If you’re reading this post, chances are that you follow Coaster101 for our more “traditional” content — news, views, reviews, interviews, corkscrews – lots of words that end in “-ews.” This post is going to be a little different. But bear with me.
The current global pandemic that we, as a collective society, are facing due to the emergence of COVID-19 is everything that the news says it is. Unprecedented. Surreal. Unique. Our daily lives have been affected in a way that will not soon be forgotten. Things many have taken for granted, like eating dinner in a restaurant, getting a haircut in a barber shop, working out in a gym, or even having readily available toilet paper, are not currently things that we can experience.
As you’re probably aware, the amusement industry hasn’t been spared by these orders to “shelter in place” and “stay home.” United States theme parks that typically operate year-round have been closed for the better part of the last month. Unfortunately, it looks as if to remain that way for the near future. Universal notes their U.S. parks are currently closed until May 31. Disney Parks are closed until further notice.
At regional parks around North America that operate on a “seasonal” schedule, the midways, typically filled with joyful park guests by this time in the calendar, remain silent, and like their “12-month” counterparts, the end date for the regional parks’ closure isn’t quite visible yet.
With this uncertainty in mind, parks have adapted to the current climate when it comes to their respective pass-holders. Six Flags, SeaWorld, Disney and Universal parks have all announced plans to add additional operating dates for each day that their parks are closed. Six Flags has added extra pass benefits to their members. Yesterday, all Cedar Fair parks extended the benefits of a 2020 season pass to include the entire 2021 season. Hersheypark and Kennywood have extended their 2020 season passes through June 2021.
I know this take will come across as a controversial idea, especially in these times of uncertainty, but here’s a thought. If you have the financial means, you should purchase a season pass to your local park. If you already have purchased your season pass for 2020, consider an add-on like all-season dining or an all-season drink package.
And you should do it now.
Yes. We know. It’s the middle of a global pandemic. Parks are closed. People don’t have a lot of discretionary income right now because unemployment numbers are skyrocketing. No one can travel right now. Trust me. We get it.
But bottom line, now more than ever, amusement parks need our help. For years, your local park has given you countless memories and probably been there at least once for you when you needed them to be. It’s now time for you to be there for them. By purchasing a season pass, your local park will receive a short-term/immediate benefit, while in the long-run, you, the consumer, will reap the benefits.
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment have furloughed 90% of their workforce. Disney and Universal are beginning to furlough thousands of hourly workers later this month. When the switch flips, and suddenly, the world is allowed to go out and play, it’s not going to be an immediate “gates open” at theme parks. Employees will need to be re-hired. On-the-job training will need to be completed. Final opening preparations will still need to be completed. New-for-2020 attractions that have been halted by “non-essential” construction delays will need to be finished.
The “all clear” isn’t an immediate fix to the problem. Even when it is issued, there will be hundreds of thousands of people who are hesitant to just jump right back in and resume a “normal” life, and large public gatherings or visiting places like theme parks will not happen right away. Park capacities will likely be reduced. Certain shows and attractions will have to be reconsidered for space considerations and social distancing measures in a “new” normal. Analysts are saying that Disney Parks, the world’s most visited theme park chain, will take up to two years to get back to “normal.” While the rest of the industry typically “follows” Disney’s lead, it could take the smaller regional parks even longer to finally recover.
Each day that the parks are closed is a loss of revenue, which the park needs, not only operationally, but for park improvements or expenditures as well. The reason that parks are continually getting new attractions and experiences every year? Because guests visit the parks and spend money, which make capital expenditures “worth” a park’s time. On behalf of its member parks, IAAPA is advocating for a portion of a proposed $250 billion Travel Workforce Stabilization Fund, but that is for the travel and hospitality industry as a whole, including cruise ships, hotels, and airlines. It remains to be seen that if, and it’s a big if at this point, this “bailout” occurs, how much, if anything, the theme park industry will see of the stimulus money. When you divide that hypothetical piece of the pie into smaller pieces of the pie for each affected park, the financial backing isn’t going to be a savior for all.
Multi-billion-dollar corporations like Disney and Universal will more than likely be fine in the long run. The larger chains, like Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and SeaWorld Parks, will probably be okay, though their overall value has taken a financial beating on the stock market in the past few weeks. Smaller corporate and family-owned parks, without the backing of a large conglomerate, could be in jeopardy. This isn’t meant to fear-monger, but we’ve already seen two smaller parks shuttered this season (pre-COVID), and their former parent company, owner and operator of multiple water parks and family entertainment centers, file for bankruptcy. As fans of the industry, I believe we can speak for a lot of people when we say that we do not want to see more parks close.
This is why that all of us, as supporters of theme parks, roller coasters, and the amusement industry as a whole, have to act now. If you’ve been holding off on that season pass or all-season add on, and have the financial means to do so, we’re suggesting that you buy it now, and effectively pay it forward for your home park. You’ll be supporting a business that is facing levels of uncertainty that have never been seen before. You’ll be supporting the part-time and full-time workers who make your experience at an amusement park memorable. Every small purchase will add up, which in the long run, will be beneficial for not only your local home park, but the industry as a whole.
The parks will eventually emerge from this pandemic, and will be there, ready for you to visit them again. We just need to be there for them until that finally happens.
Recent Discussion