Cedar Fair 2008 platinum passes offer uniform pricing of $140 for all parks

Wow...

I'm impressed! That's a friggin steal!

They wouldn't happen to also drop the price of food and stuff to a reasonable price would they? I would like to eat in the park again.

~Rob Willi

What a rip off

Lets see, my Maxx Pass this year was $125 and I upgraded my KI free parking to "All Ohio" for $35.

Thats a much better deal!

I remember, I used to buy a SFKK pass for as little as $39.99 which got me in the whole chain. Of course, thats why Six Flags wasen't making a dime on the Season Pass Holders, hence their too-slowly decreasing debt.

My question is, is will the "Premier Passes" be universal so I don't have to sign in at various parks and get comp tickets?

Chuck,

I fail to see how this is a rip-off.

- Access to all CF Parks and waterparks
- "Free" Parking at all CF Parks and waterparks
- Joe Cool club membership perks and discounts

All for $140

Take a look at 2007 for the same thing:

- Maxx Pass Plus: $189
- All Ohio Parking Pass: $70 and that's just Ohio

Which comes out to $259, for the same thing! Minus "free" parking for other CF parks.

One visit to CP is $43, so 4 visits without parking pays for it. If you go to CP alone more than 4 times, I don't see it being a rip off.

Now if you are lumping your ill feelings towards Cedar Fair together because of the Geauga Lake rumors and what we've already seen between 2005 and now, than I can see how this is a rip off.

~Rob Willi

Same price as this year's Holiday World pass. Is that a ripoff too, Chuck?

How good a deal it is depends on the size of the family (and whether you usually get the waterparks). If you're only buying for one this is a fantastic bargain on parking alone. I'm in a family of 7 though. We got the MAX Pass last year, but almost certainly won't be getting the Platinum this year. We don't need the added parking on 7 passes, are unlikely to use the member benefits much (we're usually late risers), and frankly we don't drive 3 hours for Soak City.

I'm not saying this isn't necessarily a good move. It simplifies the passes and parking scenarios and will bring a lot more people into the most expensive pass. It's just something that’s not good for our family.*** This post was edited by Cedar Creek Mine Ride 8/31/2007 12:12:18 PM ***

The Maxx passes were priced at some parks with the assumption that you might not ever use them. It was a poor upsell. The new system makes a lot more sense, where the pass is still cheaper than a great many single parks.

What some people are also forgetting is that if you have a family of four and don't intend to use platinum status, only dad (or whatever) has to get the platinum, and everyone else gets the inexpensive local park pass.

while the pricing for cedar fairs parks might be the same...not all parks are equal...

Dorney Park reserves the right to be closed to the public and season pass holders for private events and capacity limitations. Dates and hours are subject to change without notice. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom will be closed to the public and season passholders for private events on May 20, 2007; September 8, 2007; September 9, 2007; September 15, 2007; September 16, 2007; and October 5, 2007.

price increase, operating days decrease

This sounds like a great deal to me. Honestly, it almost sounds too good - as if they are moving in the direction that Six Flags was several years back. Obviously, they've been struggling with attendance and they think that lowering these prices will make people more likely to buy passes, visit more often, and even visit Cedar Fair parks further from home.

To me though, I never felt like the season pass pricing was out of line. It was steep this year, but when I am in the park like 10-15 days throughout the course of the season, it averages out pretty nicely in my favor. What is putting me off about Cedar Point is the declining state of what's going on once I'm inside the park.

Operations have continued to slide with no end in site, quality of employees is getting worse.

Food prices are up and quality is down.

Major rides are closed for days and weeks at a time like they never used to be and now they have these silly rain policies making it pointless to go on a day where rain is forcast.

I've gotta be honest. I don't think pricing is their problem. I think they are putting off a greater chunk of people than they realize with what's going on inside the park.

Cedar Point used to make a good impression every single time I went. Now it's just a crapshoot. I don't know if the other parks in the chain are suffering from the same thing as CP, but I'm thinking with the increased "corporate" influence, they probably are.

For those of us who used to buy Cedar Fair and Paramount Parks passes, we would still be coming out ahead of what we used to pay for those two passes. I used to pay about $90 for Dorney and $80 for PKD. That was $170. Wow, it's so horrible that I now pay $30 less up front and don't have to shell out an extra $10 every time for parking.
Also, as Jeff pointed out, compare this to regular season passes prices at stand alone parks- Hersheypark- $130, Holiday World - $139.95, Dollywood- $120. So your price may have gone up at your local Cedar Fair, but your still getting a great deal.

