I can’t speak for last year but we’ve been to Dorney Park’s HAUNT a few times over the years. Compared to some of the other Halloween events, it was definitely not packed. Busy for Dorney? Maybe. But we found it to be a very good time due to the reasonable crowd size.
But then again, what do I know?
Reasons to go a different direction for fall events.
1. Theses events don’t attract the best crowd. The crowd at Kings Island has been questionable enough that they don’t allow re entry at the event. Last Spring a KI didn’t help matters with this age demographic.
2. Herschend family events are packed. Appealing to a different demographic allows Herschend to operate almost daily April through December.
3. The live actor scares and poor lighting are an added liability of possible injury to customers and employees.
4 if Cedar Fair wants to grow revenue they can’t keep squeezing the same customers The popularity of Carnivale and Winterfest is bringing in those new customers
5 Most of the scare seeking customers will still attend for night time thrill rides
Not allowing re-entry is not an indicator of the type of crowd that an event draws. I saw 'Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends' live on stage and that venue did not allow re-entry either.
I would imagine that until a park sees a significant enough decrease in attendance or guest satisfaction with an event, they will continue operate despite the noted reason above to go a different route. If it's not broke...
-Chris
I think we were at the same Thomas show. Those kids were pretty rowdy.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Kings Island allows re entry all other times except Haunt. They even allow re entry on the days of Haunt. No re entry is not a standard park policy.
That seems to indicate that a certain crowd requires this policy. It’s probably to stop alcohol and other intake in the parking lot IMO.
super7* said:
It’s probably to stop alcohol and other intake in the parking lot IMO.
It is for sure to help reduce alcohol consumption in the parking lot along with a form of crowd control, helps with staffing, and as with concerts, cuts down on multiple people trying to come in on one ticket. But your comment said these events don't attract the best crowd and that is the reasoning for the policy. What do you mean "not the best crowd"? Because I am apart of that crowd and I would argue that the majority of stories you see about fights, YouTube videos of fights happening, are during your summer months. I haven't seen a lot from halloween events.
-Chris
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