2020: General Discussion

[BarryZola]

I think we need to be realistic here, a lot will be down to government guide lines, and at the moment I don't think they have a clue how this is all going to pan out.

There was a business on the news today that said that they would be better off closed than half open as they would lose less money if they stayed closed as oppose to having full staff and catering for half the customers

I've already written this year off and possible the best part of next year a good month ago. This years plans might be on hold/postponed, but my life keeps going, I've plenty to do here and I've made new goals which will keep me busy right up until the next few years, even if I don't come out of lock down, my life continues and I still have a lot to look forward to.

Hopefully Alton will still be up and running by the time we come out of this crisis. We all just need to be patience and take one day at a time. What will be, will be, it's not worth spreading the virus and ending up dead, just because we can't wait a year or two for all this to blow over.

That't the perfect attitude to all of this.

 

[Matt N]

Ah, the misplaced confidence of a teenage schoolboy, who says in the very same post:



You keep citing China as a model for parks reopening, but it really doesn’t sound like much fun: temperature checks, small numbers of people on park making the business case questionable and, most importantly, staggered seating where you can’t sit next to anyone. Can you see teenagers wanting to go to Thorpe Park, say, to ride Colossus when they’re sat on their own, having stood apart from their friends in the queue for half an hour beforehand? It’s a deeply unappealing prospect, so most people likely just won’t bother, and when gate numbers will have to be capped anyway, it may not be cost-effective to open.

In any case, nobody has a scooby what will happen in the coming months - so much depends on the progress of testing, the possible return of contact tracing and an eventual vaccine, and frankly, trips to theme parks should be well down anybody’s priority list, if indeed they have any disposable income left to visit them. Besides, other bits of the economy are far more important to get up and running first.

The only reason I keep citing China is because I want to show that social distancing in theme parks can be pulled off. I also get the impression that this is similar to what Merlin was going to open Alton Towers with; similar measures to these were seen at Chessington for the 2 days it's operated so far this season.

Also, if you're focused on larger parks, Shanghai Disneyland has now reportedly started testing things for a potential reopening: https://blogmickey.com/2020/04/shanghai-disneyland-reportedly-begins-simulations-for-reopening/

 

[Ethan]

Well if it's not open by june then I'll climb over the fence and get the maintenance staff to operate them for me

 

[jon81uk]

It'll most likely be restaurants, pubs and cafes which will be relaxed first. Then theatres and cinemas, and museums. Leisure activities that are most likely more manageable when it comes to social distancing will probably be prioritised, theme parks will probably be at the bottom of the list.

Its been said elsewhere that pubs are expected to be one of the last to re-open in several news articles I read elsewhere.

Personally I don't think a pub is lower risk than a larger venue. Once inside you aren't generally moving, so at a theatre or cinema you are generally surrounded by the same people the whole time. 50 people in a small pub is a pretty similar risk. Also theatre is a one-off, most people don't go very regularly, some people go to the pub every night. I would also put theme parks at a similar risk level as theatre in terms of the number of people are nearby etc.
Non-essential shops will definitely be first to be lifted, keeping 2m apart in a clothes shop is pretty much just as easy as a supermarket. Then probably restaurants with some tables not being used to improve spacing. But this is my opinion, not government advice.

 

[bluesonichd]

If they ran all the rides at 100% then the queue times will be less so less time spent in the queue to get infected

that could be a thing

 

[KolonelKlink]

The only reason I keep citing China is because I want to show that social distancing in theme parks can be pulled off.

Just because it can, doesn’t mean it should. Firstly, Chinese society is generally much more compliant than those in Western Europe, by virtue of citizens living under an authoritarian regime. You set rules, the overwhelming majority of people will follow them to the letter. I can’t see groups of teenagers in the UK doing the same in a theme park queueline, where they struggle to behave as it is.

Secondly, I come back to the earlier point I made - how many people will want to have a “fun day out” that looks like this?

I’d wager very few.

 

[Skyscraper]

Apparently social distancing could be in place til after Christmas. If that's the case then we can wave goodbye to the 2020 season completely.

 

[Dave]

Im not expecting there to be much if any of a 2020 season.

You can definitely expect Octoberfest, Scarefest and Fireworks to be cancelled. If a vaccine isn’t in place by Spring 2021 then it’s going to be interesting times ahead.

 

[Mr Pearse]

If and big If they decide to open with social distancing measures in place, I’d say at a guess it wouldn’t open till late August depending on the situation so the season is effectively gone. If social distancing is needed for the rest of the year then all events this year have no chance. But we have no idea I honestly think they know they it’s a write off this year and they need to look to how to draw everyone back next year.

 

[Matt N]

The reason I keep saying it is because it's what Merlin was planning to do before lockdown happened, and surely from a business point of view, it would be better to try and open with measures in place than to not open at all, as the park will still be making money?

Besides, the government may have just been setting out the worst case scenario. We don't really know until we see how things develop. Delving into some of the articles, Chris Whitty may have only meant that things like isolating if you have symptoms and keeping vulnerable people isolated might apply for the entire year (some of the more minor social distancing measures). If that's the case, then I don't see why the park couldn't attempt to open if the social distancing measures become less strict?

 

[imanautie]

The reason I keep saying it is because it's what Merlin was planning to do before lockdown happened, and surely from a business point of view, it would be better to try and open with measures in place than to not open at all, as the park will still be making money?

