No re-entry at Sux Flags this Year

I do think that over time many bad decisions become accepted as "just the way it is." However, I also think this is different because the Six Flags policy will be different than the policy of every other amusement park. Most people don't visit multiple amusement parks, but they certainly don't live in a bubble either. I believe, over time, Six Flags will stick out on this issue.

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Paris said:
but if there were studies that indicated as such don't you think that Anheuser-Busch, Disney, GE, and CBS would be all over that no re-entry policy? I find it hard to believe that Six Flags has some keen eyesight into the ramifications that the others park do not.

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A very good point that should be stated again.

'gator, you honestly believe that the drop in CP attendance is due primarily to seatbelts?

I'd think it has more to do with poor uptime of the signature attraction, shuttered food stands, indifferent-to-hostile operations staff, etc. etc. etc.

Heck, it could even be because of the economy, though I'm not as convinced about that one. ;)

-brian, who also thinks this is a dumb idea. Just not a catastrophic one.

*** Edited 1/13/2006 9:33:05 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

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Gemini said:
I do think that over time many bad decisions become accepted as "just the way it is." However, I also think this is different because the Six Flags policy will be different than the policy of every other amusement park. Most people don't visit multiple amusement parks, but they certainly don't live in a bubble either. I believe, over time, Six Flags will stick out on this issue.

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This comment immediately popped Q-bot into my mind. It's a system that pisses off as many (if not more) than it pleases and SF is the only park using an upcharge electronic system like this.

Ever see the line for a Q-bot? People accepted it.

I think this is a horrible idea. I think that it will drive people away if they know they can't go out to their car and get something they need (diapers, medication, etc.). With Six Flags being in bad financial shape, they need to be doing everything they can to get people in their parks and keep their visitors happy. If this does end up as policy at every Six Flags park, I'll give Paramount and Cedar Fair my money instead.

Brian Noble, in my neck of the woods the seatbelt thing was huge. Some of my family members and co-workers are still trash talking the park to this day because of it. If people think they are borderline about fitting in those seats, they aren't going to the park. That fact drastically affected how many trips I took to CP last year, and I'm an enthusiast who spends lots of money in the park when I visit. I would say my visits were reduced by half because I had no one to go with and didn't feel like going solo.
Back on topic,I agree this no re-entry thing is lame!

Quick survey of 5 co-workers (2 of whom actually went to a park last year) elicited a 100% "That Sucks!" response. In exactly those words too!

I have to say I made my own comparisons it to the seatbelt thing at CP. There may be a sign and a test seat, but in the GP's mind, if was like that last year, it will be the same this year. And any change just pisses people off, whether its for the good or the bad.

The separated family thing is going to be the most fun...when Mom+youngest kid go back to the car and can't get back into the park? It's almost worth getting a season pass just to park in the lot and watch it unfold.

I really can't imagine what SFI thinks they are going to gain from this. The extra $10.00-$20.00 for the meal/locker is simply not going to offset the resentment among guests who (quite rightly) will see straight through the policy as nothing but gouging.

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RideMan said:

Someone mentioned carrying a backpack along all day. That might be fine for a day-long concert. But at a day-long concert, you aren't trying to strap yourself into a seat that was designed for someone smaller than you.

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OK, I guess I needed to be clearer. I go to the parks with my wife and 4-year-old daughter and carry everything we need in a backpack from park opening to close. I have been carrying a backpack to amusement parks for 15 years and I have NEVER had anything stolen from me. This includes several visits to SFMM. I mean, is your car really that much safer?

As for the comment about "People don't want to be told they can't do something whether they choose to do it or not", this is a little surprising to me coming from a group of people who generally say that Six Flags does not enforce their rules enough (BTW, I don't think they enforce their rules enough at the parks I've visited). So I guess they shouldn't tell people not sit on handrails either? I mean, God forbid you tell people they can't do something at your facility that they are a guest at.

This policy only causes an inconvenience for enthusiasts, not GP. There will be a small number of angry guests, but it's like any new policy, people will get used to it. Hey, if you choose not to visit SFMM because of this, that means a shorter wait for me on Tatsu.

On another note, it's funny to me that Six FLags brand has eroded so much that they can't do anything right in some of your eyes. They announce Tatsu and some of you say "they shouldn't be building any more coasters." Shapiro announces the focus is shifting from big coasters and you say "they shouldn't stop building new coasters." Seriously, there are quite a few of you that no matter what the thread is about, if it involves Six Flags you go into attack mode. To each their own, I guess.

It's fine to carry a backpack around when you aren't riding, but as soon as you take it off to get onto a ride, it's sitting there for anyone to take it. Someone would have to break into your car to steal something, whereas anyone could walk up to the loose article bin and take your stuff. The car certainly is safer!

As for the Enthusiast vs. GP thing, why would the policy only inconvenience enthusiasts? I can assure you that plenty of guests re-enter parks, and this certainly would be as much as a pain-in-the-ass for them as it is for "us". I've never worked admissions at my park (Kennywood), but I always see people getting their hand stamped and/or re-entering when I'm in the entrance area. Even though the park isn't a resort in that people don't have a hotel room to visit in the middle of the day, it's still common for guests to leave to grab sweatshirts, baby supplies, cash, and whatever else they need. Walking around a park all-day in 90+ degree heat can be tough of a family with kids, so it's absolutely understandable that they'd want to leave in the middle of the afternoon to go to an air-conditioned restaurant, especially if the park doesn't have one (which many don't). Six Flags is dropping the ball on everyone, not just enthusiasts.

