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Coronavirus: Impact on Theme Parks

After trying all day yesterday, I finally managed to get a ticket for Chester Zoo’s reopening day, this coming Monday. I’m really looking forward to seeing the new changes that the zoo has implemented and whether indoor enclosures will be open too... (I think they should be, if shops can open from Monday too)
 
JammyH said:
With parc asterix reopening on monday, has Disneyland Paris announced an opening date yet?
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Does DP fall inside the last red zone? The Paris region is the last red zone where things will be reopening slower... Not sure if DP is inside that boundary or not.
 
JammyH said:
With parc asterix reopening on monday, has Disneyland Paris announced an opening date yet?
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I'm surprised there hasn't been any official announcement yet, hopefully there is one soon, but bookings have been cancelled to (and including) 14th July.
So assuming then that it will open July 15th earliest, which seems a bit silly if that is the case since it's a day after Bastille day.
It would coincide with the re-opening of the Florida parks however.

But won't surprise me if it gets pushed till end of July / early August. It must be a big undertaking getting the entire Disney Paris "machine" going again along with any new measures that are probably been fitted at the moment (screens, signs and stickers etc) and related training / testing.
Opening Early August would still capture most of the school holiday time in France and surrounding countries I would have thought.
 
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Just booked tickets for ZSL whipsnade zoo for next week. They say you need to bring a face mask as they will be compulsory in some areas, I am intrigued to find out which areas these are as I believe the indoor sections are closed to start off with. Perhaps through the entrance turnstiles?
 
JammyH said:
Just booked tickets for ZSL whipsnade zoo for next week. They say you need to bring a face mask as they will be compulsory in some areas, I am intrigued to find out which areas these are as I believe the indoor sections are closed to start off with. Perhaps through the entrance turnstiles?
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Never been to that zoo. More than an hour wait online just to get tickets. ?

Got tickets for going back to Twycross next weekend. Noticed first few days are sold out and other timeslots filling up.
Great to see that level of support and interest for the zoos.
 
AndrewRollercoaster said:
Never been to that zoo. More than an hour wait online just to get tickets. ?

Got tickets for going back to Twycross next weekend. Noticed first few days are sold out and other timeslots filling up.
Great to see that level of support and interest for the zoos.
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I’ve never been before either, it’s my first time and looking forward to it.

Hope you have a great time at twycross!
 
JammyH said:
I’ve never been before either, it’s my first time and looking forward to it.

Hope you have a great time at twycross!
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Thanks! Have a good time exploring Whipsnade zoo. :)


There may be an item on BBC News about the measurements adopted by Blackpool Pleasure Beach according to one of the employees.
I quickly secured the hotel room for myself and my girlfriend for July 4th before it comes on!

Edit: Apparently the BPB item will be on BBC news next week sometime, it was definitely filmed already.
 
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So apparently FCO have changed the advice to say if you are abroad you are no longer strongly advised to return home “immediately”.

Apparently they are expected to change the advice on non essential travel in the near future, saying that non essential travel from low risk countries is no longer “strongly advised against”.

This means air bridges could be in place pretty soon or the quarantine scrapped for EU travel altogether.
 
JammyH said:
So apparently FCO have changed the advice to say if you are abroad you are no longer strongly advised to return home “immediately”.

Apparently they are expected to change the advice on non essential travel in the near future, saying that non essential travel from low risk countries is no longer “strongly advised against”.

This means air bridges could be in place pretty soon or the quarantine scrapped for EU travel altogether.
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The government have the PERFECT opportunity to relax the quarantine this weekend... The majority of the EU is doing the same, with the commission recommending yesterday that the entire bloc opens internal borders from Monday. This is their best opportunity to make that U-Turn that they seem to want, and need, to make without losing too much face... Acting alongside the rest of the EU... Doubt it though, makes far too much sense ??
 
www.dailymail.co.uk

London braces for chaos as hooligans threaten clashes with BLM

Police chiefs imposed the 5pm curfew in a bid to quell the unrest seen throughout the day as the anti-racist rally and a pro-statue counter-protest descended into hooliganism in London.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

Well... Didn’t see that coming ??

Nicky Borrill said:
Also, on the protests... I’m posting this here as we don’t seem to have a thread, and all previous discussion has been in here...

This is going to get VERY messy...

https://www.facebook.com/315523365835705/posts/594341777953861

Can you imagine it? A bunch of casuals working WITH the police ??
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Border update from today!

www.euronews.com

Which European countries have COVID-19 border restrictions in place?

Here's what we currently know, country-by-country.
www.euronews.com www.euronews.com

3EC796B7-D68B-4DC4-9384-AF60A923ADA3.png

Spain will now open its borders to the UK on 22nd June. As of today, most places in the EU now have free, unrestricted travel and without quarantine on arrival.

As discussed before, I can’t see the quarantine in the UK lasting much longer from EU countries when all the internal blocks have just reopened today.
 
If the “huge queues outside Primark” today are anything to go by, then the UK parks will have no issue attracting crowds: https://apple.news/Axkw_X4ECQWiBWUmdgVYyGw

Given that shopping can be done online, whereas theme parking can’t, I’d wager that parks could be popular once lockdown is lifted! Well, as popular as they can be on reduced capacity, at least...
 
