Any Michigan's Adventure news?

The big draw of Michigan's Adventure is the water park. Most guests arrive, go on a few of the amusement rides before going to the water park. They will spend most of the afternoon in the water park, then a few amusement rides on the way out. At two in the afternoon on a crowded day, Shivering Timbers might have a 15 minute wait. It would be more earlier or later in the day. I just don't see that park getting much ROI on a $20M coaster, let alone a $10M. If they keep growing like they have been, maybe 5 to 10 years from now the could put in a big coaster. I just don't see them needing it right now.

0g said:
The big draw of Michigan's Adventure is the water park. Most guests arrive, go on a few of the amusement rides before going to the water park. They will spend most of the afternoon in the water park, then a few amusement rides on the way out. At two in the afternoon on a crowded day, Shivering Timbers might have a 15 minute wait. It would be more earlier or later in the day. I just don't see that park getting much ROI on a $20M coaster, let alone a $10M. If they keep growing like they have been, maybe 5 to 10 years from now the could put in a big coaster. I just don't see them needing it right now.

I don't think another roller coster is needed at MA, what they need is more thrill rides. If they added just 3 or 4 really good thrill rides, it would improve the park greatly. Maybe add a Topspin, or a Power Tower type ride. Even a Monster or a ride like the Trioka would be welcome. The main reason people don't ride the rides, is probably because they can ride almost all of them at any fair or carnival. That, and the rides are greatly tamed down compared to what you would get with the carnies. The only ride that is remotely exciting at MA is the flying Trapeeze, and that is just a carnival yo-yo.

But a good investment would be a 4-D theater. I'm sure the guests at Michigan's Adventure would love that. Have so many operations a day to keep it's cost down, and it would be a hit. Something in the lines of that Pirate movie that was at Sea World in Ohio, not only a great attraction, but also air conditioned! I'd go for that.

OhioStater said:
How in God's name is 28 dollar admission pricing itself out of anything?

That's barely a dinner at a good restaurant.

It's not just the $28.00 admission.

$10.00 to park the car

$12.00 for a locker

$13.00 for a full meal

That's $53.00 for one person. That does not include anything else that you might do or buy while you are in the park. If you add a ride on the skycoaster. That's $97.00 if you buy any kind of souvinir that takes you up over $100.00 for just 1 person.

I have always said that the admission price is fine, it's the total cost of a visit that socks your wallet. And, you don't have to go back that many years to when a visit to the park cost a 3rd of what it does today.

I think the problem is that a lot of the people on this board hold season passes to several park chains, so they don't see the massive costs that this might place on the average family. A lot like Mitt Romney's idea of America. Everything is peachy keen when you have money to burn, but a majority of America doesn't.

When I goto th park, I rarely spend money on anything, and, I still end up spending around $70.00, which includes gas for the car to get there, and a meal at a fast food joint, so I don't have to pay to eat at the park. Between just my brother and I was around $120.00

Timber-Rider said:
That's $53.00 for one person.

But that is only IF every person rents a locker for just themselves and drives to the park alone. I think it is safe to assume that people will share a locker, and even then I bet most are doing the one-time use lockers for a couple bucks. If people are even still renting lockers. Who the hell even needs an all day locker besides a mom of 8?

And since it's a regional park, it's heavily a season pass crowd, and many of them aren't paying for parking, and frankly I don't understand why anyone needs a locker for anything. People carry crap they don't need, and frankly you're never far from your car. No one is paying a hundred bucks to that park.

And despite all of your objections and desire for more rides and lower prices, they're still killing it with the best margins in the chain. The value proposition is still good enough that people show up in a meaningful way.

Timber-Rider said:
That's $53.00 for one person.

But it's only $46.50 per person for a family of four who share a car and locker. The park isn't priced to attract single coaster enthusisasts. It's targeted at families.

No one's forcing you to ride Ripcord; I'd guess most guests choose not to. And don't forget, six of the $12 you put down for a locker can be put toward a souvenier at the end of the day.

You see the costs of a one day visit as a reason not to go. How many people see it as a reason to invest in a season pass?

And how is the in-park pricing any better than SFGAm? They charge $20 for parking, $12 for a locker (no deposit included), and similar food prices.

I dropped $70 to go to BGT last weekend, and while I was initially doubting paying that much for admission (I couldn't get in touch with my friend, which would have saved me $70, so this was $70 I didn't even *have* to spend), by the time I handed over my card for however much parking was, I didn't even care what I paid for parking, I was excited to be visiting the park. Between parking, food, and lockers at the rides, I probably spent an additional $30 (ticket included a meal, thanks AAA!), and you know what, I didn't blink twice or give a thought to it. I had fun and enjoyed my visit.

