Advice after learning about CF's silly platinum pass policies

crazy horse said:

Your missing the point....

There is NO incentive for buying a cedarfair platinum pass, opposed to a six flags pass.

But you're missing the point. There's no need for an incentive, because people are going to CF regardless. Isn't that why we're having this conversation? SkyRider7 still wants to go to CF. SkyRider7 is likely still going to go to CF no matter what. SkyRider7 just wants what he/she wants.

Parks only offer incentives (and only need to offer them) when people are not already going to their parks. It's a waste and a loss of profits to offer them to the masses who are already going.

My incentive to buy a CF pass is that I have two CF parks within 3 hours and the nearest SF is about 5 hours away.

I have NO incentive to buy a SF pass...even at their stupid-low prices. It just wouldn't be worth it for me.

There is NO incentive for buying a cedarfair platinum pass

Except, you know, for the whole season's worth of admission and parking at all of their parks thing. But, yeah, other than that, no incentive at all.

Well, and that free Halloweekends ticket that CP seems to be giving away. But, yeah, other than a season's worth of admission, parking, plus one extra day's admission this season, no incentives. Sure.

Honestly, you people wouldn't be happy even if you *did* get a pony.

Edited to add: as I wrote above, I "lost money" on my platinum passes last year. That's not Cedar Fair's fault. That's my fault for planning poorly.

{gonch}

Because six flags is the only other park chain that is near the size or comparable to cedar fair.

Six flags seems to be doing just fine now...even with the current low prices on season passes. What got six flags in trouble was the building spree they went on for many years, not the low season pass prices.

If you look at a gate price for a six flags park, they are a lot more than a one day ticket for cedarpoint. Look here....

http://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/tickets/index.aspx

They are like $10 more at the gate than what cedarpoint is charging. The six flags parks I have been to this year, all had long lines at the ticket booths. Sure, some people may have a $10 off coupon(can discount), but that brings the price down to what cedarpoint is charging right now. So I am not sure how people are getting the idea that six flags is low on the ticket prices. You can get a discount also by buying a ticket online, but by the looks of the lines at the ticket booths, it does not look like a lot of people are taking advantage of that option.

The only area that they are lower on price, is for season passes. And that's fine with me.

Your != you're

Six Flags is completely irrelevant to the situation. Why would anyone in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh or Detroit buy a Six Flags pass? I assume you're trying to assert some kind of competitive advantage, but they're not competing in the first place.

I'll say it again, there's no reason for CP to be giving away free tickets with passes for next year. Zero.

I live in Detroit, and I have both six flags and cedarfair passes. A few of my friends do as well. Why you ask? Because we spend quite a few weekends every year going to theme parks. I am close to buying a busch gardens pass as well.

We already have several trips in the works for next year.

I never said that they were competing. I was just comparing prices between two theme park oporators with simular sized operations.

So if I lived by let's say...dorney park, what would be the best bang for my buck? A six flags pass, or a cedarfair platinum pass(there are 4 six flags parks in the area)? It all levels out in the long run who lives by what parks. Just because a few coaster geeks on coasterbuzz live near more cedarfair parks, does not make the pass prices right.

That's true. But just because one is offering a lower pass price doesn't mean it's right, or at least it may not be right for both park chains. If attendance at the CF parks through the end of the season and Halloween events is such that they don't need to draw in bigger crowds, then they don't need to offer an incentive to buy next year's passes early by giving away free day tickets in the remaining season. They would seriously lose money doing that rather than gaining anything.

I would venture to guess if CF found that their pass sales were down, then they would offer some kind of price incentive to buy. In the absence of that, they don't need to do it.

The only way a park would have to try to match another park's pricing is if they are competing with one another. If you agree they aren't really in competition, then why should they offer the same price?

^^The comparison is still irrelevant.

Look everyone would like to get more for less. There's not even a point to debating that. But, that's not the question. The question is: is Cedar Fair somehow "silly" for not giving you a break on admission in 2010 with a 2011 pass? And, the answer is pretty clearly "no", even though some other parks do this, for a host of valid business reasons.

What's more, Cedar Point *is* giving you a day this fall if you buy a 2011 pass now. So, even if the comparison *were* relevant, the answer is "by golly, they *are* giving you an incentive! How about that!"

I dont really understand why im getting grilled about this, as Like I said this is my first year getting a CF Platinum or any pass for that matter.

The nearest CF park to me is Michigan's Adventure and I've been there done that basically.

I just figured that CF and SF were the same in regards to season passes. I guess I was wrong and just used to Six Flags' season pass policies.

And excuse me Mr. Noble for trying to save some money on an extra days worth of admissions when I was not totally aware of how CF works, and didnt exactly budget for the extra expense. Im sorry if you believe trying to be economical is whiny.

You know maybe one day, I can be like you in the know it all department... Save for being a complete and total douchebag.... (I mean that in the kindest way possible)

LOL!

Is there a chance that Cedar Fair just added the 2010 single-day ticket perk because of this thread? That would be cool!

