Coronavirus Impacting Theme Parks

[PatchesC]

6 minutes ago, chibul said:

Do we know for sure CF will even have virtual queues?

None of it is for sure until they announce it. Virtual was mentioned only as a possibility for popular rides.

[SnakePlissken]

1 hour ago, disco2000 said:

Get ready for the complaints to pour in from people that bought the season long FL if they are not available this year (although they were extended into next year to keep them "whole")

I can already see people saying they will not go to the park if their FL pass isn't available...

Parks have been put into an almost impossible situation this year - no matter what they do, a good chunk of their base is going to be ticked with whatever requirements the park develops to open. 

We have people saying the will not go if they do not make masks a requirement, and others are saying they will not go if they make masks a requirement, as well as those that have implied they plan to do whatever they want once inside the park as they will not enforce whatever policy they have, and those that will not attend because they do not believe the park will enforce their own rules...

At the end of the day, there will still be a big enough demand from whichever group that plans to visit the park to make it worth the parks investment to open...

I would be ok with the no fastlane this year mostly. I bought Fanelane all season for the whole chain last summer for the 2020 season. Only issue I have is the fact that I paid 850 last August in order to get more rides on Orion. To me that fastlane all season all chain or even just Kings Island Fast Lane is worth much less for a year 2 ride. I would say the pass is worth a premium when a ride is brand new and less each following year without one. So in theory if one thinks that way then there should be a bit of a refund for people who bought it for 2020 and do not get to use it in 2020 and a bit more for the fact that the park gets to use your money for almost 18 months with no return or value given to the customer who bought it. I'm still going either way and with or without a mask requirement. I'm gonna go get my fix. I also don't expect the park to add value or perks or give some dollars back if the fastlane can not be used in 2020.

[PatchesC]

3 minutes ago, SnakePlissken said:

I would be ok with the no fastlane this year mostly. I bought Fanelane all season for the whole chain last summer for the 2020 season. Only issue I have is the fact that I paid 850 last August in order to get more rides on Orion. To me that fastlane all season all chain or even just Kings Island Fast Lane is worth much less for a year 2 ride. I would say the pass is worth a premium when a ride is brand new and less each following year without one. So in theory if one thinks that way then there should be a bit of a refund for people who bought it for 2020 and do not get to use it in 2020 and a bit more for the fact that the park gets to use your money for almost 18 months with no return or value given to the customer who bought it. I'm still going either way and with or without a mask requirement. I'm gonna go get my fix. I also don't expect the park to add value or perks or give some dollars back if the fastlane can not be used in 2020.

I have a rolling vacation request in for work, pretty much when KI announces a date supervisor expects me to be off the first 3 operating days unless I can't get a reservation 

[King Ding Dong]

I would think the park would give priority for reservations to Passholders initially before selling daily tickets as some other parks have done.  Consecutive Day reservations might be an issue, hopefully not, but I could see it.  

[standbyme]

3 hours ago, PatchesC said:

Virtual was mentioned only as a possibility for popular rides.

Darn...if The Crypt were still around I’d have an easy joke. 

[disco2000]

9 hours ago, Benjamin22 said:

As per the whole mask debate yesterday, if they aren’t going to require masks then I probably won’t go to the park. It’s a simple but effective safety measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19, I’d be disappointed if they didn’t require masks.

Things can change, but according to this article, masks will be required both for patrons and employees and both Cedar Fair parks will open with a reduced number of guests. 

Another article posted a few pages back in this thread indicated that attendance would be capped initially at 20%, so that would be an attendance of roughly 13,000 to 15,000.  According to posts on this thread, typical weekday is 23,000-29,000 guests, so this reduced capacity of 13,000-15,000 guests would be approaching half of say a typical Wednesday crowd.

https://sanduskyregister.com/news/249128/dewine-husted-impressed-by-cedar-points-reopening-plan/

[chibul]

I guess my question will be how strict is the mask policy? Will it be required just for queues or indoors? Or do they expect people to walk through the entire park with masks on at all times?

Hopefully their policy when stated will be clear, as it'll decide where my dollars go this summer.

[Shawn Meyer]

11 hours ago, coaster sally said:

What do you think?

I hate to be that guy, but I'm just not sure. I'm a little slow I guess. 

[disco2000]

This should be an interesting hearing on Monday....

https://www.fox19.com/2020/06/06/hearing-monday-ohio-water-parks-lawsuit-reopen/

[BeeastFarmer]

So  I haven't been posting much lately.  Glad to see everybody is still nitpicking masks.  I hope there are not confrontations at the park with people being cussed out and punched by N95 wearing bearded men who also have a bandana on for good measure.

