brenthodge

Well stated, and I agree the end hasn’t come for cuts. Concerning is the statement about managing down fixed costs as well as variable costs and the “anticipated lift” from halloween and Winterfest activities. If that lift doesn’t come, I’m nervous about next season.

I’m not sure which is worse. A crappy policy, or crappy training. Neither are gonna drive that needed revenue!

So they WANT it to fail now, right?

Oh no-the staff, cast and even support crew for Carnivale, and the entire season hove been great. Even with things like decor. I’m sure the team would LOVE to put out more of the elements the park owns in storage. It’s not that they don’t have it, it’s that that they aren’t allowed the hours to do it. I’m sure it pains everyone knowing they aren’t delivering what they are capable of, but simply what they are budgeted to provide.

Agree on the less is less school of thought. Given this year, events like CARNIVALE should’ve been AMAZING bc and hyped to the 9s and provided an experience worth the hype to make it a CANT miss event instead of the begrudging “we have to do some watered down version of the thing for the passholders feel we have this year. Honestly even if I had nothing to compare it to, it barely lives up to what minimal hype they created around the event. I wouldn’t talk it up to anyone who had to pay to go, as it’s really just not a value added event this year. Years past -even as a passholders I’ve gotten a tasting card and gone multiple evenings and even brought others (ticket buying) guests. This year the event doesn’t seem to have a purpose beyond the parade at (too bright) 7 and nothing really has motivated me to spend money beyond my meal plan for food. Cheap t shirts to commemorate an event that I’m pretty apathetic to (that I’ve LOVED in the past) just don’t motivate me to spend. So much bottom line motivated, short sighted thinking this year. And that’s just around one event. There have been so many misses around Adventure Port and other ideas. Sad.

For threat of bad weather they will just switch to parade mode and continue all the way around. Almost wish they would cut 2 show stops- one by VIP And go to one in front onnI street - that and coney are the best places to see the whole “show” anyway and if clearly promoted that way, I think it would be enough to satisfy the “show people” unless people are really into the show stop, it can come off as awkward anyway.

Lot of chatter in social world about “why the parade just ends and everyone leaves” been that one from year 1 not sure why it’s now annoying everyone as much as it has me all along LOL

It’s always had that. It’s odd placement seeing as you don’t really stand there, but just pass through.

What we had compared to what we’ve got is pretty telling. The GrandShowcase has been replaced by an hour late “ opening” that actually has a commercial for TASTING CARDS in the middle of it. I’m surprised they didn’t put the cast in CARVIVALE T shirts “on sale now at the EMPORIUM!!!” With a clearance fashion show LOL.

because they couldn't promote a special food offering if their job depended on it... wait... THERE'S an idea!

Yes. It was a great solution to the “how do we get them back home “ problem they created storing them where they do. They kept the two “self contained “ units (the opening trampoline unit and the dirigible unit that that year was self contained) since they couldn’t really take up space with the two cars needed got the other ones. Since the floats have all been replaced with lesser versions, it’s really not possible to leave them out with the tow units to trip over.

no - why would any for profit company care about where the revenue comes from. Thats like a Jr Higher running the company and shooting itself in the foot for petty reasons to prove a point (but try using that justification for investors). They stopped painting Diamond Back because IT IS RUNNING during the part of the day that you would actually paint something - Dragster can be painted any time of the day, Budget cuts are mandated across the board to hit margins that may be set be people with little actual operation experience, and maybe Don got tired of dealing with conspiracy theorist and wanted a simpler life - who knows?!?

I HATE THE WAY THE PARADE IS RUN. I've complained about this since we started parades again. It is always like this has nothing to do with budget cuts - they do a show and then its mass chaos as performers run off - people on floats jump down - at Christmas - people anchored to floats just have to ride it out back to coney. It is HORRIBLE SHOW. At least now there is a big red sticker that says PARADE ENDS HERE so supposedly no one stands past that point to see the parade, but it you are at that point you only see a show stop and whatever is in front of you...it ends... people scatter and eventually security clear a path for empty floats to run down. I REALLY wish they had done it right and made the area behind BooBlaster parade and entertainment services. Yes you'd have to move "Park services" and dumpsters etc, but there should be room to store floats as well as necessary trash for the few food places on that block. Then run the parade OUT the Showplace side - run down the path to Coney - push back the landscaping in this area to create wider sidewalks for viewing - show stop 1, turn down coney by Dodgem - down coney - show stop 2, turn down the path to I street by VIP - show stop 3, turn down I street - go further down and wrap across the front entrance - wider for better viewing (worked great for 50th street party) - final show stop, parade travels IN FULL PARADE MODE around other side up to path by Graeters - takes slight right/left back into area behind BOO. Might've needed to relocate a fire hydrant there and a few other things, but would've made for a MUCH cleaner ending, full circuit and not the odd 2 stops in the same zone. And yes, the saving of having the parade at 7 to get performers off the clock by 8 for a 12-8 shift has to be offset by the loss of revenue when people empty in droves by 7:30, but then theres no real ending show or CARNIVALE characters out after the parade, so I guess there not really anything to stay for. I feel like they are looking for quick savings and not looking at the big picture of overall revenue

Agree. I was like “Music?”

personally I wish they would just get rid of the "Security footage" TVs. That whole part of the story line was convoluted and didn't really make sense... it's abandoned... but it's not...so there is security... in present day? or the past? It was just a layer that was too complicated to make sense in a queue with no real narrative or explanation. I think most people just assume it's a live feed of the ride thats visible in the queue for some reason. The whole "urban explorers" storyline just has too many details. I'd say "Its an abandoned lumber mill... something happened years ago... it makes an old truck come to life... you get in for some stupid reason... you find out the evil is "in the shed" you barely make it back (would've been SUPER COOL to have a separate unload so the cars came back empty - THAT would've been a way to create a story.

