Kennywood goes to pay-one-price admission

• Fewer than 10% of patrons used the GA price. Because of that, the other 90+% of people had to stand in longer lines at the gate to get in. Would you inconvenience 90% of your customers for the sake of 10%?
• The average GA admission was compared to ticket sales. The average GA spent about $5 on tickets. The majority of GA's were kiddies too small for the big rides and seniors. These people now get heavy discounts to average out to about the same price as they'd spend. Kids under two enter and ride for free.
• I don't buy the thing with the pay GA just to buy some patch fries. You're telling me those fries are worth $8 GA + $3.50? They're good, but not $11.50 good. Realistically, how many people ever did that?
• If you can afford $8 to get in just to buy food, you have enough disposable income to afford the full price.
• Dave -- get in after 6pm for $14. Get in after 6pm for $7.50 with an Idlewild or Sandcastle season pass.

Fanboys... :-)

I agree with all your takes. I'm sure it makes great business sense or they wouldn't be doing it.

None of this changes the fact that it sucks for my parents and those like them. Obviously, their numbers were too small to change the outcome of KW becoming like every other park. A bit of uniqueness (is this a word) is forever lost. My parents will deal by going to the zoo this summer while I pay the $28.95... :-)

(Assuming that since you're 34 that your parents are 55 or over.)

For a 55 year old to go to the zoo and "just walk around" it costs $9. To go to Kennywood and do the same, it's $5 more. If they really like the atmosphere, the food, being with the family, riding the train with the kids... is $5 too much to pay for all that?

It's a shame your parents won't be visiting the park, but I think the value is still there.

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The article says this was 10% of all admissions. You think that they were spending 10% of their entire budget on ticketing?

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I don't know where you learned math, but if 90% paid POP ($28.95) and 10% paid GA ($8 plus $5 average worth of tickets), then the average revenue per cap by admission/tickets is $27.36 (rounded up: 0.9*28.95 + 0.1*13), but only $1.30 of that is from GA customers. So, the percentage of admission revenue from GA was 4.75%.

(Technically, it is higher, since groups get a break. On the other hand, groups also tend to book catering, so I'm going to just consider that a wash.)

dragonoffrost:

There really isn't any "extra" people that were needed for the tickets. The "tickets" positions were always part of another job at the rides. So labor is not an issue here.

I don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal outta this. Lots of parks at one time used individual ride tickets and then changed to POP. Kennywood just happened to come late in the game.

Next thing you know everyone will be complaining that parking price went up to $5 - but CF and SF fanboys take a good hard look at your local park before you comment(and I bet you don't get as close of a parking space as you do in KW's Paid Parking)

........nuff said.....

I took a good look at my local park, and it's kennywood, and I see a small park that I personally Don't like. It has nothing to do with with anyone or anything, I just don't like the place. I am a proud CF fanboy and GL is the park I choose to go to through out the summer.I just put my two cents in simply because I think the community around the park are the ones who will see it as a negative.

By the way, I took a good look at GL, and I'm liking what I am seeing. and about parking? well, I got no problem walking a ways to the gate, I mean, I'm already gonna be walking all day throughout the park, So what the hell is a hike to the gate? Doesn't bother me, I'm not afraid of excersise.

Ok, we get it. You live closest to KW, but prefer GL.

Nobody is biting.

This begs the obvious question: What will become of the ticket cans? They were always good for a quick seat during those hot summer days ;)

Seriously, people will still come to KW and in order for a park like KW to survive is to adapt and evolve in its marketplace. The charm will still be there.

Labor most certainly is an issue when you have to sell tickets, reclaim and count/weight the tickets.

This also saves the riders time not having to wait in two different lines one to buy the tickets and the other to wait in the line. I think this was a good move on the park not only does it cut down the cost but it also cuts down the waiting time for the guest.

Also by doing this if you go an amusment park the average ticket is probaly around $32.00. If they charge like $1.50-$2.00 most people may not be able to ride the 15 rides in one day so they will be making more money that way also.

-Joe-

The answer(s) the park still can't seem to give is what if your wife if pregant? She want's to take her other kid in Kiddieland, but doesn't want to ride.

She has to pay the $28.95? I understand there will be discounts available, but even to pay $19.00 to take your kids in Kiddieland, and you not riding is a little ridicolous. I understand Kennywood has enabled parents to ride with there children on more rides in Kiddieland, but if you ride three or four kiddie rides with your kids, is that worth $28.95 or the $19.00 discount?

I know of people who don't like to go to Kennywood and ride. They simply want to go and watch others ride while they are sitting eating those patch fries, watching the T-bolt fly past them.

Others like to go just to eat and play games all day.

During Fall Fanasty, parents like to go in the evening, grab something to eat, watch there kids in the parade and then leave.

I guess bottom line is there is good as well as bad changes. But you can't please everyone.

