COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW

[Jonesta6]

1000 guests =/= 1000 vehicles, right?

So assuming there were 2 people in each car, that makes 500 cars. But more likely you'd see 300-400 or so due to families/friends riding together.

Which means the England lot wouldn't need to open to support the amount of traffic - which means cost savings because that's less setup and staff needed to execute.

 

[Alf33]

Even though it's not an accurate indicator the park website has the 29th as the first day of it being open. Take with a grain of salt but still with some hope if the opening preps being shared are a clue.

 

[Virginia Capital Coasters]

If they open, would Festa Italia count as part of Italy? What if they opened England, Scotland, and used the bridge under Loch Ness to access Germany or New France? What about the Skyride to other areas? Can Pantheon open? I know these questions might sound stupid, but I find interest in this info.

 

[Memles]

If they open, would Festa Italia count as part of Italy? What if they opened England, Scotland, and used the bridge under Loch Ness to access Germany or New France? What about the Skyride to other areas? Can Pantheon open? I know these questions might sound stupid, but I find interest in this info.

We don't actually have enough information to know for certain, but working through the logistics:

1) Opening Festa Italia would bring in more rides (in particular coasters), but it would require a lot more staff, as it and Germany are both much denser in terms of required staff to run the various attractions. Basically, by the time you open either of those areas, you are fundamentally defeating the purpose of trying to reduce costs. For this reason, I would imagine that the Italy vs. France decision referenced earlier is more about whether they want to prioritize Pompeii and the Flat/Kiddie rides (which plays more to a general crowd) or basically just Griffon (which plays better to a thrill ride crowd). I don't think Festa or New France are reasonably part of the deal.

2) It's theoretically possible they could operate the Skyride to open up Germany, but there's accessibility issues with the bridge that would make necessitating its use problematic, and the more geographic expanse they're covering the more staff they'd need to spread out over it.

3) Pantheon never tested, so there's no universe where it opens with the park in this limited state. I would definitely be preparing for a Spring 2021 opening for the coaster.

 

[Memles]

They could set up another screening area near the pet kennel/bus waiting area in the England lot. You'd then have the two entrance areas merging just before bag check, so the question is, would the potential increased crowding after the merge be worth the splitting up of parking and screening into two separate areas.

Provided this plan is being implemented, the best way to work through decision making is "which of these strategies involves less staff overhead?" For this reason, as much as running two temperature scanning areas would make sense if you were trying to funnel a normal park crowd into the park, it would double workforce for not enough benefit. They will be running one single screening area, even if it's not the most efficient from a guest experience perspective.

 

[Nicole]

We don't actually have enough information to know for certain, but working through the logistics:

1) Opening Festa Italia would bring in more rides (in particular coasters), but it would require a lot more staff, as it and Germany are both much denser in terms of required staff to run the various attractions. Basically, by the time you open either of those areas, you are fundamentally defeating the purpose of trying to reduce costs. For this reason, I would imagine that the Italy vs. France decision referenced earlier is more about whether they want to prioritize Pompeii and the Flat/Kiddie rides (which plays more to a general crowd) or basically just Griffon (which plays better to a thrill ride crowd). I don't think Festa or New France are reasonably part of the deal.

2) It's theoretically possible they could operate the Skyride to open up Germany, but there's accessibility issues with the bridge that would make necessitating its use problematic, and the more geographic expanse they're covering the more staff they'd need to spread out over it.

3) Pantheon never tested, so there's no universe where it opens with the park in this limited state. I would definitely be preparing for a Spring 2021 opening for the coaster.

I would throw out there that France also buys you the Wild Reserve.

 

[Memles]

I would throw out there that France also buys you the Wild Reserve.

Part of me wonders, though, if you could just throw that in with Ireland, and just rope things off at the train tracks. In other words, you could open the Wild Reserve without opening France. I actually think that would make social distancing for the Wild Reserve much easier, in that there wouldn't be thru-traffic.

 

[Le Moose]

Am I the only one who’s wondering if BG is going to say you can’t trade pins with employees?

