Knoebels is expensive!

I'm a POP kind of guy, 'cause I just don't want to be bothered to figure it all out, and I don't ever want to hesitate if my son asks "Dad, can we ride that again?"

True, I'd probably spend more with POP, but that's okay. I'm buying more than just rides---I'm also buying that freedom from thinking about "do I use these tickets here or not?"

More generally, I don't think most people think about rides per dollar, or anything like that. Rather, there are two questions. 1: Will my family get a day's worth of fun out of this? 2: What will that day's worth of fun cost?

Knoebel's certainly looks like it could provide a full day's entertainment. The total for my family of four would be $215 for 4 POPs plus 4 Water/Pool combos, 4 admissions to the Mansion, and 4 admissions to the sky ride.

Compare that to, say, SFGAM. At gate prices, my family of four would cost about $235 for four admissions plus parking. Pretty darn close. At the current promotional price, my family of four would be $175.

Restroom upgrades is the ONE area where KG desperately needs to invest in infrastructure....

One week from today, I'll hopefully get my first-ever ride on Skloosh... :)

...might get some flyers, Phoenix, and bumper cars as well... ;)

...but "expensive"? Well, I'd probably like to throw in that there are some things you really can't do anywhere else - and maintaining those can be expensive (kinda goes side-by-side with Gonch's argument that you pay for what's AVAILABLE when you buy POPs, not for what you actually RIDE)... ;)

I remember going to Disneyland as a kid. It got more and more depressing as the ticket books got thinner. I was very happy when they switched to POP. Tickets are a pain.

^^ Yeah gator, you "might" mosey on over to that Schmeck seat. LOL Too bad I'm going to miss you by a day.

Couple other things about Knoebels. On the weekends, it's tickets only, so if you do spend $37 a person, it means you've done a lot of riding. On days you buy a handstamp, you can count on not spending a lot of time waiting in ride queues. Phoenix might be 15 minutes with single train operation during the week. I think more time actually riding has to be accounted for as well.

Brian, I hear what you're saying. But I think the case of tickets vs. POP is a valid one that could make a lot of difference in spending for some people. It's something that a lot of folks will consider. If it comes down to it, they'll sell you an individual ride ticket. They'll even sell you 20 cents worth if that's how much you need to make up for a certain ride.

Just do us all a favor and have your tickets for Phoenix and Twister counted out BEFORE you enter the queue. :) *** Edited 6/19/2008 8:55:27 PM UTC by RatherGoodBear***

I'm planning on a trip to Knoebels later this year. 3 of us will be riding everything, one of us will be doing everything except most thrill rides including coasters.

Figure 3 rides a piece on Twister is 19.80, 3 on Phoenix is 18.00, 4 on Haunted Mansion is 5.60, 4 on the skyride is 12, and let's say 3 more rides for all four of us, give our take, at an average of 1.25, that's 15.

That's $70 for what I would say is a very busy, probably unrealistically busy day, plus super cheap, super delicious food and no parking.

I have a Knoebels-boner just thinking about it and that's not even taking into account the price, which I would say is excellent.

^You have a what? Is that because of some kind of new ED drug?

Would I be treading on thin ice if I mentioned that the 'K' in Knoebels is hard, linguisitically-speaking... :)

Holiday World's admission is $37, but that includes free parking, free soft drinks, free sunscreen, free inner tubes, and...oh yeah, THREE AWESOME COASTERS!

I love that place. :)

I would still make the argument that if you've waited until you're in Splashin' Safari to put on sunscreen, that you're already too late. It's a nice gesture, but one that won't do many guests any good, unless you're just trying to cover your back and chest.

HW does have three really good coasters, but if I had to put the flats up in a versus contest, I would give the upper hand to Knoebels. The Moser Sidewinder and the Zamperla Power Surge help to give it the upper hand (plus I'm sure for many the Flyers are awesome).

Plus, they now have a Rok N' Roll and a Chance Wipeout--which if they run it backwards--will definitely peak my interest. The one thing they don't have yet though is a drop tower.

