It wasn't really that long ago that Busch Gardens THRIVED with 4 or 5 coasters in a damn nice and charming park with some great food. I wish we could go back.
The State of the Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Thread starter CoasterTalkBob
- Start date
Yeah back when we were a loss(or not) leader to be a showcase of A&B products, and not just end state capitalism. Full agreement AIR.
It was still in place this past weekend in Williamsburg. It was also still in place at Sea World and Discovery Cove about 3 weeks ago.
It was still in place at SeaWorld Orlando yesterday.
For the love of God could BGW please follow CF example and ban smoking in the park or at the very least move the dam smoking area away from the eating areas. I was trying to eat at Pretzel Work and the odder of not just smoke but pot was over powering from the smoking ares behind the fence.
For every $1,000,000 they make they steal $30,000 back from you in surcharges and continue to sell you shitty park food at insane prices with pot scented seating areas.
actually the sandwich I had last night was really decent.
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Off topic but where was it from? First time in awhile I’ve heard compliments about the normal park food.
It was one of the pretzel sandwiches from pretzel world they honestly are some of the best food in the park especially if you get them right when they come out.
I am a fan of the pretzel shop as well personally. But I imagine it used to be better.
The quality of the actual pretzels seems to be much more hit or miss but I have to say the sandwiches have stayed fairly consistent from what I remember and at only a little 15 dollars with chips included they are not badly priced either.
Damn next week they’ll be $25
The pretzels are hit and miss depending on who is making them and how long they sit. If they are new and lightly baked they are fantastic. But just as often they are over baked or cold.
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At the end of the day, the expectations of current generations with buying power has changed. I am a Millennial born in 1987, and a sizable group of my peers fit this demographic (just a sample, not a blanket statement):
2-3 kids (yes, some have 4) aged 1-8
Combined annual income with spouse around $150-180K+
Mortgages exceeding $2000-2400/monthly
Vacation time of 2-3 weeks a year MAX.
On paper, BGW sounds like its a hit for them due to the variety, but in reality, its some nostalgia from when things like BBW were around, and then the realization that paying for a trip to BGW out of that pot of leftover money, time, and energy is somewhat appealing, but not top of mind. This park used to be all about experiences, and now I feel its many parts placed together to evoke something, but not a full "experience" from entry to exit. And then you have Gen Z, which is glued to a phone the entire day and only has time away during the 1.5 mins most coasters last to enjoy something non-social media. Their first exposure to BGW was likely around the time Griffon was new. Gen Z has no real buying power (just yet, but soon) and the idea of spending $150-200 on a day at BGW with admission is a hard pill to swallow when many don't even care to own a car due to the costs (justified). $25 meals and a park founded on alcohol which Gen Z drinks in smaller and smaller quantities is a consideration to not be ignored.
All of this is to say that parks like BGW will need to fight hard for the attention and bucks of the current and upcoming generations who have dynamic interests and habits like we have never seen before. The days of acting in financial patterns like many of our parents once did are long gone, and BGW has to adapt with the actions that sustain a certain level of "Gravitas" to keep the momentum (dollars) flowing. Its a different world for sure....
2-3 kids (yes, some have 4) aged 1-8
Combined annual income with spouse around $150-180K+
Mortgages exceeding $2000-2400/monthly
Vacation time of 2-3 weeks a year MAX.
On paper, BGW sounds like its a hit for them due to the variety, but in reality, its some nostalgia from when things like BBW were around, and then the realization that paying for a trip to BGW out of that pot of leftover money, time, and energy is somewhat appealing, but not top of mind. This park used to be all about experiences, and now I feel its many parts placed together to evoke something, but not a full "experience" from entry to exit. And then you have Gen Z, which is glued to a phone the entire day and only has time away during the 1.5 mins most coasters last to enjoy something non-social media. Their first exposure to BGW was likely around the time Griffon was new. Gen Z has no real buying power (just yet, but soon) and the idea of spending $150-200 on a day at BGW with admission is a hard pill to swallow when many don't even care to own a car due to the costs (justified). $25 meals and a park founded on alcohol which Gen Z drinks in smaller and smaller quantities is a consideration to not be ignored.
All of this is to say that parks like BGW will need to fight hard for the attention and bucks of the current and upcoming generations who have dynamic interests and habits like we have never seen before. The days of acting in financial patterns like many of our parents once did are long gone, and BGW has to adapt with the actions that sustain a certain level of "Gravitas" to keep the momentum (dollars) flowing. Its a different world for sure....
WAIT WAIT
Did the golden ticket awards really give BGW 2nd best amusement park, 3rd friendliest park, cleanest park, best landscaping, best food, best shows, AND best themed ride (alpengeist) in its debut in 1998?
Now I know what you guys are raving about "old BGW". I wasn't even alive then.
Did the golden ticket awards really give BGW 2nd best amusement park, 3rd friendliest park, cleanest park, best landscaping, best food, best shows, AND best themed ride (alpengeist) in its debut in 1998?
Now I know what you guys are raving about "old BGW". I wasn't even alive then.
They grew their own plant material and had a lot of people in the landscaping dept (and all others) back then.....a job fair was usually in a local hotel with an omni sized ballroom full of applicants. But old news. Running the park like Augustus did vs just fleecing your fellow man for as much money as possible.
Exactly
The rollercoaster adding/budget cutting everything else mentality that is running this park now is going after a demographic with little free cash to spend. It’s a poor business plan.
Key distinction between ownership mindsets. Under AB it was a "cost center" for the entire purpose of "marketing" and the owners wanted the parks to exist for the purpose of being "nice" and "to sell their product." Whereas today it's a "profit center" for a publicly traded company where a PE bro has too much stock, which means every "lavish guest experience" expense is really threatening Scott Ross next yacht having an extra two bar stools at the 4th floor bar he wants on it and he REALLY wants those extra bar stools!