Geauga Lake: Separate Admission for 2006?

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=32036

Listen I know the area of this park, the attendance would crash...there would be some attendance but not what Cedar Fair L.P. wants. Cedar Fair bought the park to "save" the park from Six Flags horrible attendance record....althought that will take some time. Bill Sphen knows what hes doing and how to manage a park, seeing how majority rules, not exceptions. See I've followed this park ever since i was 5 I know it inside and out except for employee areas... but other than that I know how this park has run, who its run under, the history, the rides that have been there....I know Cedar Fair better than that, they are about customer service. If they charged seperate, that would upset customers even more.

They are not going to destroy a park they invsted millions into for renovations and new attractions. Everyone has to start a controversy based on "what they heard" it could be discussion, but likely will never be put into effect.

Not all seasonal pee-ons are totally oblivious to what's next. In a work enviorment, employees will talk to employees, who have talked to someone who just might know something. I don't discredit what a seasonal says is coming next just because he/she is a seasonal.

"Why not, Dexter? You are stupid for believing a seasonal." I am old and wise (32 lol) and I have many life experiences to help me form opinions. I, too, was one of these pee-on seasonals we keep talking about. Near the begining of the '99 season I was told by my favorite ride mechanic everything about MF except for what it was going to be called. Around the same time, a Zone Manager told me the same thing.

"They are going to move the Giant Wheel to the front of the park near DT. That's where this new rides station is going to be built. The lift will be where the train tracks have been moved (this part everyone in the park knew). It will drop and turn, drop again and enter and exit the island over near Mantis. While on the island it will have an almost looping element. It may have a few more of these during the ride off of the island somewhere. It will be the tallest and fastest coaster in the world, somewhere over 300 ft and about 100 miles per hour. They may have to move the petting zoo, but they will not get rid of it."

I worked hints about the upcoming coaster into my spiel. "(While passing Mantis, with Giant Wheel in view) Over to you right is the biggest, fastest, scariest ride in the whole park. It's Red. It's Yellow. It's blue. That's right folks-It's the Giant Wheel. (Riders moan in pain at the lousy joke.) Speaking about the Giant wheel, I heard from a few of my close sources that it will be moved to another area of the park to bring you the tallest, fastest rollercoas- OOPS. I almost gave away a big secret."

Did knowing all about MF make me better than anyone else? Of course not. I was just a lousy, no-good, pee-on, seasonal who happened to ask the right person the right questions at the right time. I just wanted to make my case against the "those who know..." approach. "Those who know..." is almost always true, but there can be situations in which it is not.

Coming full circle, The point of my long-winded post is to say that I believe that the seperate gate idea could have been mentioned to our post-starter. I believe it could have been talked about, but I do not believe that it would be a good idea for GL to implement. Maybe this rumorish idea is residue resulting from pre-WWK talks.

(Thanks for reading my 7 paragraph post and please forgive any spelling errors and/or other mistakes included. Also please understand that my "pee-on seasonal" description is not my opinion of seasonals, rather how I feel some of the other posters view them.)

Power to the People!

As a seasonal for GL for the past 4 seasons going into my 5th Ive heard many a rumor that has come true. These include Tiger Island, Hurricane Mountain and WWK(however what I origianly heard was just a complete relocation of everything from North to South, not a completely new waterpark). Other things Ive heard that didnt come true were a B&M Dive Machine to replace DL and the always elusive Hyper. Some things seasonals hear are true some arent, and sometimes we sit in the office and like to make up things to spread to internet sites. Just always take everything with a grain of salt and wait for parks to announce.

However, something like this "rumor" probably is false as the facts change in each post, and that a training sup would know this at this point in the season is a little far fetched as well.

Be very careful Dexter. You are in very dangerous territory. This:

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Those who know don't tell. Those who tell don't know.

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is an absolute truth. Anyone who disagree's is not credible. And to try to disprove it could have some serious repercussions. Until there is a press release, all information is false (unless you are "in the know" of course). It is mathematically, scientifically and physically impossible for park information to be given out without prior authorization. ;-)

Look at the home page... "2 Parks of Fun in 1"

Honestly, think real hard about using that as your marketing theme and the repercussions of changing that the next year. Think hard.

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Think hard.

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Ow! That hurt!

In my opinion it might depend more on what other plans CF has for GL. If they intend to build a resort ala Castaway Bay and continue to improve upon the campground and the older hotel then they may be looking at extending stays to necessitate overnight accommodations.

One gate means I might be able to do it all (or most of it) in a day and I'll just head home. Two gates means I might want to find a hotel to stay in and take in the other park tomorrow. Where should I stay? Oh, gee, a nice GL Resort.

I suspect that is where they will be going with the park...at least in the long term. The implications on the short term are not clear but I would agree that it might be a marketing challenge to say 2 for 1 this year and then sock it to 'em next year.

Maybe they could do a deep discount for a second day. Kings Island used to do that (do they still) where you could return the following day farily cheaply. I think Dollywood does something similar.

^Idewild also does that 2-day thing you talked about.

