Although the final deal was described as a compromise, Mr. Christie got little of what he wanted. Instead of having to hand over some of its reserves, Horizon accepted some new, relatively minor requirements, including submitting to annual independent audits. The deal also imposed a cap on Horizon’s reserves, after which Horizon would have to return money to policyholders, but the cap was above the current level of the reserves.

“That Horizon bill was a face-saver,” said Hetty Rosenstein, the state director for the Communications Workers of America, the union that represents 35,000 state workers who were affected by the shutdown.

It was clear on Tuesday that what was likely to linger in people’s minds was not the details of the budget debate, but the image of the governor and his family enjoying a perfect day at a beach, while the public was barred. (Most of the state’s beaches are managed by municipalities and therefore remained open through the budget standoff.)

Henry Walker, a building contractor whose Jeep bumper was covered in layers of season passes, said on Tuesday that he had been turned away from Island Beach State Park when he went there to fish over the weekend, only to see the governor’s daughter ushered through the blockade.

“He should have gone to the public beach and hung out with the blue-collar workers,” Mr. Walker said, referring to the municipal beach, which had been open over the weekend and packed. “He should have paid the seven bucks.”