Cedar Point Dropping Admission Prices

The fact of the matter is that most fountain soft drinks cost only pennies to produce. Which is why, again, Holiday World's "gift" back to their consumers shows how substantial a gift it really is when you look at the extraordinary markup in soft drink retail prices. On a hot July day, any of us can suck down a 16 ounce soda without even blinking twice.

How many times a day do you think people hit the HW kiosks in between rides?

The parks know this and have deliberately capitalized on same since the beginning of the whole industry.

I'd rather parks stick to their "front-end" price and offer some decent amenities inside, like FREE SODAS and CHEAP LOCKERS!!

BJW

But everybody remembers how much they pay to get in the park. Many even keep their ticket stubs long afterwards. Most also have no clue what they're spending for food, soft drinks, games, souvenirs, etc. I'm sure when we think about it, a lot of us are surprised by how much in park spending we do.

The point is, knowing this, why should the parks change? They'll let people think they're saving at the gate, and get them where they aren't thinking, or at least are spending too quickly to keep track.

I'd rather parks stick to their "front-end" price and offer some decent amenities inside, like FREE SODAS and CHEAP LOCKERS!!

Says the man with the cheap annual pass. ;)

http://cse.umich.edu/

The point is, knowing this, why should the parks change? They'll let people think they're saving at the gate, and get them where they aren't thinking, or at least are spending too quickly to keep track.

Because as the regional economy goes into the crapper, people tend to notice ALL the money they are spending.

Brandon | Facebook

Brian:

Yes, while it's true that I'm guilty of having one of the most affordable Season Passes in the country (SFKK provides a renewal for around $39.99 every year at the local Krogers!!), you have to admit that we coaster enthusiasts more than make up for that by spending a SMALL FORTUNE on merchandising, hats, T-shirts, magnets, cups, etc.

I have a friend who posts here, though, that puts all of us to shame. He spends more on coaster clothes than most of us spend on our regular wardrobes!!!

So, in that respect, most coaster enthusiasts are a boon to a park's economic forecasts!!!

And talk about spreading the word on a new ride: why you couldn't ask for a better reworking of that popular maxim: talk is cheap. Put one enthusiast in a line by himself and he'll have everybody around him travelling half way across the country to God Knows Where to Ride the New Woodie @ a local park called Holiday World. . .

Happy Friday To All!

Barry J.

djDaemon said:
...it would seem that a lower price on 20oz soda would result in dramatically higher sales...I have a strong moral conviction that prevents me from paying that much...Wouldn't a $2 20oz result in dramatically higher sales? I would think so. $2 is reasonable... Heck, I'd probably buy 9-10 pops on a July day if they were $2. At $3, I'll buy maybe 3-5, depending on the circumstances.

I'll back that up.

I re-freakin'-fuse to pay $3 or $3.50 for a soft drink. It's just not worth it to me. When it's that expensive, I'll just drink out of my wife's big ole jug... of water.

On the other hand, when I went to Knoebel's, I must've had about six Pepsis. (and a Birch Beer.)

This isn't only on refreshments, either. I've really found lately that I spend much more when stuff is cheaper. I never buy park t-shirts, but when I was at Dorney they had a bunch of nice ones for $9.99, and I bought two (and a deck of cards for two bucks.)

Hi

Could lowering prices be a response to parks like HW offering freebies? Maybe parks will eventually give away concessions like Vegas in the 80's. Free drinks!

Traditionally among the highest netting items in the food menu's at parks is cotton candy , and fountain drinks. The mark up on the latter tends to be between 300 and 500 percent. Lately they all seem to be pushing the uppper limit, and beyond. True the suppliers have raised the price of post mix syrup. due to the increase in the prices in primarily vanilla and corn syrup, but not hardly enough to justify the prices that are being charged now. Parks aren't the only ones guilty of this, just look what the charge for a large pop at your local multiplex. My opinion is if they lower their profit margin even jsut a little bit, I'd by more dirnks during the course of my day.

check out this interview with cedar fair's
ceo from friday. towards the end of the interview, he admits
that he regrets installing TTD.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4990536 *** Edited 11/7/2005 3:50:03 PM UTC by milo***

Going to parks makes me happy I stopped drinking soda (unless it is socially ;) ) years ago, and that I'm becoming a vegitarian and thusly not eating expensive park food.

Yeah, Milo, I was suprised to hear him say it was the worst business decision he ever made at the park.

--George H

Wow. Worse than Disaster Transport? Interesting.

http://cse.umich.edu/

I think Disaster Transport is something to laugh about (he said as much) but TTD is somethign to cry about. A much larger, more disastrous investment.

Hmmm, so it's Tekno's refusal to pay to eat park food that is robbing the parks of all that income they need to keep putting up bigger and better rides. Thanks a lot! :)

Here's my take on the attendance issue. It may not be so much that people are not coming to come to the park, as much as just not bothering to come back again. What I mean is the family who visited twice last year only came once this year, The person who was there 5 times was only there 3. The passholder who was there once a week, maybe cut back to 5 or 6 times all season. If enough people do that, that adds up to thousands of clicks (or non-clicks) on your turnstiles.

Maybe instead of just looking at how to draw new or former customers, they need to look at how to get the ones who are already visiting to come back more often.

RatherGoodBear said:

Maybe instead of just looking at how to draw new or former customers, they need to look at how to get the ones who are already visiting to come back more often.

I agree with RatherGoodBear . 5 dollars and cotton candy discounts are not a supreme gesture, but I think they want their guest to percieve value. HW, is absolute percieved value free Soft drinks but its enough to bring guest back a few times a season. *** Edited 11/7/2005 5:31:59 AM UTC by nickpa610***