The pregnant wife would be best served by going to the Rider Evaluation Center located at the main entrance to the park (prior to buying any tickets) and be evaluated by the trained staff. Depending on what rides the pregnant wife can ride, there may be some sort of a program in place to reduce the admission price.

I am a bit confused, and somewhat new to posting (been lurking forever) - but what do the other parks do if someone wants to just come in and walk around or watch people or eat food?

Nevermind, I answered my own question - they pay the same price I do.

I am 38, my parents are in the 60s and still ride and think the new pricing schedule is amazing. They usually go once a year - they are already planning to go twice this year. And they eat and ride and play games.

My secretary has two small children. She already figured out that by going this year she will actually save money using the POP.

Also - are there any other parks offering admission for $12.95 on May 22? For everyone?

Kp, this is no different with almost every other park in America. I think it is a great decision for the park, it will make things much easier for them, and I really dont think it will hurt business tremendously.

Not only $12.95 admission for everyone on May 22 but also on 2 other days during the summer. Reguardless of the crowds, that is a steal for a park like Kennywood.

The answer(s) the park still can't seem to give is what if your wife if pregant? She want's to take her other kid in Kiddieland, but doesn't want to ride.

You: Last year: $28.95, This year: $28.95

Wifey: Last year:$28.95, This year: $28.95

Kid: Last Year: $28.95, This year: $18.

Last year total: $86.85, This year, $68.85... Sure, she's not riding, but you're still spending $11 less than you did last year!

Option 2: if the younger kid is 2 years old it works out to last year: $86.85, this year: $49.90... you save about $37.

Option 3: Let dad have fun with the child, take a day off and relax. If my wife is preggers, I'm not letting her hold me back... the kid and I are riding all day, not waiting for her to catch up! ;) (Unless she gets an exit pass, in which case she's still invited. :) )

*** This post was edited by kpjb 4/28/2005 10:21:06 PM ***

Its a shame when certain members like this Jeff Smith character who checked off every coaster in the track record lashes out against me and the operations startegy of one the most respected familes in the industry.

The article speaks the truth, that family did its homework. They actually were one of the last parks to implement the ride all day system, and they did it reluctantly, especially after the disaster of neighboring West View Parks' timing of the same strategy.

Yes, Kennywood wants more money. They have 3 other parks to support. See if you can stretch a buck like they do. God forbid you set prices so some rift raft stays out, some crybabies complaining about a few dollars here and there.

About 20 people will march into guest services opening day and demande to use tickets. About 20 people will get back in their cars and go to the zoo. How about some cheese with that wine.

Way to counter-argue Agent. Your well-rehearsed rebuttal was good “startegy” for making me change my mind. I appreciate the way you’ve dug deep into my opinions and offered useful insight as to why I’m wrong for holding such silly opines. It was nice of you to point out that I’ve already agreed with “fanboy” arguments as to why the decision was good for Kenneywood. I’ve seen the error of my ways. I’m sorry for voicing such a silly opinion guys. I let my “frugal ways” interfere with sound reasoning.

Kenneywood is the greatest park in the world and they certainly have never made any decisions that ANYBODY might find questionable. Did I do that right? Again, I’m sorry for wasting time. Go Kenneywood go…

P.S. There are no extreme Northeast or extreme Northwest coasters on my list yet. I have not been there yet. If you run some searches on trip reports you might find some good information about some of the stuff you have not been fortunate enough to do yet.

So you claim to live in Vegas, and you cry over your parents having to pay to get into Kennywood. Boo Hoo. I guess you have to hit the Circus Circus buffet a few times and skip Bellagio to make ends meet. The truth hurts. Then of course if you worked in the industry you could just get into Kennywood for free and nor worry. Since you don't and I do, I will save my Kennywood money and eat at Bellagio in my off season. And your night job watching the bowling alley at the Gold Coast does not constitute a 'good job', by the way.

I’m so very jealous. Had I known that Agent worked in the industry, there is certainly no way I would have been so bold as to opine that KW lost some of its charm/uniqueness by changing policies. I mean, if a man IN THE INDUSTRY thinks I’m wrong, I certainly must be! For the second time, I do apologize for having an opinion. To all industry-boys I’ve offended, please do forgive me. I certainly know my place now. :-)

Kennywood is for old people. not enough high end thrill rides or coasters, but a good tiny litttle park for the grandparents and kids to walk around. Oh yeah , thats right, the grandparents ain't comin back. lol

Sorry, I'm spoiled by much larger parks that offer up some serious thrills. Not to say KW doesn't have a few thrills, but thats just it, only a few. At least only a few in the high end department.

Give me Time Warp over aero 360 anyday, or give me Millenium Force over Phantom anyday. Or give me Geauga Lakes entire 10 coaster lineup over everything KW has to offer. Sorry guys, I'm just extremely bored right now and just had to voice more of my opinion. Don't mind me.