Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Entertainment & Tourism Industry

[Andysol]

 

[Mad Dog]

Heh, that's the IU way. We can argue, but still respect one another's 'opinions', and shake hands (at a distance ) when all is said it done. One reason IU Forums are really superior to all those other theme park forums. Mostly good people here.

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

 

[Grabnar]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

 

[Legacy]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

Not a chance.

 

[awhen]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

I think it’d be interesting as a one time thing. I’d love to have time and space to explore the mazes.

 

[Brian G.]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

I want HHN to happen as bad as every fan here, but I think no actors in the house would just kill it for me. At that point, I'd rather just wait til next year.

I think it’d be interesting as a one time thing. I’d love to have time and space to explore the mazes.

Actors or not - that still wouldn't happen. For that experience, gotta get the UTH tour.

 

[Scott W.]

For anybody interested in Virgin Atlantic, here's the generic email being sent out just now:

Virgin Atlantic

 

[JungleSkip]

So...it sounds like there's a chance Cedar Point and Kings Island won't even open this year

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

I want HHN to happen as bad as every fan here, but I think no actors in the house would just kill it for me. At that point, I'd rather just wait til next year.

This is generally how I feel, too -- I'm fine (sad, but fine) with taking a year off, if that's what has to happen, especially to mitigate any downstream issues it might create with regards to budget, or wasting quality IPs on a truncated event. But at the same time, I feel like I would also take just about any version I could get, so idk.

 

[Scott W.]

So...it sounds like there's a chance Cedar Point and Kings Island won't even open this year

Yikes.

 

[CoryLevy91]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

If they were that concerned about the virus that they would remove actors from inside houses (which would absolutely still not remove the threat of passing anything between guests, you're simply never going to remove that threat at an event like HHN, let alone a theme park for that matter), I imagine they would just cancel the event.

 

[Ringwraith]

If HHN is delayed and/or attendance is reduced, is it feasible they could turn all/some houses into a "Stranger Things" style event on the weekends or select days only throughout the year, leading up to the next HHN? Maybe limit scarezone props and or scareactors?

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

If they were that concerned about the virus that they would remove actors from inside houses (which would absolutely still not remove the threat of passing anything between guests, you're simply never going to remove that threat at an event like HHN, let alone a theme park for that matter), I imagine they would just cancel the event.

Yep, you're definitely right, none of this would completely remove the likelihood of transmission. But it would significantly reduce it. No scare actors getting within six feet of guests; mazes that are specifically designed to keep people moving through them at an efficient clip and avoiding any clustering/congas that scare actors can generate; all guests allowed to wear PPE, keeping six feet apart in line for food, drinks, bathroom; lots of sanitizing by TMs. It's a model -- one that would betray the spirit of HHN as we know it, for sure, but a model nonetheless. And tbh, I can envision how it would look/feel at the Hollywood event.

I'm not suggesting that they attempt this idea; I'm also not suggesting that they're considering it. I'm also definitely not trying to gauge the odds of something like this happening (cc: @Legacy). But if HHN happens this year, it will be in a form that's pretty different than what we're used to (in Hollywood and Orlando), so I was just spitballing. That's all.

 

[Grabnar]

If HHN is delayed and/or attendance is reduced, is it feasible they could turn all/some houses into a "Stranger Things" style event on the weekends or select days only throughout the year, leading up to the next HHN? Maybe limit scarezone props and or scareactors?

I doubt it, hiring/costuming/training scareactors specifically for something that small would be a waste of money. They also don't want to spoil their mazes/scarezones before they have the full event; it'd drive down attendance as people feel they've seen it before.

 

[UniversalManiac]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

Can’t see it happening. They’d have to drop ticket prices to compensate and I don’t think they’ll be in a financial position to take the risk.

 

[Lucky Planet]

The thing is, I don’t think we should assume there’s ever going to be a vaccine. If the event truly needs a vaccine to happen, I don’t think it will again.

The truth is I see it as a gradual process where testing and treatments become more and more widespread. Reopening is a dial not a switch. Combined with more and more people simply becoming immune to it, I see it fading away over time.

I am positive there will be changes to HHN, more of them behind the scenes than in front but it will still be evident from a customer point of view. That said, I'm still expecting the event to happen this year until they outright say they it isn't. I don't think all the scares will be animatronics or puppets and I don't think every actor will be behind a glass wall. They are almost assuredly past the point where they would be able to design the entire event with a staunch social-distancing stance in mind.

If the parks have been reopened by September and October and they remain open, the event will simply take place with some new procedures and guidelines and while it won't be stated, the onus will be on the event goer to decide if they want to take the risk and attend. At this point I personally will be willing to take the risk in October unless things are just drastically worse when the event happens. If the idea of being in an enclosed space with numerous other people so close to this epidemic makes you uneasy, I think you would just be skipping this year's event, simple as that.

