Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Entertainment & Tourism Industry

[Andysol]

We've had to cancel our planned vacation due next week now. They wanted an extra £2000 to move a like for like vacation to next April. Which is bonkers.

What was meant to be a once in a lifetime, out of school holidays so go deluxe type vacation suddenly wasn't.

The extra £2000 was mostly because the DDP was no longer free and lost the free $200 Disney Dollars as well, along with general price increases. To get close to the same price we'd have to downgrade from Wilderness Lodge + Dockside + DDP to Pop + Dockside without DDP.

Sorry, man.
Id cancel for sure and just wait for another promo. They’ll be hurting and wanting your business bad, so capitalize.

That seems almost bizarre, asking for air miles in a situation like that.

That’s all a front line rep at virgin can do. They can’t take 20% off or whatever; they don’t have that luxury. So they can only offer air miles. In fact, I would cancel and ask for air miles as some compensation anyways just to see if you can. Costs nothing to ask. Most front line reps have a cap to offer and it costs them nothing to “make you happy”.

 

[Grabnar]

Theme parks and cruises will eventually come back from this, they're too popular not to even in lieu of a vaccine.

It just struck me though, arcades are 100% dead, right? They've been declining for YEARS but I can't see anyone wanting to risk it just to play Galaga or Stranger Things pinball for a LONG while and there's absolutely no way they have that kind of cash saved up.

Edit: I just checked Dave and Busters' stock price, they went from $46.60 on Feb 21st to $4.87 on March 18th. They're back up to around $11 now, but dang. Looks like investors agree.

 

[SeventyOne]

They charge more now than they did when they ran night parades. While I agree, they should charge less, I'm a cynic, so.....

20% of the year a one-day ticket to MK doesn't include any nighttime entertainment at all because there's a hard close at 6 pm. Those tickets have always been full-price. Pixie Dust is a hell of a drug.

I can't see the AP only deal. They make too much money on out of town tourists between hotels and tickets. AP holders are more likely to be driving to the park and not spending as much money. They need the tourists to open the park.

Agreed. The resorts are the real business. I do think they'll count on APs to show up at re-opening for the optics of "see? there's guests here!" but they'll also be counting on northerners who got Trump checks and didn't need them looking to spend them.

 

[Nick]

Disney Doesn't Anticipate A Closure of More Than 6 Months

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

 

[fryoj]

Wynn has published their plan on how to reopen their resort/Casino including how to do shows. Some of this should be similar to what the parks do.

Wynn Resorts Takes the Lead on Reopening Plans

Wynn Resorts has been hitting all the right notes during the COVID-19 crisis. Now, the company is taking the lead on how to reopen.

vitalvegas.com

 

[Grabnar]

Wynn has published their plan on how to reopen their resort/Casino including how to do shows. Some of this should be similar to what the parks do.

Wynn Resorts Takes the Lead on Reopening Plans

Wynn Resorts has been hitting all the right notes during the COVID-19 crisis. Now, the company is taking the lead on how to reopen.

vitalvegas.com

The comments are a pretty good example of why opening anything public and social is going to be an uphill battle

 

[JungleSkip]

View attachment 12013
The comments are a pretty good example of why opening anything public and social is going to be an uphill battle

I sure hope those people don't show up to places they're required to wear a mask.

 

[Scott W.]

I sure hope those people don't show up to places they're required to wear a mask.

It’s one thing to make it mandatory but it has to be enforced otherwise what’s the point.

edit: On the mask front, there needs to be a serious PSA about correct usage. Last time I went shopping, I seen somebody pull down their mask and pick their nose. When leaving, somebody was wearing gloves and the first thing they did, was start smoking. It staggers belief.

 

[JungleSkip]

It’s one thing to make it mandatory but it has to be enforced otherwise what’s the point.

Oh I agree, and I've said as much in this thread. Places have to have the balls to actually not admit/kick out people not wearing masks

 

[Imperius]

the reason we can’t just reopen things without enforced precautions is because people are idiots. Was at Walmart yesterday and a guy was pushing a cart eating chips and salsa out of it. Even in a non pandemic that’s stupid, but this moron is doing it during one and touching everything on the shelf.

 

[Scott W.]

Oh I agree, and I've said as much in this thread. Places have to have the balls to actually not admit/kick out people not wearing masks

The big problem could be that businesses could be desperate for the custom and be prepared to let things slide if they need the cash.

From a PR point, I’d be more willing to go to a place that stands by its rules.

