"Proximity - Where close proximity between guests and staff is necessary, for example in checking ride harnesses, we will keep this to a minimum and operate in line with the latest guidance.  This might mean that some rides and attractions may not be available during your visit. We ask you to also avoid cash transactions if possible."

with this statement it would seem like every single ride with restraints would be closed then? cosnidering the staff lean over the train to check restraints ect? 

 

unless they're gonna use a pole with a hook lol 

1 hour ago, LK_ said:

"Proximity - Where close proximity between guests and staff is necessary, for example in checking ride harnesses, we will keep this to a minimum and operate in line with the latest guidance.  This might mean that some rides and attractions may not be available during your visit. We ask you to also avoid cash transactions if possible."

with this statement it would seem like every single ride with restraints would be closed then? cosnidering the staff lean over the train to check restraints ect? 

 

unless they're gonna use a pole with a hook lol 

 
I have amusing images in my head of rides being sparsely batched, ie 8 people on Rush in total, one on each end of the row, waving at each other as they swing past 😂 
Oh and could you imagine Hex...(I’ve actually ridden that in a small group, with nobody else...was actually pretty creepy, just us on our own in the Octogan 😱 But also the best ride I’ve had on it with nobody else talking and ruining it!)

 

In all seriousness, I really don’t see how the parks will still be open by the weekend. 

7 hours ago, LK_ said:

"Proximity - Where close proximity between guests and staff is necessary, for example in checking ride harnesses, we will keep this to a minimum and operate in line with the latest guidance.  This might mean that some rides and attractions may not be available during your visit. We ask you to also avoid cash transactions if possible."

with this statement it would seem like every single ride with restraints would be closed then? cosnidering the staff lean over the train to check restraints ect? 

 

unless they're gonna use a pole with a hook lol 

I think this is just a statement to cover their backs to make it look like they are doing something to prevent spread of infection.

 

They really should not be open by this point.

The thing is, if everyone operates with the 2 meter rule, then it basically means nothing can open:

 

-Food places can't open as kitchens are tight environments (or if they do open, they'll have minimal staff who likely couldn't cope with demand)

-Supermarkets (and any retail places) can't open tills

-Supermarkets / retail would have to have a maximum number of people allowed in, which would be very small

-etc

 

In theory, anyone going out at the moment should:

-not have the virus

-not be living with someone who has the virus

-have had very minimal / no contact with anyone who had the virus

-not be displaying any possible symptoms of the virus

 

So it does mean, in theory, going out is fine. The issue is that people will still choose to go out even if they fall into one of the above 4 categories. This is particularly true in people who have the virus and end up completely asymptotic, or in people who are still in the incubation period. That's why the 2m recommendation exists.

 

Because of that theory, being within 2m of a person for a split second (in terms of checking restraints) is fine, in theory, since the chances of the virus spreading in those circumstances is small. And presumably you'll only end up sitting next to people who are in your group, who you've stood next to all day, and who you've probably shared a car with, etc. 

 

Obviously that's all theoretical and there's still plenty of issues in practice. Arguably the parks shouldn't be opening as a precaution, but under the recommendations and theory, they can make it work.

So the London and York Dungeons will close any day now due to the outbreak.

 

I can see the parks follow any day now. 
 

update. So will Shreks Adventure.

3 minutes ago, Wicker Matt said:

So the London and York Dungeons will close any day now due to the outbreak.

More accurately, all Dungeons attractions are closed as of today.

My older sister works in retail and someone went into where she works, purchased whatever and then declared she was off home to self isolate as her husband has been tested positive - it’s idiots like that with zero respect or care for others that are making this situation far worse.  If the parks open on Saturday I’ll eat both my cats - I mean, that may happen anyway thanks to the selfish gits striping supermarkets bare.  Times like this I’m ashamed of how humans behave - pure greed and lack of consideration for others

As I've said to friends and colleagues - situations like this with panic buying etc. reaffirm my beliefs that I hate 99% of the general public.

 

Can't begin to imagine the absolute idiots (to put it mildly) that retail staff are having to deal with.

Add Fantasy Island and Drayton Manor to the list of parks/attractions closed.

 

They won’t be the last.

I rekon if towers/thorpe open and the amount of people there end up being too much for the stuff they've put in place, ie gaps in queues, slow dispatches, ect ect they won't make it past sunday. if they do open at the weekend I think the open parks would be stressed to the limits and they'll end up closing for the weekend after imo 

38 minutes ago, LK_ said:

I rekon if towers/thorpe open and the amount of people there end up being too much for the stuff they've put in place, ie gaps in queues, slow dispatches, ect ect they won't make it past sunday. if they do open at the weekend I think the open parks would be stressed to the limits and they'll end up closing for the weekend after imo 

Tbh it could go the other way ..... they open but end up dead

8 minutes ago, RobF said:

Tbh it could go the other way ..... they open but end up dead

I reckon this is much more likely!

I mean I'm "going" to towers on the 30th and 31st so if its dead its a bonus, but I'm not gonna be upset if they close. 

3 hours ago, RobF said:

Tbh it could go the other way ..... they open but end up dead

If they open they will be dead. I work in a retail store in a shopping centre and from Monday it’s been absolutely dead, the whole shopping centre has. Merlin will be making a loss is they continue to open.

Personally I'm expecting an announcement tonight or tomorrow morning saying that Merlin will close all their attractions from Saturday morning onwards.

 

Just not enough people to justify the hassle and money they're spending to run the attractions.

Towers have just announced they will delay their opening, so I expect anytime now (maybe even tonight) an announcement  that all the other parks will close up.

Blackpool now closed too. All UK parks will be closed this weekend for sure.

Legoland and Chessington.

 

Thorpe Park still have not commented

1 minute ago, MarkC said:

Legoland and Chessington.

 

Thorpe Park still have not commented

Spoke too soon.

 

All UK Theme Park shut.

 

Kung-Flu.

 

Got a mate at the park on a 50 hour contract who suddenly had it cut down to 0 hour so he doesn’t have to be paid now. Fun. 

24 minutes ago, Whatever said:

Got a mate at the park on a 50 hour contract who suddenly had it cut down to 0 hour so he doesn’t have to be paid now. Fun. 

Not doubting the fact they may have been put on a zero hour contract, but given the legal maximum in the UK for working hours per week is 48, I think they might be overexaggerating their initial contract just a smidge....

43 minutes ago, JoshC. said:

Not doubting the fact they may have been put on a zero hour contract, but given the legal maximum in the UK for working hours per week is 48, I think they might be overexaggerating their initial contract just a smidge....

I often work 60 as a teacher. Just saying... 😛

1 hour ago, JoshC. said:

Not doubting the fact they may have been put on a zero hour contract, but given the legal maximum in the UK for working hours per week is 48, I think they might be overexaggerating their initial contract just a smidge....

Perhaps I misheard. Either way, this has left lots of people in a bad way. How much is Merlin worth again? 

36 minutes ago, Mattgwise said:

I often work 60 as a teacher. Just saying... 😛

Plenty of people work over the maximum (especially within the theme park industry), but you can't be contracted to work more than 48 hours per work / work more than 48 hours per week on average over any given 17 week period. Working hours is something Merlin has to be very hot on.

 

 

(Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Working at a theme park is not one of them)