Fast Lane Plus coming to Cedar Point

This is really sad news. I planned to get a season pass, and fastlane this year, just for Cedar Point. I was very excited about going, and planned to go for at least 3 days to get my money's worth. Now, I highly doubt I will go at all. I am not really that surprised though.They have a new ride, that they know is going to have huge lines, low down on capacity to make the lines even longer, and charge out the ass for line cutters! The fact that they have removed the ride from regular fastlane, just is more proof that they care more about profit that guest happiness. I mean seriously, I would think that people buying fastlane alone would be good enough. This just sad.I have said it before, and I'll say it again. Cedar fair is nothing more than a money sponge. They don't give a rats ass if their guests show up or not. And, this is just more proof of how tightly they walk the line of pissing people off.I'll bet at Gatekeeper, they will have lockers to stash your loose items at $10.00 a pop.

Were you planning on buying fast lane every time you went? It seems to me purchasing a fast lane isn't really necessary for a pass holder unless you can only go on busy Saturdays.

Also, how can you say they are pissing people off when attendance and per-cap has been up the past 3 years.

Just an additional comment for those who say that fast lane is not neaded at Cedar Point on some days. Maybe you could give us a heads up on what days to go when it isn't? I have been going to the park every year, minus 2011 and 2012, and every time I have been there, the park is packed.Granted, there are some rides that may have a 15 minute wait, or easy to walk on. But a majority of the really good rides have more than a 1 to 2 hour wait no matter when you go. So, you want to tell us when those slow days are? I would like to know. And, I'm not talking about fastlane either, I'm talking about a regular wait in line.The only rides that don't have long lines, are rides nobody wants to ride anyways. With the Wildcat, Disaster transport, and the space spiral gone, it makes me wonder what the lines will be like now.

Hey Jason, I never go on a Saturday. But, it seems it's busy no matter when you go. I have been there on a Wednesday and Thursday, when crowds were even worse than Saturday. It seems to me the slowest days are only tuesday and Sunday. Fridays and Saturdays are horrible. I don't go to any park on a Saturday. The slowest is mid june during the week, but all it has to do is be sunny and warm, and it's packed.
Also, From all the posts I have seen with people not in favor of this new higher priced fast lane. I would say that a few people are greatly displeased. It certainly has lessened my plans on wanting to give Cedar Fair any more of my money. Though they might still get it, though I'm sure I will be greatly disapointed in doing so. People should be pleased with their purchases and their visits, not question them at every turn. That's all I'm saying.

I said before that I go back and forth on the FastLane and Flashpass issue. I do think that it is frustrating to most people to watch a bunch of people cut in line. I get that, and I don't necessarily love it. Usually. And for a park that I attend frequently, I rarely if ever use FastLane or Flashpass. However, a park like Cedar Point, where I may not get to go again for years, I'll pay an extra fee to improve my experience. You have to remember that the parks may tick off some patrons, but they'll also please a lot of customers who may only get to go to certain places once or twice in their lives (perfect example: I dream of one day getting out to the west and going to SFFT, SFOT, Knotts, Disneyland, USC, Magic Mountain, etc). If I ever get out there, it will likely be twice at the most to hit up all those parks. Will I buy Flashpasses and FastLane on my once (or twice) in a lifetime trip(s)? Absolutely.

Many would argue that planning early in the season trips dispels some of the waits as well, and I would agree with that. Great Adventure in early May is awesomely dead (usually). Dorney doesn't get truly busy until around 4th of July. I would say you could avoid too much of an upcharge if you plan this way. Except for Gatekeeper, I would imagine you'd have no trouble enjoying shorter lines.

Timber-Rider said:

Just an additional comment for those who say that fast lane is not neaded at Cedar Point on some days. Maybe you could give us a heads up on what days to go when it isn't? I have been going to the park every year, minus 2011 and 2012, and every time I have been there, the park is packed.

Sure. Don't go on the days you normally would have...apparently.

Timber-Rider said:

It seems to me the slowest days are only tuesday and Sunday.

Looks like you've already answered your own question.

Timber-Rider said:

The slowest is mid june during the week, but all it has to do is be sunny and warm, and it's packed.

Aw man...I'm picturing Tyler's stick figures running into the park when the sun comes out and running out of the park when a cloud appears again.

I totally get the frustration people have with a park allowing people to cut for a fee. I hate it. Once a park sees the money roll in from this, a conflict of interest is created between profit and guest satisfaction. This *could* cause a park to run their rides at lowered capacity to get people to buy more line cutter passes, and even if that is not the case, it could appear to be the case, which is just as bad.

I am part of the problem, because I will buy the "upgrade" just to keep people from cutting in front of me. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

"What's that over there?"

"That, my friends, is Horse Gravy"

LostKause said:

Once a park sees the money roll in from this, a conflict of interest is created between profit and guest satisfaction.

This works on the assumption that both lie at opposite ends of the spectrum.

And that couldn't be less true for the people buying it. The park gets profit and they get the satisfaction. Win/win.

If the downside (people being pissed) in any way outweighed the upside (the increased satisfaction of those using it) - it'd be gone.

