I was immensely impressed with the COVID procedures at Taste of the Season. I felt much safer—and hence, much more relaxed—at KD than I have at BGW lately. I think the events are surprisingly comparable—probably more so than Christmas Town and WinterFest typically are—and most other things being equal, the safer-feeling environment KD is serving up makes it the more enticing VA park to visit right now for me.
Taste of the Season
- Thread starter Dombot
- Start date
I think some of this is just the natural spatiality of the parks: KD is much more linear, and open, and so it really does feel more relaxing just by design. But you’re right that the COVID procedures are definitely part of it.
I went Sunday and got there just after 3. Line looked bad for Dominator so went to Racer, which was 15-25 minutes despite the small crowd. The row at a time departure for social distancing and one row seated per 3 bench car was surely some amount safer, but slow and painful to watch. Even Dodgem took longer although it was just a next round wait. Going back to Dominator, first ride was about 25 minutes, shorter later. The various frustrations were forgotten once on a ride, or later, finally getting food, but it felt a bit like last July at other parks.
I then went and stood in line at Borders and saw the temps drop 2 degrees in the time they served 3 people, so bailed. Lucked on front row Doms, phone was saying 39 degrees, and it's fantastic with the lights visible. Got a second back row ride and then they shut it down about 6. Since the app still said that was open, how do I know if Racer is open, not that I would doubted it otherwise? So I saw some maintenance guys and asked, and they actually called down there and supposedly it can run down to freezing.
Racer was running close to like 2 years ago, maybe a bit slower but could be the lack of row choice. However there were lights on in the closed part of the park back then while this time it was even darker. Sweet. I noticed the other side had trains waiting to go with closed seat stickers, but it was said they can't run both sides due to the virus, it's in case the other side goes down. Also Zapple has cars in place, I expect they've been sitting there all summer.
Shows seemed to be almost continuous, with 3 shows rotating on the main stage and 2 down in the Grove like last year. Old Virginia is closed.
I then went and stood in line at Borders and saw the temps drop 2 degrees in the time they served 3 people, so bailed. Lucked on front row Doms, phone was saying 39 degrees, and it's fantastic with the lights visible. Got a second back row ride and then they shut it down about 6. Since the app still said that was open, how do I know if Racer is open, not that I would doubted it otherwise? So I saw some maintenance guys and asked, and they actually called down there and supposedly it can run down to freezing.
Racer was running close to like 2 years ago, maybe a bit slower but could be the lack of row choice. However there were lights on in the closed part of the park back then while this time it was even darker. Sweet. I noticed the other side had trains waiting to go with closed seat stickers, but it was said they can't run both sides due to the virus, it's in case the other side goes down. Also Zapple has cars in place, I expect they've been sitting there all summer.
Shows seemed to be almost continuous, with 3 shows rotating on the main stage and 2 down in the Grove like last year. Old Virginia is closed.
We went to KD on Saturday and had a nice time. The lights and decorations were great (the Eiffel tower Christmas tree is one of the coolest holiday decorations anywhere, in my book). We also appreciated all the live performances---something I felt the BGW event is really lacking. The food was decent, though the portion sizes were hilariously all over the place. For the same price, you could get either a full loaf of sourdough bread filled with turkey stew, or two bites of cinnamon bread.
Operations on Dominator were abominable. It's great that they are taking COVID seriously, but that doesn't excuse taking 7 minutes to load and launch each train (we watched the timer on the train in front of us while we were waiting in the cold wind to get off), especially when you can only load 8-10 people per train.
After we left the park, we "drove over" to the Illuminate Light Show, the traffic for which was backed up to the parking lot exit of KD. Google Maps said it would be a 12-minute drive, but we ended up waiting in line for *four hours*. We kept thinking about bailing out, but the sunk-cost fallacy is a powerful thing...
