teacherkim

If it helps anyone get through the long cold weekend..................employees are currently doing their orientation classes for the season and will start training very soon. We were supposed to be going to Texas this weekend to hit the parks down there but this stupid weather is even making it as far south as San Antonio so we pushed it back a week. Stay warm everyone!!

Thanks for the confirmation that I made the right decision. Today was day #6 of an anticipated 13 days in a row below freezing for us. When you guys are in the teens on Sunday we are supposed to have below 0 temps. I swear if the long forecast holds and it is in the 60's when we get there weekend after next I may be putting on my swimsuit and looking for a pool

Awesome! Thanks for the advice guys.

So since I foolishly went ahead and bought quick queue before I had to delay my trip one week due to weather, is there any chance they will let me change the date on it or am I just out the $ ? (not that is was horribly expensive but...) I will pause while you all laugh at my naivety on this issue. Thankfully the tickets I bought last March will still be good as well as the parking.

And as Bert knows push it back I did! Yes, no change fees but had to re-finagle hotel, flight, car rental, work days off; yada, yada, yada But convinced it's the right decision, not only is it looking bad weather wise in Texas but they are predicting several inches of snow for us on Monday, really did not want to risk getting stuck; or flying down there to sit in a hotel room. We are on day 5 of an anticipated 13 day stretch of below freezing weather. So we will be at SFFT on 2/20. (We can't do the next week because the boy has to start training for the season at SFSTL) There is actually an ACE event that day so will get some ert and whatnot. Then will go to SW and ZDT's on Sunday. Since we can't fit SFOT in without the 3 day weekend, we are thinking of doing a 1 day, fly down in the morning and fly home that night, trip in March during the week they are open for their spring break. That's if I let the boy miss another day of school since our spring breaks are not the same. But he's a senior so........

And (at the moment anyway) we are planning on getting on a plane. During a pandemic. To travel 1000 miles. To ride coasters in the freezing ass cold. I think there is probably something wrong with us. I am vowing not to think about it or check the weather for at least 24 hours because it is driving me crazy and maybe there will be a positive change by then.

I think Sunday will be dead if the weather forecast sticks. Right now it says 40 with some wind, meaning in the 30's and cold all day, so I am hoping that it changes (Forecast has been different every time I look) IF it does end up being that cold; do I need to worry about a lot of ride closures or even a park close?

I'm really really hoping we aren't doomed with the weather. Yikes. and fingers crossed. Maybe we will get lucky enough to have people stay away cause they are worried about the weather but then have it end up being ok??? I probably shouldn't even talk about it out loud but my car battery decided to inconveniently die today, it's going to snow here tonight, then the polar vortex is hitting us; so thinking I am due some good luck. Maybe. Please.

I am getting equally nervous about that. I too realize it could change in the coming week but just checked they are now saying 51 for Sat when we will be at SW and 47 with some wind for our SFFT day and same for SFOT with some possible rain/snow showers. Hoping it eases a bit. I will feel I am cursed if we get on a plane to trek to parks during a pandemic and then they close things down or close all together for weather. Trying not to hate the weather Gods when I saw that it is in the 70's this weekend. I should probably just not look at it again until we are a few days out. There have been a dozen different forecasts for how cold and if or if not we will get significant snow here mid to late week.

Hmmm, thanks, I may have waited too long. Guess I will just see what the deal is when we are at the park and decide if it is worth it or not.

We will be there on the 13th as well! Our reservation did not have a specific time just the date. We went ahead and got quick queue because we are going to try and get through everything and get out of there by 4 so we can zip over to ZDT's and ride SB before it closes at 6. These reduced hours are killing me. Does anyone know if you can upgrade the ticket to a pass that's good at the various Seaworld parks (not just SWSA) and if so how much it is? I bought these tickets last March not thinking I would go to any other SW/BG parks that year, then Covid so finally now redeeming them before they expire; and it looks like we may actually get to SWSD, SWO, and BGT before the year is out so thinking it might be worth it. I guess I will have to add up single day ticket prices before I go and have that number in my head to decide if it is worthwhile or not.......if it is even an option.

I'm wondering if it will just be a standard thing to prepare for the most restrictions knowing it will be easier to ease them versus have to go more severe. I wonder what this later opening means for Coaster Stock though? Guessing nothing good. Rats.

Good to know! I guess I accidentally did the right thing and secured the reservation at SFFT. Although I still think it is weird that you cannot have two parking reservations open when they are different parks on different days.....but, whatever.

Ok so in case anyone didn't know (and maybe you all did already) Apparently you cannot have two preferred parking reservations active at the same time, even if they are for different parks on different days. Couldn't make a res for SFOT on 2/15 because I already have one for SFFT on 2/14. Certainly not the end of the world, don't have to have pp and there will very like be available spots anyway on day of. But still, annoying.

If I never saw another snow flake it would be ok with me. Hopefully, since it is so rare down there, that is it for the winter because as I have been posting on a couple of the other Texas threads my son and I are going to try to hit the parks in Texas Pres Day weekend, and it better NOT snow! I am hoping to hit SW on Sat 2/13 before the tickets I bought almost a year ago expire As it is with the current hours we are going to have to leave about an hour before close and hightail it over to ZDT's to try and get SB done.

So my son and I are going to make an attempt to get down to the park on the Sunday before Pres Day pending which way the virus goes by then since it does involve us getting on a plane. Trying to reschedule our cancelled Spring Break trip from last March and running out of days to do it. I'm thrilled that they are going ahead with Mardi Gras. Based on the description the Voodoo House seems like it will be a cross between a Mardi Gras funhouse and a FF haunt. Nice since they couldn't really do a real FF. Looking forward to word on how things are going down there.

