COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW

[Jonesta6]

Problem with those scenarios is that with a limited to non-existent ticket booth revenue stream, the park would need to have f&b, merch, and/or games open at close to full capacity to make up the difference.

The other thing is guest experience - I'm sure a few people come to the park for the scenery, but to be honest it's the attractions that drive visitation. Therefore, by having most of them closed and those that are running in reduced capacity, the guest experience may be low enough that the park isn't a desirable place to go.

 

[Jahrules]

What about just bringing in food trucks to serve people?

It would be supporting other local businesses and solving the problem of having people in enclosed spaces.

And there's already precedent for it as we saw during Christmas town

 

[rswashdc]

Problem with those scenarios is that with a limited to non-existent ticket booth revenue stream, the park would need to have f&b, merch, and/or games open at close to full capacity to make up the difference.

The other thing is guest experience - I'm sure a few people come to the park for the scenery, but to be honest it's the attractions that drive visitation. Therefore, by having most of them closed and those that are running in reduced capacity, the guest experience may be low enough that the park isn't a desirable place to go.

Maybe they can go to all inclusive tickets and cap capacity a’la Discovery Cove throughout the pandemic. Your ticket includes meals, a photo, and a souvenir. This brings in more revenue, but reduces contact points where the virus can transmit. With higher priced tickets this generates more revenue per guest in the short hall and can reduce some of the store and food and beverage staff costs. Those staff can then be shifted to support sanitizing rides and restrooms, which are going to need a lot of extra staff to operate.

 

[warfelg]

What about just bringing in food trucks to serve people?

It would be supporting other local businesses and solving the problem of having people in enclosed spaces.

And there's already precedent for it as we saw during Christmas town

Hm. Interesting proposition. I think BGW would want income. If they just closed food in Festhaus, the other areas are outdoor seating. I think for parks there's going to need to be a deeper understanding on the spread outdoors vs indoors.

On a flip side, I think there's an upside that we're going to have a much deeper understanding on with this virus and the ability to spread any disease. Many more places are going to to put out items to sanitize to some level. I don't think every place will always become wipe everything all the time. But I think there's going to be a different social view of things like hand sanitizer and a bit of 'shaming' for not washing hands. As for how that effects BGW, and what I would like to see them do: eliminate the water fountains and install water bottle fillers. Sell a bottle with an RFID chip or cup with it (like talking $1.99 for the cup, $14.99 for the bottle) and when it's there you can refill. I think we'll see more high touch positions use gloves and change them more often (like harness checks). I would like to see some water fountains become outdoor hand wash stations. More hand sanitizer stations. Less "self service" to "open" foods and more being served or wrapped as its put out.

 

[horsesboy]

Hm. Interesting proposition. I think BGW would want income. If they just closed food in Festhaus, the other areas are outdoor seating. I think for parks there's going to need to be a deeper understanding on the spread outdoors vs indoors.

On a flip side, I think there's an upside that we're going to have a much deeper understanding on with this virus and the ability to spread any disease. Many more places are going to to put out items to sanitize to some level. I don't think every place will always become wipe everything all the time. But I think there's going to be a different social view of things like hand sanitizer and a bit of 'shaming' for not washing hands. As for how that effects BGW, and what I would like to see them do: eliminate the water fountains and install water bottle fillers. Sell a bottle with an RFID chip or cup with it (like talking $1.99 for the cup, $14.99 for the bottle) and when it's there you can refill. I think we'll see more high touch positions use gloves and change them more often (like harness checks). I would like to see some water fountains become outdoor hand wash stations. More hand sanitizer stations. Less "self service" to "open" foods and more being served or wrapped as its put out.

A couple points on this from a food industry perspective. One is water fountains are actually more sanctuary then as lot of drink refill stations. Most fountains shoot the water high enough that there is little residual germ exposure on the fountain nozzle. Where as you are putting an item that has been in close proximity to or even directly touching you mouth in close proximity to the nozzle on refill stations that is not a good scenario.

From the food bin perspective remember that the virus like all germs that we seen cannot survive above 140. The industry standard temp that we are required to check regularly on items that are out on a holding temp is 140 with almost everyone out there is actually using 145 or higher as a company practice to ensure a margin of error.

 

[Jonesta6]

Also, it probably isn't a good practice to limit water only to those who pay.

 

[Jahrules]

Also, it probably isn't a good practice to limit water only to those who pay.

Also not legal.

 

[VonDerrick]

Also not legal.

Actually, it is not illegal to charge for water. In fact, most place outside the US don't hand out free water.

Edit: That said, if someone needs water for a medical emergency, they probably have an obligation to provide the water free.

 

[jch1305]

Day 4 no BGW:
Looked at my beer and a single tear rolled down as I said “On the streets of Dublin”....then promptly turned myself into Finnegan.

I cried when I saw this...I was looking forward to this show

 

[Jahrules]

Actually, it is not illegal to charge for water. In fact, most place outside the US don't hand out free water.

