RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Now that's actually a fair point...
Nicole said:
Now that's actually a fair point...
SEAS Parks To Be Broken Up and Sold Off?
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RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
When I lived in Yorktown the Newport News airport had two airlines and was in the verge of going out of Business.Nicole said:
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
PHF hasn't had two airlines since the early 2000's, the least it has gotten to since then is three. And it takes a lot for an airport to go out of business.they could loose all commercial air service for years at a time, and still come back in the future.
There are many expansion plans for Newport News as of right now.
PHF hasn't had two airlines since the early 2000's, the least it has gotten to since then is three. And it takes a lot for an airport to go out of business.they could loose all commercial air service for years at a time, and still come back in the future.
There are many expansion plans for Newport News as of right now.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Sorry, but this laughable.
Williamsburg will never become the next Orlando.
First and foremost is geography. Orlando has the distinct advantage with location and being situated in a climate that can draw year-round customers. Williamsburg is pretty much dead in the winter. Orlando, with a metropolitan area of almost 3 million people, is also in close proximity to the other major major cities in the state of Florida. Florida is also a big draw for visitors from the southern hemisphere since our winter is their summer. On one of my last visits to Orlando in January 2013, I heard nothing but Portuguese spoken in the parks due to the large influx of Brazilian tourists who were on summer vacation. I also met a few families from Australia.
You mention the infrastructure being comparable but it's not even close. Orlando International airport moves about 35 million travelers per year. Newport News airport only hovers about a million travelers per year and they can't expand it if they need to because it's landlocked by Kiln Creek to the south, businesses and residential places to the west, and waterlocked by a reservoir to the northeast. Orlando also has 145,000 total hotel rooms in the area (only Vegas has more with 160,000) and has a sufficient interstate system to handle all the visitors to their city. The I-64 corridor between Newport News and Richmond is a joke with only four lanes to accommodate both travel directions.
Lastly, Orlando is now the most visited city in the USA surpassing NYC by bringing in 59 million tourists in 2013. The area is anchored by almost 20 major theme parks and attractions that are open year-round. Compare that to Williamsburg's handful of seasonal attractions, the thought of Williamsburg being the next Orlando is nothing but a pipe dream and always will be.
David said:
Sorry, but this laughable.
Williamsburg will never become the next Orlando.
First and foremost is geography. Orlando has the distinct advantage with location and being situated in a climate that can draw year-round customers. Williamsburg is pretty much dead in the winter. Orlando, with a metropolitan area of almost 3 million people, is also in close proximity to the other major major cities in the state of Florida. Florida is also a big draw for visitors from the southern hemisphere since our winter is their summer. On one of my last visits to Orlando in January 2013, I heard nothing but Portuguese spoken in the parks due to the large influx of Brazilian tourists who were on summer vacation. I also met a few families from Australia.
You mention the infrastructure being comparable but it's not even close. Orlando International airport moves about 35 million travelers per year. Newport News airport only hovers about a million travelers per year and they can't expand it if they need to because it's landlocked by Kiln Creek to the south, businesses and residential places to the west, and waterlocked by a reservoir to the northeast. Orlando also has 145,000 total hotel rooms in the area (only Vegas has more with 160,000) and has a sufficient interstate system to handle all the visitors to their city. The I-64 corridor between Newport News and Richmond is a joke with only four lanes to accommodate both travel directions.
Lastly, Orlando is now the most visited city in the USA surpassing NYC by bringing in 59 million tourists in 2013. The area is anchored by almost 20 major theme parks and attractions that are open year-round. Compare that to Williamsburg's handful of seasonal attractions, the thought of Williamsburg being the next Orlando is nothing but a pipe dream and always will be.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
First, note that it was in quotes. It's pretty easy to realize that it will never be to the same scale of Orlando. But to say it cannot become a "destination resort" is simply not true. The park, and surrounding areas are more than capable of handling it. Clearly Williamsburg will never have multiple staple parks, nor did I ever infer that.