I really understand what you are saying, SkyRider7. I get it. If McDonald's decided to charge a dollar for their double cheeseburger, Burger King should follow suit in order to try and win some of the customers.

The thing is, most people only visit their closest park, no matter if it is a SF or a CF. They are in competition only somewhat.

If you see one chain with some kind of special offer, you'd expect their competition to offer it as well. This kind of show us that they really aren't in as much of a competition as some of us may think that they are.

And, sorry Brian. I was hoping that it was assumed that the "kindly" came from my opinion, not 'ours'. I didn't mean for it to sound like I was speaking for you too, meanie. ;)

I am shocked at how cheap Cedar Point is this year. A group of us are renting a cabin for a weekend and for the room, an evening ticket and a full day ticket it's only around $80-90 per person. An extra evening ticket at the resort rate is only $14.99, the park is open 7 hours at the evening price! 7 hours at Cedar Point for $15.00.

Cedar Point is a bargain already.

You know maybe one day, I can be like you in the know it all department...

To do it right, you need a Ph.D. So, if you are serious, I recommend you hit the books.

Maybe I could apply for welfare and use that money to pay for a season pass then complain that I don't get enough welfare???

The only thing I dont like about Cedar fairs pricing for 2011 is how inconsitant the indvidual parks pricing are, for example, Kings Island is on Sale for $69.99 where as Michigan Adventure is $79.99. Kings Island is far more superior for rides and water park compared to Michigan Adventure. It would seem that if the pricing was the other way around with Michigan Adventure being cheaper it would be a better pricing situation.I still see the indvidual price for a season pass at Cedar Point in the high $90s being a deal, and would purchase that if I lived closer to Sandusky. I was contemplating purchasing the Michigan Adventure season pass for 2011, but honestly I would only hit there once next sumer so I have no problem paying the $26.00 admission or heck even if they raised it to $35 I would still pay it.

LostKause said:
If McDonald's decided to charge a dollar for their double cheeseburger, Burger King should follow suit in order to try and win some of the customers.

If you happen to read anything about the industry, you'll know that this is exactly one of the things credited with killing BK over the past few years.

I can't believe that when someone comes onto this site and has a differant oppinion than a "few" members on this site, they get called names and and told that "that's the way it is". And if you're oppinion differs from ours...to the outside of the circle you go.

Skyrider had a question, and he gets grilled because he thought that cedarfair pricing was like six flags pricing? Some of you(not all), treated him like a idiot.

And to suggest that someone that want's to save a few bucks is a complainer is just outright rude. Times are tuff right now, and a lot people don't have as much money as they used to, but you still have to have some sort of entertainment in your life.

End rant:)

*sigh* Maybe it's just time for me to look for a new hobby.

That's not what Skyrider was doing at all. The title of this thread is leading with a reference to CF's silly platinum pass policies. His entire first post is accusatory and a space for him to complain that things aren't the way he wanted them to be.

The fact that people refuted his claims is not surprising and has nothing to do with politics or in group, out group mentality.

If Cedar Fair (or at least the parks I frequent often, CP & KI) were to do anything resembling SF's give-the-gate-away policy, here's one smart thing they could try: give one free (or even just heavily discounted) 2010 Friday evening ticket away with a 2011 pass purchased in the fall.

People are not exactly falling over themselves to get to the parks on Friday nights, so this could actually be mildly helpful. It would serve to help bring more peeps in on the quiet evening, while selling more season passes for the following year. And since folks would be coming in on Friday to pick up these passes, more than a few might stay to visit the next day -- when they would have to pay normal pricing for entry, anyway.

I can't believe that when someone comes onto this site and has a differant oppinion than a "few" members on this site, they get called names and and told that "that's the way it is". And if you're oppinion differs from ours...to the outside of the circle you go.

It's the marketplace of ideas, dude. You float your idea, and you see how people react. Some gain traction. Others get tossed out. There's no "us" and no "circle" (at least not one I'm part of). I didn't pile on because anyone else did. I piled on because Skyrider was whinging.

Frankly, I couldn't care less if Skyrider (or Gonch, or Jeff) think I'm one of the cool kids or a douchebag. I get my validation from Real Life.

(I can't be the only one who wishes he kept CoastaPlaya's "Theory of Nobody" post, am I?)

No comment on the last part of your last post, Noble.

I do believe that their is an "in" crowd around here, but it's much smaller than some people would think. I am in no way part of it. I consider myself equally as important to any discussion as anyone else, even the ones who really know what they are talking about. Flip that around, you could say that I believe than anyone else is just as important to the discussion, even the guys who most will disagree with.

All who participate in a discussion has a piece to fit into the puzzle of a discussion. If you don't find it interesting, you can easily skip over it.

CoasterBuzz changes my mind a lot and allows me to see the world in a different way, and I am really grateful for that.

Respect.

Jeff said:

I'll say it again, there's no reason for CP to be giving away free tickets with passes for next year. Zero.

Sure there is, I am renewing and bringing along a friend and his kid whilst using that free ticket. My friend would not normally be able to afford to go if he had to buy both tickets, but this has allowed for some additional in park revenue and the purchase of a kids ticket...