often, and will be able to gauge the point at which they are able to match staffing and demand. And we still don’t know what things will look like during the festival itself, which is limited to the weekends, and thus less likely to suffer from staffing concerns.

So I guess my best advice is staying tuned, since when things turn the corner we’re going to notice.

 

[horsesboy]

They are setting up several portable lights on the tramway I can only assume that there is a decent chance that the rumors we heard of plans to use them as a walk way when more capacity is possible are true.

 

[horsesboy]

On the other Covid front crowds were low with the impending bad weather but mask uses and enforcement was dismal. To the parks defense it was largely isolated to a subsection of the park's guest that fit a demographic that has had wide compliance issues nationally and I was told by one employee that the park basically gave up on enforcing it with that group as it was stirring up issues and could have potentially created a big seen and PR issue. Not sure how to say more without causing problems.

 

[Memles]

On the other Covid front crowds were low with the impending bad weather but mask uses and enforcement was dismal. To the parks defense it was largely isolated to a subsection of the park's guest that fit a demographic that has had wide compliance issues nationally and I was told by one employee that the park basically gave up on enforcing it with that group as it was stirring up issues and could have potentially created a big seen and PR issue. Not sure how to say more without causing problems.

Gotta admit I don't love the idea that it could create a "PR issue" for them to be enforcing their rules designed to keep people safe, as opposed to it being a PR issue for them to NOT be enforcing those rules. (I know you're not the one saying this, and it's just one employee, but still).

 

[horsesboy]

Gotta admit I don't love the idea that it could create a "PR issue" for them to be enforcing their rules designed to keep people safe, as opposed to it being a PR issue for them to NOT be enforcing those rules. (I know you're not the one saying this, and it's just one employee, but still).

It's hard to explain why I feel that an accurate statement without feeling like I am crossing a line but I would point to some of NYC enforcement issues in certain communities as a hint to what the park was dancing around.

 

[Nicole]

I think the park is clearly worried about the large segment of the population (some of which is represented here) that views COVID restrictions as unnecessary and an infringement on their rights. Caving into those pressure is just craven and irresponsible, in my opinion.

 

[..…]

I think the park is clearly worried about the large segment of the population (some of which is represented here) that views COVOID restrictions as unnecessary and an infringement on their rights. Caving into those pressure is just craven and irresponsible, in my opinion.

And it’s a good sign someone in operations isn’t communicating properly with in-house counsel.

 

[Zachary]

And it’s a good sign someone in operations isn’t communicating properly with in-house counsel.

Yeah, basically what I'm hearing here is that some people in the park are profiling a subset of their guests and enforcing different safety policies with said group which....

That's a big fucking yikes from me, dawg.

 

[Nicole]

I hope this isn't true. Because: disgusting.

 

[warfelg]

This is extremely troublesome. But it kinda fits with my feelings I've been having for a while with various places I go to. The individuals feelings towards the seriousness of this situation is so ingrained, especially at this point, it almost doesn't matter what management does.

But if this is BGW's take of it, it tracks with so many other decisions that when there's pushback to something (ahem passes -> membership) they ultimately give in to the complainers rather than just stand firm in their decisions. I think I can repeat what I said in the Pantheon thread: "God what a shitty company. God I love them."

 

[kulthus]

In theory, couldn't they have police remove them from the park if they refuse to comply with the rules? Then it would be trespassing I'd think, right?

 

[warfelg]

In theory, couldn't they have police remove them from the park if they refuse to comply with the rules? Then it would be trespassing I'd think, right?

No sure on that, but the mask mandates don't really have much of a legal implications. Basically it's up to the companies to enforce it.

 

[nick]

It makes sense that there is natural entropy. You start off a strict diet, you relax off of it long term. You study hard at the beginning of a semester, but get weary of classes by the end. I think you’re seeing the natural process occur here.

Remember, too, that a lot of people believe politicians still. ? They were told “flatten the curve,” then “wear a mask until vaccines come out,” then “100 days of wearing a mask,” now “yes, you’re vaccinated, but still take the same precautions.” At some point, your commitment to the ever-changing rules of COVID seems a lot like playing Calvinball. I say this just for context—many in this forum took COVID precautions to heart and are exceptionally loyal to them. Others are not pleased to follow the precautions, but do them because they “have to,” and still others don’t do them, but do only in Busch Gardens.

This all to say the level of enforcement & variety of enforcement make sense to me. There are many nuances guests can claim and negative outcomes that security/team have likely experienced & determined are not worth the battle.

If most of your guests are ok with the entropy, then why fight the crowd, I guess I’m saying. I’m sure all of these paying guests who drive for hours are trying to relax, and being policed is not relaxing. Paying guests also have loud mouths & are very convincing because they are spending the money. My guess is that at this point, those not worried about COVID are louder & more prevalent than the COVID-concerned.

 

[..…]

It makes sense that there is natural entropy. You start off a strict diet, you relax off of it long term. You study hard at the beginning of a semester, but get weary of classes by the end. I think you’re seeing the natural process occur here.

Remember, too, that a lot of people believe politicians still. ? They were told “flatten the curve,” then “wear a mask until vaccines come out,” then “100 days of wearing a mask,” now “yes, you’re vaccinated, but still take the same precautions.” At some point, your commitment to the ever-changing rules of COVID seems a lot like playing Calvinball. I say this just for context—many in this forum took COVID precautions to heart and are exceptionally loyal to them. Others are not pleased to follow the precautions, but do them because they “have to,” and still others don’t do them, but do only in Busch Gardens.

This all to say the level of enforcement & variety of enforcement make sense to me. There are many nuances guests can claim and negative outcomes that security/team have likely experienced & determined are not worth the battle.

If most of your guests are ok with the entropy, then why fight the crowd, I guess I’m saying. I’m sure all of these paying guests who drive for hours are trying to relax, and being policed is not relaxing. Paying guests also have loud mouths & are very convincing because they are spending the money. My guess is that at this point, those not worried about COVID are louder & more prevalent than the COVID-concerned.

I agree with your points about the psychological aspects of this for the public. But looking at the situation purely from a business perspective, they need to enforce state mandates regardless. The amount of liability they’re introducing by not doing so has the potential to be pretty big. And more money spent on covid related liability = less money to invest in fun attractions.

 

[kulthus]

No sure on that, but the mask mandates don't really have much of a legal implications. Basically it's up to the companies to enforce it.

I guess I was thinking more like other scenarios where companies threaten with trespassing charges. For example, if you film videos in a store and don't stop/leave even after being asked to, they can have you charged with trespassing.

 

[Zachary]

In theory, couldn't they have police remove them from the park if they refuse to comply with the rules?

Yes, they very much can.