Cedar Fair Season Pass Announcement Soon

Sure seems like the Maxx ought to be the same price and available at all CF properties. Maybe PCW isn't offering it because they still haven't figured out that pesky exchange rate business? :)

I suppose PKI starts season pass sales so early because the buyouts wipe out three of the weekends in September, but you'd think decisions on passes would be in place for all the parks before any start selling.

Trivia:
What was the first park to make its season passes valid at other parks?

Answer: Geauga Lake
(along with Wyandot Lake and Darien Lake, of course)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Update:

Kings Island has posted a note on their season pass page that:

"2007 Season Passes are currently unavailable for sale via web, phone or at the park. Please check this web site periodically for updates as they become available. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience."

So don't go running to the park tommorow if your only reason for going is to have Cedar Fair Maxx Pass #000001

Add to that condrum, Canada's Wonderland had already opened up their on line store for pass sales and they have abruptly halted taking season pass orders.

Might there be a "Let's rethink our season pass strategy" meeting going on as we speak up in Sandusky?

^Or to that end is there some CF executives that lurk or dare I say it post here?

Edit-wrong "there/their" *** Edited 8/26/2006 1:09:33 AM UTC by Touchdown***

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Coasterville Dave said:Update:Might there be a "Let's rethink our season pass strategy" meeting going on as we speak up in Sandusky?

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I think that meeting should have been ADJOURNING about a month or two ago...somehow, hasn't happened *yet*. Hints, allegations, and things left unsaid... ;)

...And to think this all started, probably just because a park spokesman in Mason was trying to do her job, break the bad news to the press, and soften the blow with an announcement about something very positive and the start of season pass sales.

Does this sound like the initial Cedar Fair CF up at Geauga Lake all over again, with all the on-again, off-again handling of the old Six Flags promotional deals? 'Gator, you're right about that meeting SHOULD have adjourned about a month ago, but it seems obvious to any of us who have been watching the company for a while that Cedar Fair doesn't work that way.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Yep. Really bush-league. I understood some of the confusion about handling GL, just because there was a very short time between the purhcase and the new season. Not so here. It's been, what, three months since the agreement was reached, and nearly two months since it closed?

Edited to remove the quote I didn't need.

*** Edited 8/26/2006 2:52:49 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

Arent we being a little to demanding though? There are over six months until the first parks in the CF chain open for the 2007 season. Frankly, my bet is that figuring this quandry out has been a long way down the totem pole from other issues such as meshing buracracies, park ops, SOB, etc.

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RideMan said:Am I the only one who thinks that if Cedar Fair comes up with a deal that includes admission and parking at all three Ohio parks for less than $259 it might be considered a pretty good deal?

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If the Maxx Pass price goes from $125 to $258.99, two things are certain:

CF execs do read this board.

Rideman is in hot water. ;) *** Edited 8/26/2006 3:45:09 PM UTC by BogeyMon***

I too think that except for the Ohio area, not too many people except coaster enthusiasts use season passes at a myriad of other (non-local to them) parks.

Six Flags was a great deal for a while for my family when you get could get cheap season passes at other parks and use them at your home park. I started the season 2 years ago at SFOG with a $69 season pass and used it at my home park SFGAm all season. Not to mention a quick trip to Wyandot Lake (glad I got that in when I did).

PKI was also a deal for me 2 years ago. We planned a later-in-the-season 3 day trip there and the gold season pass was cheaper than buying tix each day. Plus we got the bonus ride coupons and preferred parking.

I have been buying the CP/GL season passes for 2 years now, and would probably do the same, or this Maxx pass (depending on the price). I typically do two 4 day trips a year there. My issue is that sure, I may or may not use the season passes at other parks, but get with the technology. I can not stand the guest services visit and note taking task in order to get into the parks. I could buy a cheaper season pass at another CF park, but I can't get in early to Cedar Point as a resort guest without having to go to the front of the park.

