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What changes to operations should we expect post Covid-19?

I think Merlin should look at a different kind of season now if we do have to wait until September. With the right social distancing and more temporary water proof structures in place it could work.

I'd happily say go for a season to with long weekends through the traditional closed season. The focus will have to be on quality though. As quantity will not be allowed in park.
 
I doubt they will extend the season and more then likely will keep the hours the same so it could be interesting to see how it works out.
 
It's looking more and more likely there won't be a season at all. Operating a watered down offering for a few months max probably won't be worth their time. There's a good chance that theme parks will remain closed all year and concerts and football matches won't go ahead with fans either.
 
Benjsh said:
It's looking more and more likely there won't be a season at all. Operating a watered down offering for a few months max probably won't be worth their time. There's a good chance that theme parks will remain closed all year and concerts and football matches won't go ahead with fans either.
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There is extremely little chance that theme parks won't open at all this year - Merlin will be desperate to open as soon as they're physically allowed to, and although there's not much info as to whether that'll be in a month's time, two month's time or what, it will happen.
 
Islander said:
There is extremely little chance that theme parks won't open at all this year - Merlin will be desperate to open as soon as they're physically allowed to, and although there's not much info as to whether that'll be in a month's time, two month's time or what, it will happen.
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They might open for sure but how busy are they going to be? They are going to lose money most likely. Enthusiasts don't keep them afloat. The GP do.

How are they going to introduce social distancing and also make sure ride restraints are kept clean for every single ride. It's an absolute mine field.

I think we can just about write off the year really and even if they do open it won't be enough most likely.
 
It’s just seems a lot of work for 2/3 months of operation with limited line up and reduced admissions. Obviously merlin will want to open asap but if they open in September that’s a lot of factors to think about. We can sit here and say yeah people will want to go and it will busy but by September schools will be reopened people will be back at work. It just seems mad to open but obviously every park is different.
 
For all we know, it might be June/July, and then theme parks will have the entire summer holidays to make profits. Germany are opening zoos and museums next week, so I don't think parks will be too far behind. If you can do social distancing in a zoo, then I don't see why you couldn't in a theme park.
 
We will just be coming out of lockdown in June by looks of it and they want to avoid large groups of people in one area. So that’s what my guesses have been based on but they could be told in July you can reopen in x amount of weeks but think how much time will have to be put in to get the park back up to scratch. I doubt any work or anyone apart from security have been on the park since March so the rides haven’t run since then more then likely. So as I said in my previous post it’s a lot of work to get it ready. Zoos are better at social distancing as it’s free flow no queuing for anything but just like most places they will limit the number of people coming in.
 
However, there is also talk that Boris wants Britain "back at work" by 26th May if cases are low enough. We'll just have to see what he says next week.

I'd assume that parks will be told next week the sort of time frame within which they could potentially reopen and will be preparing for this to occur once they're told; Boris said that he's going to unveil a menu of options next week, and give companies a briefing on how and potentially when they can get back to work. This should help.
 
It’s all going to come down to next week. May 28th is the next possible review If lockdown is extended so that ties in about right. But I can’t see anything drastic opening for a while I’ve always said high streets would be first that’s easier to manage then see how the virus is. That’s why tourism pubs and eat in restaurants are low on list to reopen.
 
If the park can only operate half capacity hypothetically, they’ll have to make a really difficult decision and perhaps a challenging one, as to whether the park will operate as many rides and restaurants as physically possible, with higher running costs (labour, food, etc.) to spread out the guests more effectively, or whether they make cut backs to save money in some areas but run the risk of overcrowding in some parts of the park/food outlets/rides.

It’ll be a choice between operating at lesser of a profit but maintaining a great guest experience, or maximising profit lines but running the risk of poor social distancing enforcement and techniques, whilst probably loosing guest confidence.

I’m sure this is probably just one harsh decision the park will need to make, which begs the question, is it really worth opening at all this year when you’re faced with some extremely tough choices.
 
In response to the argument “is it really worth opening this year”, where’s the assumption that it’s financially viable not to? Sure, stay closed and you can get rid of your seasonal wage costs, and certain other operational costs, but you still have a permanent staff base (10% plus of the workforce) that you’re either going to have to pay (furlough scheme ends end of June, doubt it’ll be extended), or sack off, which would be hugely risky - getting rid of vast amounts of knowledge on how to operate your park, maintain your facilities, your rides etc.

You also have plenty of maintenance and upkeep expenditure that, if you want to keep your park in an operatable state for 2021, can't be avoided.

How is it viable to pay your permanent staff base from July to March inclusive, and all the ongoing and unavoidable maintenance costs, if you don’t even attempt to trade?


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That side of things definitely but surely most parks will find it harder to open for 3 months if they lose the summer season. Some parks will struggle to reopen as in certain places the demand won’t be there. You wouldn’t expect a smaller park like lightwater to have the demand or same number of guests predicted. As I said it’s a lot of time and money for 3 months.
 
Lock down being lifted doesn't mean theme parks will open immediately. I think they would have to do a lot to show they can impose social distancing at a theme park for them to open in June. The queues are one obstacle but also ride restraints having to be cleaned constantly is arguably a bigger one. Cant imagine it will be very fun for anyone who does go tbh.

They also can't open theme parks whilst schools are still shut either. Just asking for trouble with the politics behind it all.

I think the leisure and hospitality industry will be the last to reopen. Letting people go back to offices and shops with strict social distancing will be the first steps. Pubs bars and restaurants will come after along with theme parks.
 
bluesonichd said:
Who would want to visit a theme park in the cold and rain in December, especially if it was a 4pm close day.
And you had to deal with social distance too

o_O
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I had an hour's ERT on Taron in torrential rain during their winter event and managed 12 rides. Would happily do the same on Nemesis.
 
Actually that’s another good point let’s say we have a bad August/September if the park reopens with no indoor attractions or no possible indoor sit down restaurants. Could that possibly put people off having to stand around in the rain all day.
 
Indoor rides are where this country has gone so badly wrong. We need far more dark rides and indoor coasters because the climate is awful. Also opens up the parks to be able to run more successful winter events.

Lots of people bemoan the lack of water rides in UK nowadays and on hot days they have a point. But how many cold days do we have compared to hot? Way more.

However in the current climate of covid 19 I honestly don't think it matters what type of rides you have. They all have the ability to spread the virus.
 
I honestly think that a proper indoor theme park like the Nickelodeon Universes or Galaxyland would work fantastically in Britain, but that's an opinion for a different topic!
 
Rojo said:
I guarantee if the park was open during a war and was being shelled, somebody would be kicking off on here that they couldn't get on Wickerman because the park was closed and ridetimes was down. There will be enough people wanting to go in December :D
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Don't forget the Nemenerds.
 
Matt N said:
I honestly think that a proper indoor theme park like the Nickelodeon Universes or Galaxyland would work fantastically in Britain, but that's an opinion for a different topic!
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Couldn't agree more Matt.
But...Metroland (Newcastle...ok...Gateshead) went tits up, mainly because it didnt get the punters it needed to cover costs.
Claimed to be the biggest indoor park in Europe, it simply couldn't make the money needed to keep it going, despite a revamp.
 
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