So my son and I are going to make an attempt to get down to the park on Pres Day pending which way the virus goes by then since it does involve us getting on a plane. Trying to reschedule our cancelled Spring Break trip from last March and running out of days to do it. Glad they are having the new festival, will be fun to have something other than just barely open like the parks we managed to get to over the summer, although I was grateful for any parks that managed to open. Will look forward to any trip reports before then.

It has always been open weekends between Labor Day and FF in the past. Most likely a 8 or 9 pm close on Sat and a 6 or 7 pm close on Sun but that is just a guess based on past years. They generally do not open on Fri nights those weekends. That will most likely be the weekend before FF starts and should be a good weekend for hitting optimum rides, good weather and lighter crowds ahead of FF. I am sure they are holding off on fall hours until we get into the summer and see what is happening with the virus.

That is super disappointing to hear about the 50th. I was really looking forward to it before the virus that shall not be named happened. Particularly after what a source told me the original plan was. On a vaccine note, which totally affects all theme park operations., as well as all the rest of daily life, I guess I just look at it from an historical perspective since I am a history teacher. When you look at the numbers of people throughout time that have died or been disabled from infectious diseases versus the teeny tiny amount that have suffered any permanent ill effects from a vaccine (including G. Washington vaccinating his troops against smallpox which was a lot more dangerous then but still helped us win the American Revolution) it seems a no brainer to me.......but of course I do support that everyone has the right to make their own decision about their body.

Well that is extremely annoying and will only drag this on longer. I have a couple of friends in the medical field that have already gotten both shots with no side affects other than a sore arm. Most of the teachers in my school are planning on getting it, so I am hoping that is just your corner of the metro area and not indicative of the greater populace. I personally will knock people over if they get in my way to getting the vaccine.

They are still being pretty conservative with their hours, but I guess that is to be expected. Nothing during Spring break week and of course no May field trip days because none of the schools can do field trips this year. Hoping they can have a normal FF by the time that rolls around again. We have been told at our district that they hope to be bringing in the vaccine for the teachers by the end of February.........so it's finally happening. True light at the end of the tunnel. Curious how far into the summer the masks and reservations will go on. Not complaining about them, just wondering. I guess time will tell.

On my various surveys this year I have mentioned that they use to have ghosts that light up in the MT train tunnel and suggested they bring it back as well as put some Christmas decorations in there and I see they specifically mention the tunnel on their board. Maybe they really do read those things !!

Treated my next door neighbor to a night at the park last night for our weekly Mom's Neighborhood Happy Hour; Christmas edition. She does NOT do rides so it was a check out the Christmas stuff for a few hours visit. We were there about 4:45 to about 7:30 ish. It was not busy and judging by the lines/stations I could see I am sure most things were a walk on or at most a station wait. Everything that could be open was and everyone as usual was making the most of the less than normal experience. Christmas lights all looked good and the outdoor versions of shows are a good alternative to the real thing. Thankfully it has not been too cold to be uncomfortable as long as you dress sensibly. A little bittersweet with the amended activities and low crowds but I have felt that way all year at most parks. The entrance was very nicely done. We did ride the train which was nicely decked out. No extra lights along the way that you couldn't see from walking around (which I think would be nice for next year) but a nice alternate perspective, Mrs. Claus reading "Twas the Night before Christmas", a couple of holiday sing alongs and a drive by wave from Santa as you pass the St Louis station. Boarding only at the Bugs station. We did eat some of the "seasonal" foods at Mooseburger; soup bowl and loaded potato. Fairly decent relative to other theme park food. The highlight and our personal hero of the night was the bartender at JB's that made us spiked hot chocolate. Rum for me and Kahlua for my friend. And the best part is he carded us and I do NOT want anyone to tell me that he has to card everyone.......we choose to believe in Christmas miracles.

Just throwing ideas and possibilities out there guys. Obviously no one knows for sure. Just exciting to even be able to discuss an end to it all. A few more companies get vaccine approval and that speeds it up by a couple months, if not or if they can't make it fast enough then it slows it down a couple months. Of course concerts will be one of the last things allowed, I never thought it would all happen at once. Although masks will undoubtedly be recommended for another 4-6 months, I think it will gradually lighten up month by month until one day you look around and realize no one in the grocery store has a mask on and you didn't even realize it happened. Zach, I only threw the query of vaccine proof out there because apparently some states and/or countries have put forth the idea of getting a "vaccine card" once you are fully vaccinated. It may amount to nothing or some venues may use that as a way to lower restrictions. Just think it will be interesting from a historical and social standpoint to see how it all plays out in the end. I just don't see it going the entirety of 2021 with the same restrictions as we currently have........but I've been wrong before.

I am old enough to remember the park opening, no January opens ever. It has only been recently that they started doing HITP and before that it was shut down right after Halloween. For years when I was growing up Easter weekend was the traditional opening for the season, recently it has been based a bit more on when the local schools have their spring break which is usually mid - late March. I am curious what they will decide to do for spring though. All indicators are that we will be fully coming out of this mess by April or May. Will they open at the normal time in March with some restrictions (like masks) still in place or will they just delay everything maybe a month and possibly be able to open without restrictions? Will they require proof of vaccination? I'm guessing there is already discussion and plans A, B, and C getting developed.