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How good a deal it is depends on the size of the family (and whether you usually get the waterparks). If you're only buying for one this is a fantastic bargain on parking alone. I'm in a family of 7 though. We got the MAX Pass last year, but almost certainly won't be getting the Platinum this year. We don't need the added parking on 7 passes, are unlikely to use the member benefits much (we're usually late risers), and frankly we don't drive 3 hours for Soak City.

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I'm not sure how this is no longer a deal - even in your situation.

You don't specify, so I'll make some assumptions:

7 passes at $125 (you said you don't do waterparks, so I'm guessing you didn't buy the water park included pass)

You mention driving 3 hours to Soak City so I'll also assume an all-Ohio parking pass at $70

Total cost in 2007 for your family would be $945

Total cost in 2008 would be $980

Even if no one in your family ever use the additional perks, it's an increase of $5 per person over last year.

So where did I assume wrong? :)

Look at it another way. You mentioned the price correction in the forum thread, and it's an important point for the former Paramount properties in particular. Remember, every visit from a season pass holder is a dig on the average gate. So if you give it away the way Paramount did, you're losing out. You still have to service those guests.

From the park perspective, you want to find the ultimate balance that keeps the per gate dollar average as high as possible. At larger parks, where there is a lot to do and multiple visits are possible, you might want to price passes at 2.5 times a single admission, to get full gate on the first two visits. At a smaller park, there might be less incentive to come back in the same year, so give the appearance of a deal by offering the pass below a two visit price. Find the right mix that doesn't harm the integrity of the gate.

I'll go on record as saying this is the smartest pricing thing they've done in years. Now if they can get the food in line, I'll be a happy man.

By getting the food in line, do you mean improving quality, offering more choices, lowering prices, or all of the above? :)

Jeff (Edit) 8/31/2007 11:57:31 AM Same price as this year's Holiday World pass. Is that a ripoff too, Chuck?

Considering I can fill my tank for what I save just to eat at one of those parks. HW's still the better value.

Chuck, who says wow, they included parking but raised the price, Paramount used to give it to you for loyalty and HW's has always been FREE.

P.S. I don't know, I guess Im getting really sick of the way these parks operate. maybe the price is a deal but imho the whole chain needs some work, Mainly in atmosphere and customer apreciation. Theres only so many teens to go around to keep these parks open and they arent the ones with the purse strings.

Make up your mind Chuck.

By getting the food in line, do you mean improving quality, offering more choices, lowering prices, or all of the above?

I can't speak for Jeff, but I know I'd answer option 'D'.

^I'd be willing to pay the higher prices if the quality and selection were better. But paying higher prices on the "same old, same old" is what annoys me.*** This post was edited by Jason Hammond 8/31/2007 6:24:35 PM ***

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Chuck, who says wow, they included parking but raised the price

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I don't follow that. Last year's initial price was $150 without parking. This year it's $140 with parking.

Well, three years ago I paid $90 for a Cedar Point season pass, plus $40 for parking - pre-season, the lowest price available. That got me into all seven (at the time) Cedar Fair parks and free parking at Cedar Point. I still had to pay to park at Dorney, which is actually the closest CF park to me, but I visit Cedar Point more, and also paid for daily parking at every other CF park I visited that year (Geauga, Michigan, and Knott's). While we were in California, we paid full-fare to visit Soak City. Also spent one day at Soak City-Cedar Point, full-fare for that too.

That year, 2005, I also paid $78 for a Kings Dominion season pass, plus $25 for parking, the lowest price available, and that also got me two bring-a-friend passes and admission to all five (at the time) Paramount Parks. I visited Carowinds and Kings Island that year too, but had to pay to park at both.

So how can I possible complain about paying $140, plus whatever delivery charge / tax might be added onto it, for unlimited admission to 13 parks, five waterparks, and free parking at ALL of them, when three years ago I paid $233 for quite a bit less? Stop yapping and be happy about it! SO WHAT you may never use the parking at other parks. SO WHAT you don't do waterparks. It's STILL a fantastic deal. I think $200 would be a pretty good deal, too. I hope I still think that in a few years when it IS $200. Thanks, guys!