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COVID & Theme Parks

Excalibur

TS Member
I didn’t quite know which place to put this topic in, and I gathered because it’s a large subject to cover all theme parks that this would be best suited. So let’s dive straight in!

COVID is here for long term as we know it, vaccines are being issued left right and centre however every now and again there are spikes, as I’m sure we are all aware of. Now this comes into play.. are theme park building and planning around covid now?

Parks in the UK especially have been very quite regarding 2022 additions excluding obvious work that is taking place at Alton, which is pretty clear it’s going to be an outdoor attraction.

Going forwards though, are we going to see such things as pre-shows, multiple rooms and so on. Trying not to touch on it too much, but this is something Disney relys on massively to story tell, and while I don’t think they’ll get rid of it completely I assume anything going forward apart from current projects being constructed now will be taken into consideration.

Your thoughts?
 
I think by next season there will be no restrictions in the UK and I doubt any parks will change how they operate directly because of Covid although the money parks have lost will influence decisions parks make.
 
The Covid (and to some extent Brexit) related recruitment problems in the hospitality sector are the bigger issue in all parks. Disney in Florida are having issues staffing food outlets as are the Merlin parks in the UK.

Maybe masks will be required in indoor spaces still next year but I don't see covid changing the way they are planning for new rides. Of course many new attractions have been delayed for financial reasons, but no changes to the style of operations seem to have happened due to covid.
 
I think the staycations has really helped uk theme parks this year with Alton Towers adding to there family attractions next year, Paulton’s adding a young family coaster and Drayton Manor adding a whole new area with there 5 year plan in place.
 
England: Possibly mask indoors next year but won't be enforced and generally ignored by GP.
Alton Towers: They will say limited guest numbers due to COVID precautions, but what they really mean is they couldn't be bothered to invest in there staff transportation to make it COVID viable (yes the job adverts still say find your own way here) and making staffing even harder due to location.
Europe: Most likely same as now in regards to masks, but where vaccination certificates are need it will be just recently recovered or vaccinated in past x months. Negative tests won't be valid, but indoor rides will operate normally again.
America: No change to what it is now.

This don't included actually getting into the countries in the first place....

England: I expect a drop in visitors to theme parks not targeting families with small kids day trip as majority leg it abroad for the sun or stays at home with zero spare money/debt due to inflation (sorry to be negative, but UK is expensive at best of times).
 
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