BGW has proven that they can find ways to operate during times in which other parks in the areas close. Previous rumors of more dark rides was to allow for year round operation. So to say they couldn't do it really isn't true either.
You really just put words in my mouth there... I did not say it would COMPETE with Orlando, nor come close to matching the same scale. But as I pointed out, there really isn't a SIMILAR destination in the East/North East area, and Williamsburg is already close to being able to fill that void.
Unagi said:
First, note that it was in quotes. It's pretty easy to realize that it will never be to the same scale of Orlando. But to say it cannot become a "destination resort" is simply not true. The park, and surrounding areas are more than capable of handling it. Clearly Williamsburg will never have multiple staple parks, nor did I ever infer that.
BGW has proven that they can find ways to operate during times in which other parks in the areas close. Previous rumors of more dark rides was to allow for year round operation. So to say they couldn't do it really isn't true either.
You really just put words in my mouth there... I did not say it would COMPETE with Orlando, nor come close to matching the same scale. But as I pointed out, there really isn't a SIMILAR destination in the East/North East area, and Williamsburg is already close to being able to fill that void.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
I flew out of the Newport News airport last month, they have become a hub for a newly rebranded People express airline, if that takes off, the airport could grow.
I flew out of the Newport News airport last month, they have become a hub for a newly rebranded People express airline, if that takes off, the airport could grow.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
I'm skeptical about the new service, if it gets past the new year, I would be impressed. Their structure just isn't very plausible at this moment, but it could work.
I'm skeptical about the new service, if it gets past the new year, I would be impressed. Their structure just isn't very plausible at this moment, but it could work.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Williamsburg is already a destination resort. BGW is not.
Year round operations don't necessarily equal "destination resort". BGW has the same operating calendar as Dollywood and Hersheypark. The Texas parks have longer operating calendars too, yet they're not destinations. I don't really consider Magic Mountain a "destination resort" either and they operate pretty much year round.
Hershey is about as close as it gets to Williamsburg status. They have numerous year round attractions (Choc World, Hershey Gardens, Zoo America, Hershey Museum, Trolley works) plus tons of surrounding attractions too (Gettysburg, all of Amish country, Harrisburg) to draw people. There's just as much history there as there is in Williamsburg. Because its Harrisburg/Hershey, there's tons of hotels, restaurants, and plenty of infrastructure. Hersheypark pretty much operates on a similar schedule to Busch (although its a bit more limited simply because of location) and its located close to Washington DC, Baltimore, Philly, and Pittsburgh and still a day trip from New York. Oh and did I forget to mention Hersheypark owns a hotel?
Williamsburg is already a destination resort. BGW is not.
Year round operations don't necessarily equal "destination resort". BGW has the same operating calendar as Dollywood and Hersheypark. The Texas parks have longer operating calendars too, yet they're not destinations. I don't really consider Magic Mountain a "destination resort" either and they operate pretty much year round.
Hershey is about as close as it gets to Williamsburg status. They have numerous year round attractions (Choc World, Hershey Gardens, Zoo America, Hershey Museum, Trolley works) plus tons of surrounding attractions too (Gettysburg, all of Amish country, Harrisburg) to draw people. There's just as much history there as there is in Williamsburg. Because its Harrisburg/Hershey, there's tons of hotels, restaurants, and plenty of infrastructure. Hersheypark pretty much operates on a similar schedule to Busch (although its a bit more limited simply because of location) and its located close to Washington DC, Baltimore, Philly, and Pittsburgh and still a day trip from New York. Oh and did I forget to mention Hersheypark owns a hotel?
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
I met the CEO of the new People's Express. (he lectured for one of my classes at W&M)
His comment was the reason People's Express failed the first time (and he was a senior manager) was because they tried to go head-to-head with the majors and tried to grow to fast. (notably buying a huge fleet of disparate aircraft)
It is his intention to now specifically NOT do that. So do not expect PE to become the next Delta any time soon.
