Cedar Fair missing attendance target due to weather

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Attendance at Cedar Fair parks is down 7% over last year due in part to constant wet weather at Cedar Point. 13 of the first 27 operating days included rain, more than twice the amount in May last year. CEO Dick Kinzel says that targets are still attainable, as the bulk of the parks' attendance, including year-round Knott's Berry Farm, comes in the vacation months of July and August.

Read the entire Cedar Fair press release.

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That sucks. It rained at SFGAm on Memorial Day. I still went, though.

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Let the bears pay the Bear Tax, I pay the Homer Tax.
Lord Gonchar's avatar
Just out of curiosity - anyone know the figures so far for PKI or SFWOA? I'd like to see those as well.
I guess SFWoA changed it's name again, to RAIN

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case
The economy is slow as a whole. People have cut back on their spending. Sure its going to effect the amusement industry as a whole. Amusement parks are a luxury item to people. Not an essential for survival. I am sure all parks attendance is down at least the same percentage as Cedar Fair. Some are probably are probably higher. Even down 7% Cedar Fair will still make alot of money. Just not as much as last year. Maybe it will make them want to add something spectacular to attract more people to their parks.(I just moved this post from the thread that was closed.) I know the weather has been horrible, and that hasn't helped the situation much. In PA here it has rained the past 3 weekends. Alot of parks around here have only been open that long. I was watching a show on CNN about the economy as whole, and since our new president took his post its showed that the general population has reduced their spending by as much as 30% over last year at this time. Unemployment is also at record high levels in alot of states. Couple this with the bad weather and sure amusement parks are going to feel that. I am not sure how much it will effect attendance as a whole, but at the end of the season we will all know. *** This post was edited by Coaster Fantom on 6/2/2001. ***
welcome to the club, it's been raining up here for the past 2 weeks which delayed batwing's opening for at least 2 weeks!
Who said we don't need parks?!?! :)

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Not really most people in america will go to there home park instead of traveling. SFMM visitor including me drive 1 hr 45 min to get to the park. So this SFMM would get people from local and same as other parks...
I'd wonder too, and those Buzzers that have stock in CF would know (hint!), how is attendance usually the year after a major new addition? I'd think that they might overestimate the draw of a ride in its second year compared to the first. Just a thought!

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
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I remember the first day I went to Cp. I was in line for Mantis, and then it STARTED RAINING HEAVY!! I mean REALLY REALLY BAD!!! It sucked? The "DJ" area was playing a song that had sunshine in it, and everyone was singing! It was great, but the rain ended and everyone was cheering!!!

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"Riding High"

The Devils are going to get buried, by an AVALANCHE! Lets get it for Bourque!

That's what they want you to think, cough::SFWoA::cough. lol.;)
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"Villain-Once You Drop, The Fun Don't Stop!"~SFWoA Rules In 2001~X Marks The Spot In 2001(SFWoA)~With SFWoA ANYTHING Is Possible!
I am goin to CP on the 17th. Anyone know how lines have been for rides such as MF, Raptor, and Mantis on weekdays this season??
Any info would be appreicated!

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Life is short, make it count...
I was there this past tuesday and wednsday and the park had the smallest crowds of all my visits. The longest line was for MF which was only 1:30 and that was only during the middle of the day. Everything else was basically a walk-on. Even Power Tower! Well sorta, the drop side had about a 30min wait while the shot side had about a 10min wait. Mantis had about a 30min wait both days. Gemini, Magnum, and Meanstreak had all their lines starting in the station.

I'm still regreting our 16 ride 1:30hr Magnum marathon. It was fun then, but the next day, bruises all over. Ouch

BTW it didn't rain Monday when I was at SFWOA or Tuesday or Wednsday when I was at CP.

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"This time I think ... I think It's ... It's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner
There is another reason for theme park attendance is down:

Soaring Gas Prices, particulary in the Midwest.

The added costs of going places is putting a damper on most people's driving this year

I try not to let that stop me, but sometimes it just doesnt work out

Which Is one of the reasons I wished I had my own theme park:)
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God Bless Coasters!!
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Jeff's avatar
The economy is not making a measurable impact on amusement parks. If anything, it's helping all but the Orlando parks. We posted a news story recently about analysts who think buying Cedar Fair and Six Flags, the only pure amusement park stocks, is a really good idea. What do you know, he was right. Six Flags is up 5 since winter while Cedar Fair is up 4.

Why? Because if the economy is slowing, people will be more discretionary about their vacation dollars. That means a trip to the local park (and both companies operate primarily regional attractions) is a lot cheaper than flying to Orlando to see the rat.

The drop in attendance is due to the reason the press release says, namely weather. If you don't believe me, visit a movie theater in the Cleveland area this weekend and see just how much people are spending to see a bunch of really mediocre movies.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
*** This post was edited by Jeff on 6/2/2001. ***
I live only an hour from the Point and it has been the worst weather in a long time. It has been constant rain this month. I'm going there this friday and I hope the weather will improve a bit. I checked weather for Sandusky and it looks like rain all week. :( *** This post was edited by Andrew C. of Ohio on 6/2/2001. ***
Thanks IOArules, hopefully the lines and weather will cooperate wit me, its a three day excursion so i will have plenty of time to ride everything alot! MF marathon baby!!!Thanks Again!! Pray for the weather to clear!

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Life is short, make it count...
There has been a low pressure front parked over the Great Lakes for two weeks. The weather for May was 60 degrees and 60% chance of T-storms. Trust me, I've been working in this mess. It's cold and wet -- perfect amusement park weather.
I'm still recovering from a nasty cold I picked up at SFGAm on the 26th. Who said standing in line can't hurt you?

Well... 2.5 hours in driving rain... Alright, I'll give you that.

I think that the park sales will pick up a bunch once school gets out. Not only due to the kids out of school, but because of the summer heat and the really, really crappy movies (shrek notwithstanding :) .)

By the way, that storm that was over the midwest was really wierd. It just circled around for about a week and a half.

One last quesiton. Do season pass sales help or hurt parks? Common sense would say that someone who pays $50 for a pass and visits 10 times got the upper hand. Maybe a lot of passes were sold...
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Loopscrew.com
It's coming...
im going to cedar point for the first time on the 8th and 9th of july, and i live in AZ and im driving 2000+ miles to ride MF, and if it rains.......all hell will break loose.

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