Winterfestguy

Kentucky Kingdom released a 10 page document that outlines what the park will look like once given a green light to open. The 10 flip page document maybe gives some clearer details on what KI and CP may be thinking. While there has not been much info on water parks, this document does have a section on aquatics. (School down to the plan as it is a flip page document) https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/today

Wonder if there are not enough reservations for a given day, if the park would remain closed? Similar to when KI last year suddenly closed early due to heavy rain and lack of attendance. At some point there has to be a point where it doesn’t make sense to open at a loss. Use park reservation system to manage park attendance

Still sticking to my original prediction of early to mid July - there are so many preparations to accomplish prior to opening from social distancing decals in queues, reformatting food and drink services, blocking off water fountains and every other sink or urinal, figuring out how to sanitizing arcade/game touch points when open to public (maybe games/arcade won’t even open as sanitizing each basketball/game after use is going to be tedious). Probably about 4 weeks of figuring things out/park prep work/staff training from the first part of June.

Today’s investor call indicates Cedar Fair parks NOT opening operations in the near term. Outlook Commenting on the current state of business, Zimmerman said, “We continue to work closely with local and state health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the best information we have currently, we do not anticipate resuming operations at any of our parks in the near term. This projection remains fluid and subject to change as the situation evolves, including if state and local guidelines are modified.” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200506005200/en/Cedar-Fair-Reports-Results-2020-Quarter

I have noticed more people and less social distancing at my Costco in the past week just as this article pointed out. Will see if they really enforce the wearing the mask request when they are not even enforcing the social distancing in my store especially at the checkouts. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/costco-workers-coronavirus-social-distancing-measures

There are so many issues for Cedar Fair management to consider prior to any of their park openings. The recommendation to help stop any potential spread of the virus has been to go to all disposable utensil items. So will their souvenir bottles be allowed when the parks first open as opposed to the disposable paper cup option? (Starbucks and Dunkin have both gone away from the reusable cup option during the pandemic. However, all park websites are still offering their souvenir bottles for sale). And what about all those “bulk” ketchup and mustard dispensers (where everyone is pushing the pump all the time with their hands?). If they set out packets to use, just think of all the hands that reach in to get some those packets. So many things that must be considered prior to any opening.

An interesting CDC finding that air conditioning may spread COVID-19 droplets in a restaurant. For Florida theme parks such as Disney/Universal an interesting consideration in opening strategy. For those inside dining locations at Cedar Fair parks (and the few select restrooms) that have air conditioning, another consideration in opening the parks. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0764_article#tnF1

I wonder if the park should have held off on having this guide having 1000’s printed until a corporate or park decision was made about wearing a face covering such as a mask, bandana, or scarf (following CDC guidance of course) when entering the park. Of course the intent prior to the virus outbreak was for decorative scarves, but all this now has a different meaning in a post-virus outbreak environment. ”For your safety, loose clothing (including scarves and other free-flowing clothing) must be significantly secured or removed to prevent any interference with the ride restraint system. On all rollercoasters and Dodgem scarves will be required to be removed.”

The only amusement park that seems “out of touch” with virus developments is Kentucky Kingdom who just posted they are planning to open in early June with longer daily hours. (And there website makes no mention of any COVID-19 update for the park - the site is all about advertising to buy your ticket packages now, just very weird) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wlky.com/amp/article/kentucky-kingdom-plans-to-open-early-june-with-longer-hours-coronavirus-summer/32211232

It’s going to be difficult as a chain for Cedar Fair to open any of their parks because each state governor will make their own state laws for opening despite whatever the Federal government may want. For example, Virginia is under the stay at home until June 10 which means King’s Dominion likely not open until at least July. So each park in each state will have to abide by the governor’s laws. Just because the curve may be leveling off and is on the downward slide doesn’t mean the hidden virus is gone.

They need to put the paper towels back in the restrooms that were updated and replaced with Dyson air dryers - those air dryers spread and blow more germs around (Not to mention blowing any airborne virus particles from sneezes and coughs everywhere) whereas the paper towels actually help remove any remaining germs on your hands https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/21/11479038/dyson-hand-dryer-hygiene-paper-towel-debate

With the CDC now recommending people wear masks in public, and since Cedar Fair in earlier park messages say they follow CDC guidelines, and if any park was to open this season, how would masks be viewed when boarding a coaster? Are masks loose articles which are forbidden on coasters? Some masks have the elastic behind the ears which would be similar to eye glass straps, so those might be okay. Some fabric masks, non-medical masks, and bandanas tie behind the head which do have a potential to “fly off” when coaster riding. Definitely will be interesting to see how Cedar Fair handles the CDC mask recommendation especially on coasters if they do try to open any of their parks this season.