Again, this is an example of the angst that probably only a coaster enthusiast may have, but wouldn't the money spent on the technology allowing any CF season pass to just go through the gate allow the CF execs to get a better sense (immediately) of how many people use different passes at their parks each year, and then enable them to adjust their prices accordingly in following years. I would think that if this Maxx pass is something that they think will sell, how about having the technology to track the usage?

Funny, now that I think about it, many coaster enthusiasts may actually like the idea of visiting guest relations at a new park prior to their entrance :)

Whatever season pass strategy they offer, I know I will always have to get the CP season pass (or CP as the home park season pass) in order to get my early entrance at the back of the park each morning (it's much less of a run to TTD) until they have the technology in place to just allow me immediate access with another park's season pass.

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ltlbat said:
I could buy a cheaper season pass at another CF park, but I can't get in early to Cedar Point as a resort guest without having to go to the front of the park.

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Since when has that been true? I havent stayed at the resort in 3 years but back then I could use my WOF/OOF or my VF (depending on the year) pass at the beach magnum or marina entrance no problem. They all have those clip boards, in fact I havent entered through the main entrance (excpet when I went with a bus group) since my first visit to the Point.

I am talking about Resort guests early admittance to the park before it's open to the gp.

Have you tried this on a Friday afternoon during HalloWeekends?

On one of our trips we lucked out when two of our friends who did not have tickets to get in to the park and wanted to buy them (but couldn't due to the ticket office not being open) were given extra tickets by another resort guest so they could get in at the same early time as us. After that, we just kept buying the non-season-pass-holders their tickets at the campground.

If the ticket office is not open early for resort guests to buy tickets at, how could they possibly be able to write down a season pass number and allow me access?

Also, if they were there (which they have not been on numerous of my trips), wouldn't you have to wait in line at the ticket office in the back to provide them your non CP Season pass information? Who wants to wait in line for that? You are there early for a reason -- to be one of the first in the park and be one of the first on a ride. You are not there to wait in yet another line to make up for the lack of thier technology in tracking seaosn pass usage from other parks.

My point is that the season pass technology would be useful in many ways. It would provide immediate statistics to CF about how many other season passes visited. And again, never having to deal with an extra line or guest relations is a bonus to me. *** Edited 8/26/2006 6:22:52 PM UTC by ltlbat***

^I dont disagree with your premise, I do think that scaning would be easier, however I have never steped foot in CP's Season Pass Center. At the beach, magnum, and marina enterance everytime I went they had a little clipboard where they would record your SP Serial Number, circle which park you were from and have you print your name. Once you did that you were free to enter early, provided you had that orange paper ticket or your room key to prove you were a resort guest.

Everytime I've stayed at the resorts with a non-CP pass, I show up for early entry at the Magnum entrance at the last minute and take a silent, smug satisfaction in the fact that I don't have to stand in that long line that stretches deep, but rather just slip up into the little booth alongside the gate and am in the park in a matter of seconds. If they scanned passes I'd have to wait there with everyone else.

However, with that exception, most of the time the scanning of passes would be simpler than stopping guest relations at any given CF park - although admittedly, it's never really be a hassle, nor slowed us down by more than a few moments.

Those with CP Season passes can usually bypass that hideous line too---they segregate paper ticket and pass entry lines. The season pass entry line at Resorts gate is on the far right.

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Arent we being a little to demanding though?

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If it were just a matter of not announcing anything for another several weeks, that would be one thing (and, IMO, okay). But, for parks to advertise prices and sales dates, and (in PCW's case) open a web order form, only to defer the sales date and pull down the web page, looks very unprofessional.

We have an upate!

PKI's season pass page is back online with MORE options than even before!

