SEAS Parks To Be Broken Up and Sold Off?

[Griff]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Just adding some more attractions won't convince people to fly to virginia. If they don't change something BGW will never bring in people outside of driving distance.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Busch Gardens is a regional park, it isn't supposed to be a huge resort style Orlando park. Unfortunately Virginia isn't in a coducive market to attract people from all over the country, even if BGW did have the money to expand rapidly. And the changes would take quite a while to get it even close to being a resort park. Also, Virginia does not have the year-round beautiful weather Florida does, so it's a lot less appealing to people who are trying to make the decision between a Florida park and BGW. BGW would be going into direct competition with Florida parks, but it's going to ultimately end up loosing. The way BGW was meant to work, and the only way it'll be successful is as a primarily regional park.

 

[Party Rocker]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has shown major interest in being a destination park. They had original plans to build an all-year resort and their operating schedule was supposed to go full year as well with the addition of a few more dark rides. Due to low attendance, those plans were shelved.

I have no doubt that BGW can go full-year and become a destination park. To be a destination park, they need to go full-year first. It will open them up to attack more people throughout the entire year. It allows people to plan trips whenever they have the time.

In order to do that, they need to add more attractions that way they can have more to do during the colder months. More attractions will also help so they can plan a schedule of ride to do annual maintenance and still have plenty of rides open.

Like I said, I have no doubt they can do it, but they will have to expand greatly and capitalize on Christmas Town much more than they do now.

 

[MAZ]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

How's the shrubbery?

Shrubbery isn't exactly thematically appropriate in Diagon Alley.

Across the rest of USO and IOA though, fabulous. I've been saying for ages that both USO and IOA are far more beautiful than BGW. I stand by that 100x.

For what it's worth, I almost feel it's just simple fact that Diagon Alley is the best themed area of any park in the country (if not the world). It's truly unlike anything I've ever seen before.

The theming of this just seems so easy to get perfect. It's themed to their own creation, their ideas, their movie sets just rebuilt in a permanent fashion. Bringing a movie and it's surroundings to life is very cool and all, especially to a Potter fan, but this is a different kind of themeing from anything we are used to around these VA parts. (Which may be what creates the 'awesomeness' that you speak of.) Dont get me wrong, I'm not taking away from how great this Diagon Alley truly is, I'm only pointing out the fact that themeing around here has a genuine feel to it as opposed to taking a visitor into a fictional movie.

 

[MAZ]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has shown major interest in being a destination park. They had original plans to build an all-year resort and their operating schedule was supposed to go full year as well with the addition of a few more dark rides. Due to low attendance, those plans were shelved.

I have no doubt that BGW can go full-year and become a destination park. To be a destination park, they need to go full-year first. It will open them up to attack more people throughout the entire year. It allows people to plan trips whenever they have the time.

In order to do that, they need to add more attractions that way they can have more to do during the colder months. More attractions will also help so they can plan a schedule of ride to do annual maintenance and still have plenty of rides open.

Like I said, I have no doubt they can do it, but they will have to expand greatly and capitalize on Christmas Town much more than they do now.

This will never happen. Jan/Feb can see 2 weeks straight with highs in the 20's at times. I may visit once or twice, but I'm pretty sure there are less than 50 people on the planet that would visit at 20 degrees.

 

[Party Rocker]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

This will never happen. Jan/Feb can see 2 weeks straight with highs in the 20's at times. I may visit once or twice, but I'm pretty sure there are less than 50 people on the planet that would visit at 20 degrees.

I can see it happen, and so did the park at one point. If they can add more indoor things to do, there wouldn't be a huge issue. Add more indoor eating areas, more indoor theaters, more indoor rides. These would greatly convince people to visit. Plus, I am sure the park can create new pass member-related events during these slow time to pull in more locals or even specials for travelers. If someone is planning a trip, they will most likely plan to visit when they can get the best deal. But I will agree that it can't happen now, not with what the park offers currently.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Mazakman: have you been to a Diagon Alley? I ask, because I think it has a genuine feel, more so than BGW. For example, their London area was incredible and honestly made Banbury Cross seem like a stage set to me.

 

[netdvn]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

I like to classify parks like people classify malls.

