As Amusement Parks Reopen, Will Americans Ride Rollercoasters in a Pandemic?

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 2, 2020 | Scott Patterson

[C19fan]

At this time of year, Brian Witherow can usually hear the screams of riders on some of the world’s fastest roller coasters from his office in the middle of Cedar Point, a 150-year-old amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Witherow, the chief financial officer of the park’s operator, Cedar Fair LP, says it’s quiet right now in the park, which juts into the southwest corner of Lake Erie. He is at his desk struggling to manage the financial fallout of a monthslong shutdown at the park and others owned by the company across the U.S. “We’ve been as hard-hit as any industry out there,” Mr. Witherow said in an interview. “There’s no middle ground. We’re not a restaurant that can still do carryout. We went from being open to 100% shuttered.”

[C19fan]

Not interested in wearing a mask all day on a summer day.

[G Larry]

Sit in front so the sneezes can’t catch up.

[G Larry]

Sit in front so the sneezes can’t catch up.

[Larry Lucido]

Viruses don't ride roller coasters. Moose out front shoulda told you.

[GnuThere]

I don’t get it myself, but I know people who seem to be addicted to amusement parks.
There’ll be some pent up demand, at least at first.

[Black Agnes]

All the big entertainment companies explicitly support the rioters.

Why give them your money?

[irishjuggler]

Well, we know that they’ll loot a Target or a Nike store in pandemic, so somehow I think that the roller coaster business will do okay.

[madison10]

What pandemic? It seems to have disappeared at the death of Mr. Floyd. It is a miracle!
/sarc

[MCH]

Not until they get rid of the idiotic masks. No point in opening up until then.

[fireman15]

When the Indian casinos opened back up around here, I wondered if their customers would return. Their lots have been full since the first day.

[T-Bird45]

“Not interested in wearing a mask all day on a summer day.“

Silver Dollar City in Branson MO announced that is part of their re-opening plan for 6/13. I have season passes & won’t be using them with that requirement in place. I’ll take a wait & see approach for now while writing to express my displeasure. Another part of the plan includes reservations for admission to the park.

[GnuThere]

I know a compulsive gambler - she definitely went the first day the nearest casino reopened.

[Karma_Sherab]

people who seem to be addicted to amusement parks

my son and I build our own

[minnesota_bound]

There was no pandemic, just flu season.

[wny]

‘reopening’ is fine.....however potential customers fall into one or more of certain categories:

-those concerned about getting sick
-those without jobs and money to spend
-those with jobs that see the economic wreckage and developing depression and think maybe it’s better to save some money instead of spending
-those unwilling to be treated as lepers, behind plastic barriers and being served by someone wearing a hazmat suit

few if any of these people will be part of any reopening

[Phil DiBasquette]

A woke Branson establishment, wow.

Lemme guess, Darius Rucker?

[fireman15]

My wife has a friend whose elderly mother got to the point where she couldn't be left home alone. She started dropping her mom off at “senior day care centers” but her mom kept getting herself kicked out of them by being extremely nasty to the staff and it was very expensive. One morning out of desperation she dropped her mom off at an Indian casino. Her mom loved it there and actually made some friends. It actually cost her less than the day care centers. After a while my wife's friend noticed that she was not the only one doing this.

[bgill]

What a lie. It’s a bit difficult to be “hit hard” when many amusement parks are always closed during the winter.

Last year, Cedar Point’s schedule closed in Sept. and opened May 25.

[fireman15]

few if any of these people will be part of any reopening.

Nice theory, but I would bet that it is completely wrong. My wife and I used to be roller coaster junkies. We used to fly our small plane to California a dozen times a year to visit various amusement parks. Teens and young adults are the primary customers. They are bored out of their minds and they couldn't give a rats behind about corovavirus. These places will fill up as soon as they are opened.