[IceePirate]

I'm more worried about the safety of employees who have to police these requirements. People be crazy

[bjcolglazier]

42 minutes ago, IceePirate said:

I'm more worried about the safety of employees who have to police these requirements. People be crazy

There's literally no social distancing in many big cities right now. People outside huddling, and there are thousands of them. Some have masks on, many do not. And some of you want 16-year-old kids to enforce the rules at Kings Island?  Just no. Open the park, eliminate covid restrictions, and let people decide if they want to go, or not. No Karen's allowed.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

As an employee, I'm worried about enforcing those rules. Especially with how some people can be when told to follow rules. Tbh idk if I see the mask requirement lasting more than this season. I could actually see it not be too bad for the first few weeks of opening, but once we get later in the season, people may start getting tired of the mask policy and start taking them off anyway. 

[bjcolglazier]

10 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

As an employee, I'm worried about enforcing those rules.

You shouldn't have to.

[disco2000]

8 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

As an employee, I'm worried about enforcing those rules. Especially with how some people can be when told to follow rules. Tbh idk if I see the mask requirement lasting more than this season. I could actually see it not be too bad for the first few weeks of opening, but once we get later in the season, people may start getting tired of the mask policy and start taking them off anyway. 

It is sad that people refuse to follow whatever established rules they agreed to follow by entering the park that puts employees in this situation to have to enforce the rules! 

If people think the rules don't apply to them, then build their own park and make their own rules

[FUN&ONLY!]

I think having no restrictions whatsoever is more likely to scare off guests than having at least some restrictions. I have faith that Kings Island will be able to please those worried about their health while not completing ruining the experience for others. I am sure even if you have to wear a mask, you will have plenty of opportunities to take it off like when you are in certain areas, when you are eating, or when you are riding rides.

[IceePirate]

1 minute ago, disco2000 said:

It is sad that people refuse to follow whatever established rules they agreed to follow by entering the park that puts employees in this situation to have to enforce the rules! 

If people think the rules don't apply to them, then build their own park and make their own rules

That doesn't detract from the point, people get violent when they're told they can't do something like smoking or something. I can only imagine not being able to be let in a ride or be ejected from say festhaus when not wearing a mask

[FUN&ONLY!]

4 minutes ago, IceePirate said:

That doesn't detract from the point, people get violent when they're told they can't do something like smoking or something. I can only imagine not being able to be let in a ride or be ejected from say festhaus when not wearing a mask

They will probably just politely remind guests who are not wearing masks to put them on. If guests refuse to listen to employees’ orders and turn violent, then they are asking to be escorted out of the park.

Also, masks will likely not be required in the Festhaus for guests because you cannot eat with a mask on. Most likely, only employees serving food will be required to wear masks and some of the big tables will be closed off.

[King Ding Dong]

22 minutes ago, bjcolglazier said:

And some of you want 16-year-old kids to enforce the rules at Kings Island? 

At what age should employees enforce rules?   

[bjcolglazier]

3 minutes ago, King Ding Dong said:

At what age should employees enforce rules?   

Ask the NYPD RIGHT NOW...then get back to me. You're really annoying btw.

[KI FANATIC 37]

12 minutes ago, King Ding Dong said:

At what age should employees enforce rules?   

See although I disagree with the mask rule, I feel that if you are an employee for the park, who is requiring people to wear coverage, then all employees of all ages should be required to enforce that rule.

 

I can see some difficult individuals causing problems. It will be difficult regardless to be honest. Also, masks that people will be wearing will not stop the spread. It will be very "half assed" and almost required just in order to check off a box. That is the problem I have with a lot of these rules. Masks are helpful to an extent, but when you are at an amusement park, you are gonna be in connect with A LOT of people and objects.

[disco2000]

3 minutes ago, IceePirate said:

That doesn't detract from the point, people get violent when they're told they can't do something like smoking or something. I can only imagine not being able to be let in a ride or be ejected from say festhaus when not wearing a mask

I agree!  What a sad society commentary when someone is smoking in line and anyone (whether it be another guest, employee, or security) kindly reminds/informs them there is no smoking in line and they go off and say they will smoke wherever they please.  I have seen altercations over this.

No joke - last year at CP a dude was smoking a cigarette in the queue line at Magnum and was next to get on the ride and was literally blowing his smoke into the employee's face standing there and NOT A THING was said to the guest...I pointed it out to a super and they shrugged their shoulders.  It comes down to training.  And training probably is more safety oriented than park policy oriented.  And management willing to stand behind and empower and reward employees for doing their job.

