Cedar fair now offers a "all park parking pass".

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The parking fee being added to *every* Platinum Pass, esp. when families often have a few kids under legal driving age, seems a little double-fisted, financially speaking...

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No more so than a park getting parking or drink revenue at the gate and then calling it free later.

Buy the platinum pass and you're getting 'free' parking! Seems to work elsewhere.

And here's a weird example where it could work in the passholder's favor:

My daughter has a platinum pass (which includes parking). One of her friend's families asks her to join them on a day-trip to KI (our local park).

This family is strictly GP. They'll visit once this year and don't have passes. My daughter gets them free parking for the day.

Or another:

Or what if family comes to visit us. We might spend a day at the park. Obviously they won't have passes and we need to take three cars to hold everyone. All we have to do is split up my family between cars so each can flash a pass at the parking gate. Free parking for all!

Rare instances, but two things that have happened to us in the past.

Just saying...

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The parking fee being added to *every* Platinum Pass, esp. when families often have a few kids under legal driving age, seems a little double-fisted, financially speaking...

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At least at Cedar Point, it's less expensive even considering this.

The old Maxx Pass Plus, which includes CP and Soak City, cost about $150. That's the pass I buy for my family, because we enjoy the waterpark. The new Platinum pass is $10 less, and throws in parking. Works for me.

*** Edited 9/7/2007 8:10:36 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

People keep coming back to having parking "forced" on you. I simply don't see that as being the case. I see it as a reasonable price for all parks with "free" parking. The math has been done several times, and most of the time it works out in your favor.

^Jason, I the point people were making about the passes is that a Platnum Pass, is a Platnum Pass and should be the same price at all parks (which acording to your list it is) what parks charge for just their season pass, can and should be variable; there is no way a VF! pass should be the price of a CP pass for example.

Surprisingly, the Dorney regular pass still has free parking included for $98. I thought it was likely free parking would be gone for 2008 without a Platinum Pass

Since I got more information, I decided to just repost this.

New information is in Bold

I was checking out the other Cedar Fair sites, and it looks like everyone except Kings Dominion is advertising 2008 passes so far. And, Gilroy appears to be selling passes valid at Gilroy only. No Platinum Passes there. Also, despite what some people may have thought, the individual park pass prices are not all the same. Plus a message found on Dorney's site: Upon arrival to any park other than where you purchased your Cedar Fair Platinum Pass, guests may be required to enter the park through Guest Services. All passes at any park except Gilroy Gardens bought before 11-11-07 get the free Cedar Fair jacket. Park passes must be processed at the park of purchace. It appears that Platinum Passes may be processed at any park regardless of the park of purchace.

Kings Dominion - Park Pass - Not Available Yet
Kings Dominion - Platinum Pass - Not Available Yet

Cedar Point - Park Pass - $104.95
Cedar Point - Platinum Pass - $140

Kings Island - Park Pass - $84.95 (4 or more $79.95)
Kings Island - Gold Pass - $89.95 (4 or more $84.95)
Kings Island - Platinum Pass - $140 (includes gold benifits)
Kings Island - Parking Pass - $34.95
All Kings Island park passes and gold passes come with free parking if bought before 11-11-07

Canada's Wonderland - Park Pass - $82.51
Canada's Wonderland - Platinum Pass - $154.12
Canada's Wonderland - Parking Pass - $34.20

Great America - Park Pass - $64.95
Great America - Gold Pass - $79.95 Includes Boomerang Bay and Gilroy Gardens (Renewals get free general parking at GA)
Great America - Platinum Pass - $140 Includes Gold Benifits plus Premium Parking at GA only
Great America - Parking Pass - $25

Geauga Lake - Park Pass - Pricing not available yet.
Geauga Lake - Platinum Pass - $140

Michigan's Adventure - Park Pass - $84.95
Michigan's Adventure - Platinum Pass - $140

Dorney Park - Park Pass - $98
Dorney Park - Platinum Pass - $140

Carrowinds - Park Pass - $64.95
Carrowinds - VIP Pass - $74.95
Carrowinds - Platinum Pass - $140 Platinum Pass will include Carrowinds VIP benifits
Carowinds - 1/2 Price Parking Pass - $15
Carowinds - Parking PAss - $30

Worlds of Fun - Park Pass - $74.95
Oceans of Fun - Park Pass - $69.95
Gold Pass - WOF+OOF - $104.95
Worlds of Fun - Platinum Pass - $140 (includes WOF+OOF Gold Benifits)

Valleyfair! - Park Pass - $79.95
Valleyfair! - Platinum Pass -$140

Knotts - Park Pass - 2008 Pricing not available yet. Although whenever you buy a season pass at Knotts, it's good for 1 year from the date of purchace. It appears that you can buy a season pass at it's current price of $114.95 and still recieve the Cedar Fair Jacket.
Knotts - Platinum Pass - $140 (This is not on the website yet, but I called and they confirmed they are for sale.)

Gilroy - Park Pass - $69.99
Gilroy - Platinum Pass - Not Available at this park.
*** Edited 9/19/2007 8:47:02 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

Just a note on "perceived value" yet again...

Notice that of Jason's list Dorney is the second highest individual park pass cost at $98. I think it is a safe argument to say that Dorney is NOT Cedar Fair's second best/biggest/highest value park, yet you don't hear many Dorney locals complaining about their higher pass price.

Why not?

Because Dorney's passes have always* been a bit higher than most other parks. Because Dorney's pass has always* included parking. Dorney locals are accustomed to it so the addition of parking to the chainwide pass is a perk and not an extra cost. Perceived value indeed. I've also never heard a Dorney family complain about the kids having to pay for parking, either.