Disney and Uni count as the destination resorts drawing people from all over the world. People pay big money to come to these parks and they're usually once in a lifetime visits.

Busch falls under the second tier parks like Hersheypark, Canada's Wonderland, Cedar Point, and Six Flags Great Adventure as super-regional parks. They're not at the destination park mark yet but often draw a lot of people from the surrounding region thanks to branding, location, and name.

Third tier would count as the major regional parks. Still drawing loads of people from the surrounding metro area and a bit beyond but not enough to classify it as super-regional. Six Flags Over Georgia, Magic Mountain, Sea World San Antonio, etc. Most major parks fall under here.

Then you have the family parks below that. They draw a significant crowd in the enthusiast market but not so much otherwise. Holiday World, Waldameer, Lagoon, etc. (I don't think there's a such thing as a family owned mall anymore, but these would fall under your strip malls)

I don't think Busch will ever be the destination resort Disney and Uni are. Even with all the indoor attractions and resorts. You'd have to expand your reach to a much wider area beyond the mid-Atlantic region, but the competition is already pretty fierce since you've got two parks with much bigger draws a few hours to the north (GAdv and Hersheypark) plus Cedar Point, Dollywood, and KI dominating the west.

 

[MAZ]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Mazakman: have you been to a Diagon Alley?  I ask, because I think it has a genuine feel, more so than BGW.  For example, their London area was incredible and honestly made Banbury Cross seem like a stage set to me.

I have not been to DA Nicole. Which is why I'm not putting it down in any way shape or form. I was only trying to bring up the difference in theming between this and what we have around here. I would never say that something is inferior/better without having been there. I can tell you this with certainty though, there is a very sour taste in my mouth when it comes to movie themed rides or areas. This is another subject though. Maybe we could discuss it somewhere else. I would certainly visit if comcast owned BGW and a platinum pass got me into UO-IOA

 

[MAZ]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

This will never happen. Jan/Feb can see 2 weeks straight with highs in the 20's at times. I may visit once or twice, but I'm pretty sure there are less than 50 people on the planet that would visit at 20 degrees.

I can see it happen, and so did the park at one point. If they can add more indoor things to do, there wouldn't be a huge issue. Add more indoor eating areas, more indoor theaters, more indoor rides. These would greatly convince people to visit. Plus, I am sure the park can create new pass member-related events during these slow time to pull in more locals or even specials for travelers. If someone is planning a trip, they will most likely plan to visit when they can get the best deal. But I will agree that it can't happen now, not with what the park offers currently.

I'm glad you see it my way PR, in it's current state. I also agree with you in that they could add indoor things to make is 'possible'. I just cant help thinking about no coaster rides. Just the tram ride alone would be capable of giving somebody mild frostbite. This would also mean the shows would become the main attraction and would probably need some sort of rotating show experience. Kind of a scary thought for some of us, 'shows being a main attraction'

 

[Ben]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

I really only see two options for a buy out(for BGW), herschend and Comcast. I would MUCH prefer Comcast. Anyone that has ever been to UOR knows that their themeing is top notch, the attractions are world class, they spend wisely, and the parks themselves and the entire resort area is absolutely stunning.

I think Herscend may work but if they cut HOS and/or alcohol sales, attendance is going to plummet, not to mention how enraged most patrons will be.

 

[Shane]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

I saw netDVN already noticed this, but Wild Adventures has a Haunt event so HoS would most likly be preserved. Zach, Nic & I went to Dollywood last weekend and made a discovery, Sevier County is totally dry. They don't serve alcohol in Pigeon Forge. I was speaking to a grocery store clerk when we were there and she said they were hoping on voting to allow alcohol in the coming year. I'm guessing this may have had something to do with the lack of alcohol in the park. I imagine that Branson MO could also be a dry county.

On a different note, I observed that all of the new additions to Dollywood were exquisitely themed and detailed. On the flip side older parts of the park were left to decay, crumble, and even mold.

I don't know how good a fit Herschend would actually be for BGW.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

After going to Dollywood and seeing the maintenance problems, I'm not a huge fan of a Herschend buy-out of BG.  I wish they had spent less money on decorations and more on fixing the leaking roof and pulling the weeds.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

To be fair, I'm more concerned about the merch Herchlend would put into BGW now...

