Cedar Fair to buy SFWoA

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Jeff said:

and Geauga Lake could potentially have thousands of dual-pass holders in any given day. The park's are barely ninety minutes apart.

So what's not fair about a dual-park pass price? *** Edited 3/11/2004 1:49:52 AM UTC by Jeff***

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That's an interesting point that seems to be forgotten. What is the shortest distance between two parks that have reciprocity based on a season pass before today? This is a very unusual situation that will have to be dealt with and I doubt if reprocity is something that can easily be handed out just because the two parks are owned by the same company now.

Hmmmm. Closest I can find is Great Escape in Lake George NY and La Ronde in Montreal at about 163 miles.

Of course, there are some branded SF parks and some really small properties closer to each other, but c'mon. That's just splitting hairs.

Point taken. On the other hand, there's still no getting around the fact that people who do drive 4-5 hours away to another park--and they aren't all enthusiasts--are gonna be a little burned.

-'Playa

Putting it that way Jeff, I understand now. I guess I just don't want to pay more (who would haha) because I purchase a CP season pass for usually two three day trips (and probably a total of one day would be spent at GL)...but I must agree, it's very easy for a local to access both parks regularly.

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What is the shortest distance between two parks that have reciprocity based on a season pass before today?

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Half-jokingly:

Disneyland and DCA. Maybe 50 yards from one gate to the other. Their attempt *not* to provide reciprocity ended in total disaster.

Still don't see the point in not allowing CF passes to be used at GL.

If anything, get the CP loyalists into the park and make an impression. Also, increased in-park spending would most likely happen as well.

Without doing this, what is the incentive to visit (at least for this year)? SF didn't add anything new, the park for the last few years has a rep for being poorly operated, and the animals are now gone. Unless current 2004 SFWoA pass holders can get into other SF parks, they will probably go in opting for the full refund thus losing their business as well.

They (CF) are just not enticing people in for this year. I know CF has little time to act with things this year, but the pass situation can be a split second decision that pleases most people. *** Edited 3/11/2004 2:50:54 AM UTC by Chitown***

Still Stunned and its almost 10pm!!

Sending Bill Sphen down will definately get things going in the right direction,

Wont effect anything at CP, there is always protege at that park in waiting

I still cant believe my 02 WoA visit, an Op on a cell phone while on the platform, X flight one train operation in the middle of June, and they where moving like molasses, sure flyers have issues on loading but it shouldnt take that long. Not a drinking fountain in sight, and worst food service then at High School.

Who ever got the parks in Europe, Jesus what a deal *** Edited 3/11/2004 3:00:07 AM UTC by Sharpel007***

I think I'll have to agree. Six Flags converted the Busch passes to SF passes when it bought Sea World. In that deal, you got Busch and SF in one pass. I would think that something similar would be done with CF/GL. However, I can see the point of not allowing GL passes at CP or vice versa. As close as these parks are, who would want to pay $90 for a CP pass when you get in for $50 with a GL pass?? I could see that GL passes being good at every other CF park, but to avoid undercutting themselves, some sort of restriction with CP is necessary.

Scott, who already has a processed SFWoA pass, CP pass, and an unprocessed SFWoA pass thanks to a company buyout last year :)

I think they should give people that have SFWoA entry to all CF parks and also entry to GL. I mean, there are only so many people that have passes and they are the loyal guests that bought them earlier in the season because they were anticipating a season at SFWoA. They took advantage of the cheap passes. I don't think CF would lose that much money if those 2,000 or so people (if that) came into CP and purchased food, played games, and bought other things. I guess we just need to wait for more details. I'm going to bed - this was too much for me.

On the Animal front. It will take them at least a year to get animals for that section of the park. Any new animals will have to go through a 30 to 90 day quarantine period at the park, let allow collection planning and finding individual animals to aquire. It took Disney's Animal kingdom over 2 years to get animals for park opening. That is why the animal part of the park will not be open in 2004 *** Edited 3/11/2004 3:27:49 AM UTC by otterkpr***

They went further than that otterkpr. The animal park is completely gone for good.