- Jeff

* in this case "always" means "at least the last ten years"

I wonder if there's a typo on the Carowinds season pass info page. It says that the parking pass you buy at Carowinds is valid at all Cedar Fair parks. I wonder if this is accurate or a misstatement of the parking pass policy.

The text reads "Purchase a 2008 Parking Pass for 1/2 Price--Only $15.00. Valid at all Cedar Fair Parks beginning 1/1/08." The actual purchase page has the same statement next to the Season Parking Pass link.

http://www3.cedarfair.com/carowinds/special/passinfo/sp_benefits_08.cfm

Now that I just looked at Kings Island's season pass info, it looks like their season parking pass is also valid for all Cedar Fair parks.

"WILL MY 2008 PARKING PASS BE GOOD AT OTHER CEDAR FAIR AMUSEMENT AND WATER PARKS?
Yes. 2008 Parking Passes will be valid at all Cedar Fair amusement parks and water parks (excluding Star Trek the Experience and Castaway Bay indoor Water Park)." *** Edited 9/20/2007 12:26:15 AM UTC by arw84***

There is no parking fee at Castaway Bay.

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Uncle Coaster said:
Just a note on "perceived value" yet again...

Notice that of Jason's list Dorney is the second highest individual park pass cost at $98. I think it is a safe argument to say that Dorney is NOT Cedar Fair's second best/biggest/highest value park, yet you don't hear many Dorney locals complaining about their higher pass price.

Why not?

Because Dorney's passes have always* been a bit higher than most other parks. Because Dorney's pass has always* included parking. Dorney locals are accustomed to it so the addition of parking to the chainwide pass is a perk and not an extra cost. Perceived value indeed. I've also never heard a Dorney family complain about the kids having to pay for parking, either.

- Jeff

* in this case "always" means "at least the last ten years"

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I think it's also because people look at other parks in the other for determining if the price is a ripoff or not rather than other CF parks (not including people who are going to travel to other CF parks). The 2 closest major parks, Hershey ahd GADV charge $110 with free parking and $125 ($80 for a pass, $45 for a parking pass), so Dorney is still less than either of those 2 and with the waterpark included, it makes it the best value.

This should be the last update.

New information is in Bold

I was checking out the other Cedar Fair sites, and it looks like everyone except Kings Dominion is advertising 2008 passes so far. And, Gilroy appears to be selling passes valid at Gilroy only. No Platinum Passes there. Also, despite what some people may have thought, the individual park pass prices are not all the same. Plus a message found on Dorney's site: Upon arrival to any park other than where you purchased your Cedar Fair Platinum Pass, guests may be required to enter the park through Guest Services. All passes at any park except Gilroy Gardens bought before 11-11-07 get the free Cedar Fair jacket. Park passes must be processed at the park of purchace. It appears that Platinum Passes may be processed at any park regardless of the park of purchace.

Kings Dominion - Park Pass - $64.95
Kings Dominion - VIP Pass - $84.95
Kings Dominion - Platinum Pass - $140 Includes VIP benifits
Kings Dominion - Cedar Fair Parking Pass - $40

Cedar Point - Park Pass - $104.95
Cedar Point - Platinum Pass - $140

Kings Island - Park Pass - $84.95 (4 or more $79.95)
Kings Island - Gold Pass - $89.95 (4 or more $84.95)
Kings Island - Platinum Pass - $140 (includes gold benifits)
Kings Island - Parking Pass - $34.95
All Kings Island park passes and gold passes come with free parking if bought before 11-11-07

Canada's Wonderland - Park Pass - $82.51
Canada's Wonderland - Platinum Pass - $154.12
Canada's Wonderland - Parking Pass - $34.20

Great America - Park Pass - $64.95
Great America - Gold Pass - $79.95 Includes Boomerang Bay and Gilroy Gardens (Renewals get free general parking at GA)
Great America - Platinum Pass - $140 Includes Gold Benifits plus Premium Parking at GA only
Great America - Parking Pass - $25

GL / Wildwater Kingdom - Park Pass - Will there even be one?
GL / Wildwater Kingdom - Platinum Pass - $140

Michigan's Adventure - Park Pass - $84.95
Michigan's Adventure - Platinum Pass - $140

Dorney Park - Park Pass - $98
Dorney Park - Platinum Pass - $140

Carrowinds - Park Pass - $64.95
Carrowinds - VIP Pass - $74.95
Carrowinds - Platinum Pass - $140 Platinum Pass will include Carrowinds VIP benifits
Carowinds - 1/2 Price Parking Pass - $15
Carowinds - Parking PAss - $30

Worlds of Fun - Park Pass - $74.95
Oceans of Fun - Park Pass - $69.95
Gold Pass - WOF+OOF - $104.95
Worlds of Fun - Platinum Pass - $140 (includes WOF+OOF Gold Benifits)

Valleyfair! - Park Pass - $79.95
Valleyfair! - Platinum Pass -$140

Although they still do not have the Platinum pass on the site yet, the site was still calling their passes 2007 passes. Though it doesn't say 2008 yet, it no longer says 2007 either. Knotts has their own way of doing things since they aren't seasonal like the rest of the chain.
Knotts - Park Pass - 2008 Pricing not available yet. Although whenever you buy a season pass at Knotts, it's good for 1 year from the date of purchace. It appears that you can buy a season pass at it's current price of $114.95 and still recieve the Cedar Fair Jacket.
Knotts - Platinum Pass - $140 (This is not on the website yet, but I called and they confirmed they are for sale.)
They still list a premium pass for 139.95. It is for the 2 Soak City parks and Knotts. I'd guess they'll just make this the Platinum Pass.

Gilroy - Park Pass - $69.99
Gilroy - Platinum Pass - Not Available at this park.