I honestly think there will be a vaccine, If anything because of the billions of profits it will create. if only for that. scientists are running against the clock to fix this, i honestly have faith that the vaccine will come up. im pretty sure. it just takes long. as for HHN, it might be better to wait for next year or be careful in the park. even if they allow masks (which they probably wont) it feels too risky.

How would HHN handle drunks and the pandemic for example?
no one has even thought about the huge drinking that goes on during HHN. we are all thinking about the scareactors and thinking about the social distancing, But as I was replying to you right now I just realized, What would UNI do with the unruly drunks? or just in general?

Not only does HHN happen right during flu season (where a lot of actors get sick) but you always have people breaking all the rules like smoking in line or cutting lines or touching the actors or hitting the actors, or breaking the sets or breaking the props, drinking to excess etc


it almost seems impossible to hold HHN ( not because of the social distancing and the safety of the actors) But it seems impossible because a lot of people that go to HHN think it is a free for all, some people treat HHN like a night club that has no rules, it truly, truly sounds like a nightmare actually.

Think of the normal problems that HHN always gets with unruly crowds and then add the COVID problems of mandatory masks or social distancing,
thats a big YIKES :bigeye:

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

If they were that concerned about the virus that they would remove actors from inside houses (which would absolutely still not remove the threat of passing anything between guests, you're simply never going to remove that threat at an event like HHN, let alone a theme park for that matter), I imagine they would just cancel the event.

If HHN is delayed and/or attendance is reduced, is it feasible they could turn all/some houses into a "Stranger Things" style event on the weekends or select days only throughout the year, leading up to the next HHN? Maybe limit scarezone props and or scareactors?

this is why I brought up the silly ideas of replacing all actors in Boo Holes with puppets or animatronics or mannequins or inflatable ghosts or Marionettes or something lol.
I know it might not be realistic but I was thinking outside the box, You have a dilemma where you have an event where you need to scare guests but you dont wnat to expose your actors,

the Nature of this event is of guests coming into a building with enclosed paths and you have actors coming very close to them to scare them,
then we have the problem of social distancing and not being able to allow the actors to come close to the guests, so if they cannot replace the actors with puppets,

Another way to fix the HHN dilemma would be to have set pieces where the actors dont come near the guests but the scares are done with horns and air gun effects, or something like that. one way a house could be made is to get rid of the boo holes but have the actors 6 feet away from the guests playing a role,
Kind of like they had Dana in Ghostbusters:

I know these ideas suck all the fun out of HHN, or maybe they are not practical, but I just cant imagine how they will fix this problem. They are going to have to do a lot of misdirection and non Actor scares. maybe they will find a way lol

 

[Legacy]

People making recommendations on how to build the houses like half of them aren’t done already...

 

[StarTrekGeek]

How would you guys feel -- just as a pure hypothetical, not trying to suggest that this is something being considered -- about an HHN without scare actors in the mazes? Each maze would be more of a walk-through/museum experience without any scare actors in them, so it removes the issue with close-quarter contact. On top of that, there wouldn't be as much (if any) conga lines or cloistering among the crowd because people aren't nervous about an upcoming scare. They just keep moving from scene to scene, like a museum. TMs could easily control the flow of movement and help keep up social distancing.

You could have still have scare zones with scare actors, but they'd have to be different -- again, more like things you observe from a little ways away, and the scare actors interact more with their environment and less with the guests, though some interaction would be more permissible outdoors.

I think it could potentially work in Hollywood. It absolutely wouldn't be the same, and not as many people would show up for the event, but just from a logistical standpoint, I can envision it. However, I don't think it would work at all for Orlando. The scope is too large, plus different events, different parks, different logistics/framework, etc.

That said, if Hollywood was like, "It's this, or nothing," I'd gladly choose it.

I really don’t believe Universal would do something like this. If the only option for HHN this year is taking away one of the signature features of the event, I think Universal would simply cancel it. No need to risk team members’ health for an event like that.

Not to mention the unruly/drunk guests who underestimate the pandemic’s existence breaking park rules by touching the scare actors/team members. That seems like a publicity disaster waiting to happen. I don’t think it would be worth the risk.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I really don’t believe Universal would do something like this. If the only option for HHN this year is taking away one of the signature features of the event, I think Universal would simply cancel it. No need to risk team members’ health for an event like that.

Not to mention the unruly/drunk guests who underestimate the pandemic’s existence breaking park rules by touching the scare actors/team members. That seems like a publicity disaster waiting to happen. I don’t think it would be worth the risk.

one solution comes to mind.
stop the sale of alcohol at the park and in citywalk during HHN nights, (HHN dry event) thats one way to stop drunk guests.