Maybe it is their job to enforce it or maybe it is their job to inform the guest and call security for non-compliance, but most people do not like confrontation, especially a young teenager wanting to work in rides.  Again there are exceptions and we have ride-ops on this forum that do a great job, but I have witnessed smoking in station and when reported to a ride op, they simply shrug their shoulders.

I have also seen ride-ops from this forum going above and beyond and be walking to/from break and stop a guest to inform them about the smoking policy.  Or even better, they are a guest in the park and bring it to the guests attention!  But I have also seen security walk right past someone smoking and it was obvious they were smoking and do nothing or a guest points it out to them and nothing...enforcement is inconsistent at best.

Security at KI can or will only do so much.  Rarely have I seen them actually throw someone out of the park.  If Diamondback calls for security because someone had their phone out, it usually follows the route of the security person tells them of the policy and they go about the rest of their day.  If the guest gets unruly, that is when they may get tossed.  Again always exceptions and your experience may vary, but that has been mine...
 

[King Ding Dong]

4 minutes ago, bjcolglazier said:

Ask the NYPD RIGHT NOW...then get back to me. You're really annoying btw.

Well I don’t think the NYPD is interested in answering my questions on employee responsibilities at Kings Island.  But you could answer the question.
 

[Pagoda Gift Shop]

Security is likely to be greatly increased.  I'm hoping employees working rides, food, or shops will not need to be the ones left to enforce any of the new rules.  If a group of guests have all removed their masks, I'm hoping the instructions to an employee will be to alert security and let them handle it.

Consider also that to get in the park there are likely to be temperature checks.  If someone has a temp over 100.4 degrees, they are going to be denied access to the park.  That is going to potentially cause problems when it happens to one person in a family or group.  Security will need to be there.

Social distancing will be expected when waiting in any line.  There are likely to be markers on the ground.  Will everyone follow this as expected?  Security will need to be monitoring this to avoid any problems. 

This is all about feeling safe.  If people don't feel safe going to the park, it is going to translate into negative publicity.

 

[IceePirate]

5 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

I have also seen ride-ops from this forum going above and beyond and be walking to/from break and stop a guest to inform them about the smoking policy.

I used to do this back when I worked in food for the park. Trouble is that the only enforcement measure is to call security and by the time they get there (2-3 minutes) the guest is long gone. Plus even if security would be there, they wouldn't do much except inform the guest of the policy.

[CheetahDrew]

33 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

As an employee, I'm worried about enforcing those rules. Especially with how some people can be when told to follow rules. Tbh idk if I see the mask requirement lasting more than this season. I could actually see it not be too bad for the first few weeks of opening, but once we get later in the season, people may start getting tired of the mask policy and start taking them off anyway. 

Agreed being Security in the park I am likely to be on high alert I have to be careful about what I can and cannot say in an public forum, however I do know that people who do not follow the rules will be dealt with. I am worried about people getting aggressive over the mask thing, because It is a divided subject hopefully like you say it isn’t horrible but I am worried that information won’t be spread and people will be ill informed and then we have to clean up the mess left behind. 

[disco2000]

9 minutes ago, Pagoda Gift Shop said:

Consider also that to get in the park there are likely to be temperature checks.  If someone has a temp over 100.4 degrees, they are going to be denied access to the park.  That is going to potentially cause problems when it happens to one person in a family or group.  Security will need to be there.

 

And on a hot day, someone drives 30 minutes or more to the park in a car without working AC, has to park far away, is out of shape, and has a temporary elevated temperature hoofing it to the entrance gate since there are no trams will not make for a good scene either...

[bjcolglazier]

1 minute ago, King Ding Dong said:

Well I don’t think the NYPD is interested in answering my questions on employee responsibilities at Kings Island.  But you could answer the question.
 

I think if NYPD cannot enforce governor Cuomo's rules on social distancing and masks it's asking too much of Kings Island employees. That's all. Typically we see what I call children working the rides and lines at the park. And lots of adults in the park. It's just asking for confrontation that is not necessary and will end bad. People who are freaks about masks and Covid-19 would be better served to stay home. And I think most of us WILL follow the rules. But some won't, and they don't need to be hauled out for not wearing a face covering.

[King Ding Dong]

So can I just decline to fasten my seat belt on The Beast because it is just another unnecessary safety measure I don’t happen to agree with? 

[Stoan]

I got a feeling a lot of security's job this year is going to be escorting people from the park for not wearing masks. Maybe it will cut down on all the smoking people do in line too!

 

I am excited and hesitant about going this year. Kids are big enough to get some new rides, they are happy to wear masks and ask to clean hands after touching a lot. My 4 year old loves calling people out for not having a mask on, which I find hilarious.