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Chitown said:
Still don't see the point in not allowing CF passes to be used at GL.

If anything, get the CP loyalists into the park and make an impression. Also, increased in-park spending would most likely happen as well.

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...And continue making the same mistake Six Flags made by giving away the gate. Not a good plan.

Well, I have a SFWOA season pass. Since it was a renewal, I have a two-year old photo on it already and they sent me a new plastic pass. I'm going to Texas next week, so I'm going to try it at the Six Flags Texas parks. I'll will let everyone know if it works or not. If all else fails, I'll buy a new one and get a refund on my old one. All I need is a new mugshot.

I see where you are coming from Jeff, but I am talking about this initial season of getting guests through the gate by any means to kick off the new ownership and show that a change in the right direction is going on.

In the long run (2005 and beyond) you know that CF will most likely put GL on the list of all CF parks and their policy of season passes being good at all of them.

Giving a ridiculously good deal that won't be around the next year will just piss-off people. Also not a good plan.

I suspect that there will be a combo pass, or just a higher priced pass for both parks.

Does anyone else think that from an enthusiast's perspective, this sucks?

-The Park loses it's animal park(and some cute little penguins).

-The park might lose rides to MIA and others.

-The theming that was there in the park will get strpped to the bone.

-The people who have SFWOA passes can only use those passes at that park(from my understanding).

-And finally but maybe off, the park will gain guests, meaning longer lines.

I mean, I don't like it all.

And a question: Will RWB's retracking be finished, or will it be Two-Face the ride again?

It's pretty much a given that GL's pass prices for 2005 and later will be increased.

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loriu said:

Call me kooky, it would just show good will toward pass holders.

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Oh, I agree entirely. I used almost those exact same words in two of my gazillion season pass posts and I agree.

But, I do understand how 'last minute' this whole thing is and I'll use another word that I used in a few posts:

Transitional

The 2004 season is transitional at best. It will be nuts, quick decisions are being made and things are extremely rushed.

I'd expect almost all the rules for this year to fly out the window come 2005.

And I still think there won't be nearly the backlash on the season pass thing that many of you guys seem to expect to see.

I'd say most of the issues brought up (with the exception of the loss of the wildlife side) will be resolved, changed or taken care of by the time opening day 2005 is here.

You know, this might explain a few reasons why the animals and the themeing are leaving:

1. LA Ronde- getting flagged
2. Frontier City- getting a major Petting Zoo for the 04` season.

Why Frontier City is beyond us, there`s no where to put this MAJOR PETTING ZOO!!!! the park just got a million $$$$$ upgrade for Eruption and a few other improvements. MAybe Gary Story saw that the OK City Zoo just installed a 30,000 sqare ft. Jungle Gym for famies and their just over 2 miles away from Frontier City itself. Gary Story lives shere in Oklahoma somewhere......

Who knows.....

....kinda agree with Chi about getting the *CP loyalists* INTO the gates at CF:GL, even if just the once.

Jeff, while I agree that SFI makes a mistake in "giving away the gate" overall (as evidenced by the pricing of other chains' SPs), I think CF could take the one-time hit in admission fees AND create a better overall rep by offering the gate to CP passholders for '04. When the people of northern Ohio (and there are WAY too many of 'em, LOL) see how things have changed, they'll be more than willing to shell out for the weeklong "parkhoppers" from '05 to infinity and beyond. CP will be the destination park in the chain, and CF corners the biggest "thrill park" market in the world...

Guess I have to cancel my extended weekend in June since my SF and CF passes will not work. Due to this situation I hope I can get my deposit back from the campground their. I personally think all other cf passes should be honored there. I think that you would get a lot of interest from CP pass holders to come and check out the park. I do agree about not letting GL passes good at CF parks because of the price difference.