Edit: That said, if someone needs water for a medical emergency, they probably have an obligation to provide the water free.

Sure, a park or anyone can charge for bottled water, but I'm 99% sure they have to offer tapwater for free.

Think about it this way, by not offering it, you'd be opening yourself up to lawsuits claiming they got dehydrated and got heat stroke because they couldn't get water.

 

[Jonesta6]

Sure, a park or anyone can charge for bottled water, but I'm 99% sure they have to offer tapwater for free.

Think about it this way, by not offering it, you'd be opening yourself up to lawsuits claiming they got dehydrated and got heat stroke because they couldn't get water.

So technically not illegal under that explanation, but it's horrible PR and costlier to not let people use water fountains.

Curious though if @warfelg's original thought could be altered - regular water fountains get upgraded to those that can also fill bottles.

The catch is that to use the bottle filler, you must pay for one of the bottles or possibly a wrist band.

I'd venture to guess with that would open it up to anyone with a souvenir bottle or has any other kind of drinks pass.

 

[Mushroom]

KD has a few of these EZH20 water bottle fillers installed by their water fountains throughout the park. They’re convenient and free.

 

[warfelg]

So technically not illegal under that explanation, but it's horrible PR and costlier to not let people use water fountains.

Curious though if @warfelg's original thought could be altered - regular water fountains get upgraded to those that can also fill bottles.

The catch is that to use the bottle filler, you must pay for one of the bottles or possibly a wrist band.

I'd venture to guess with that would open it up to anyone with a souvenir bottle or has any other kind of drinks pass.

General thought was to take away the need to touch anything. Or even put the face and mouth near anything. Like if the general idea needs to open up then that’s fine, but then they could offer cups of water at anyplace that has something to drink. Talking more just out in the open water fountains. The idea of RFID cups was to stop anyone to cup their hands and try to drink it like that.

 

[rswashdc]

So technically not illegal under that explanation, but it's horrible PR and costlier to not let people use water fountains.

Curious though if @warfelg's original thought could be altered - regular water fountains get upgraded to those that can also fill bottles.

The catch is that to use the bottle filler, you must pay for one of the bottles or possibly a wrist band.

I'd venture to guess with that would open it up to anyone with a souvenir bottle or has any other kind of drinks pass.

Just add a couple dollars to the price of tickets and make bottled water free throughout the park during the pandemic. Why deal with all the employee and maintenance costs of making things sanitary when it's easier (and probably cheaper) just to provide grab and go bottles.

 

[warfelg]

Just add a couple dollars to the price of tickets and make bottled water free throughout the park during the pandemic. Why deal with all the employee and maintenance costs of making things sanitary when it's easier (and probably cheaper) just to provide grab and go bottles.

I can just express myself what my thinking was and it’s more long term about sanitary and not just the “through the pandemic.”

 

[horsesboy]

Sure, a park or anyone can charge for bottled water, but I'm 99% sure they have to offer tapwater for free.

Think about it this way, by not offering it, you'd be opening yourself up to lawsuits claiming they got dehydrated and got heat stroke because they couldn't get water.

Nope they are not required to do so and many places actually don't do so. I know I worked at a venue that we actively had a policy where we were not allowed to fill cups with water and did not offer complementary water. There were I think two maybe three fountains in the place but other then that it was a big nope. And this was at an outside concert venue in the Virginia heat.

 

[Jonesta6]

Nope they are not required to do so and many places actually don't do so. I know I worked at a venue that we actively had a policy where we were not allowed to fill cups with water and did not offer complementary water. There were I think two maybe three fountains in the place but other then that it was a big nope. And this was at an outside concert venue in the Virginia heat.

That's a bit different than what I think the point was - for sure, nobody is required to have someone serve water in a cup that I know of; as long as there's functional water fountains then there couldn't be any hypothetical lawsuits.

 

[VonDerrick]

There is no law that requires anyone to provide free tap water therefore it is not illegal as originally presumed. This is one of those American things where most American establishments will offer some sort of free tap water. Note, this doesn't mean everyone does, just that its super common in America.

Sure anyone can sue for anything, but do you really think the park or any establishment would prohibit giving out water to someone in a medical emergency? In fact, every time someone has a medical emergency like dehydration employees usually run to get cups of water or bottled water to help (free of charge) the same goes for those with diabetic issues that are in urgent need of sugar. I have seen employees hand out some free juice to help in the case of an emergency.

 

[RKRCC]

I’m no building code official, but doesn’t plumbing code require water coolers (aka water fountains) for public restroom facilities??? Hence you always see water fountains next to restrooms.....

 

[warfelg]

Well didn't mean to kick off a conversation of the legality of water fountains, but I seem to be taking away that not many people think the situation will change much. But there's going to be some social changes that come about after what's going on. The point of the RFID chip idea was to prevent people from putting their hands on the fountain, touch the dispenser, potentially put their mouth on the dispenser.





And now for something else:
Day 9, no BGW -
Slid in a cardboard box down the stairs, had a kid shoot water at me with a hose. Decided I still hate EfP.