Operations on Dominator were abominable. It's great that they are taking COVID seriously, but that doesn't excuse taking 7 minutes to load and launch each train (we watched the timer on the train in front of us while we were waiting in the cold wind to get off), especially when you can only load 8-10 people per train.
After we left the park, we "drove over" to the Illuminate Light Show, the traffic for which was backed up to the parking lot exit of KD. Google Maps said it would be a 12-minute drive, but we ended up waiting in line for *four hours*. We kept thinking about bailing out, but the sunk-cost fallacy is a powerful thing...
Just went to the park on December 19th, 2020. I have to say, I was rather impressed with the covid-19 operations. The park was very clean and safe. Guest in line were following the six feet social distance markers. Ride operators were following all exit rules. I can't imagine any different, had the park had been open for summer operations. Good job.
I got a chance to stop in the Country Kitchen for a bite to eat. During that day, their network was down. Created a few issues for the park. I was not able to purchase a hot chocolate mug at the time. Didn't matter, though. Not sure how I would rate the food, given the fact that I can't compare it to anything. I didn't even eat the food last year for Winter Fest. The crowd was very moderate throughout the day. Not too little and not too many.
Ride operations were smooth. Delirium seem to be the major crowd pleaser even after Racer 75 and Dominator shut down a little after six o'clock for cold weather. Rather painful seeing Twisted Timbers sitting dormant in the back.
Overall, I give the park a B+. Most of that goes to operations and the neat light display they were able to do with such short notice.
I got a chance to stop in the Country Kitchen for a bite to eat. During that day, their network was down. Created a few issues for the park. I was not able to purchase a hot chocolate mug at the time. Didn't matter, though. Not sure how I would rate the food, given the fact that I can't compare it to anything. I didn't even eat the food last year for Winter Fest. The crowd was very moderate throughout the day. Not too little and not too many.
Ride operations were smooth. Delirium seem to be the major crowd pleaser even after Racer 75 and Dominator shut down a little after six o'clock for cold weather. Rather painful seeing Twisted Timbers sitting dormant in the back.
Overall, I give the park a B+. Most of that goes to operations and the neat light display they were able to do with such short notice.
I went last night for the second time and was once again blown away by what KD did with so little time and the limits they had to work with. honestly walking around the park later in the nights after the temps had forced the rides closed and just looking at the lights and enjoying the music and atmosphere of the park was one of the most enjoyable things I have done all year. the event only made me feel more let down about Busch's celebration of the season. KD did an amazing job and I can't wait to see what a return to Winterfest will bring in the years to come.
If WinterFest returns next year; I'd like to see them add one more coaster to the lineup.
As we all know, they try and keep the crowd where the decorations are; so opening up Lost World may require additional decorations. My guess is that they could probably operate Stunt Coaster if the park were to expand WinterFest in that section of the park. That's moderate coaster that most family's would still enjoy riding. It would be a treat to have Flight of Fear of Intimidator; but you may as well operate a full park at that level?
As long as we get Twisted Timbers back for WinterFest 2021; I'm happy.
This is probably a better fit for a Winterfest 2021 thread, but I agree that expanding into Safari Village would be a good next step for the event. The event could use more heated dining options too, so they could expand into the area's front plaza and incorporate Backlot (if its minimum temperature allows), Hungry Hippo, and Outer Hanks into the event. They could also move the Sounds of Nativity show/petting zoo there, which would give that experience some much-needed space (it felt cramped outside the Safari Village entrance in 2019), and the animals would tie in nicely with Safari Village.
It sounds cool. In reality, I'd be hoping that the winter seasons would permit such an expansion for WinterFest. We can all agree the current winter we are in is a lot colder than last year's winter. KD has to come up with a way to keep rides in operation during the cold. I know the rides aren't suppose to be the main crowd drawer, but what's the point of doing the event if things are going to shut down by 5:30pm or 6:00pm for cold weather? Keep in mind that not everyone arrives at opening.