 

[Rothbury]

Making some assumptions here. Okay Ireland opens but Germany doesn't. Having paid for my annual stein at the Bierhaus. Do you think they will bring the necessary paperwork to allow $5 beers at Grogan's? I guess the other question I would have would have to do with the dining plan. There are only so many places it is accepted. I just don't see how all of this will work. My wife falls into the danger category for the virus. Without a vaccine we just don't see how we could go. Does it seem fair to start ticking off the months credit on our membership they have offered if we can't use it anyway? Not trying to get something for nothing but I just don't see how this can work.

 

[Virginia Capital Coasters]

Is it possible they rotate days certain areas are open (England/Scotland everyday, Ireland Monday, France Tuesday, New France Wednesday, Germany Thursday, Italy Friday, Festa Italia Saturday, Sesame Street Sunday, or something similar to that)?

 

[Findley]

I hear that the park may operate 3 or 4 days a week and only be open in the evening.

 

[sotomexx]

Is it possible they rotate days certain areas are open (England/Scotland everyday, Ireland Monday, France Tuesday, New France Wednesday, Germany Thursday, Italy Friday, Festa Italia Saturday, Sesame Street Sunday, or something similar to that)?

Just had a crazy thought. What if they just re-programmed Battle for Eire so that you cycle through all of the coasters (in VR) in one sitting?

 

[Irishman]

Is it possible they rotate days certain areas are open (England/Scotland everyday, Ireland Monday, France Tuesday, New France Wednesday, Germany Thursday, Italy Friday, Festa Italia Saturday, Sesame Street Sunday, or something similar to that)?

Thats what I thought too at first, but getting to these areas and keeping people from wondering off paths to the areas would be quite difficult as mentioned earlier. Also mentioned opening the bridge below lochness to Germany but ADA Issues here.

I think a more reasonable approach if they wanted somewhat of a rotation would be England/Scotland/Ireland/ France (Maybe new France as well ?) vs England/ Pompeii/ Festa Italia vs England Pompeii, Italy

I am almost certain it would not be feasible to open Germany (Vbolt, Mach/ Alpengeist) without problems associated with the distance. I think the furtherest Stretch here would be doing England/ Italy/ Germany. (Keeping Festa and Pompeii closed due to staffing).

 

[Irishman]

Just had a crazy thought. What if they just re-programmed Battle for Eire so that you cycle through all of the coasters (in VR) in one sitting?

Would be awesome !

But I see an issue with it being indoors and not open air, plus the logistics of programming the sim.

 

[horsesboy]

So alternative thought on the path. If they open England through Fiesta
That then would allow them to use the alternative exit by Apollo and have one way traffic with only part of the park open. That also would allow for the kid and family stuff to be running.

 

[Jonesta6]

Would be awesome !

But I see an issue with it being indoors and not open air, plus the logistics of programming the sim.

Giant outdoor screen, use your imagination for the feeling of movement

 

[Virginia Capital Coasters]

Another concept on some areas opening, what if they opened England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Sesame Street, Pompeii and put fences at the bridge to Italy, the entrance to New France, and next to Loch Ness Monster's entrance?

 

[sotomexx]

Giant outdoor screen, use your imagination for the feeling of movement

I have vivid memories of Kings Dominion in the 80s and sitting in the Cinema 180/Adventure Dome theatre next to the original Scrambler location. You just sat on the floor but when footage of the Rebel Yell(?) was shown it really did feel like you were moving (probably because I was 7). Anyways, with VR and motion theaters now, should be a interesting way to "preserve" roller coasters when they retire

 

[Jonesta6]

I mean I was kinda joking since POV footage for each ride is out there.

But it'd be really cool if they could release mini-documentaries for each coaster they've built - like half hour or so (probably longer for LNM and BBW, guessing they would intentionally not mention DF). Not really optimal for a capacity limited park but the marketing potential could be huge if they were able to sell it as a series on network TV.

 

[Turbo]

What a mess this will become...