brenthodge

Nothing that you’ve said was tough to explain really is. I think we all get what you are saying with each of your posts. Thanks for moving forward and adding new ideas to the discussion though. You’ve got some good ideas!

Not necessarily. Some things yes, if they feel it will boost pass sales. Some things they may wait till off season to announce.

There’s been no confirmation it’s a madhouse. As to how themed it would be is irrelevant discussion right now.

I’m assuming that would be demoed with the rest of the parts of the building they weren’t reusing for the new attraction. They’d most likely demo and dispose of it to keep it from falling into the wrong people’s hands.

And actually adding compelling content to the ongoing narrative, not just beating the same personal dead horse over and over.

EXACTLY. Pointless to even do this. MAYBE use things like this to drive attention and attendance to the FOOD and wine festival. If you want to keep it “day of” cool. Kinda weird, but it’s a hook. They should’ve been marketing for the last few weeks “as part of our FOOD and wine festival, our delicious Chef’s Specials return on Saturday and Sunday evenings ( I’d suggest maybe just Friday as a way to drive attendance on a slower day) Follow us here to see what pops up. Special are so special, they won’t be announced until 4 for service beginning at 5 and only while it lasts” but hey… I’m no marketing genius!!! I remember a few years ago when these were announced days in advance, actually planning trips I hadn’t planned to the park just to get them - not accidentally stumble onto them. I honestly thing someone totally dropped the ball. Forgot to push anything out. Perez was setting up and anyone with a phone realized “oh sh!/, we never advertised this” took a quick picture and stuck it out there as “Try it Now!!” Sent it to Jim’s in box and hoped for the best.

Hey - I think you mentioned this before! Tell us you have NO idea how to run a muti-park chain with different products aimed at different target audiences with different spending, pr cap and market penetration goals - oh right... you already have OVER AND OVER

All so very well stated. We saw some of this shift during the CF days, but I think we will see what many view as “neglect” even more with SIX.

Its odd running the event during weekly ops on the days that are already the busiest. They clearly see it as an additional revenue, not an attendance driver, like it COULD be during early season weekend only ops with minimally more marketing effort. I feel like they run it when they are already busy hoping people that are already there will stumble in and buy wine. They clearly aren’t using it to drive attendance to the park specifically for it unlike Dollywood that uses events (and the marketing of them) to increase awareness and drive attendance.

Was just thinking that. There’s ZERO urgency right now. Dolly might look cheap, but she’s no Wh***. When she says done, it’s done. You can’t even buy Diamond passes for the season anymore. It’s nice to see a compliment HFE with integrity and the solid business to support their decisions.

Yeah, don’t understand that color either.

1) we don’t need additional decor. They don’t put out half of what they already own. Adding stuff means adding time to out it out. Time costs money- therefore stuff just sits backstage. 2) it’s cute how you think having something to advertise, and actually advertising it are interconnected things. They’ve got plenty to advertise that they don’t.

It’s 2025. Yes. There’s a way.

In other news this week HFE completes acquisition Palace Entertainment “This is a landmark moment—not just for Herschend, but for every host, guest, and community we serve,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “To us, this is so much bigger than adding attractions to our portfolio of family brands—growth is about people. It’s about creating a great place to work so our hosts love what they do and can create memories worth repeating for our guests for generations to come.” Quite a different strategy coming out of an acquistion (or merger) isn't it?

I’m a wee bit worried about HFE and all they’ve taken on. I think we will definitely see spin/sell off. They aren’t averse to selling/closing things that aren’t performing (CelebrationCity) They simply can’t afford to loose the reputation on their marquee parks. Just the headlines alone about “Dollywood “owner” buys Kennywood” show that. No story DIDNT mention Dollywood or 3x best theme park winner SDC in favor of HFE. They MUST have the reputation of their key properties to drive the “luster” to their new acquisitions. Plus Dolly alone won’t let the operation of a partner sully the reputation of her namesake in her hometown.

I don’t think HFE would be interested for a while at least. They bitten off a big bite this week and I don’t want them to loose sight of what got them where they they are. Thankfully Dolly still owns half of her park and if they ever got in over their heads and the product suffers, I could seriously see her buying their half out and hiring most of the team to keep running DW. Because FUN wasn’t in much better shape fiscally. The hope is that combined revenue and reduced spend through eliminating redundancy (and piling more on fewer people) they could EEEK out enough additional revenue, eliminate competition and cover most all markets with the new portfolio. I feel like SIX financials were worse than expected and they are having to react quickly to satisfy shareholders who were overpromised results.

Agree to that as well. If they are giving away the gate to cheap pass holders, might as well move through the merch as well. They need $$$.

I think they should be MARKETING THE HELL out of some real, meaningful events with quality entertainment and real food offerings. They’ve got to drive attendance and in-park spending with the existing resources they have. This “cut to the bone” mentality isn’t going to work. Just seeing the lame 50th offerings at KD is an example. I’m seriously considering cutting the trip because it seems so lackluster.

Wish I was there today (at Dollywood) really like Mike. Looked for him the other day (Tuesday) when I was at the park.

Just walked by with my kid. I swear I’ve said nothing to him about it. He looks at the thing with its already puckered AstroTurf and says “why isn’t this in Camp Snoopy over Pig Pen’s tables. It looks like a camping tent.” Ahh out of the mouths of 10 year olds who get it more than those making the calls these days.

its horribly placed. Id say they should fire the person that approved it and the one that designed it, but they probably already did - though not for those reasons.

I honestly don't think they give a sh!% what things look like any more to care enough about things tying together. That thing that they put up has NO relation to anything and looks like the picnic pavillion at a halfway decent suburban neighborhood park.

If you see it in person… it’s worse.

It’s ok for WHAT it is…horrible for WHERE it is. It would look fine on the other side, tucked back behind Shiwpjace- then demo the winterfest leftover food stand and build 4-6 permanent swing food stalls that can be redressed and reset depending on the event. This is just ugly where it is.

Agree - and been saying that. This is a total disconnect in color and flavor.