*** Edited 1/13/2006 11:34:00 PM UTC by PhantomTails***

^ I must be the luckiest guy on earth then because I have NEVER had anything stolen from me. This includes several trips to SFMM without my daughter. When I can take it one the ride with me, it goes at my feet with one of my legs through arm strap. I do make sure to bring a backpack that is distincitve (usually bright orange.) In the event that someone would take it, it wouldn't be too hard to track them down. Not that it doesn't happen, but most people just get off coasters and still have the adrenaline pumping so they just go, they don't hang out to look for something to steal.

Like some other posters have said, I think some of you are vastly over-estimating the amount of people that re-enter the parks.

I see your point, LG. But at least one difference between the two is that Q-bot is an extra given to someone, while re-entry is something that is taken away. I truly believe that there will be more backlash over not being able to leave the park than there was over watching someone else get in line in front of you.

Q-bot haters would argue that my using a Q-bot takes their spot on a coaster.

"Why do I have to stand here longer while that guy gets to ride now without waiting in line?"

Heck, I even had an expeience at SFOG where I saw a group (seemed to be a large family of about 7 people) get angry using Q-bot. We followed them up the Q-bot entrance to Monster Plantation and when they got to the ride, the dad handed the Q-bot over. The ride-op looked confused and asked if he has scanned or activated it.

To make a long story short, the family hadn't reserved a time. It seems their understanding was that you could just walk up the Q-bot entrances as you pleased. The ride-op explained it to them. As they passed us backtracking up the Q-bot queue, the Father looked at the Mother and said something along the lines of, "Why the hell did we pay $100 for this thing if we still have to wait"?

Sorry, that turned into a Q-bot story.

I guess my point is, SF is angering a large segment of guests with Q-bot as it stands (and seemingly on both sides of the fence). I don't see this re-entry policy having a much different effect on folks.

Which I suspect to be along the lines of "Complain and deal with it."

And I fully expect to fall into that category myself. Like I said, there are times I like to take a breather or whatnot, but at the same time I'm not going to skip something like Kingda Ka (which we missed due to weather last year) or El Toro (which looks like a great deal of fun), just because SF changed one rule. We'll begrudgingly adapt.

I find nothing funnier than comments I've seen other places of people threatening to 'boycott' the parks if this happens. Way to cut off your nose to spite your face.

If this never happens, great! If it does, I guess we simply change our park approach when visiting a SF park.

Well being one of the lucky ones that have other options than a SF park. I will visit those instead.

How's that?

WoF and SDC/CC are already saying THANK YOU SIXFLAGS as they will have stellar years due to the poor customer service that this will create.

- Dustijn "still debating on whether or not to get a SF pass this year" Hollon

Just found this link at another site from the Fool - that was posted today.

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06011302.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y

If you don't want people going to their cars, just do what Universal Florida does... put the parking lot 3 miles away from the park.

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dragonoffrost said:
Because if someone has either a season pass for these or buys a combo ticket they will be exempt from the no re-entry policy. This was stated in the memo from SFGAdv's PR rep.

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Apparently this wasn't a company wide memo that went out. SFoG's PR department (on a SFoG Yahoo Group the PR department maintains) has recently confirmed that they to are doing away with the re-entry policy as well. They are stating that day ticket holders are allowed one admission and no re-entry if they leave. Season Pass holders are allowed to visit the park as often as they like, but they will only be allowed to enter the once per day with their pass and no re-entry if they leave.

I'm curious to see if this rule will be pulled before the beginning of the year.

~josh

NEW For 2006 Shops that will carry these supplies:

• Diapers & Wipes
• Baby Formula
• Prescriptions for people who left it in the car
• Laundromat for drying wet clothes
• Pet Hotel
• Hotel Rooms with Swimming Pools for the mid-afternoon "break" that families take

I guess a good thing about this is I won't have to worry about keeping my parking receipt so that I can get back into the parking lot without paying again. ;)

Some good news to report here. The no re-entry policy has been scrapped. Wendy Goldberg called me a couple of hours ago to confirm that Shapiro met with the general managers today and decided that, given the company's stance on improving the customer service experience in 2006, that it will NOT be rolling out the no re-entry policy this year at any of the parks.

She was the same source that had told About.com's Arthur Levine that the policy was for real here. . .

http://themeparks.about.com/b/a/235383.htm

So it's dead. For now. Too hot a potato one would think.

Good. :)

(although the words "this year" do catch my attention)

As I've said before, you re-establish good will first, before you start setting restrictive policies and trying to re-invent the wheel.

This was clearly a case of putting the cart before the horse. Something like a no re-entry policy is perhaps something that might be better understood once the parks are clean, the food is good and bringing your family is convenient.

And even then, I'd post surveys at the exits asking guests why they're leaving, before I'd institute this.