So far your options:

A) PKI ONLY - Adult - $74.95
B) PKI Only - Jr./Sr. - $49.95
C) Maxx - Adult - (good at all CF RIDE parks) - $125
D) Maxx - Jr/Sr - $79.95
E) Maxx PLUS - Adult - (All Maxx benefits, plus waterparks and Bofante Gardens) - $149.95
F) Maxx PLUS - Jr/Sr - $79.95

(Anoyone notice Jr/Sr Maxx and Maxx PLUS are priced the same)

No word on parking pass prices, or if renewals get courtesy parking next year. No mention of Gold for that matter.

Descriptions of passes:
The best entertainment value around just got better! Now, there are three great Season Pass options to choose from:

#1 -- KINGS ISLAND SEASON PASS

* Enjoy over 80 rides, shows & attractions, including the award winning Nickelodeon Universe and the award winning Boomerang Bay Water Park Resort! Get unlimited admission for the rest of the 2006 season and all of the 2007 season.

#2 -- CEDAR FAIR MAXX PASS – NEW!

* A Cedar Fair Maxx Pass gives passholders access to Paramount's Kings Island for the rest of the 2006 season, and all of the 2007 season! PLUS, this pass also gives guests access to all 12 Cedar Fair ride amusement parks (including 3 in Ohio) for the 2007 season, including:

Paramount's Kings Island - Cedar Point - Geauga Lake - Knott's Berry Farm - Dorney Park - Valleyfair - Worlds of Fun - Michigan's Adventure Paramount's Carowinds - Paramount's Kings Dominion - Paramount's Great America - Canada's Wonderland

#3 -- CEDAR FAIR MAXX PLUS PASS – NEW!

* Upgrade your Maxx Pass to the better, wetter, version and you’ll enjoy access to the same great parks listed above PLUS all five of the separately gated Cedar Fair water parks:

Knott’s Soak City: Buena Park, Palm Springs and San Diego - Oceans of Fun - Cedar Point Soak City - Bonfante Gardens

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In other news:

Canada's Wonderland's season pass page is back up, it is the same as before, no park hopping, and no chance to buy a Maxx Pass.

Carowinds and Great America have ended 2006 pass sales online, and will be announcing soon

PKD still selling 2006 passes.

Valleyfair has also announced their pass program
$74.95 gets you Valleyfair Only
$10 more for the Cedar Fair Maxx PAss upgrade.
(no mention of the Cedar Fair Maxx Plus upgrade)

Oh, and Valleyfair says they will be opening up web sales of SP soon, is Internet sales for passes a new thing for Cedar Fair?

I love the 2nd,3rd,4th,and 5th post.That is one of the dumbest arguements ever. Who cares what they call it!!! Oh but I forgot when it comes to Cedar fair better get it right or else. *** Edited 9/3/2006 12:45:02 AM UTC by BG Nut*** *** Edited 9/3/2006 12:45:37 AM UTC by BG Nut***

Michigans Adventure has them up now also:

http://www.michigansadventure.com/spass.shtml

Looks like there's a new CP/MA combo pass for $105. *** Edited 9/3/2006 1:02:41 AM UTC by ~BRIAN~***

Come on CP, when are you going to follow suit (and please let them be good for Halloweekends too.) Im kind of suprised that they didnt add an extra $50 to the MAXX Passes and throw in free parking at CF parks.

Kings Dominion now has their announcement up, too. Among the various options (depending on age), a Kings Dominion-only pass for $64.95, and a Cedar Fair Maxx pass for $89.95. In many ways, it's good to have the option, even though passes purchased last year were in the mid $60's range, and included all Paramount Parks. I realize that now they've added the CF parks as well, and that a BGW pass is about $88.00 - if purchasing 4, I believe - and includes ONLY BGW, for comparison. For most locals, PKD's passes are used only at PKD. In fact, LOTS of locals have a pass, and I know many people who don't realize it's been good at other Paramount Parks, and they don't know anything about other Paramount Parks. So the the one-park only pass is surely a good thing for them. The bonus? It includes free parking and FearFest for renewing passholders.

Bob Hooley