Michigan's Adventure,... Ticket price increase.

Does it not occur to you that since 1998 everything's gone up crazy high? And actually, your list of additions since then isn't bad, and it doesn't include everything they've actually done.

Timber-Rider said:

Not. many people know that the cost of a MA season pass is almost $50.00 more than it was in 2008.

This struck me as odd, so I just had to look it up. It looks like MA's season pass was $90 in 2008,* which adjusted for inflation would be $100 today. And yet a 2015 pass currently costs $88.

I think you're confusing it with the Platinum Pass, which really has gone up $50 since 2008 (at least when comparing in-season pricing, not end-of-season specials). It wouldn't be right to refer to that as a "Michigan's Adventure season pass" though since there's a cheaper option.

*Link here, since the URL parser doesn't seem to like it: https://web.archive.org/web/20080722223205/http://www.miadventure.c...pass.shtml

Inflation is hard.

Speaking of inflation, the 1998 admission price of $18 would be $26.31 today. And amazingly, an MA ticket currently costs.......... $25 online.

They must have changed it mid season. The online price was $29.99, and the old season pass was $129.00. So. $88.00 is a good price. But, is that a pre-sale price prior to the 2015 pass price? because I believe they also had a buy early price for 2014, but was only good up until march or April, then it went up.

Also 2014 regular admission is $29.99, up from $28.00 last year. Also, there are different prices for buying at the gate for the passes, as opposed to buying them online.

Timber-Rider said:

Prices have gone up crazy high at the park for years. Food prices are insane compared to what they used to be, like $9.00 for a smoothy.

If I could charge $9 for a "smoothy" and have people keep paying that much, I'd be crazy not to charge $9.

$32 for a combination amusement and water park IMO is ridiculously cheap. Having a park out in the middle of nowhere is a bonus for locals (same applies to Holiday World).

I visited the park once and while I was not blown away by it, I enjoyed it for what it was. It is now a corporate owned park so prices are usually going to increase.

And someone mentioned a crappy hand me down coaster from GL. I have to say that ThunderHawk is the most re-ridable SLC I have ever been on so IMO that was a great addition to MIA.

Timber-Rider said:

even some of the games have gone up. But, that doesn't matter much, because hardly anyone plays the games at MA. Yet, they still seem to spend money bringing in more games and stalls then anything else. All stuff the park doesn't need.

Right. I'd love to witness that focus group discussion...

Dude #1: "Hardly anyone's playing our games."

Dude #2: "Well, it's obvious the park doesn't need them. Let's install more and raise the prices!"

Dude #1: "Yeah!"

Gas cost less in 1998, and I don't recall Exxon adding any rides either.

I expect that T-R is a very nice guy, probably fun to be around.

And, as I spent Sunday night at a local bar's underwear party night, enjoying the scenery (muscular (mostly) men in their underwear) I certainly can't cast stones about tighty-whitey-twister :-)

But I remain impressed at his dogged determination to ignore how businesses succeed....

There is a huge difference between a successful business, and a huge money sponge. Michigan's Adventure has very little entertainment value for what it is charging. The fact they continue to charge more for the same attractions they have had for years, just seems like they are gouging for cash.

If they are the most profitable park in the chain, why raise prices when you are already making a fortune? It seems to me they would want to maintain the current price to keep that profit coming in.

I don't see the value in going to a park that has nothing new. One reason why i stopped going to county fairs. Same old rides, with a higher price tag. Now, the only reason I go, is if there is a concert going on, and still don't pay to go on the rides.

needs to be worth it.

If I knew Timbers was going to do what it did this year, I'd call that a bargain.

The best I ever had.

Why should the park just leave money on the table? You don't think the product is worth the price, but enough people do that the park is doing fine. If everyone else thought that they were too expensive, they would stop going.

It's like the old saying, "No one goes there because they are too crowded."

Why is how businesses price things something that a ten-year-old can understand but not you, TimberRider. I am beginning to think that you have been pulling our leg all this time.

Edit to add... WAIT! I want to say that I think you are probably a nice guy and I wouldn't mind hanging out with you at a park. You might be kind of grouchy or something, I don't know, but maybe you are funny grouchy, which I love about some of my friends. I hope I am not coming off as being mean to you here.

rollergator said:

The best I ever had.

You know it is coming but....'gator, I think you're doing it wrong.

rollergator said:

...call that a bargain.

The best I ever had.

Who?

Timber-Rider said:

I don't see the value in going to a park that has nothing new.

It's apparent you're not the park's target audience.

It's called inflation, Timber-Rider.

Timber-Rider said:

If they are [sic] the most profitable park in the chain, why raise prices when you are already making a fortune? It seems to me they would want to maintain the current price to keep that profit coming in.

Note to self: do not hire TR as my corporate finance guy.

You wouldn't be able to do that because he's employed elsewhere. Six Flags has him heading up their season pass pricing team.