Geauga Lake Just Raised The Parking Price!

Hello Coaster Fans Who Are Now Trying To Figure Out What Theme Parks Are Open On The Weekdays,

This is now the season for the BIG annual Octoberfest at Geauga Lake. This is tradionally the biggest and one of the best weekends for Geagua Lake/SFWoA. Last year A TON...and I mean a TON of people were there. They have SOOooo many food stands it makes a fair seem like nothing. It's definetly worth checking out.

Two things that concern me this year. The park was BEYOND dead yesterday. There were probably 6 employees for every one guest. It was a ghost town. Perfect weather, lots of food, and great rides...yet nobody was there? I cant' help but wonder if GL should have promoted this event? Last year, SFWoA did...and it worked VERY well for them. I hope GL, keeps this in this event in their long term plan goals. I don't know if they will. They cancelled, the big Bikerfest event that SFWoA started last year...which I though was a lot of fun, and good publicity. Anyway, get to this event, it's awesome.

The second, and biggest thing is; Parking is now $9!!!! I have a pass, but this doesn't seem right, to do at the end of the year. The only thing, I can think of is, that GL knows Octoberfest and The Haunt are (generally speaking) the "Big" days for the park. I have a feeling, A LOT of people are going to be towed from accross the street. I don't really understand, going from $8 to $9 at this time of year.

Remember the park is closed on 9-12-04 for progresive also. If you want to ride A LOT of things with walk on rides, eat A TON of food and beer...now is the time to go.

On another note, I wonder what's up with this park raising the parking prices this time of year? By "The Park" I mean park in general, because SFO and SFWoA did this same thing. SFO raised it three times in one year, and SFWoA usually raised it once in the middle. SFWoA then lowered it back down the next year, and than raised it back up towards the very end of the year. GL has now raised it to $9 and when SFO went from (I think) $7 to $8 to $9 I know that got A LOT of people upset. That's why I'm kind of suprised to see GL do this, at a time they want to get people to the park.
*** Edited 9/11/2004 2:19:04 PM UTC by RollerCoasterGod***

I was there last night also and have to say it was quite depressing to wander the midways during Oktoberfest and hardly see any guests. In my opinion, Oktoberfest worked so well because of the big crowds, the food, the beer slides, the entertainment, etc. Take out the crowds and it kind of ruins the effect. When I came off the Big Dipper, I felt sorry for one of the entertainers at the stage in that area. He was performing in front of a bunch of empty seats. And the Beer Slide people were literally begging for people to come and give it a try.

The parking increase was a slight thorn in my side. I did not see the sign on the window that said "$9", so I handed the guy at the parking booth $8. The guy looked through my money, realized I only gave him $8, gave me a dirty look and said "Nine dollars". I replied "Oh, it went up?" His response- "Nine dollars". I said "That's nice", dug into my wallet for an extra buck, and then the parking guy threw a brochure and my parking ticket (which is still marked $8) at me. I said "It's Gonna Be Fun!" as I went to park next to one of the 12 cars in the parking lot.

I still enjoyed my time at the park. Oktoberfest is always a great time to visit the park. I just hope other people realize that soon...

Ray P. *** Edited 9/11/2004 2:26:47 PM UTC by ProgRay***

Perhaps they didn't promote it because they don't want to have it anymore. I'm not sure I'd want all of those outside vendors getting the money that I would prefer to have.

The parking fee might be a crime, but it's not like you have a lot of choice to not pay it. At least they tell you where to park now!

I was wondering if they didn't want to have it anymore, but at the same time, I was wondering if they had any contracts signed with anyone? But at the same time, they have been promoting, inside the park (not on TV like last year). Right when you go up to the park, they have this HUGE The Haunt set up outside the gate, and right when you walk in the gate, they have had a dead center very nice Oktoberfest display. And the maps, and website has had it. I kind of wonder if this was one of those "We better keep it to keep the locals happy" moves ;)

I remember Six Flags having some pretty disturbing "props" during their Halloween thing.

I still have nightmares about the tricycle under the ice cream truck with the fake blood splattered everywhere in front of the Big Dipper.......sick! lol.

-Tina

*** Edited 9/11/2004 6:49:22 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Jeff, I know what you're trying to say but if we need people telling us where to park in a marked parking lot, well, that's just sad. And not worth an extra buck, IMO.

But then again, 2 weeks ago at Dorney, despite a half-dozen or so parking attendants in the lot, I witnessed two vans (with NY plates but I'll not comment further on that...) drive up and over a grassy median and zig zag through the lot against the flow of traffic trying to figure out the complex parking procedures required of theme park guests. I guess the idiot meters at the booths were DDM that day?

Driving near Youngstown on the way home from Pitssburgh a week ago, I heard a radio ad for Oktoberfest and it sounded like a blast. I don't know what SF did in terms of advertising but why would GL chooses to sponser the event and then NOT advertise when it sounds like they could use a few more bodies through the turnstyles after this most recent summer season. Wouldn't this event be a good chance to folks in the gates and build word of mouth and expectations for next year? Of course, have no idea what a media blitz in NE OH goes for these days, either.

IMO, have it or don't have it. Just don't ignore it.

Cedar Point parking also jumped to $9 yesterday.

How about that body in the jaws of the shark at the log flume, lol.

I was there last night. And I just got back from there, it's a little busier today, but still low crowds for Oktoberfest.