Don't think it's been mentioned here, but Hansa Park will finally open on the 30th:

www.hansapark.de

HANSA-PARK - Deutschlands einziger Erlebnispark am Meer

Erleben Sie Deutschlands einzigen Erlebnispark am Meer
www.hansapark.de

The information is only in German as of yet, but it seems like:
  • Online booking required. Season pass holders must also book in advance.
  • Parking tickets must also be booked in advance, then loaded onto the smartphone app.
  • Season passes bought before June 29th will be valid in 2021 as well.
  • Masks required for all guests age six and up in indoor areas (including ride queues), rides, restaurants and shops.
  • Distance markers on floors and railings.
  • Single rider queues closed.
  • Activities such as the bounce mats, the high ropes course, and other play areas will be closed.
  • No parades.
  • Some restaurants, particularly self-service buffets and similar options, will be closed.
  • 1.5m distancing required. Repeated violations may result in eviction from the park without reimbursement.
 
Matt N said:
If the “huge queues outside Primark” today are anything to go by, then the UK parks will have no issue attracting crowds:
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I'm sure you're right, people are desperate to get out there and do something. Sadly the the kind of people that want to queue to get into Primark are probably the same kind of people that will descend on the theme parks and struggle to maintain social distancing. Exactly the kind of people I don't want to be in close proximity to! ?

Much as I might like to, I can't see myself visiting any parks until 2-3 months after reopening. Need to see the impact on the R rate of relaxing the lockdown restrictions first, and quite frankly no UK parks are worth the risk to me.
 
PortAventura World is now set to reopen its doors on the 8th July. The following measures required for guests are outlined below:

-Our security services will perform temperature checks on visitors upon arrival at the resort using thermal imaging and a laser thermometer. Any person with a temperature above 37.5ºC will not be able to access the resort facilities. In the case of hotels, companions and caregivers will also be refused access.

-Maintain a safe distance of at least 1’5 metres away from other groups of visitors.

-Comply with the requirements of hand washing and the use of hydroalcoholic available at special points before entering certain areas of the park, attractions, shops, or other facilities.

-Comply with the mandatory use of face masks throughout the resort. Visitors over 6 years old must wear a mask. This obligation will be understood as fulfilled through the use of any type of mask, preferably hygienic or surgical, that covers the nose and mouth.

-Visitor numbers have been reduced for reasons of crowd control and maintenance of the minimum safe distance. Also, it is possible that certain areas of the park or specific facilities may be subject to reduced capacity for the same reasons.

-The normal operation of certain attractions may be temporarily limited or altered due to the restrictions derived from the preventive measures implemented. In addition, all shows scheduled for the summer season have been cancelled.

-Tickets will only be valid for entry on a predetermined date. All entry tickets and annual passes purchased prior to this restriction it will be necessary to book the day of the visit in advance.

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Given Portaventura is notorious for overcrowding and queue jumping, I'm not sure how well the whole 1.5m distancing is going to go down. Also, their already incredibly slow operations will be made even slower. I wonder whether the express pass system will be in operation or not.
 
JammyH said:
PortAventura World is now set to reopen its doors on the 8th July. The following measures required for guests are outlined below:

-Our security services will perform temperature checks on visitors upon arrival at the resort using thermal imaging and a laser thermometer. Any person with a temperature above 37.5ºC will not be able to access the resort facilities. In the case of hotels, companions and caregivers will also be refused access.

-Maintain a safe distance of at least 1’5 metres away from other groups of visitors.

-Comply with the requirements of hand washing and the use of hydroalcoholic available at special points before entering certain areas of the park, attractions, shops, or other facilities.

-Comply with the mandatory use of face masks throughout the resort. Visitors over 6 years old must wear a mask. This obligation will be understood as fulfilled through the use of any type of mask, preferably hygienic or surgical, that covers the nose and mouth.

-Visitor numbers have been reduced for reasons of crowd control and maintenance of the minimum safe distance. Also, it is possible that certain areas of the park or specific facilities may be subject to reduced capacity for the same reasons.

-The normal operation of certain attractions may be temporarily limited or altered due to the restrictions derived from the preventive measures implemented. In addition, all shows scheduled for the summer season have been cancelled.

-Tickets will only be valid for entry on a predetermined date. All entry tickets and annual passes purchased prior to this restriction it will be necessary to book the day of the visit in advance.

-----

Given Portaventura is notorious for overcrowding and queue jumping, I'm not sure how well the whole 1.5m distancing is going to go down. Also, their already incredibly slow operations will be made even slower. I wonder whether the express pass system will be in operation or not.
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I am sure they will make the most of this covid situation to grab as much money as they can from Express passes or else.

My advice: don't risk coming. Not this year.
 
Hong Kong Disneyland is opening on Thursday. Online reservations etc.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 using Tapatalk
 
The animal attraction Living Coasts in Torquay has announced that it won't be re-opening.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1272469548558618624

The park is a small, specialist collection of coastal species situated right on the seafront in Torbay managed in conjunction with Paignton and Newquay Zoos under the Wild Planet Trust umbrella. I'm assuming they had to ditch the smallest attraction to keep the others afloat. There are also rumours there are large structural costs to deal with due to the seafront location as well as the pandemic but it is clear that that hasn't helped.

First victim in the attraction sector if M&D's manages to re-open I assume.
 
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Just a quick note, West Midland Safari Park was AMAZING, I can’t believe I’ve never been and always opted for the closer Twycross, getting up close and face to face is SPECIAL... I even got kissed (licked) by a zebra!!!

Will do a small trip report, probably tomorrow night, but I have to go get ready for an early morning ferry to France / Germany ?????

I’ll keep posting small updates on the Germany trip in here, as I know some of you have a finger on the trigger so to speak, and I’ve a feeling prices are days / weeks from rocketing!!! So if things go to plan, (or they don’t!) I’m sure some would like to know.
 
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