Was it like this for all the other Cedar Fair parks? OMG attendance is down, they are soooo going under. My experience this year with GL has been FAR better than last year, we just havent had the weather to make the trip form Pittsburgh. We've gone twice, leaving a sunny Pittsburgh to go to the water park and its rained both times. *** Edited 8/23/2004 4:30:31 PM UTC by eightdotthree***
The reason I haven't gone more? The weather. I bought my pass for the convenience (ie not in Sandusky) of the waterpark. I thought it'd be more fun than going to Dover Lake or any of the other "regional" waterparks in NE Ohio. But I haven't gone because it's either been raining or too cool. Plus, I really wanted to try out the stuff built in the last few years.
The rides (and park in general) are much better than what they were under SF ownership, but I still see areas where they need improved before they'll really drag my attention from CP. That isn't saying I won't go and ride them, but I am also expecting that things will be tons (compared even with now) better in a couple of seasons.
Laura
There is no such thing as a terrible Coaster just ones that haven't been taken care of
Great Lakes Brewery Patron...
-Mark
I'll make a bet that Geauga Lake will never have attendance reach 1.7 million like SFO. That's a fair comparison since it's now owned by the magical Cedar Fair and neither include the Wildlife side.
Btw, the "record" attendance for the SF park was reached again in 2001 with 2.7 million when the park added the Wildlife side and X-Flight. Is anyone really surprised the attendance dropped in '02 and '03 since they added no major attractions and the weather was bad a lot of time? Dorney had a bigger drop than SFWOA in 2003, but no one said "Cedar Fair suxors" then...
+Danny, "The fun was never here" *** Edited 8/23/2004 5:19:54 PM UTC by +Danny***
The second problem in my opinion has been the weather. July and August have seemed incredibly cold. I've been at the park almost every day for the past two months and can't remember a single day when i was actually sweating a lot or complaining about the heat. Since GL relies on its waterpark so much to attract guests, it makes sense how cold weather could really hurt attendance.
In addition, I'm pretty sure that most of the GP doesn't even know that CF took over the park. There have been a ton of people who have come up to me on the Dominator and were puzzled by why it wasn't called Batman anymore.
A lot of Cedar Fair's policies can probably be percieved as bad customer service by the GP. Take the no-carry on item policy for example. For the past 4 years people have been able to take whatever crap they want and throw it on the unload side of Batman. Now GL tells them that they can't take anything up there, and that they have to go all the way back to the main gate to get a locker for it. For a lot of people this is a huge inconvinience, and I understand why so many people get irritated. Its already the end of August and Dominator still doesn't have any lockers people can use to put their loose stuff in.
As for poor ride operations and whatnot, I think it needs to be taken into account that in the beginning of the year, GL was starting off with mostly people Six Flags had hired. Once staffing became a problem they had to get who they could. Cedar Point has an advantage having dorms and being able to get more mature college kids to work for them. Working 60-80 hours a week is tough for most high school kids, so I give them credit for the job they did.
I think a new ride or attraction would be nice to draw new crowds, but just giving the new park time will help too. Its only the first year, no need to be so pessamistic.
I’m still in the camp of armchair quarterbacks that thinks GL needs to pull some of the steel coasters out of their line-up. The floorless and flying models would make better additions at their more urban regional parks. I think they need to cut operating costs and concentrate on customer service, food, and a fair-like nighttime atmosphere. On previous posts some people had good takes about waterpark additions, which would make sense for keeping the daytime guests entertained. At night, this park could come alive. It could be a neat little nighttime diversion for locals and the Cleveland market, who are tired of a movie or baseball game. To me, nothing makes a traditional park come alive like fried cheese and running lights on the out-and-back. A true Coney Island feel is what I’m imagining.
My vision does not gel with 2.7 million per…
What is the best way to survive in a market with Cedar Point?
By being something other than Cedar Point!
A wooded, lakeside setting. Picnic groves. Classic rides mixed in amongst the high-tech rides already in place. How about a darkride or a Cuddle-Up or a train around the lake? Cedar Point has the thrill ride market nailed... how about going after a demographic that is more interested in a park that the entire family can enjoy without being bombarded with excessive crowds and record-breaking coasters around every corner?
The potential is there... the right people just need to realize that.
+Danny
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
1. Larger families will just buy season passes for $400...vs. Paying $60 for 2 day passes. and they also get to make a 1hr trip to cleveland and visit GL.(already paid)
2. More CP pass holders will travel to GL. thus giving them more opportunities to see other CF parks.
3. More annual visiters will come to GL(thus increasing attendance)
4. It's a win-win situation. CP gets visiters from GLP and GLP gets more visiters than before.
"I wish I was Barbie, the B**** has everything!
-Alizabeth-
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