CoasterBuzz Podcast #199 posted
Posted
Jeff, Carrie, Mike and Gonch review this week's news in the amusement industry.
- CoasterBuzz has a Windows Phone 7 app. Check it out.
- Carrie went to Tennessee for the New Year. Did the Dollywood holiday thing, found Thunderhead to be just OK. Doesn't mind saying that she's not that interested in riding in bad weather.
- Holy Land in Orlando comes off as completely strange to many.
- The Cedar Fair vs. Q Investments saga continues, with mudslinging worthy of a political campaign. Jeff asks who is lying about the Falfas situation: termination or resignation?
- Experts say Freestyle Music Park won't reopen. Really?
- Disney's queue management isn't just Fastpass, it's getting the crowds to go where there's excess capacity, even if that means parades.
- Disneyland and DCA close on two days because of crazy attendance.
- Knott's sells "Hate to Wait" passes, as the premium virtual queue comes to a Cedar Fair park. Doesn't seem like a particularly good deal to us.
- Dudley Doo-Right catches fire at Islands of Adventure. It's a water ride.
- Fun Spot expands on International Drive. Mike thinks the karts look cool. Jeff says try the electric carts if they exist near you.
- Block Party Bash retired at Disney Hollywood Studios.
- Zamperla gets fined for tearing down Shoot The Freak. So goes the Coney Island "character."
- If you get photographed at a park, deal with it. You pretty much have no rights in said public place.
- Disney prices go up on both coasts for the locals. Gonch says they apparently stayed the same in Orlando for the better part of a decade.
- Conneaut Lake Park begs for more money from Pepsi. We all say "I told you so." Just let the place die peacefully.
- Cedar Fair attendance up significantly, we suspect it has a lot to do with the Halloween events, combined with the big cap ex in the southern parks.
- Legoland Florida is selling a lifetime pass. Only $2,500!
- Mike saw Tron. He thought it was cool.
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I've seen the (valid?) point made that Disney's system is unfair to those who prefer to sleep in. That's a system you can't buy your way around - well, I'm sure there's SOME way you could get unlimited FPs, but it's not commonly available. The point is every "system" discriminates...somehow.
While Disney's "free" FP system indeed is not an upcharge system, let's compare what I just paid the Mouse for 2011 compared to my CF Platinum....or a day ticket to any CF park vs. any Disney park. Nothing is free - everyone just charges you differently. And tries to offer the product mix that will generate the greatest income from their particular demographic.
The trick is finding the appropriate mix of what park/chain X offers at what price, and what you personally find "value" in. There are many people who would love an amusement park with just parades and shows and "attractions" without any rides at all. Others would be totally happy with a parking lot containing 8-10 thrill rides. Find enough people in your target demographic with the right demand curve offering the "services" that meet the most people's wants/needs - you generate more profits than the Underpants Gnomes.
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
Jeff said:
For all the negatives people concoct, especially for Disney's Fastpass, I never find that any of them are worse than the alternative: My ass standing in a long line.
And I understand that 100%. My problem with any front-of-the-line system is that it make all of the waits longer, because more people are taking up the same space as two or more people in all of the lines.
This topic is complicated. :p
Edit to add - or maybe not. I've gone cross-eyed with this subject.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
^ At Disney, it makes all the standby lines longer - but Fastpass is available to everyone, for free.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Travis, you've talked yourself into a nonsensical argument. The lines are not longer, ever. The capacity of the rides does not change, ever. The only thing that changes is where people are standing. I don't understand why you refuse to accept this.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
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