Cedar Fair water park attendance takes 15% hit

Overall, I'd be disappointed at GL , because CF is too concerned with changing everything, and the visitors are overly frustrated with all the new rules. Go into any of their shops, and you'll see almost nothing being sold. It's not good when they're pushing the 'refillable' containers, because the eateries and drink stands can't sell them. I know it's too early to tell about the impact of GL, but I wouldn't expect a turnaround at the park till at least 2006. No one is is falling for the 'Family Amusement Park' promotion, because the park is charging 30% or more than Six Flags did, yet SF offered so much more for the entire family to do. For what GL is offering as 'family park', ALL prices should have been lowered, but instead the average price of everything went up 35%. The regional market that CF's GL is going after is not the same tourist market that frequents Cedar Point, yet it appears that's what the plan for GL is.

What interests the most is the opening of Castaway Bay, which I'm anxiously awaiting it's opening. Anyone planning on going this coming opening winter? I'll be there for sure!

*** This post was edited by midwave 9/8/2004 1:46:15 AM ***

So what if they're changing the target demographic? If they can get them to come and spend money, I don't think it matters.

Okay, maybe I missed the memo, but didn't CF lower the admisssion price to GL by about $5? Or are we prorating by the number of attractions or some other over analyzation?

And the food prices seemed lower at GL this year as well, I don't see where the "35% higher prices" comment comes from.

87% of all statistics are made up on the spot ...

...and 16% of the people who read the made up statistics will believe them without question.

^ And 100% of those people report what they heard to screamscape.

16% who read statistics believe them without question?

I think that number has got to be higher. Look at the Kerry race...

And look at the Bush race. Millions of people believing we are safer from terrorists.

Park admission went down $5.00, Meals (without drink) were 5.99-6.99 under Six Flags, and are now 6.99-8.99, refills for the reusable mugs were $1.29 are now $2.00, Kids meals were 5.99 are now 6.99.... Guessing game was 3.00 or 2 for $5.00, is now 1 guess for $5.00. That's just some of the examples...(not even mentioning almost NO variety of real food at the park anymore)

I've been to the park 25 times in 4 1/2 years and bring 2 or 3 children each time...how many times have you been there, and paid for how many other guests entire day at the park and made sure they had a wonderful time?

Geauga Lake 2004 - Where was the fun?!?!

Jeff, I agree.....hope it works for them, and when I return in 2007 or 2008 to GLP, maybe they'll have a nice place again :)

Pete, name 1 food price that dropped? Dip N Dots is cheaper, but that's not food! The only prices that went down is non-food and 'memorabilia' , like Dip N Dots and a Geauga Lake brand beach towel, in case you forgot one at home. Basically, the stuff you need to buy (real food) is overly expensive, and the stuff you don't really need and/or don't want is lower.

On a good note, there was little or no wait for anything at the park all year...wonder why...hmmmm

p.s. What happened to the 'extra waterpark weekends' they claimed to be having? Were they referring to Sept. 12th, the day that Progressive Insurance buys the park for their team of regional agents? The waterpark has ALWAYS been open till Labor Day! Can I trust the new park owners/operators to be honest with its' patrons?

Honestly, I wish Paramount bought Geauga Lake!

*** This post was edited by midwave 9/9/2004 1:41:33 AM ***

Chitown, I'd say we are leaps and bounds from where we were pre-9/11 as far as our airport security goes...

Well, I think the burgers went down in price. At least I wasn't stunned at the cost of a burger and fries like I was at SFWoA. Of course, I might just be used to insane prices by now.

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Honestly, I wish Paramount bought Geauga Lake!

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Yeah, because God knows you could predict exactly what they'd do differently.

Progressive Day is for all Cleveland-area Progressive Insurance employees and their guests, not just regional agents. Each employee receives one free ticket and one free parking pass, additional tickets are $16.95 each and additional parking passes are $4. We ran out of tickets at our building last week, so it sounds like the park may be busy on Sunday. I am also under the impression that 2005 GL-only Season passes will be available that day for $34.99. Guests must be present to purchase them, however. I for one won't be going on Sunday. I work with these people 5 days a week... why would I want to see them on the weekends? ;) Ray P. (who is not sure if the waterpark will be open on Sunday or not)

(edit- spelling)
*** This post was edited by ProgRay 9/9/2004 9:16:37 AM ***

That's exactly how I felt about Progressive social outings... :)

CPgenius: I log between 35 and 50 thousand real air miles per year. As far as I can tell, TSA's job is to make people feel safer about flying, as opposed to actually making it safer to fly. They wouldn't likely be able to stop someone who was determined. I have noticed they've been getting better about actually watching the xray monitor. I have also noticed that TSA agents seem to be sensitive to the lines at security, particularly in large airports. When there are people backed up, the agents spend much less time per person/bag.

That said, the president of the National Academy of Engineering gave a talk at UM a few years ago. One of his points was that the next terrorist attack was almost certainly *not* going to use an airplane. Why? Because the passengers know the rules have changed, and will not sit meekly by while the hijackers do what they please.

A theory...

Overall, through August, Geauga lake included CF attendance is up 4%, and without Geauga is down 2%.

If we pretend that this is the end of the year, and those percentages stay the same then... would Geauga have contributed only 732,000 in attendance this year?

Last year overall CF attendance was 12.2 million.... so I'm giving 2% of that to Geauga (since the older parks are down 2%) and then the 4% they are up.

I know that assuming those percentages won't change is dangerous ... but is my math otherwise flawed? 700k?!

Mike

It's true that people won't merely let a plane be hijacked without incident, but that fact alone makes flying safer than it was before, which goes along with my argument against what Chitown had to say. Aside from the civilian response, aren't there air marshals on every flight now?

I'm not going Sunday either, but it still has to be better then the outting at Lake FarmPark two yeara ago...