New Summertime Event for 2014 (Americana?!)

[Mushroom]

No, Party Rocker, he said that the look of the park doesn't matter compared to how much special events matter. Clearly this is saying that the look of the park isn't as important. I am also very put off by your assumption that I was being cruel because it seems like I was being mean. If I wanted to be mean, I would got to Walmart and buy a punching bag.

 

[Franco]

Matthew, the problem with the original comment in question is that it disregarded the main focus of this topic to debate one sentence with mild vitriol.  And look where that's gotten us; over a dozen comments down the thread and nobody is discussing special events or a new show at all.  If you would like to continue this debate about forum etiquette, I would urge you to please start a new thread and host some comments there.  Let's get this topic back on track guys.

 

[Planeteer]

So, Americana! Fireworks and stuff, huh? Steve-Weisers and hot dogs for everyone!

 

[I305Evan]

.... I would also not wish to sacrifice the aesthetic quality of the park in favor of a special event, special events are a pretty big need for the park.

I just want to add onto this part of Franco's post. Because a special event is what the park needs, but they also need to learn/ figure out a way that doesn't change how the park looks.

A special event should in no way change the appearance of the park until that event takes place (at night in this situation). And for illumiNights, you walk through the park with the giant glowing frogs and snails, and many other things. That event was meant to "brighten up the night." Now look at Kings Dominion's special event Dominion at Dusk which is also meant to "brighten up the night." The entire center street is transformed into Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular with a show on the International Street Grande Bandstand. This lets guests visit during the summer and let them truly embrace the park for what it is during the day, then experience something special at the end of the day. Which for Kings Dominion, is a nice walkthrough of a light show, a show performing at the very end of the walkway, as well fireworks being shot in the background. Best of all, you don't see any of this during the day unless you're looking very closely as you walk down center street and see the trees wrapped with thousands of lights.

Halloween events are very different as these event's don't take place during the main season of the park. Don't quote me on this, but before Fear Fest (previous name of Halloween Haunt) opened at Kings Dominion, the park closed for the season at the end of September. Halloween Haunt for Kings Dominion is an added bonus to the park's season. Summer is when every one goes and has vacation to see the park's for their main purpose. But Busch Gardens fails to realize, that they didn't let guests visit Busch Gardens for what it was. A trip to Europe basically.

If you look at Disney, they have summer time events as well, but you don't see them changing the intentional purpose of their parks.

I hope that makes sense and wasn't just a bunch of ramble to y'all. But Busch Gardens fails to have the knowledge of keeping the experience throughout their main season.

 

[Party Rocker]

Zach, it's not about breaking rules. The tone of the post is something you can't simply control. Everyone gets a different vibe. It just so happens a group of members felt that the post came off as aggressive. That is how we felt when we read it. Personally, I think if Joe had reworded two or three of his sentences, it would not seem so aggressive.

Joe, I'm just saying your post made you seem aggressive to me. I don't think you were being cruel nor do I think you were trying to be mean. I think you were trying to make a valid argument and because of the wording of a few sentences in your post, it gave off an aggressive feeling to some.

 

[Imaginique]

Since my post was the one being addressed, I'll reply. I'm a local as well. I'm on the other side of the James River, but still local enough. My inlaws live right down the street from the park. The summer events have never interested me. The concert series doesn't interest me. The fireworks might, if my kid was old enough to let me stay for them. As someone who has visited the park my entire life (minus a year here and there), I keep coming back for the food, the rides, the park shows, and as an adult, for the ambience. Not for summer events. I actually think those events aren't aimed at locals at all. I think it's more of their attempt to draw some people who want a theme park special event like Disney but don't have that amount of cash for that vacation. It's really not bringing in any locals that I know. Most of them want to go to Busch Gardens to ride some rides, eat some ice cream, and walk around. I've never heard anyone say they were visiting the parks specifically for Illuminights.

Now to be fair, I didn't really stay late enough in the park this summer to see any of the Illuminights events, so I can't comment on whether it would keep me coming or cause me to avoid the park during that time.

 

[Franco]

Well said, Evan. BGW desperately needs a good special event that doesn't change the integrity of the park's look and feel during the day, because in the end, Joe is right; that's what separates BGW from most seasonal parks. They need to incorporate a fresh new event without compromising the main thing they have going for them.

