Security & Safety

[WDWRLD]

No but also buying things last year has come with greatly extended lead time for somethings. If they were not able to get new portable/retractable queues for 6+ months due to supply issues but could get used ones from another source albeit branded........is that really that awful?

It just looks shitty IMO. The park seems perfectly happy with 5 gallon buckets wrapped in burlap and ropes for HOS so im sure they have tons of those sitting backstage somewhere. Just for kicks I just went to the Uline website and put 50 in my cart and it shows "ships today" so supply does not seem to be the problem. This is the problem yall keep giving the park a pass on everything and quality is going downhill. BGW was once the park that took pride on how well it looked and theming and now its like they just dont care and guests are coming to accept that.

 

[panopticon31]

It just looks shitty IMO. The park seems perfectly happy with 5 gallon buckets wrapped in burlap and ropes for HOS so im sure they have tons of those sitting backstage somewhere. Just for kicks I just went to the Uline website and put 50 in my cart and it shows "ships today" so supply does not seem to be the problem. This is the problem yall keep giving the park a pass on everything and quality is going downhill. BGW was once the park that took pride on how well it looked and theming and now its like they just dont care and guests are coming to accept that.

Never said I was giving them a pass for using them in perpetuity. Just saying there is quite possibly a legitimate reason for them going that route in acquiring them in the first place. Now if they are still in use next year....then yes thats pretty lazy on their behalf.

You are correct overall that it would appear that they appear to be less and less focused on their previous high standards. Which is why I have said on more than one occasion I have said I would love to see BGW sold to Herschend who actually cares about theming and guest experience. To bring it back on topic, perhaps if Herschend was in charge they would increase security presence until these issues subside. I would think that having at least one permanent/non-roaming security officer at each roller coaster to keep an eye on the queue would help deter explosive situations and remove them prior to the physical escalations.

 

[WDWRLD]

Never said I was giving them a pass for using them in perpetuity. Just saying there is quite possibly a legitimate reason for them going that route in acquiring them in the first place. Now if they are still in use next year....then yes thats pretty lazy on their behalf.

You are correct overall that it would appear that they appear to be less and less focused on their previous high standards. Which is why I have said on more than one occasion I have said I would love to see BGW sold to Herschend who actually cares about theming and guest experience. To bring it back on topic, perhaps if Herschend was in charge they would increase security presence until these issues subside. I would think that having at least one permanent/non-roaming security officer at each roller coaster to keep an eye on the queue would help deter explosive situations and remove them prior to the physical escalations.

Honestly I think BGW needs to go the way of KD security and have actual security.Im sorry but hiring elderly persons that are only armed with a radio and flashlight is complete bullshit. Even if a BGW security guard was standing in the Griffon queue do you think it would have turned out any diffrent? At the WCUSA member night the security guard was in charge of collecting tickets for the free ice cream. Thats not what your so called "security team" should be focusing on.

As far as the Frontier branded items, I have not seen them anytime over the past year so are they new?

 

[Zachary]

I'm not going to move the posts above, but if people want to talk about the (absolutely hilarious) Frontier Airlines retractable queue divider things or similar examples of declining standards in the park, such discussions belong in the quality control thread:

Busch Gardens Quality Control Team

I figured the forum here consists of people who really care about the park and how it looks to the General Public. We are the fan base that visits so often, we can recite ride spiels by heart and still refer to the areas of of the park by their Hamlet name and not the country. We are in...

parkfans.net

The Busch Brawls thread should remain exclusively focused on security issues at the park—fights, crime, lack of personnel, etc.

 

[panopticon31]

Honestly I think BGW needs to go the way of KD security and have actual security.Im sorry but hiring elderly persons that are only armed with a radio and flashlight is complete bullshit. Even if a BGW security guard was standing in the Griffon queue do you think it would have turned out any diffrent? At the WCUSA member night the security guard was in charge of collecting tickets for the free ice cream. Thats not what your so called "security team" should be focusing on.

I can see having two tiered security(IE majority being retirees mainly to keep an eye on things but also having "bouncers") but you are correct there should be more of a presence of authorized personnel capable of escorting guest who are hesitant to do so.

 

[WDWRLD]

I can see having two tiered security(IE majority being retirees mainly to keep an eye on things but also having "bouncers") but you are correct there should be more of a presence of authorized personnel capable of escorting guest who are hesitant to do so.

Agreed....there should be "security" and then "park police". Security should be for helping manage crowds and doing the security screenings but then there should be park police who actually confronts guests when there is a issue.

 

[Nicole]

I’ve seen security confront guests. Honestly, in my experience they are too authoritarian, already. I would not be happy with an even more aggressive police force.

The current problem can probably be addressed ways other than hiring bigger bullies.

 

[Jonesta6]

Couldn't the second tier you're suggesting be regular law enforcement stationed at various points in the park?

Maybe I'm mistaken, but pretty sure they can hire off-duty police that can wear their uniforms but still be positioned/patrolling within the park alongside the more guest-relations kind of security officers.

 

[WDWRLD]

Couldn't the second tier you're suggesting be regular law enforcement stationed at various points in the park?

Maybe I'm mistaken, but pretty sure they can hire off-duty police that can wear their uniforms but still be positioned/patrolling within the park alongside the more guest-relations kind of security officers.

