Theme Parks Reopening Post COVID-19

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

14 hours ago, rappa said:

There's a difference between an expectation that your food will be hot, and a sign posted on the front door that says "all food cold today."

Yeah the problem is, the sign posted on the front door was removed and replaced with COVID information, so there's even less ways to find out whats closed before you enter - especially for all those who 'refuse to use a smartphone and can't use the app' *cough* karen *cough*

[themagician]

July 25 Visit Trip Report

Went to MW this morning for my first more extensive visit where I went on a couple rides (because that’s all that was open)

With it being a very rainy day, the park was almost empty. The longest queue was for DC Rivals at 10 minutes. Scooby and JL was a walk on. If a normal amount of rides were open, every ride would have probably been a walk on the whole day. The amount of staff they have on for each attraction and at the entry to stores is great. They are really making sure there aren’t too many people in a store. The trains/seats were being wiped down after every ride. For Scooby, they were wiping them at the exit and again before any boarded. 
 

Here’s a look at how the queue area currently is

The ride itself hasn’t changed that much since last year, things still not working, timing really off. The disco room is still great, but that’s about it.

Access to AA is still open down the alleyway, but it’s a dead end because SE is closed 

 

So in total today, there were 9 rides open. That means that SW almost has more rides operating

[themagician]

At the DW LEGO Store, the pick a brick wall has reopened. You have to go to the service counter to get your buck and gloves, you then go back to the counter, pass them the bucket and put your glove in a bin.

They also have DW merch available for sale

 

[Levithian]

On 13/07/2020 at 8:39 PM, joz said:

I don't know what point you're even trying to make any more. Have a nice time with that 🙂

They are prepared to shit all over their reputation/good will/whatever you want to call it to get another 20c in the share price. Just like they are prepared to shit all over the other private share holders by selling the company off drastically undervalued knowing they (the kirby's and burke) will make money, but just about everyone else will be a hard luck story and blame covid. Money wins vs what is open/closed and if they should have kept the gates shut until they had more to offer. 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Levithian

[ParkPundit]

On 25/07/2020 at 3:00 PM, themagician said:

July 25 Visit Trip Report

Went to MW this morning for my first more extensive visit where I went on a couple rides (because that’s all that was open)

With it being a very rainy day, the park was almost empty. The longest queue was for DC Rivals at 10 minutes. Scooby and JL was a walk on. If a normal amount of rides were open, every ride would have probably been a walk on the whole day. The amount of staff they have on for each attraction and at the entry to stores is great. They are really making sure there aren’t too many people in a store. The trains/seats were being wiped down after every ride. For Scooby, they were wiping them at the exit and again before any boarded. 
 

Here’s a look at how the queue area currently is

The ride itself hasn’t changed that much since last year, things still not working, timing really off. The disco room is still great, but that’s about it.

Access to AA is still open down the alleyway, but it’s a dead end because SE is closed

\

Is there any body that we can give feedback to regarding the current state of SDSC. I see everyone on here, Facebook, etc complaining about the changes and technical errors but it looks as if nothing will ever be done, well at least within the next few years.

[T-bone]

2 hours ago, Levithian said:

They are prepared to shit all over their reputation/good will/whatever you want to call it to get another 20c in the share price. Just like they are prepared to shit all over the other private share holders by selling the company off drastically undervalued knowing they (the kirby's and burke) will make money, but just about everyone else will be a hard luck story and blame covid. Money wins vs what is open/closed and if they should have kept the gates shut until they had more to offer. 

That’s just your opinion, have a good day..

In all honesty, the fact they have 2 major rides open at Movie World,  Sea World with 1 major ride and a WNW with few and far attractions open, it makes you wonder how many of the “all staff who worked with us pre COVID are currently getting all shifts” story that was spun for the media. How true is that? I’ve heard reports of those who were in that category getting shifts cancelled left right and centre... now the media spotlight is not on them...

[aussienetman]

Any idea on how VRTP are managing companion card holders  before I email VRTP? Will they just take my deets at entry?

[Levithian]

On 27/07/2020 at 6:56 PM, T-bone said:

That’s just your opinion, have a good day..

