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I received an email from Knott's today asking Californians to help reopen the parks by messaging the governor. It took me only a couple of minutes to copy and paste some stuff, so it is super easy, and please try to help out too. https://reopencaamusementparks.com/ "California Parks Are Ready to Reopen Responsibly California Attractions and Parks Association is the only statewide association that represents the permanent amusement park industry. The association was incorporated in 2003 and opened offices in Sacramento in February 2004. CAPA serves as the voice of the attractions and amusement industry, working closely with legislators and regulators on issues of regulation, tourism, and ride safety. CAPA is also the industry's information source, providing updates on ride inspections, reporting requirements, and legislation that has the potential to impact our industry. Sign the letter and let Governor Gavin Newson know that California parks are ready to reopen responsibly. "

^ Ever since visiting Rainbow Magicland in Italy I've wondered why more places aren't investing in huge solar panel farms for their parking lots, ESPECIALLY here in Vegas. We have so many uncovered lots that result in your car baking at 150 degrees. Throw up some coverage, stick some panels on there, rake in the free electricity and happy customers.

Man... if not for covid they would have totally been on track for that July opening. The park looks done... Link

Disney has officially announced that Disneyland Paris will be getting one of Europe's largest solar panel installations, with the first phase to be completed in 2021! https://disneylandparis-news.com/en/one-of-the-largest-european-solar-canopy-plants-coming-to-disneyland-paris/ ONE OF THE LARGEST EUROPEAN SOLAR CANOPY PLANTS COMING TO DISNEYLAND PARIS Ambitious solar energy initiative will reduce Val d’Europe local territory emissions of CO2 by 750 tons per year, marking a new milestone in Disneyland Paris’ environmental commitment. On World Energy Day, Disneyland Paris announced the phased development of one of the largest solar canopy plants in Europe – together through a co-investment with French company Urbasolar – as part of a continued commitment to environmental stewardship. Located at the resort’s main guest parking lot, the project will contribute to the reduction of Val d’Europe local territory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximatively 750 tons of CO2 per year* while providing additional guest enhancements, including shade and shelter from direct sunlight, rain or snow. Construction began in July and is expected to be completed in 2023, with a first milestone for the first phase in spring 2021. “Environmental innovation and stewardship are a tradition that began with Walt Disney himself, and this ambitious solar power project is the latest in our commitment to the environment at Disneyland Paris,” said Natacha Rafalski, President of Disneyland Paris. “It is our responsibility as a business and leading tourist destination to contribute to the long-term sustainability of our resort and the region through environmentally responsible practices.” The solar power plant at Disneyland Paris is in collaboration with French company Urbasolar through a co-investment and will encompass 17 hectares (42 acres) of solar canopies, using 67,500 solar panels for a production of 31 gigawatt-hours per year (GWh/year). While this is not only allocated to the resort, it is technically enough renewable clean energy to account for about 17% of the resort’s current electricity consumption and equivalent to the annual energy consumption of a city with about 14,500 inhabitants**. Once the full project is completed, a section of it will light up at night in the shape of a Mickey Mouse head, visible from the sky. For more information on Disneyland Paris environmental efforts, visit: https://disneylandparis-news.com/en/our-commitments/environment/.

So we were at a Korean park last week. Even before corona the parks tend to shut half the rides or operate them on half day shifts on off peak weekdays. I bring this up because the lines I'm talking about here aren't a handful of people, I took my son to a park on Friday and because less rides run, we waited maybe 30-40 minutes for some children's rides in cattle pens. The park has footprints painted in the lines but people just didn't social distance or follow the stickers in any of the lines, you were packed in for 20-40 minutes. And although everyone wore masks people were constantly bringing food into these crammed queue lines and eating. There was also gloves at some Halloween games and hand sanitizers all around the queue lines but some people ignored this and rides weren't wiped from what we could see. Despite all these examples, what Korea does have is a very good track and trace so I can tell you at least 2 positive people have been to Lotte World and 1 in Everland and yet there were 0 transmissions found to have happened in the parks. I hiked a mountain with my wife and we passed over 140 old people mask less in 2 hours. So far more possible contact than people walking around the theme parks in masks and we had less room to maneuver around them than at any theme parks, yet there's been almost no cases of transmissions or clusters there either. You know where it did spread in Korea? A Starbucks. And yet even in that enclosed air-con space the masked employees escaped infection: https://fortune.com/2020/08/25/covid-outbreak-starbucks-seoul-masks-employees/ It seems ridiculous to me that these giant open air spaces, where it is quite hard for it to spread have to remain closed, while so many other places can be open.

As a theatre industry professional (backstage, design, management), I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. Here's an non-exhaustive list of reasons why - Let's get this out of the way right out in front. Too many goddamn video/projection-based effects. This is a stage show, so use some stagecraft. The constant projections instead of the multitude of better, prettier illusions that could be used are a slap in the face to any stage tech worth their salt. Speaking of video and projection reliance, most of the "sets" are not sets at all, just a video with a large open stage. This is a story set in castles (stone and ice), forests, etc, yet they refused to populate the stage with anything but open space. Those three stupid doors are the entire set for the kingdom of Arendelle. You kidding me? Holy hell the choreography. Someone was called up from Carnival Cruise Lines for that crap. The Let It Go dress transformation. My god. I've seen more convincing quick changes in elementary school productions. How does the Broadway version of this gag kick all kinds of ass, yet the park version equates to literally turning the lights off for a second while Elsa pulls a zipper? Awful. The wolf chase sequence would have been incredible if they spent more than five minutes rehearsing it. The lighting is on point and the sled is very well made with the motion base, but the cast is far too slow and not nearly as urgent as one would think while being chased by wolves. Also, the final "Jump, Sven!" and all three characters flying into the air? Again, it would be fantastic if they choreographed it to happen faster than a snail taking a sunday stroll. The trolls are...not good. The costumes are a train wreck themselves, but you'd think a theme park show would skip over the bad songs and stick to what people enjoy, right? Not here! You're gonna hear Fixer Upper from front to back and you're gonna damn well like it! The finale. And here's a list of good things - Elsa's staircase. That thing is a wonder to behold as a tech. A full-size, cantilevered staircase that rotates over the audience with only one point of contact? Holy crap! Damn shame that's the only part of Elsa's castle that actually exists outside of the screens. The idea and half of the execution of the wolf chase sequence. See notes above. Sven's puppet was much better than the Broadway nightmare-fuel version. It's an amateur, half-baked, rush job that had no reason to be as bad as it was. Frozen on stage had the potential to break new ground and really go hog wild with illusions and set design. Instead we got what we got.

