This is exactly what they should do! Universal and Disney did this to help relieve the pent up demand of passholders and led to the official reopening days being pretty nice.
COVID-19’s Impacts on BGW
- Thread starter WDWRLD
- Start date
This was likely part of the plan last week before the decision to open was pushed back.
It would make sense. Their pass members have been paying over the closure
I definitely think there will be a member preview period, both to work through operational challenges, and to see whether the math is working out in terms of average spend per guest. That's the number that they're going to be paying the most attention to here.
I think the telling thing about any reopening is what we hear on the earnings calls in the next few weeks. I went to SWO, BGT, Aquatica and Universal in Florida 6/18-6/21 and again 7/24-7/27, and the parks were absolute ghost towns on my second visit. Beyond the first couple of weeks after reopening, I don't think anyone will have a problem getting a reservation to BGW Lite.
The average spend per guest wll be hard I think. First off theres not a whole lot to do so people wont be spending multipul hours in the park. What is open will also play into that, if they just have say Squires and Smokhouse people may opt to eat before or after they go to sit in some AC while dining. Then theres just Grogans for beer indoors so who nows how their limit goes. I know evryone says there arent many people with dining plans but I know I have them so if I go I will eat and drink for free....so unless theres some interesting snacks I most likely wont spend anything. No if they open Josephines....I will ante up for a bananna split!
Except Josephine's and Trapper's will likely be beyond the sections being opened.
However, if they worked out some quick-serve packaged foods for a reasonable price while not accepting dining plans and did some cool things with merch then they may have a shot.
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It's going to be England, Ireland and France
Maybe they could do something like a taste of Calico at Knotts Berry Farm. You cant use a dining plan there, it doesnt create a weird situation for how passes are handled because passes are not valid for it, and im sure Busch Gardens has their food and wine booths sitting around still considering they were still planning on holding the event until like... opening or so.
Honestly the amount of guests they are letting in is basically a ghost town. 5000 people at BGW is basically an empty park. But honestly there isn't a large amount of travel so the majority of people attending those parks are local passholders which for SWO, BGT and Universal. Which normally isn't there case. In fact it's a small percentage of their mix. Compared to BGW which has a significantly higher proportion of passholder visits. I would wager that BGW would have an easier time filling a park with 5000 people.
More like Finnegan's, BfE, Loch Ness, Griffon and maybe Invadr
Not sure BfE would be a good idea... given the virus and everything.
I, too, can confirm that the latest plans use France, not Italy. Scotland seems to be included as well of course. I’m unclear on New France.
Running the ride without Virtual reality and every 3 seats/other row blocked off might work out. That being said, would it even be worth running Battle for Eire?