It’s not hypothetical though, the park can’t even fully staff the ride with the longest lines already with Verbolten. And it is still a recommendation, people can choose what they want.
COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW
- Thread starter WDWRLD
- Start date
An indoor mask mandate like Disney's wouldn't affect staffing.
Thoughts on SEAS following suit?
"As a result, face coverings will now be required, effective Friday, December 24, 2021, at all public indoor locations within Universal Orlando Resort for both guests and team members regardless of vaccination status - including restaurants, shops, and indoor hotel public areas. Face coverings are also required at all attractions from the moment guests enter the queue to when they exit the experience."
FAQ -
"As a result, face coverings will now be required, effective Friday, December 24, 2021, at all public indoor locations within Universal Orlando Resort for both guests and team members regardless of vaccination status - including restaurants, shops, and indoor hotel public areas. Face coverings are also required at all attractions from the moment guests enter the queue to when they exit the experience."
FAQ -
8. Do I need to wear a face covering if the ride or queue is outdoors?
Yes, face coverings are required at ALL attractions in Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure – regardless of if the experience or queue is outdoors. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a face covering from the moment they enter the queue to the moment they exit the attraction. For the water rides at Islands of Adventure, a face covering is required while waiting in the queue, but can be removed once guests board the ride vehicle.
I'd be stunned if any of the SEAS parks imposed any restrictions at this point that aren't mandated by a government entity.
At KD last night the only mask changes I saw were the preformers on the main stage were all wearing masks and were not the week before. The Charlie Brown show only the same guy who was wearing one the week before had one on.
But yea with BGW getting into the part of the season they will need to do everything they can to get asses througfh the gates I doubt they will push anything unless they are forced to.
But yea with BGW getting into the part of the season they will need to do everything they can to get asses througfh the gates I doubt they will push anything unless they are forced to.
I am hearing that BGW has been hit hard by Covid and that related staff shortages could be cause the opening weekend of Winter Weekends to have additional closers and a park closure is not out of the realm of possibility if things don't improve.
Not very much truth to this. There are people out for Covid, but everyone one I've spoken with says that there aren't close to considering a park closure at this point and things should be running at a normal level this weekend.
Edit: grammar
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BGWnut definitely has a better track record long term. That said while I hope the sources that I have are exaggerating sources with good track records of being correct from two different department in BGW have both given alarming high percentages of employees that are sick. Both sources said to expect locations closed or short staffed this coming weekend and. Both said that while it's remote the possibility of a shut down has been brought up. Again I hope those reports are being blown out of proportion but both seem some what credible given New Years.
Short staffed is a different thing entirely
. I've just been told that at this point there shouldn't be noticable impacts unless it gets worse between now and Saturday. Everything should be similar to what we have been experiencing for other events, not a ton of locations open and lower staff than they really need, because they get anyone hired.As far as park closures the park has always had a minimum number of people that they need to be available to open the park that hasn't changed. I have no idea how close they are to that number, but I've been told that it would need to take a really bad turn in the next 2 days for it to be considered.
While we are on this topic, but looking ahead to the spring time frame, does anyone know what the state of bringing in international workers for the park looks like this year? Certainly Covid has significantly impacted the J-1 visa program in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, which is a big part of the staffing issues we have seen last year. Given the high numbers globally of cases- wondering if the park will have a difficult time to bring back those workers again.
As of a little over a week ago it's permitted but full vaccinations is REQUIRED as well as a negative test no more then 5 days prior to entry. I can't find details as to if boosters are required to be considered fully vaccinated.
But the other side of that is how much interest might there be in that program at the moment given thar travel home might be subject to complications if there is a another strain. I would think that the risk of being stuck abroad in a pandemic might be a turn off to at least some applicants.
Harsh to think about it, but it may be one of the best opportunities available to some of these workers. I'd assume it may work to their advantage to get stuck in our country though it'd definitely be a scary proposition.
Btw, this thought certainly wouldn't apply to all foreign workers, and I stand to be totally corrected.
True for some areas of the world but those are not the main areas that parks do most of their recruiting in.
There are some from Brazil, I think, that are currently working at the park. The park also had some over the summer, but it was a lot smaller than normal. My understanding is that it was a combination between the park not recruiting as hard last year because they didn't know what the year would look like and less interest from other workers. This coming year we should expect a lot more.
I have fairly reliable information that BGW is currently still following the overturned OSHA vaccinate or negative test every 5 days rules for employees.
This is true, and if it continues, I know there's a significant amount of people (even vaccinated) who will leave.
That may very well be the case however I heard from several credible sources that at the end of Christmas Town more then one department was looking at above 50% staff either isolating after exposure or sick. We also all saw the impact on shows at Christmas Town with those two data points maybe BGW or SEA have decided that reducing the risk of a repeat of the end of Christmas Town is worth a short term loss of staff.