I met the CEO of the new People's Express. (he lectured for one of my classes at W&M)
His comment was the reason People's Express failed the first time (and he was a senior manager) was because they tried to go head-to-head with the majors and tried to grow to fast. (notably buying a huge fleet of disparate aircraft)
It is his intention to now specifically NOT do that. So do not expect PE to become the next Delta any time soon.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Well I don't think that it will be the next Delta or even a top 20 airline in anytime in the near future but it will still help that airport a lot even if they become a small success. Its not a bad airline whatsoever and I thoroughly enjoyed my flights, and it was cheap as a dirt when we booked it, 4 people round trip direct to Boston was only 600 dollars.
Also I must say their strategy is pretty great, they are providing routes that people want but the major airlines aren't willing to give to the area. I fly to Boston 2-3 times a year and it means a LOT to be able to fly direct, we were in the city by 9 AM while getting there and back is usually an all day event with connections on Southwest.
Well I don't think that it will be the next Delta or even a top 20 airline in anytime in the near future but it will still help that airport a lot even if they become a small success. Its not a bad airline whatsoever and I thoroughly enjoyed my flights, and it was cheap as a dirt when we booked it, 4 people round trip direct to Boston was only 600 dollars.
Also I must say their strategy is pretty great, they are providing routes that people want but the major airlines aren't willing to give to the area. I fly to Boston 2-3 times a year and it means a LOT to be able to fly direct, we were in the city by 9 AM while getting there and back is usually an all day event with connections on Southwest.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
A small success could fill Newport News up, because that's how small it is, right now anyway.
A small success could fill Newport News up, because that's how small it is, right now anyway.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
Williamsburg is locked on a peninsula with an inadequate highway system serving as the only artery between VB and Richmond. Transportation, to, from, and in Williamsburg is a joke. Williamsburg has weather. While the industry benefits from the Summer crowds visiting VB, I imagine there would be little in added potential based on some sort of expansion even during the warm months. And the Winter weather is awful and unpredictable. Williamsburg has historical significance. Big deal. So does San Antonio, Little Big Horn, and Catalina Island. It doesn't mean people want to go there.
Short of discovering gold or finding the Fountain of Youth, I can't see any business attempting to elevate BGW above the regional park status it maintains. If you think otherwise, you probably need to travel more.
That being saId, I'm curious how a bigger company would treat BGW. My guess would be minor improvements; to what extent is anyones guess though I'd assume/hope there'd be a sharp decrease in glitter and some sort of uptick in substance. But don't expect our mid level sedan to come out of the shop like a racecar. It's a local park. Speculation otherwise seems like a bit of a waste of time.
Williamsburg is locked on a peninsula with an inadequate highway system serving as the only artery between VB and Richmond. Transportation, to, from, and in Williamsburg is a joke. Williamsburg has weather. While the industry benefits from the Summer crowds visiting VB, I imagine there would be little in added potential based on some sort of expansion even during the warm months. And the Winter weather is awful and unpredictable. Williamsburg has historical significance. Big deal. So does San Antonio, Little Big Horn, and Catalina Island. It doesn't mean people want to go there.
Short of discovering gold or finding the Fountain of Youth, I can't see any business attempting to elevate BGW above the regional park status it maintains. If you think otherwise, you probably need to travel more.
That being saId, I'm curious how a bigger company would treat BGW. My guess would be minor improvements; to what extent is anyones guess though I'd assume/hope there'd be a sharp decrease in glitter and some sort of uptick in substance. But don't expect our mid level sedan to come out of the shop like a racecar. It's a local park. Speculation otherwise seems like a bit of a waste of time.
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RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
I should buy the park.
It's my dream come true, especially now that the park is declining.
But I don't have millions or billions of dollars. Maybe I can get funding for it.
I should buy the park.
It's my dream come true, especially now that the park is declining.
But I don't have millions or billions of dollars. Maybe I can get funding for it.
RE: Rumor - SEAS Parks Broken Up and Sold Off
KickstarterMrLaptop said:I should buy the park.
It's my dream come true, especially now that the park is declining.
But I don't have millions or billions of dollars. Maybe I can get funding for it.