If Safari Village were open; I'd say two rides should be in operation. Stunt Coaster and Flight of Fear. Flight of Fear would make sense because it's inside. If it gets cold; at least one coaster would be in operation. Stunt Coaster is very close to the Congo Grill.
Flight of fear is not heated so there a decent chance it would go down to. Honestly Winterfest last year did a wonderful job offering plenty of entertainment without rides and I can't see the expense of modifying rides to run during the colder weather. Even when temps are hovering about 5-10 above the lines clear out with people not willing to tough out the chill so I am not sure there would be much benefit. I mean I am a cold weather friendly person and an enthusiastic but even i will only take one or two rides if the temps start to drop that low.
I looked up the daily temperatures in Richmond for December 2019 and 2020 and they are about the same.
I don't think it's losing proposition.
Who's to say, one year they won't add Drop Tower to the lineup. It's just a prediction or an experiment. Look at how this year went. Twisted Timbers was closed. That was a major shocker, because it made no sense for them to close it. I can't remember who said it; but one of you suggested it had something to do with employee availability. Then someone else suggested it was due to the rides not being the main focus of Taste of Season. Both answers could be correct. Who knows what the 2021 season will bring; if there even is one. If the ongoing world crisis continues; next year's lineup; could be much different. For all we know; it could be Delirium, Planet Snoopy, Drop Tower and no roller coasters at all.
Who's to say, one year they won't add Drop Tower to the lineup. It's just a prediction or an experiment. Look at how this year went. Twisted Timbers was closed. That was a major shocker, because it made no sense for them to close it. I can't remember who said it; but one of you suggested it had something to do with employee availability. Then someone else suggested it was due to the rides not being the main focus of Taste of Season. Both answers could be correct. Who knows what the 2021 season will bring; if there even is one. If the ongoing world crisis continues; next year's lineup; could be much different. For all we know; it could be Delirium, Planet Snoopy, Drop Tower and no roller coasters at all.
Based on the park's website, it looks like reservations for Taste of the Season were sold out almost every day the park was open, so I think you're wrong about the park not having enough rides open for the event.
If they had more rides open, it would have increased capacity somewhat. I don't know how they calculate it, maybe 4 people for every distancing marker and then divide by 2? At any rate, due to how much they reduced capacity on the rides, it would have been better if more coasters were open, even if TT wasn't one of them.
Racer does have a lower temperature limit and was open later than Dominator. I apologize for ragging on the person managing the line closure the last day, although he could have made his case better. It was 39 degrees but still had a half-hour or more people in line and by the time I got home less than 90 minutes later, ground was frozen crunchy.
If people really think it has nothing to do with rides, then try and do Taste of Season next season with just Planet Snoopy. I'm willing to bet money that the attendance would be even lower. Remember, some people take the 2 hour drive to visit the park in the cooler temperatures. If your bringing teenagers, it's probably because they saw the ride list. Yes, some days were sold out of reservations. However, the park was closed all season; so a lot of people just wanted to visit the place.
If things get better for the state; I don't see why we can't have WinterFest again. Even if the park is closed until June or July; they should have more than enough time to prepare for HAUNT and WinterFest. Taste of Season was more of a last minute preparation. They park did do a good job, which I was proud of.
If things get better for the state; I don't see why we can't have WinterFest again. Even if the park is closed until June or July; they should have more than enough time to prepare for HAUNT and WinterFest. Taste of Season was more of a last minute preparation. They park did do a good job, which I was proud of.
I am honestly confused by this post. Where are people suggesting no rides????? I not read that anywhere only conversation on adding more rides and if that is feasible or not. Personally I think the ride and other activities from the first to years hit it pretty solidly right on the nose. I could see possibly adding a few more if they went full park ops but short of that I don't see it as an investment that brings in a return.
I don't think you'll see anyone saying that they shouldn't do any rides. The argument was that rides aren't the main reason why people attend these Christmas events which is why they don't need to push themselves to open more than they can.