Problem is with that police arent going to get involved unless its a crime. Things like cutting lines and such need to be enforced by the park personel. I also completely disagree with @Nicole last statement because the park is in the situation it is now because of the lack of security or authority. If the Griffon fight backstory is true then that person should have never been in the park to begin with, They should have been banned and tresspassed after the WCUSA incident. Again im sure JCC Police got involved but unless the park wanhed to tresspass them the police wont do it them selves.

 

[Jonesta6]

In the scenario I was thinking of, officers would be more used as a deterrent and crowd control with powers to arrest much like they do at large gatherings/events; the in-house team would take care of rules violations and whatnot.

 

[Nicole]

Problem is with that police arent going to get involved unless its a crime. Things like cutting lines and such need to be enforced by the park personel. I also completely disagree with @Nicole last statement because the park is in the situation it is now because of the lack of security or authority. If the Griffon fight backstory is true then that person should have never been in the park to begin with, They should have been banned and tresspassed after the WCUSA incident. Again im sure JCC Police got involved but unless the park wanhed to tresspass them the police wont do it them selves.

Precedent suggests that the more effective way of dealing with issues like this is to address the root cause, not to create a police state.

I believe we have seen a rapid deterioration in civility at the same time that we have seen a dramatic reduction in attention to guest experience and interest in park atmosphere. The more BGW looks like a amusement park like Six Flags, the more it will attract a different demographic that it has historically, especially if it keeps offering extremely cheap tickets. Moreover, as long as the experience is frustrating, people are going to be irritable and more likely to behave badly.

Before the park spends money on a second police force to attempt to bully people into submission, I think they would be better off focusing their resources on creating a park that:

1. Attracts families and their previous types of guests; and
2. Provides a charming and pleasant experience, which keeps guests happy.

 

[Jonesta6]

I actually agree with that, scrap my previous thought about police presence - using some good 'ol RCT2 logic would come up with a similar answer.

 

[WDWRLD]

Precedent suggests that the more effective way of dealing with issues like this is to address the root cause, not to create a police state.

I believe we have seen a rapid deterioration in civility at the same times that we have seen a dramatic reduction in attention to guest experience and interest in park atmosphere. The more BGW looks like a amusement park like Six Flag, the more it will attract a different demographic that it has historically, especially if it keeps offering extremely cheap tickets. Moreover, as long as the experience is frustrating, people are going to be irritable and more likely to behave badly.

Before the park spends money on a second police force to attempt to bully people into submission, I think they would be better off focusing their resources on creating a park that:

1. Attracts families and their previous types of guests; and
2. Provides a charming and pleasant experience, which keeps guests happy.

But those shitty guests have bought passes so we are stuck with them for a year. The park should still be responsible enough to protect the good guests and famlies......but no the way they are currently letting the thugs take over its only running off the good guests and famlies......I fully support the park letting anyone that comes to cause trouble being bullied away from a park police presence and making them feel uncomfortable to the point were they wont return and take their crime elsewhere. I feel bad for the scareactors this season if this is how the park wants to deal with unruly guests...but I guess its more about not wanting to hurt feelings than actual safety.

 

[Jonesta6]

Does anyone know if the park has a no-touch policy for security staff? Something about preventing lawsuits...

Curious if even if there was a lot of security staffers available and in the area they may not have the capability to do much except follow suspects and document evidence as possible.

 

[panopticon31]

And to your comment @belsaas I dont consider smoking week in the park misbehaving....its breaking the law!

as long as they do it in the designated smoking areas who gives a damn?

 

[WDWRLD]

as long as they do it in the designated smoking areas who gives a damn?

Because its against the law.....its illeagle? So your also suggesting to do something illeagle in the park? Also isnt that a rules violation of this forum?

 

[Nicole]

Advocating illegal activity is a rules violation. I haven't seen anyone in this discussion advocate in favor of using illegal drugs in the park.

 

[Jonesta6]

While you do have a point about smoking weed in public being illegal, @WDWRLD, I think the keyword here is public - BGW is private property so it's on them to determine if they want to handle it as a criminal act or not.

Additionally, pot smoking isn't anywhere near as criminal or require as much of a security/law enforcement reaction as assaulting other guests - to bring it up and complain about it in a thread about the assaults seems to be a false equivalency problem.

Edit: the thread name changed after I posted this, so disregard the remark about a thread about the fights since it evolved to overall security/safety.

 

[Zachary]

I, for one, can't wait for the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Garden & Herb festival. You think booze sells well? Just wait until BGW figures out how much fancy weed and edibles will sell for.

That said, we should try to keep this thread on the topic of violence.

 

[GoHokies87]

While you do have a point about smoking weed in public being illegal, @WDWRLD, I think the keyword here is public - BGW is private property so it's on them to determine if they want to handle it as a criminal act or not.

Additionally, pot smoking isn't anywhere near as criminal or require as much of a security/law enforcement reaction as assaulting other guests - to bring it up and complain about it in a thread about the assaults seems to be a false equivalency problem.

Title 4.1. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control

law.lis.virginia.gov

there is a VERY big difference between the term public property and "public space" as defined in law.

Here's the snippet:

"Public place" means any place, building, or conveyance to which the public has, or is permitted to have, access, including restaurants, soda fountains, hotel dining areas, lobbies and corridors of hotels, and any park, place of public resort or amusement, highway, street, lane, or sidewalk adjoining any highway, street, or lane.