This article was rather interesting on the microscopic aerosol virus transmission theory. A Washington State Choir rehearsal where they did not hug and kept their distances made 45 ill and sadly, 2 passed away. “Members likely expelled viral particles into the air during their rehearsal.” So, if on a roller coaster of someone is in the front row (who carries the virus but does not show any symptoms) screams emitting their viral particles, one wonders how far back in the train those viral particles could infect the other riders, especially traveling at 40-60mph. Granted the coaster is outdoors with lots of air around it, but I would not want to be directly in the second row behind the person screaming. Interesting thought to ponder. https://apple.news/AlfeY274mQ5aZZPhD_X0WGQ

The Indy 500 is being postponed from May 24 to August 23, so a mid-May opening of KI or CP may not be looking so good. https://fox59.com/news/indy-500-postponed-until-august-23-because-of-coronavirus-pandemic/

The CEO of Apex Parks Group (John Fitzgerald) which ran Indiana Beach through last year came from Six Flags where he was the park manager of Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ. So Indiana Beach was already being ran by Six Flags in a sense (which explains why Indiana Beach failed) https://apexparksgroup.com/news#18

Dollywood will be giving being a friend tickets to their Season Pass holders as a result of their delayed opening. I wouldn’t worry about delayed openings impacting season pass holders as parks will find a way to make good for their delayed openings. Dollywood - “We are focused on the health and safety of you and our hosts and this is a short, temporary delay in our season. For all Passholders we will provide an additional bring-a-friend free admission to be used during the summer 2020 season”

Be sure to check your spam folder - I found my email from Don in my spam folder.

Grand Carnival is June 6-28 as per the mailing from the park

People will definitely need to check their spam folders as there are some pretty aggressive spam filters on some email platforms. Sometimes, the email is marked as spam by the email domain and never will even reach the user’s email spam folder. I hope the email potentially being marked as spam was considered in their new approach, and would hope that a regular postal mail approach follow up happens from the park if a ticket purchased never receives the link from the park to actually register. As someone that has run several non-coaster events, sending an email link to an users account may be successful, end up in user’s email spam folder, or never actually reach the user email account since filtered out in the email domain spam background mechanism.

It’s a sad merchandising year for the Winterfest shops, especially the trim a tree area. 95% of the merchandise is left over from 2018 Winterfest (they are still trying to sell the 2018 King’s Island ornaments) with only 1 very limited 2019 ornament. Whereas 2018 had a pretty new robust selection for trim a tree, 2019 just brought out the 2018 leftovers with very very little new things (Very sad). This is especially obvious in the Peanuts shop by the main gate where only 2018 snoopy ornaments have been available since opening Nov 22 and none of the 2019 have ever been available there. And if that was not enough to be discouraged, they raised the prices on the 2018 leftovers by a few bucks! (In the Snoopy shop found a snoopy ornament labeled as $6.99 where all the identical ones had been re-ticketed for 2019 to $8.99! The people I was with were really amazed. If the park is really serious about increasing customer spending in the shops, they will have to stock with fresh new merchandise, not just keep boxing up the left overs at end of season and then putting them out again for next year’s Winterfest.

I also prefer the pedestals over the gift boxes, but a glad they figured out a way to keep the wireframes in the middle of the ice. Maybe someday the old pedestals in the bone yard will become patterns for future pedestals many years from now. It was also nice to see the Festhaus restored glockenspiel playing Christmas tunes. If you are standing in line waiting for the Feathaus to open at either 4 or 5pm, you will definitely hear it. We are not big fans of the new Tinkers Toy Factory. My kids never understood the story line and kept saying eeeew about Santa disgustingly blowing his nose so loudly and frequently. However, the cast and choreography are excellent. There are Christmas traditions that the original Winterfest parents bring back their kids and grandkids to see, but that tradition is no more with this newer version. (Where did Wendel’s fuzzy brown bear go?)

Since Cedar Fair hired a corporate imdividual to run the Pass Perk program, I would imagine the programs are similar between parks. I know a few individuals that visited KI multiple times as their home park in the summer and fall and never received any “perks” - not even one! Hopefully, the program for KI is better planned and thought out for 2020.

The enhanced lighting packaging on The Racer will add to the Winterfest atmosphere this year (much better than just the color changing LED spots)

My suggestion on the survey was to open at 2pm on Saturdays (like the original Winterfest and the one year return of Winterfest did). That didn’t happen either. Carowinds does open their Winterfest at 2pm on Saturdays, so must be a park to park decision for hours. Just seems to me that people would shop, skate, and spend more money if they had more time in the park, especially on busy weekends.