I was shocked when I saw a picture of the pricing board last year. Everyone goes on and on about how cheap the park is but close to $40 with the Haunted Mansion thrown in is not my idea of a cheap park especially with only 2 major coasters.

I still want to get there this year but I'll be using tickets.

Nothing worth anything is going to come cheap.

The End

On the subject of their flyers, none that I've been on compare. KD, HP, and HW all have smaller (if I'm correct) and electric models. There is something about Knoebels' when they fire up that engine that adds much to that ride.

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DWeaver said:
Nothing worth anything is going to come cheap.

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I beg to differ:

http://beechbend.com/Prices.htm

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Intamin Fan said:
I would still make the argument that if you've waited until you're in Splashin' Safari to put on sunscreen, that you're already too late. It's a nice gesture, but one that won't do many guests any good, unless you're just trying to cover your back and chest.

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Are there people bursting into flames between the parking lot and when they take off their shirts in the water park?

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YoshiFan said:
I was shocked when I saw a picture of the pricing board last year. Everyone goes on and on about how cheap the park is but close to $40 with the Haunted Mansion thrown in is not my idea of a cheap park especially with only 2 major coasters.

I still want to get there this year but I'll be using tickets.

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Yea, but for crazy-psycho-ride (read: Looper) it's so worth it! :)

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P18 said:
I am curious to hear Gonch's reply to this topic actually, usually he has some interesting input in topics such as these.

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I'm on vacation. :)

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Jeff said:
Charm don't come cheap.

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That must be it because $37 for the ride lineup seems way steep to me to. But I think that about most of the 'charm' parks.

Charm must be the most overpriced thing around. I wonder if gas prices have something to do with it? Costs a lot to haul that charm to its destination, I suppose.

I was just curious, but enjoy your vacation =D.
As a side semi related topic about businesses/money, anyone heard of the book "Death To All Sacred Cows"? Got it as a gift today after going on to someone about paging through it, very fun read...

*** Edited 6/20/2008 5:10:56 AM UTC by P18***

It is true, if you wait until your in the sun to apply your sun block you started too late. But its nice that its there for you when you get in and out of the water.

I guess the lesson here is that $37 is the price you have to pay to enjoy unlimited rides and that the option is there to pay less, but ride less.

We will be using tickets when we go. We will just not bother with the rides that we can ride at any other park.

Knoebel's rules, especially for families with people who have no interest in rides. For example, my mother-in-law and my pregnant wife have no interest in riding anything. How much do they pay to walk around the well-shaded park with plenty of bench-seating to hang out and talk or to watch me, my father-in-law and our two kids ride? Nothing. Anywhere else they have to pay gate fees for the pleasure of standing on concrete in the sun. PLUS--get a couple of local papers and you will find GREAT coupons. We found BOGOFs for the handstamps for yesterday. Thus, we paid $74 for four of us to ride all day long, the lines were short (many times we just ran from one ride to the next and off we went...), and even though we were only there from 11am until 7pm, we got much, much more than our money's worth. You can also take your own food there--they encourage it and even give you grills to cook on (many places don't even let you bring drinks)! And if you do choose to buy food there it is relatively inexpensive compared to most parks (and better tasting). We, too, drive right past Hersheypark to get to Knoebel's, and even in the age of $4.00 per gallon gas it is more than worth it!

I am going there next Thursday and I won't mind paying $37 or whatever it costs for an all-day pass. I don't care. I am looking forward to it! I haven't visited Knoebels in the summertime since 2001. Since then I have only visited during the PPP's.

Knoebels is one of those parks where I don't mind paying whatever since I ALWAYS get my money's worth. ;) Since the parking is free and the food is cheap and the rides are kickass I think it's MORE than worth it. It takes me about 7 hours to get there from Charleston. That's a haul and the gas prices suck but still, it's WORTH it.

In other words, I am needing a flyers and Phoenix fix! Plus a friend is having a birthday party there. I am excited! Hersheypark is Friday. ;) I get my GCI and Intamin fixes as well!

-Tina

<----thinking out loud again. ;)

I rock. ;)

*** Edited 6/20/2008 3:29:22 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***