As long as the majority of people visiting MiA come away feeling like I did after my day at BGT, their pricing is perfectly fine. In fact, compared to other paid forms of major entertainment, it's still one of the cheapest per person for an entire day. Even enthusiasts that don't have regular season passes can still over-blow the cost/value argument, because they still look at parks in the view of trying to spend as little as absolutely possible over enjoyment. Yeah, the average family may be trying to economize on their vacations, but they generally don't let it get in the way of enjoying their vacation because they also expect to be spending money.

Plain and simple, entertainment isn't cheap. You get what you pay for.

needless quotation removed -J

Just a comment. I would think that if I was at either Bush Gardens park, I would certainly feel like I was getting my money's worth by going there. In fact I would love to go to BGW! because I know that I would be getting great entertaiment value for my money.

I never feel that way when I go to Michigan's Adventure. I do manage to have a good time, but still feel like I am paying too much. Also, I do not feel like I am paying too much when I go to Cedar Point, nor do I feel like I am paying to much for Great America, Canda's wonderland, or La Ronde. Because those parks all have great entertainment value for the amount of money you are spending. Michigan's Adventure charges double it's value, and I think it's wrong.

Was it necessary to quote the entire post just above yours for "just a comment"?

Looking at the ride lineup fr your home park, MA, I would not go very often. Looks like a terrible park...

SO why don't you just skip MI and go to others parks instead?

Donnie, you're out of your element again...

I'm not aware of the park having any one time use lockers. I think they had a small number of them at $3.00 a pop a few years ago, but, not sure if they still have them or not. But, it wasn't too long ago that all lockers were 50 cents. So, I might have spent less than a dollar for a locker back then. If they do have them, they are most likely the older ones in the front of the park, and not near the water park.

ostKause said:

Was it necessary to quote the entire post just above yours for "just a comment"?

Looking at the ride lineup fr your home park, MA, I would not go very often. Looks like a terrible park...

SO why don't you just skip MI and go to others parks instead?

Sorry, about the quote thing. But, I find that attempting to delete an entire quote stalls my internet connection, and I have to start over, so I just don't do it.

As for going to other parks, I thought I found a great alternative in Indiana Beach, but now that the resort people have taken over, it's even worse than Michigan's Adventure. I think when Cornball Express opened a ride wristband was $18.00 and parking was free. Now it's what $39.00? And, the charm of the boardwalk is gone? A trip through the castle is $5.00 extra? No thanks.

One reason why neither park is in my plans at all, and I did not go to either park last year. In fact I didn't go to any park.

Timber-Rider said:

That's $53.00 for one person.

But that is only IF every

person rents a locker for just themselves and drives to the park alone. I think it is safe to assume that people will share a locker, and even then I bet most are doing the one-time use lockers for a couple bucks. If people are even still renting lockers. Who the hell even needs an all day locker besides a mom of 8?

I went to MA with 3 friends, and we needed to get 2 lockers, because the lockers were not big enough to put all of our street clothes and our shoes, when we all went to the water park. The park doesn't have a lot of attractions, but the walk from the entrance to the water park is quite a hike. It's very spread out.

I guess if you wanted to make several trips back and forth to the car you could. But, depending on where you are parked, that could involve quite a bit of extra walking, and on a hot day with zero shade, not fun. I know, because I keep a cooler in my car so I don't have to pay for park food, and all that walking in the sun is not pleasant. In short, not getting an all day locker at MA is a very bad idea. Even worse if you are parked near the lot entrance booths. That is a very long walk! If you need proof check out my Michigan's Adventure photos in the Trips galleries. I'm parked mid Timbers, if you know what that means.

PS. If you want to find the pictures quickly, they are either on page four or five of the Trip galleries. Titled: "Seeing is believing" at Michigan's Adventure. Some days, all the lockers are sold out.

Go on a rainy day or during the slow season, and you wont have to walk in the blazing hot sun, and the park will not be so busy that you have to park way out. lol

Don't stop now. I am finding the things that you pull out of thin air to complain about when talking about the park very interesting. Keep going.

Bring your mother, and have her hold your belongings while on the water slides. Have her bring an umbrella to avoid the sun that you could walk under.

My only trip to MIA was about 10 years ago on the last day of their season. It was cold and gloomy, and there were probably less than 200 people in the park. Good day for riding!

Does anybody else hear sirens off in the distance? I think the waaaaaaahhhhhmbulance might be coming.

Timber-Rider said:
If you need proof check out my Michigan's Adventure photos in the Trips galleries. I'm parked mid Timbers, if you know what that means.

Sure, offer 'proof' and then throw the indecipherable term 'mid Timbers' at us as if we're all rocket scientists. Not buyin' it, man...there's no way anyone walks in the hot sun at this park.

Takin' a walk in the.. hot sun

I fought MA and MA won..