News Round Up 2020

[OSUZorba]

I'm not surprised that attendance is lower then expected. King's Island is closed Wednesday and Thursday now and no longer requiring reservations. People aren't going to the parks like hoped.

Yeah, Frontier City did the same on Wednesday/Thursday, reduced hours the rest of the week. Still supposed to have reservations, but they didn't check them on Friday. This last Friday evening I'm pretty sure there were more employees than guests.

Of people I talk to, half don't want to go because they don't want to wear a mask and the other half don't feel safe going. I'd love to be able to Kings Island right now, but not worth the drive for a day in the park and some Graeter's.

 

[OSUZorba]

Do you think there would be any chance that new films might come out internationally before in the US if movie theatres open? Heard rumours that the movie theatres in UK will be open soon, but mainly just showing films that have already released, (e.g. Star Wars, Jurassic Park like films)?

Man, I'd happy pay to see Jurassic Park in a Dolby Threater.

One park open a day for 6 hours is not a way to get tourists to come back to your theme park.

The next thing they are most likely to do it to reduce ride operations - shutting down some of the rides...but because most of their parks have a limited number of rides and since they've already closed to shows - that's a risk as well.

I think we'll be lucky if the state doesn't decide it has to close down again. Florida is a hotbed mess.

Yeah, the only reason I'm seriously considering keeping my trip in September is the crazy short lines. If they start closing more attractions, I'm definitely out. Especially if they keep the 3-day AP limit.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1285303829328732162

 

[eliseisawkward]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1285303829328732162

I should know better than to read the comments....

 

[Brianstl]

You're talking about Kings Island? On the last Cedar Fair earnings call they were boasting about how good they were at running parks at a profit on very low attendance days; I'm pretty sure they were expecting to be able to keep the parks open 7 days a week.

Talking about WDW. He was responding to a post talking about how only attendance at DHS was near capacity. I think Disney fully expected to have attendance levels like they have now. I think not only did they expect it, they did everything they could to encourage people with resort reservations to cancel to get to levels they have now.

 

[Helvetica]

Galaxy’s Edge stalls are open. One party at a time.

 

[Brianstl]

no idea how much but if they weren't wanting to increase attendance why would they have 40% AP and 35% Florida Residenct discounts going now?

Disney is always discounting rooms in one way or another. The rooms really aren't discounted much when compared to last years rack rates. A standard room at Pop last year at rack rate would have cost you $158 this time last year for a week night. This year it is $135 for AP holders. So AP holders save $115 compared to last year's rack rate for 5 nights. That is not all that much in the grand scheme and doesn't scream they are all that desperate to increase attendance. Especially, when it is only offered to AP's. Florida residents pay $145 a night so they save $65 dollars over 5 nights compared to last year's rack rates.

 

[Jrb1979]

Disney is always discounting rooms in one way or another. The rooms really aren't discounted much when compared to last years rack rates. A standard room at Pop last year at rack rate would have cost you $158 this time last year for a week night. This year it is $135 for AP holders. So AP holders save $115 compared to last year's rack rate for 5 nights. That is not all that much in the grand scheme and doesn't scream they are all that desperate to increase attendance. Especially, when it is only offered to AP's. Florida residents pay $145 a night so they save $65 dollars over 5 nights compared to last year's rack rates.

They may not be discounted much but if they were if had the attendance they were hoping for they wouldn't be adding any discounts. Especially when they need the money right now

 

[Brianstl]

They may not be discounted much but if they were if had the attendance they were hoping for they wouldn't be adding any discounts. Especially when they need the money right now

The thing is, I don't think they are discounting at all really. Nobody really ever pays rack rate. I have no doubt that everyone getting the discount is paying more than room was rented out for last year at the same time.

 

[Jrb1979]

What I do find odd is how so many people wanted all parks to open even local ones. Yet most seem to have trouble filling even their low capacity.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What I do find odd is how so many people wanted all parks to open even local ones. Yet most seem to have trouble filling even their low capacity.

If memory serves me correctly we've been down this path many times over in other threads. I think you know the answer to your question

 

[OSUZorba]

What I do find odd is how so many people wanted all parks to open even local ones. Yet most seem to have trouble filling even their low capacity.