In all honesty, the fact they have 2 major rides open at Movie World,  Sea World with 1 major ride and a WNW with few and far attractions open, it makes you wonder how many of the “all staff who worked with us pre COVID are currently getting all shifts” story that was spun for the media. How true is that? I’ve heard reports of those who were in that category getting shifts cancelled left right and centre... now the media spotlight is not on them...

They werent canceling shifts, they werent offering any at all. They just stayed closed and ran on the bare minimum staff to "keep the lights on", while staff went on job keeper. 

[T-bone]

26 minutes ago, Levithian said:

They werent canceling shifts, they werent offering any at all. They just stayed closed and ran on the bare minimum staff to "keep the lights on", while staff went on job keeper. 

This is referring to what’s happening now and not what occurred when the parks closed. 

[Brad2912]

FWIW, I spoke with a DW employee today who I know through my business, and they’ve been given a tentative reopening date of Sept 18. 

[themagician]

That date is the first day of the school holidays. Hopefully COVID doesn’t escalate in qld again so they can reopen 

[aussienetman]

11 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

FWIW, I spoke with a DW employee today who I know through my business, and they’ve been given a tentative reopening date of Sept 18. 

The exact wording in the email sent to staff said team members will be continued to be stood down from

'1 August until further notice (which we anticipate may be no earlier than 18 September 2020).'

 

 

 

 

[themagician]

Since no one had yet visited/posted about WnW since its reopening, I thought I'd head down to the park and check it out.

Firstly, because of the lack of attractions open and it being cold, there were very few people in the park. About a dozen cars were in the carpark. It seemed like their were more staff on than guests. At 11am there were 6 people in the wave pool and about 6 lifesavers watching said people.

As you would expect, there were social distancing markers throughout the park

Plenty of A frame too

Hand sanitising stations like this one were throughout the open areas of the park, with several attached to walls too.

Seating has been spread out and there are signs asking guests to not move them. Staff were regularly cleaning them too

Plenty of attractions closed too

Currently the only attractions open are the Wave Pool, Whirlpool Springs, Junior, AquaLoop, Constrictor, Aqua Racer and River Rapids. I feel like the park is already running at a lose with the amount of staff on vs guests, so I can understand why so much is closed.

In summary, they're doing everything we expected. Not much is open. No one is visiting the park. And there are a lot of staff on.

[Naazon]

QLD is to shut the border to the rest of NSW and ACT (along with already excluded VIC) from 1am Saturday morning.

 

This will be a blow to Theme Park attendance but a move I'm sure everyone in QLD has seen coming and not a surprise.

[Brad2912]

Good.

Sydney metro residents were already restricted, and I don’t think people travelling from rural nsw were really making up much of the current attendance numbers, especially now the school holidays are over. 

[jjuttp]

Meanwhile on account of not opening amongst other things, Ardent shares hit 30c closing on Monday night. Hasn't been that low since April.

[themagician]

Driving past DW this morning I noticed that all staff are having to park on the eastern side of the carpark (closed part to the highway). Some areas of the carpark have been roped off.

This week the bucket for the Pipeline Plunge has finally returned too

[Brad2912]

Expecting more coaster pieces to arrive?
 

Repainting the carpark lines?

 

Making room for a drive thru covid-testing facility? 

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

28 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

Making room for a drive thru covid-testing facility?

Nah - that's at Movie World.

[auspicious]

35 minutes ago, AlexB said:

Nah - that's at Movie World.

Good one! MW were given approval by the govt to reopen like most businesses in qld and can actually afford to do so unlike their competitors so of course they're now rampant with cases. ZING! 🤣

[T-bone]

I think Alexb is referring to the COVID testing location in the Movie World car park that was present for a long time, not sure if it is still there though. 

[aussienetman]

1 hour ago, T-bone said:

I think Alexb is referring to the COVID testing location in the Movie World car park that was present for a long time, not sure if it is still there though. 

Its in the Outback Spectacular carpark now 

[StingRay]

4 minutes ago, aussienetman said:

Its in the Outback Spectacular carpark now 

That's spectacular.

[themagician]

Wet n Wild will not be open Monday to Wednesday from August 10. From September 17, 7 day operation will return

 

[princesssalexx]

I just heard on the news dreamworld will reopen mid September 🙌