 

[netdvn]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

BTW as world class and awesome as Uni's recent additions are, most of them were built at the expense of older attractions. As of now, I think ET is pretty much the only "original" ride left at Universal Studios. I can see a few of the "lesser" attractions leaving for newer stuff in the future as well (Twister, Disaster, etc). Especially if they're not very popular.

Hollywood also removed a lot of their older attractions for newer stuff as well.

- Anyone know if Merlin is looking into buying a few new parks in the states? Their only connection to the states is Legoland, but their overseas parks are known for being fantastic (Alton Towers, Gardaland, all those Legolands, etc)

 

[David]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

I don't think Busch will ever be the destination resort Disney and Uni are. Even with all the indoor attractions and resorts. You'd have to expand your reach to a much wider area beyond the mid-Atlantic region, but the competition is already pretty fierce since you've got two parks with much bigger draws a few hours to the north (GAdv and Hersheypark) plus Cedar Point, Dollywood, and KI dominating the west.

I'm late to this, but I disagree. BGW has the potential to become a destination resort. The park itself is in a prime location (with it's own entrances from the interstate), they still have a lot of untouched land, WCUSA is 60 seconds away, etc etc. I still do believe Williamsburg could become "the next Orlando". You already have the big name retailers, historic attractions, lodging, and a pretty decent infrastructure (minus some hectic spots on Richmond Rd). I think the problem is everyone wants to do it their own way, and no one in the area wants to work together. Couple this with the fact that BGW (SEAS) isn't doing that great, and you have a lot of people getting worried.

I feel if Comcast/Uni/whoever steps in, they could make a lot of great things happens for the area. But like it's been pointed out before, it's just a guessing game for now.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Just gonna say that I love LEGOLAND Florida!

IOA still has original areas/rides. Seuss Landing is fantastic. Yes, I know IOA is about 9 years younger than USO.

 

[netdvn]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

I'm late to this, but I disagree. BGW has the potential to become a destination resort. The park itself is in a prime location (with it's own entrances from the interstate), they still have a lot of untouched land, WCUSA is 60 seconds away, etc etc. I still do believe Williamsburg could become "the next Orlando". You already have the big name retailers, historic attractions, lodging, and a pretty decent infrastructure (minus some hectic spots on Richmond Rd). I think the problem is everyone wants to do it their own way, and no one in the area wants to work together. Couple this with the fact that BGW (SEAS) isn't doing that great, and you have a lot of people getting worried.

Just because Williamsburg has the infrastructure to become "the next Orlando" doesn't make it any more of a candidate than, say Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Hershey, or Niagara Falls. All of these places have the same infrastructure, same major tourist draws/tourist traps, and are located in prime locations.

Making BGW into a full-on destination resort pretty much requires them to push past CW, VA Beach, and the other historic attractions in the area to be THE reason to come to Williamsburg. Much like people come to Orlando just to visit Disney/Universal. This means constant new rides/attractions, a HUGE advertising budget marketing to people beyond your comfort zone (Midwest, West coast), and possibly a second or third gate to keep people on your property.

The only park that I know of outside of Orlando/SoCal that can pull something like that is Cedar Point. I know CW has a huge draw in itself, but I don't recall seeing CW commercials in New York like I remember seeing a Mantis commercial in Indiana when that was still new.

I'll make the argument that Williamsburg itself and all its attractions count as a destination, but the park alone isn't. Without all the attractions in the area to keep people in town, I don't think BGW would've gotten the attendance it gets nowadays.

 

[David]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Right, like I said, the PARK has the potential to get there. I know it would take the park jumping a level to make it happen. I'm sure most remember the leaked "Resort" plans, new hamlets, etc etc. With the proper funding (and individuals involved), that would be a huge jump for the park.

My main argument is that KD for example would not be able to do something on a similar scale and expect "Resort" level results. Their locale just would not support it. I'd also argue that Pigeon Forge, Myrtle beach, and Hershey are just not on the same level either.

In my mind, the East/North East will be getting a "Resort" locale before too long. It's just a matter of where and who makes it happen. If this Uni/Comcast sale comes to fruition, my bet is on them and BGW.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off

Williamsburg would need a bigger airport. No one should have to brave either 95 or the HRBT.