Besides, the government may have just been setting out the worst case scenario. We don't really know until we see how things develop. Delving into some of the articles, Chris Whitty may have only meant that things like isolating if you have symptoms and keeping vulnerable people isolated might apply for the entire year (some of the more minor social distancing measures). If that's the case, then I don't see why the park couldn't attempt to open if the social distancing measures become less strict?

Merlin will be doing cost benefit analysis, if they think people won't turn up in high enough numbers for them to at least break even they might not bother, don't think that is any difference between public merlin and private merlin.

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[Skyscraper]

They've also got to think about what measures they need and whether it's feasible. As well as keeping guests safe they also have to think about staff, and because the lockdown happened when they were training staff, they won't be able to open if they don't have enough trained staff.

 

[Matt N]

Something worth bearing in mind is that Legoland Japan was quite quick to reopen once Japan removed its initial state of emergency, and Legoland Japan is a Merlin attraction. Admittedly, Japan has now reapplied a state of emergency and its parks are likely shut again, but that seems to be implicative of Merlin's desire to reopen the parks.

 

[imanautie]

Something worth bearing in mind is that Legoland Japan was quite quick to reopen once Japan removed its initial state of emergency, and Legoland Japan is a Merlin attraction. Admittedly, Japan has now reapplied a state of emergency and its parks are likely shut again, but that seems to be implicative of Merlin's desire to reopen the parks.

The non UK RTPs seem to operate with a larger degree of freedom then UK ones so that may play into things.

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[Kraken27]

One thing worth remembering... back in 2001 Tussauds (then owner of Towers) were hell-bent on opening for the season during the Foot & Mouth outbreak. At the time the government were asking people not to make unnecessary trips to the countryside / rural areas with farmland, i.e. exactly the sort of area Towers is in. Not a problem, just have all the hoofed animals in the Farm area put down and install a disinfectant dip that guests had to drive through on entrance to the park and hey presto, they opened for the season as planned.

Of course, Foot & Mouth was not harmful to humans, where as Covid-19 clearly is very harmful to humans. From what I have seen when occasionally out and about (for the 1hr permitted exercise) there are clearly more than a few people around who seem to think they are immune from the virus & are not practicing social distancing in any way, shape or form. You only have to look at all the smoking that still happens in the queuelines at normal times to see that people don't think rules apply to them.

If Merlin do decide to open their parks they will have a real job on their hands to enforce social distancing on more than a few guests. Others may well decide to stay away on the basis they know there will be guests there who don't care as they are clearly immune to any rules / viruses.

Not being funny, but what is, say, a 18yr old ride host (on minimum wage) going to do when they ask a 18stone chav, built like a brick out-house to respect social distancing & they are met with the reply along the lines of "get lost, what are you going to do about it?"

 

[imanautie]

One thing worth remembering... back in 2001 Tussauds (then owner of Towers) were hell-bent on opening for the season during the Foot & Mouth outbreak. At the time the government were asking people not to make unnecessary trips to the countryside / rural areas with farmland, i.e. exactly the sort of area Towers is in. Not a problem, just have all the hoofed animals in the Farm area put down and install a disinfectant dip that guests had to drive through on entrance to the park and hey presto, they opened for the season as planned.

Of course, Foot & Mouth was not harmful to humans, where as Covid-19 clearly is very harmful to humans. From what I have seen when occasionally out and about (for the 1hr permitted exercise) there are clearly more than a few people around who seem to think they are immune from the virus & are not practicing social distancing in any way, shape or form. You only have to look at all the smoking that still happens in the queuelines at normal times to see that people don't think rules apply to them.

If Merlin do decide to open their parks they will have a real job on their hands to enforce social distancing on more than a few guests. Others may well decide to stay away on the basis they know there will be guests there who don't care as they are clearly immune to any rules / viruses.

Not being funny, but what is, say, a 18yr old ride host (on minimum wage) going to do when they ask a 18stone chav, built like a brick out-house to respect social distancing & they are met with the reply along the lines of "get lost, what are you going to do about it?"

Get on the phone and call a certain 4 digit number....

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[Kraken27]

Get on the phone and call a certain 4 digit number....

If you are referring to one of the two numbers for Security (i.e. the general or emergency number - neither of which I am going to reveal) then you are having a laugh. Towers security are inept at the best of times & only have a few mobile patrols to cover the entire park / hotels.

You only have to look at the two "family friendly" days each year - they have to rely on the police & other private security firms for additional resources to enforce order.

 

[imanautie]

If you are referring to one of the two numbers for Security (i.e. the general or emergency number - neither of which I am going to reveal) then you are having a laugh. Towers security are inept at the best of times & only have a few mobile patrols to cover the entire park / hotels.

You only have to look at the two "family friendly" days each year - they have to rely on the police & other private security firms for additional resources to enforce order.

I'm aware it won't work in practice but that's what merlin will say they have implemented isn't it? Ask nicely then call security.

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[Skyscraper]

Was at Towers with a friend who works there a while back and they seemed nice when he chatted to a couple of security staff. He then mentioned that he saw someone smoking cannabis on the lawns (why?) And they were off straight away to find them.

 

[bluesonichd]

Was at Towers with a friend who works there a while back and they seemed nice when he chatted to a couple of security staff. He then mentioned that he saw someone smoking cannabis on the lawns (why?) And they were off straight away to find them.

Only to get there before they smoked it all
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