And I can't wait til next week for Coastermania. *** Edited 9/11/2004 11:08:18 PM UTC by RaptorMike***

I was also at Geauga Lake yesterday and was also upset with the parking price. I found it strange that even though the venders were set up selling food that Geauga Lake had most of their Food/Games stands closed for the entire. I noticed that they also got a new cup(for $9 that is) but it's way nicer than that white one they had. The Black Widow on the Wildlife side was completely removed. I wonder if there moving it over to the rides side. They need more non-coaster rides at the park. Not to complain but they have more coaster than other rides I think.

WEll that's all for now i guess. Ovverall i had a good time, but once again Cedar Fair got alot of work ahead of them.

I agree, its wrong, but they figure since its a BIG event for them they can charge a little extra for parking its not that big of deal they could use all they can get. I wouldn't wan't to pay, but I would just for the experience to see if its worht it all.

Another thing, the holding brake on SV isn't working. They said it's broke, I just hope it isn't a permanent thing.

Otherwise, it just ruins a great ride.

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IBsteve said:
Jeff, I know what you're trying to say but if we need people telling us where to park in a marked parking lot, well, that's just sad.

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So I'm guessing you never tried to park in the chaos that was the SFWoA lot?

When thousands of cars need to be parked, a free-for-all doesn't work. I realize that Geauga Lake is obviously not having that problem, but amusement parks need traffic control.

Tina mentioned the Ice Cream Truck prop that SFWoA had set up on the 50's Midway. That ranks as one of the best props I have ever seen for Halloween. At night, they'd have a guy inside the truck and a bloodied kid lying motionless on the front. Of course, hilarity ensued when unsuspecting guests would approach the truck! It was fun just to sit back and watch how many people would fall for the gag.

While riding the exceptionally rough Villain last night, I noticed what appeared to be that same ice cream truck in the boneyard... however it has been painted blue with multi-colored polka dots on it. If they do use it, it won't be used like it was last year. I'm guessing it may even be used inside the Clown themed haunted house. They already have a VW Bug inside there (according to the park's Halloween Haunt construction page), so why not a multi-colored truck? :)

Ray P. (who now wonders if the parking increase was a chain-wide thing since Walt mentioned CP's is up to $9 as well)

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Jeff said:
So I'm guessing you never tried to park in the chaos that was the SFWoA lot?

When thousands of cars need to be parked, a free-for-all doesn't work. I realize that Geauga Lake is obviously not having that problem, but amusement parks need traffic control.

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Yep. Three times last year at WoA. I had no trouble. But I'm extra super-duper smart so there ya go. ;)

I agree that some parks absolutely need traffic control (personally, I think parking at PKI is a disaster and I'm grateful for the direction but I don't visit there enough to know the parking ropes there) but at a park like GAm, staffers in the lot would be a waste of labor. In fact, it would infuriate me while watching one ride op on just about every flat.

Maybe some of that excessive parking fee should be spent on parking lot re-design so any idjut can do it easily...and safely?

I just heard that parking went up to $8 at Valleyfair. So this is a CF thing. Why can't they wait until next season to increase prices like in the good old days?? Especially a park like GL who was having attendence problems they don't need to gouge people. At least HW is run by people who are NOT greedy. No wonder why they see massive increases in attendence! The parking increases @ VF does not affect me (I have a parking pass) but the regular GP is getting screwed badly and unlike some people I do give a flying bleep about other people (except for unfair uncaring people) and their needs besides my own self! *** Edited 9/12/2004 4:42:27 AM UTC by Pink Floyd Fanatic***

Maybe the parking fee will come with a free t-shirt that says "I got screwed at an amusement park before I even got inside!" That's just wishful thinking. I want one... :^\

+Danny ;)

lol...nice one danny. Was up at the park last night and today, and yes Friday was dead, probaby due to high school football games. Most fo the rides were only running one train, and everything was basicaly a walk on. The only thing I found that was kind of stupid was having only 'one' person checking restraints on X-Flight.

Today, there was a good size crowd there. Not to many people doing the beer slides over by Villain, but if anyone tried it, there would be a crowd watching the person. There was a lot of GL marketing people walking around the park last night and today. Just wondering if they're thinking about adding something like this up at CP or what to add/get rid of for next year

As far as promoting the event, there's been an oktoberfest commerical played once a day here on the local channels and the raise in the parking price, is a crock. Though it was a misprint on the sign friday night, but when my friend and I went up today, we noticed it wasn't a misprint.

Well, least this year there's two weeks of oktoberfest instead of just one.

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IBsteve said:
I agree that some parks absolutely need traffic control (personally, I think parking at PKI is a disaster and I'm grateful for the direction but I don't visit there enough to know the parking ropes there)...

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That was kind of my point. I visit CP a dozen times a year and know what I'm doing (parking in the back :)), but at PKI I can't even say I know the layout of the lot. Furthermore, without direction you get empty spaces, people double-parking, etc. I used to see that all of the time when I still went to SFWoA and there were actually people there.

Do you really think the GP really notices it as much as you guys do? And if they do, do you think if someone want to the park and noticest that it want up $1 (wow) they will turn the car around and go home, i don't think so. Just pay the extra $1 and shut up.

For someone that has been there this year, yes. They aren't going to get up and leave but it isn't going to make them feel all warm and tingly in side. It is just one extra thorn that they "had" to deal with.