 

[Mushroom]

First off, thank you PR for clearing things up. I apologize for coming off as mean, although that was not my intention at all. It's worth pointing out that Celticdog isn't even here right now, so I think we can drop it

Also, I want to take a moment to recognize the genius in Evan's post. Everyone should read it. I couldn't have said it better myself. BGW needs to realize that they don't need to go spending their budget on things that people could- or would rather- go without anyway. Seriously, if you skipped over Evan's post because it pertains to KD as well, you made a mistake. It is amazing.

 

[Party Rocker]

I think special events aren't targeted at locals or tourists. They are targeted at everyone. They give everyone a reason to be at the park more. Honestly, everyone is already there Friday, Saturday, possibly Thursday or Sunday. But a special even is planned to bring in more people during a slower time when there is a reason for it.

For example, Howl-o-Scream was made so they could extend their operating season, so they could bring more people into the park. They had a reason, the last day of October. But how do you get people to go to the park all September and October? Special Event!

If you look down at Tampa, I believe they had a Pass Holder Month in like January? Technically I consider that a special event. It is an event that uses pass holder specials to bring in more people during a slow time. Just like Pass Holder Appreciation Weekend. It is an event that uses pass holder specials to bring people in during a slow time.

 

[Nicole]

Does anyone know how the park decides what special events to host? Do they poll anyone? Or is it all internal decision making?

 

[Party Rocker]

I think they sit in a boardroom and go around asking what ideas they have for events. If they all like one, they go for it. As well as the must have holiday events, HoS and CT.

 

[Zachary]

If they do poll anyone, it's probably their personal army of paid mommy bloggers because it seems most all of Ent's recent additions are created basically exclusively for them and their kids.

 

[Nicole]

I'm in the public sector and even we use customer feedback to drive everything we do.

 

[Party Rocker]

Well they do stop people occasionally on their way out of the park and give them a survey. I took one. I think they do it for Christmas Town all the time. It's just a matter of your front of the line team member and if they decide to stop you or if you know which team member to ask. They do have quota though. They only take so many survey per day.

 

[MAZ]

I think they sit in a boardroom and go around asking what ideas they have for events. If they all like one, they go for it. As well as the must have holiday events, HoS and CT.

This would be their 1st mistake. What they should be doing is walking the park discussing impacts of these ideas on individual areas of the park in day and night operation.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

I took all three of the surveys that they stopped you for. Basically the regular season survey is all about the rides and attractions. It asks you did you experience (insert ride or attraction) and if you didn't experience that attraction you just skipped the question. If you did experience the ride/attraction you rated the experience, from very poor to excellent. I took the regular season one in May or April sometime, and I just realized that was one of the very few days that I rode EITA, and I rated it poor, because I hated the ride...

The HOS one is the same, except instead of attractions you rated the haunted houses, exclusive experiences(ex: Blood Banquet) shows, and there were a couple other miscellaneous questions. For example there was a question somewhere along the lines in there, that asked you how scary you thought HOS was. I remember this one because there were a couple other people taking the survey with us, and when we read that question the whole room said in harmony that it wasn't scary enough, and that's how I answered the question.

The CT one was the same as the HOS, exclusive experiences, shows, and specialized attractions.

 

[Nicole]

I took the F&W poll. But that isn't the same thing as asking people what they actually want BEFORE investing time and money in it. By creating an event and then asking for feedback, they are only allowing their customers input on how the idea is implemented. They should be finding out if there is any demand for the event to begin with.

For example, if I had been asked, "what would you like to see in the Globe" clearly I would have suggested a series of plays. Instead, the only feedback I can provide will be my suggestions for a show I never wanted in the first place.

 

[Party Rocker]

It really is a shame how many people refuse to take the surveys. Especially for the Food & Wine Festival surveys they were giving away free Busch Gardens F&WF wine bottle corks.

But I do agree with Nic, you should do some surveying before spending so much time and money into something people may or may not want.

 

[Parkgoer]

But I do agree with Nic, you should do some surveying before spending so much time and money into something people may or may not want.

Number one issue with that, it provides concrete fact a certain person's nonsensical ideas are just that. Fewer the surveys the better for some egos.

 

[WhatutalkinboutWillis?]

I do know for a fact (as I used to do it) they use to have mystery shoppers come into the park and Water Country. Not sure if they still do it now but I must say Busch knew how to keep there mystery shoppers coming back more and more the pay was awesome! The questions ask us how we enjoyed the park what we thought needed improvement, what should stay the same and anything we would like to see. The report itself was 14 pages long with in depth responses (essay style) to most of the questions.