Freestyle working to establish partnerships, has cash to survive economy

Just took a look at the new FMP website and what can I say? When you're wrong, you're wrong.

I'm not going to concede that it still all feels watered down, but these guys do seem to have exactly the right idea in selling the park if the website is any indication.

In fact, there's an Itineraries page that lists different experiences (grand tour, family affair, etc) that uncannily similar to what I was touching on in the post above this one.

(Why do I keep giving it away for free? ;) )

And on the Inside The Park page, they not only break down the attractions, but also detail the shopping and dining establishments/experiences as well as the shows.

So that's a pretty good start. I think they're handling the park in ways that the old guys botched big time. I wish they'd have kept more of the original vibe inside the park though. I still think the park itself wasn't the issue.

But yeah, I'm not totally against what I see on the website. No desire to return anytime soon, but they're selling what they have correctly and any success the park has will certainly be because of that and the impoved financial situation of the new owners....not because of making it more 'family friendly" or anything like that.

A big step backwards inside the gate and a big step forward everywhere else.

I half expected to see Chris Hansen when I clicked that link, Gonch...lol

Ha!

No, it's an honest "I may have been a bit hasty in my judgement" post.

I like how they've positioned themselves with the website.

Lord Gonchar said:
So it's impossible to understand running a theme park unless you've run a theme park?

Then how does anyone get the job? :)

;) By getting a degree at Devry? Wait... that was the '80s, pre-internet. Umm... Get your Theme Park Management degree from the college in Orlando that offers it? No, no, no... to obvious, not subtle enough... Hmm...

HRP was a fun day of shopping, eating, live music, rides, shows and an immersion into that whole 'rock vibe'.

I'm just finishing up a week in the Smoky Mountains. Substitute "country/bluegrass/gospel" for "rock", and you've just nailed Dollywood perfectly.

Next tactic: give away the gate:

http://tinyurl.com/mt9v6g

This is less than the cost of many FEC admissions!

I wonder if they'll still be running that deal beyond July. I'll be heading there in late August/early September. Still, even $17 a ticket is dirt cheap.

Maybe I should plan a trip down there, I have a place to stay for free.

^^If they'd extend it one week, I sure would take advantage. Have to be up there in Eastern NC for family stuff in early August anyway (and I'm not driving thru GA any more than necessary). ;)

Normally I'd hate this approach, but given the apparent lack of interest in the park (why else do you sell admission for less than $9) - I'm ok with giving away the gate to get people inside and maybe win some of them over. Being as the new guys bought this thing for pennies on the dollar they can weather this kind of thing.

The key is to win people over now if you're going to go that route so that they'll want to show up next year at the $40 price.