I'm sorry, but I still say even if they do all of that, it will still be one solid price. A quite higher price obviously, but one price none the less.

They already have 2 day stay packages emphasizing that a family might want to stay the two days with their kids to experience it to the fullest. This is the one thing that the typical family will go for.

Keep in mind that CF has to have a different approach to GL since CP is right up the road so to speak. This is one solid factor as to why I believe that GL will remain a one price facility.

Not to be rude, but their are people out there who don't usually have the funds to go up to CP for a good vacation, so CF and Bill Spehn are creating the "Affordable Family Vacation Destination" where you can have access to one very large facility that provides just as much fun for one low price.

So in the end, if they truely were stupid enough to ever charge a seperate gate, you can bet that this yearly season pass holder will stop coming. Not before I spoke my mind however to Bill and crew, as I would tell them , in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, "You just made a BIG mistake!"

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wahoo skipper said:
In my opinion it might depend more on what other plans CF has for GL. If they intend to build a resort ala Castaway Bay and continue to improve upon the campground and the older hotel then they may be looking at extending stays to necessitate overnight accommodations.

One gate means I might be able to do it all (or most of it) in a day and I'll just head home. Two gates means I might want to find a hotel to stay in and take in the other park tomorrow. Where should I stay? Oh, gee, a nice GL Resort.

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But, do we think a multi-day destination resort is CF's goal for GL? My understanding (granted just from press releases and the annual report) was that they wanted to return to GL's image as the "home town local" amusement park. By focusing on being the local "day park" and group picnics, they're serving a business segment not served by (or competing with) CP.

Which, I guess brings up another question--was SF wrong in thinking the area could support another major regional destination, or did their other business issues (the crushing debt, bad service, giving away the gate) kill the concept before it had a chance to evolve?

Joel

They said they are returning to the tradition family amusement park. They never said you were gonna be able to do it all in one day. Like I just said, they have 2 day stay promotions everywhere on the site.

Yes they are bulding it into an "Affordable resort destination" that typical "families" can enjoy. Hence the "family amusement park image. So just because they are reffering to it as the family amusement park, they are making a vacation out of the place.

The park is not shrinking, it's growing. Besides, that whole slogan was from last year's season, which makes more sense being that the wildlife was closed, hence returning the park to just basically the geauga lake side, thus going with the traditional park slogans, and statements.

This is a new year, with a new plan. They are returning a new life to the south side, thus bringing it back to destination resort status. Thats just how it is.

NEW for 2006...2 parks for TWO prices! Hey, everybody--come running!

Why does everyone have to speculate, let them run the park! Its a FAMILY park with 2 PARKS FOR ONE PRICE, lets put emphasis on that. Their marketing will stay the same advertising like that, don't be expecting anything to change with paying seperate admissions.

For some reason I think FUN works at the park

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freakylick said:
Be very careful Dexter. You are in very dangerous territory. This:

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Those who know don't tell. Those who tell don't know.

---

is an absolute truth. Anyone who disagree's is not credible. And to try to disprove it could have some serious repercussions. Until there is a press release, all information is false (unless you are "in the know" of course). It is mathematically, scientifically and physically impossible for park information to be given out without prior authorization. ;-)

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I respectfully disagree that "Those who know..." is an absolute truth, because I was not one who should have been "in the know", and yet I knew. It is possible for someone who is a seasonal to know something they shold not know, because people talk.

I understand your point, but as to say that I am not credible is to call me a liar. I am the most honest, sincere person I know.

As for the "grain of salt" statement I see a lot around here, I agree, but there could be some truth to some of these "rumors" we always here. I don't think it's all black and white; I also see shades of grey.

As for being careful, I don't need to be careful anymore, because I am no longer employeed by CF. I knew about something big, and kept my mouth shut to an extent. That was a long time ago.

On topic, I would like to see a hotel or Two attached to GL. Just because they are going to focus on picnics and locals doesn't mean they can't also focus on tourists as well. They should cater to as much business as possible in order to sell admissions.

If I were "Angry Bill" (as I like to call him. Watch out for his temper.), I would make every effort to keep it Two for One price, even if the price had to be raised some to compensate. It's only $25 right now, so what if it goes up a little?

Umm...Only 6 paragraphs this time (counting this one, and not counting the quote).

I spoke with Bill Spehn today, and can anyone guess what his reaction was to me telling him that this rumor was going around on Coasterbuzz?

He basically said what all of us with a little common sense have been saying, and that is not to trust things/rumors that people post here.

People need to realize that we (the seasonal employees) really do not know anything about the park's future plans. Those In The Know (TM) do not reveal information.

Luckily, Bill was okay with me setting the record straight on this site!

Yes, we may occasionally be privy to some information that the general public is not supposed to know. But if we divulge this information to the public, we could face disciplinary action. Proprietary information is just that, proprietary. Do you know any companies that let their employees/partners give away trade secrets? I know I don't.

-Sam

Good, now all the nay sayers can hush.

Well that says it all right there, BTW the spring 2005 park map for Geauga Lake has been posted and you may download it for your own use. I hope the park looks as good as the map. It looks like it will be an improved year for Geauga Lake.