Hence why the focus on FOOD AND BEVERAGE was definitely not an aspect that got cut (except loosing India, and that may have been the lowest volume country for food sales - even though it’s featured in the show and parade -as is MardiGras and neither have food options.

The whole thing just seems… off this year. Honestly I almost wish they had “saved up” a year and brought it back big. Coming back after a pretty solid 2021, then last years packed 50th, this years CARNIVALE just seems a bit scattered and “we had to do it because we had to”. Even if they had done a mini fest in Adventure Port using some of the day of the dead (less “dead” ones) props and set pieces from haunt, done just central and Latin American tasting booths, live music and maybe a mini parade using some of the Jungle X ideas? Would’ve been a way to put the focus squarely on this new area (especially when they didnt even include it… an international, food themed area, in CARNIVALE.)

Nope. It seems chaotic and a bit confrontational and weird like they are sample models in the fragrance dept trying to get people walking through to “party” with them.

Ok, just spent a LONG time filling out a new survey. I’ve gotten used to half heartedly filling these “specific topic” surveys out-trying to force my ideas and opinions on other topics in LOL but this one… has anyone else gotten it. It’s very specific about my last visit. Why I came (CARNIVALE) my opinions based on that experience (ehhh used to be better) what I’d like to see added in ALL AREAS - food, rides, live entertainment, merchandise. Asked if Park could contact me regarding all my opinions and feedback-sure, NEVER had that option before, and an invite to a KI panel that will be sent regular surveys and questions regarding Park improvements and future plans. This makes me feel like 1) something is up as in they know attendance is soft 2) people are noticing and complaining more vocally than in past 3) “bought in” passholders and fans are a valuable and valid base to tap into for feedback. Interesting to see if they call, if more “panel surveys” come and who else got this survey?

It worked last Tuesday just fine. You mean the stoning black light that makes “it’s in the shed” show up? It’s there!

Not sure I get your point. We got BOTH, the better closing show AND the better parade/party plus 3 original park specific shows (actually 4 when you put the media/video component of 70s in the mix.) we blew the other milestones this year away!

Wow. I feel like with everything I see out of Carrowinds in relation to their milestone, we DEFINITELY got the way better deal. Did this just roll out, perform and roll back? Thought they would get all of the elements (lightly modified) that we had. The more I see this year, the more I’m AMAZED at what we got last year. our (with original song DIFFERENT than the other original song for the fireworks) for reference

As to his expectations and ideas… he confirmed that last years lineup for Timberwolf was not what had been envisioned. He said they were “that close” to signing a few acts that would’ve really surprised people and set a new bar.

Forgot about the bands as well. I remember 2019 was almost like Winterfest with WAY too much to do in one night. We didn’t have passes that year and actually bought tickets just for the evening to come in-didn’t ride a single thing-went show to show… area to area… and was actually sad we didn’t have passes that year (I came pretty close to buying another ticket later in the run, but it got miserably hot) if you give people a reason…. They will spend. I was wondering tonight just how much in entertainment payroll they save moving the parade up to get most E staff off the clock by 8, when as I left right after the parade, there was a mass exodus of spending people all leaving with me. I feel like there is a lot of “immediate savings” thinking going on right now without enough thought given to lost ROI and potential damage to the brand. Honestly at this point, I’d suggest going to every other year if they can’t make it have more ooompf than this year.

The whole event feels way “less” than even 21, which already eliminated the individual country stages and crafts that gave it its true “culture festival “ feel. Now if you aren’t eating or drinking or watching one parade, theres pretty much nothing to do. That said. after talking to Koontz just now (for about 15 min) he pretty much agreed and said it’s a conversation he’s even had as recently as yesterday with corporate live entertainment. He mentioned that a lot of times when they try something new, they might “throw everything at the wall” and go too big just to test a lot. Then, when they have to scale down to an executable scale, the passionate fan base here definitely notice it and call it out. He said it’s almost a good problem that our base cares and notices so much. I really felt like it pains him to see how gutted the event is. He puts a game face on, but you can tell he knows and knows YOU know it’s just not as good. Very interesting conversation. Caught him after the opening (after it has started for an hour) ceremony. He just kept talking (lots of interesting, border line “too much” info) -like I eventually said, “well I know you’ve got a park to run…”to wrap it up. I think he liked having a great complement (I told him how my 9 year old recreated the new Adventure Express with his train sets) and sharing with someone who understands it’s a publicity traded company, with budgets, that he doesn’t have complete control of, but they are trying to give the best experience within those constraints. It’s a numbers game, and like those games you slide the tiles around… there’s only so many tile, you just have to kept sliding them till you get something that resembles a solution.