If the argument is profit, then it's simply a shifting business model that caters more towards the higher end. You may lose some customers o the bottom end due to cost and decreased satisfaction, but it's more than made up by customers on the upper end.

It's no different than what already exists (the park covets big spenders, low end customers can't afford to visit). It's merely a redrawing of the lines.

At this point, I think we all understand this is the new face of the park experience. It has been for quite a while. The relevant discussion becomes how to take advantage of the situation on both sides - how to maximize the value of buying in and also how to best work around it if you're not.

Complaining about it is so 2005.

Can we just skip all this junk and get to a point where it costs $450 for a day at a park, only a handful of people are allowed in, and food is included? I mean, it's already working for less than that in Orlando and it'd make me happy.

I voted up Teks post, but thinking about it, I wish that I could take it back.

I remember a time when I was young, and broke. Watching people cut in front of me was torture. Should single mothers and their children, or "broke" college kids be priced out of a one-day trip to the closest theme park? I say nay, even thought it is getting to be that way.

A day at the amusement park - It's still a privilege, not a right.

Just like concerts, fancy electronics, etc. entertainment isn't cheap, and those who are willing to pay more, get more.

I will go through the concert scenario again. I pay $35 a year for pre-presage access to DMB tickets, then I pay $75 a seat for pavilion seats. Is unfair to everyone else who sits in line and only gets lawn, but I choose to pay a bit more because it's worth it to me.

Timber-Rider said:

Now, I highly doubt I will go at all... Cedar fair is nothing more than a money sponge... They don't give a rats ass if their guests show up or not.

Don't be dramatic. Listen to yourself.

Raven-Phile said:

Is unfair to everyone else who sits in line and only gets lawn, but I choose to pay a bit more because it's worth it to me.

Except it's not unfair for those people--because they didn't choose to pay more. That's exactly why it is fair.

Tekwardo said:

Can we just skip all this junk and get to a point where it costs $450 for a day at a park, only a handful of people are allowed in, and food is included? I mean, it's already working for less than that in Orlando and it'd make me happy.

Other than Orlando (and maybe NYC/Vegas/LA) - I don't know that you could go much over $100 and do it. Reminds me of Cartmanland - if you want a variety of rides, food, bathrooms, shows, etc., you need a lot of people coming thru the gates to turn enough money to keep all of that operational. Obviously, Discovery Cove works. I just think you're at *about* 100 bucks per person per day before you lose so many guests that your business doesn't have enough customers to remain sustainable. Obviously, letting people in at around 40-50 then charging them for food, drinks, games, etc., means that you can get the low-end guests in, even if you're not making too much off of them, to help defray the fixed-cost expenses.

Why do I feel like we had this discussion when Discovery Cove opened?

Using fast lane is like ped's in baseball except that it's not illegal.

That's the point I was gonna make!

Actually, I suspect you use "peds" to make your sprints when the gates open. ;-)

This post is not about Fast Lane...

Discovery Cove is on my radar. If you are planning to visit other Busch parks in the area, it is a GREAT DEAL! Upon figuring out the pricing recently, I found that they allow admission to Sea World and Aquatica for two weeks with your admission to DC, which is about $300. You can add Busch Gardens Tampa to that two week ticket for $20 more. So for around $320, you get 4 parks during your entire vacation. SHHHH... Don't tell anyone. :)

I mean, you could easily spend a month in Central Florida to see everything, with four Disney parks, the Busch parks, all the water parks and other Orlando attractions. And then there is the beach.

I need to get back there soon.

The included two week pass for the other parks was the overwhelming reason I went to Discovery Cove two years ago. I went in mid February (way off-peak season) and scored the tickets for $110, which was barely more than I would have paid for a single day at Busch Gardens, which I was going to anyway, and at the time they weren't charging the $20 extra for the BG ticket. Very much worth it, and Discovery Cove is an awesome park. Plus, just walking up and grabbing food and beer without busting out a wallet is a pretty sweet experience.

I'm no fan of the pay to cut systems, but it's clear they are here to stay. Charging extra for Gatekeeper+TTD is a definite no brainer, I'm surprised they not charging more than $15 to add those rides. Unlike what I've seen at Six Flags, I've not seen CF allow their operations to get shoddy after implementing the FL system, so I don't think that's a valid concern.

Timber-Rider said:

But a majority of the really good rides have more than a 1 to 2 hour wait no matter when you go. So, you want to tell us when those slow days are?

Sounds to me you're suffering from what I like to call the sheep effect. The crowd flow is pretty easily predictable at CP, and if you follow along with the crowds, you can certainly end up in long waits all day, even on the less busy days.

CP Chris said:

I'm no fan of the pay to cut systems, but it's clear they are here to stay. Charging extra for Gatekeeper+TTD is a definite no brainer, I'm surprised they not charging more than $15 to add those rides. Unlike what I've seen at Six Flags, I've not seen CF allow their operations to get shoddy after implementing the FL system, so I don't think that's a valid concern.

That last part is fair.

I want to comment on the extra $15 charge. I think it's a great idea, and probably necessary due to popularity and capacity. The trick to pay-to-cut systems is to make it as painless as possible to those who are not using it, and yet make it worthwhile enough for those who do.

I still think that the whole Fast Lane thing is under-priced though.