And yet, all over the country.... the WORLD even... I keep seeing stories like this one pop up saying that not a single COVID case has been linked to going to at theme park. It just makes zero sense... https://www.ocregister.com/2020/09/14/largest-u-s-theme-parks-report-no-covid-19-outbreaks-since-reopening/

The only way these parks will ever open is to take this to court. Obviously, the governor and his "task force" haven't got a clue. I hope they had a nice visit to Florida. They didn't learn anything. These are unrealistic targets to achieve before opening the park. This whole thing is just sad. So many peoples lives being effected. Recall Newsom Now!

Bingo. Could not have said it better myself. When I visited Taste of Knott's back in August, this was constantly on my mind. "This event is great, but the park literally feels like it's open already - just no rides. What's the difference?" Wacky policies are one thing, but inconsistent wacky policies are much more frustrating.

There are other jobs available. Not even close to a fair comparison. And I’m someone who is a causality of this nonsense. The rational argument you should be making is how if the goal is to keep people from congregating and spreading the virus, why isn’t everything shut down? Costco on the weekend is a madhouse. Same for malls. Even Sea World operating as a “zoo” and Knotts as “outdoor dining” being open makes no sense if the goal is to keep people from spreading the virus. What magical powers to rides have to spread the virus?

I’m so glad I don’t live in California...

We decided to take a quick drive (6 hours) from Vegas up to Lagoon, just north of Salt Lake City this past weekend. We had to get a haunt in this year. Even though the park was busy and mask rules are only enforced in queue and in mazes, I never felt uncomfortable as people pretty much kept their distance. Overall we had a really enjoyable visit to Lagoon. This park is very well ran, operations are smooth and queues keep moving constantly. They were loading all rows on all rides, hand sanitizer before and after each ride and before and after all haunted mazes. We have arrived for Frightmares! Happy to experience a theme park haunt this weird year! Employees carrying “Please Social Distance” signs were all over the park and enforcing mask wearing and distancing in the queues I like the skyline of this park! Roller Coaster celebrates 99 years this year! New hotness being built on the northeast corner of the park! I forgot how good Cannibal is! Super fun and smooth! I don’t normally like Ferris wheels, but this one is fun, you can spin your gondola like a tea cup! Cannibal’s station and a cameo of a couple Big Ass Fans! I’m really looking forward to this new coaster! Samurai was running, it runs a pretty weak cycle but it’s still fun! I approve of any park with a sky ride! Nice way to get across the park and get off your feet for a few minutes You can see social distance markers for the shows later in the evening The Wave Swinger is missing it’s top from the storm damage a few weeks ago Colossus, what a great ride!! The rides here are operated well and efficiently. All lines kept moving. Love the Flyers here Cannibal’s first drop is fantastic! All rows were being loaded on all rides Two trains, one photo This was the only part of the park that felt congested to me This ride was missing it’s roof from the storm damage too The Biergarten was amazing, if you visit you must have a meal here! Joey highly recommended getting a Beaver Tail and he was right! They were delicious! Oreo Cheesecake Hey! This Shake Shack still has Peanut Butter! Roller Coaster’s new trains and retracking made this such a smooth and fun ride!!! Denied a ride on Jet Star 2 For $20 you can skip the line for 7 of the mazes, completely worth it as they have to socially distance groups in the mazes Super busy for the mazes, general lines were over an hour, but with Time Warp, we didn’t wait over 15 minutes I felt that they did a great job with their haunt, the scare actors wearing masks made it harder to see them, so some of the scares were really really good We ended the night with a couple of walk on rides on Colossus Thanks Lagoon for a great visit!

Hi guys! Long time no see. I'm just going to cut to the chase - I hit my goal last Saturday! I was going to update them, but it seemed like the forums were down for an overhaul? So last Saturday I weighed in at 222.8 - exactly 100.0 pounds lost! Yesterday I weighed in at 220.8, so I'm still going down too! I'm going to SFStL next weekend to conquer the park that nearly defeated me - I am super excited!!

Unless they somehow win the lawsuit, next MAY is now what's being circulated in the break room so that by then most people will be hopefully vaccinated. Too much liability if some sick person comes in and spreads it however which way.; they'll just have to spend all that money to ramp up and shut down again. There's no ride manual for COVID. They are also going to need a huge amount of security staff and cameras because people tend to let their guards down around their friends i.e. all the young guests and somehow they've gotta keep this under control. You know how respectful people were and appropriate acting before COVID . It's going to be really weird how things work and damn hard to make sure people don't hoard together in queues as it's always been. And the indoor rides are apparently on the back burner when they re-open, which really sucks because everyone loves that air conditioning in the Valencia summer months They don't want a post-holiday spike. Who knows what'll actually happen from D.O.H. It's the definition of insanity for a SFMM-sized park to be closed for 15 months and sit empty. Except for those drunk kids who climbed the SkyTower