 

[JungleSkip]

From a PR point, I’d be more willing to go to a place that stands by its rules.

Agreed. If I saw the parks enforcing rules strictly, I'd be way more inclined to visit in 2021

 

[Nick]

Agreed. If I saw the parks enforcing rules strictly, I'd be way more inclined to visit in 2021

It'll be very hard for the parks to enforce, though. Once people are through the gates, it's a free for all. Team Members will likely be encouraged to tell people to follow park guidelines, but if people don't listen, it's not like the TMs can do anything.

 

[JungleSkip]

It'll be very hard for the parks to enforce, though. Once people are through the gates, it's a free for all. Team Members will likely be encouraged to tell people to follow park guidelines, but if people don't listen, it's not like the TMs can do anything.

Employ more security who can do something

 

[Nick]

Employ more security who can do something

I hate to tell you, but theme park security can't do anything. Like, they aren't even allowed to touch a guest. The only thing they can do is intimidate people and if it gets to it, call the police. The police are the only ones with any actual authority at the parks. HHN would burn without them.

Now can security threaten to kick you out of the park for not wearing a mask? Maybe. But will they? I'd bet my life they won't. Security is the laziest division within the parks that loves to pretend like tough guys every now and then.

 

[Scott W.]

I hate to tell you, but theme park security can't do anything. Like, they aren't even allowed to touch a guest. The only thing they can do is intimidate people and if it gets to it, call the police. The police are the only ones with any actual authority at the parks. HHN would burn without them.

Now can security threaten to kick you out of the park for not wearing a mask? Yes. But will they? I'd bet my life they won't.

I've heard stories about people smoking in Disney after the ban and security politely asking them to stop but not being able to do anything. I think the public will be more inclined to self regulate. If the parks make a solid point about enforcing the rules, the loss of income could be recouped by the people more likely to visit.

I don't see why security can't do more but then again, if somebody is so easily prepared to break the rules, would you want to try and physically remove them and put yourself at risk?

On a different note:

Coronavirus: Branson offers Caribbean island to secure Virgin bailout

Sir Richard Branson pledges Necker Island as collateral to help get a UK government bailout for Virgin Atlantic.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Nick]

I've heard stories about people smoking in Disney after the ban and security politely asking them to stop but not being able to do anything. I think the public will be more inclined to self regulate. If the parks make a solid point about enforcing the rules, the loss of income could be recouped by the people more likely to visit.

I don't see why security can't do more but then again, if somebody is so easily prepared to break the rules, would you want to try and physically remove them and put yourself at risk?

On a different note:

Coronavirus: Branson offers Caribbean island to secure Virgin bailout

Sir Richard Branson pledges Necker Island as collateral to help get a UK government bailout for Virgin Atlantic.

www.bbc.co.uk

Yeah, people still smoke inside Disney parks all the time.

 

[JungleSkip]

Yeah, people still smoke inside Disney parks all the time.

The difference is a few people smoking in the parks aren't going to tank their business.

A super spreader event because people didn't follow the rules will.

 

[Nick]

The difference is a few people smoking in the parks aren't going to tank their business.

A super spreader event because people didn't follow the rules will.

A super spreader is not really all that possible to stop. It's impossible to keep tabs on everyone who walks into the park while they're in and say you have a day with 10,000 people in the park, which is probably being generous at the start of operations. If even 1% of those are going around undetected willy nilly mask on and mask off, then you have about 100 people or so acting as super spreaders (and the people who don't properly use a mask are just as dangerous - it could get on their hands, they touch a railing, then who knows how many others get it, etc). And don't think all TMs are going to be super hygenic. Sure, on stage they'll be required to, but backstage? Backstage is when they'll want to rip that mask right off. I could easily see the virus running through TMs pretty fast.

 

[JungleSkip]

A supper spreader is not really all that possible to stop. It's impossible to keep tabs on everyone who walks into the park while they're in and say you have a day with 10,000 people in the park, which is probably being generous at the start of operations. If even 1% of those are going around undetected willy nilly mask on and mask off, then you have about 100 people or so acting as super spreaders (and the people who don't properly use a mask are just as dangerous - it could get on their hands, they touch a railing, then who knows how many others get it, etc). And don't think all TMs are going to be super hygenic. Sure, on stage they'll be required to, but backstage? Backstage is when they'll want to rip that mask right off. I could easily see the virus running through TMs pretty fast.

I mean if that's the case there's absolutely no way to open the parks. Without making sure people adhere to new rules to enhance safety, these parks are not going to survive being open.