The fact is, the local ones are still much better off open than closed. If Six Flags had never opened they'd have to refund millions of season pass, season food passes, etc. Opening allows them to keep that money. Refunding all of that would've been catastrophic. If they just rolled them all to next year they would've lost all of next year's pass revenue.

 

[Jrb1979]

If memory serves me correctly we've been down this path many times over in other threads. I think you know the answer to your question

Yeah many people aren't prepared to go to a park yet. That part I understand. My question was before parks were allowed to open I saw posts on all sorts of media platforms wanting parks to open. Now that they are open where are all those people that wanted parks open?

 

[Brocktoon]

For films .. I really don't see how any films come out right now and make money UNLESS they do what Trolls World Tour did and release them to Streaming for $20-30 a rental. They may just have to do that .. even if theatres opened up today (which they won't) . .how many people are going to be comfortable going to one until 2021? I'd rather go to WDW than sit in a movie theater right now with a bunch of teenagers in charge of cleaning.

The Trolls release also caused a brief battle between Comcast Universal and some theater owners (AMC, Regal etc ...) with Disney responding that they wouldn't release films directly for rental via streaming. I wonder if the theater owners still have enough weight to throw around, or will the studios call their bluff and go back to rental streaming. Releasing directly to a streaming platform (like Disney+ and NetFlix) without large rental fees will never recoup the costs of the giant blockbusters ... next year is going to get very interesting if/when someone develops a disruptive release model that most of the studios jump on board with

 

[Mr. lncredible]

Yeah many people aren't prepared to go to a park yet. That part I understand. My question was before parks were allowed to open I saw posts on all sorts of media platforms wanting parks to open. Now that they are open where are all those people that wanted parks open?

You are in an echo chamber of Disney enthusiasts, a group that does not make up a majority portion of park attendance. The average vacationer was not waiting with bated breath for Disney to reopen, mostly only those on these and other fan boards.

 

[Jrb1979]

You are in an echo chamber of Disney enthusiasts, a group that does not make up a majority portion of park attendance. The average vacationer was not waiting with bated breath for Disney to reopen, mostly only those on these and other fan boards.

Its not just Disney having that issue. Local parks like Kings Island is struggling to fill the park. They are closed Wednesday and Thursday. They have dropped the reservation system as well.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Yeah many people aren't prepared to go to a park yet. That part I understand. My question was before parks were allowed to open I saw posts on all sorts of media platforms wanting parks to open. Now that they are open where are all those people that wanted parks open?

Social media and message boards are a very, very small representation of the actual populace. Just because something is being clamored for on Twitter does not mean that is what the majority of people want/believe.

 

[Mr. lncredible]

Its not just Disney having that issue. Local parks like Kings Island is struggling to fill the park. They are closed Wednesday and Thursday. They have dropped the reservation system as well.

I would say my point still stands for both Disney and regional amusement parks. You were seeing people calling for the re-opening of the parks but it was really just an enthusiastic minority.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Its not just Disney having that issue. Local parks like Kings Island is struggling to fill the park. They are closed Wednesday and Thursday. They have dropped the reservation system as well.

Closing 2 days a week lets them probably have a single FT working staff (that covers the 5 days) with a few part timers coming in on Sat-Sun. Way cheaper than covering 2 FT staffs (who would cover the 2 days and be the extra weekend shift)...

That's the easiest way to save a boatload of variables costs quickly and easily, while not worrying about how you'll convince a lot of extra folks to work a theme park seasonal job in oppressive heat behind a mask dealing with unruly folks 8 hours/day...And you can always say you're cleaning the whole park over the 2 days closed, so win/win for marketing and costs...

 

[OSUZorba]

Closing 2 days a week lets them probably have a single FT working staff (that covers the 5 days) with a few part timers coming in on Sat-Sun. Way cheaper than covering 2 FT staffs (who would cover the 2 days and be the extra weekend shift)...

That's the easiest way to save a boatload of variables costs quickly and easily, while not worrying about how you'll convince a lot of extra folks to work a theme park seasonal job in oppressive heat behind a mask dealing with unruly folks 8 hours/day...And you can always say you're cleaning the whole park over the 2 days closed, so win/win for marketing and costs...

Very good point. I hadn't thought about that. But the new Frontier City hours would let them work basically one shift of people, maybe with a bit of OT.