Opinion: The Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger implications

Gunkey Monkey:

...Theme parks really should market job opportunities to this demographic.

Have you ever been to Adventureland out in Altoona (Des Moines), IA?

I don't know if this is still the case, but when I went there many years ago, they actually had a program where they paid retirees to park their RV's in the park's campground and work in the park. What was particularly interesting was how they employed their older workers...a typical ride crew would include one "senior" and one younger adult. Larger crews were similarly balanced. And it was clear that the hierarchy was NOT age related; that is, the ride foreman might or might not be the one with the grey hair. It appeared that they were having a bit of success with the program, so...yeah, that's something parks probably should do if they don't already.

Wal-Mart greeter, or Adventureland ride operator? How to choose.......

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

My first full time job after college was Kilimanjaro Safaris at WDW. I would love nothing more than to do it again seasonally/part time as my last job someday in the future.

I didn't think it was worthy of its own thread here (I'm sure it's spawned 30 on PointBuzz though), but CP is officially closing Snake River Expedition after three years.

Some of the cuts from the past two years are things I wouldn't have expected until after the merger. If they dilute the product enough before Cedar Flags becomes official, maybe things won't even be noticeable.

PhantomTails:

but CP is officially closing Snake River Expedition after three years.

Its funny because I had heard rumors about this closing from some people who live in the area. Didn't really believe them because, well, didn't make too much sense. Wonder what they'll do with them now? I hope its maybe repurposed into a transit ride linking Magnum to the other side of the park

It would make sense to allow cut through from Frontier Fling to the Snake River Expedition area if they are ever to develop more on the Island. People have been saying for years that's where the next big coaster will go, but I'm not really counting on much of anything for a while. Four or five years ago, despite ride operations trending downward, it really felt like CP was becoming a premium park - a place that I could drag my 70 year old parents to along with my kids and we could all possibly have a good time with the added shows, seasonal events, remodeled Breakers, better food, etc. Now they seem to be going in the complete opposite direction. They seem intent on driving transactions with cheap offseason deals and then cutting the experience so much that people start questioning whether even the low price they paid was worth it.

People have talked about Cedar Flags selling off a bunch of their smaller parks to pay off debt. I wonder if there's any way they'd do the opposite and sell off a couple of the bigger ones instead - say CP and Knotts to someone like Herschend. That's probably not much of a possibility, but who knows these days? I just hate to see parks that are special become homogenized and standard.

It made me very sad when Paddlewheel Excursions was closed. I worked on that ride for a few season. It was a really fun job.

Then my sadness was redeemed when Snake River Expeditions was announced. I found the ride to be a welcome update to the old ride.

Last year, Snake River was downgraded to an experience closer to what it used to be when it was Paddlewheel. I didn't like it, but at lease the ride was still available.

And now, I am totally disappointed again to see the ride is closed.

Although, a transportation ride between Frontier Trail and Camp Snoopy would be cool. Maybe they could play prerecorded spiels and music so the driver doesn't have to be "entertaining."

I hear exactly what you’re saying, Matt. I was really impressed with “the resort era” they went through. A few years ago, I was telling my parents what a fun day we could have together without getting on any rides. We planned to take them for a day of entertainment, some beach/Breakers time, and grab some lunch while enjoying some shows and parades. My mom loves Snoopy, so she would have loved seeing the stage show or parade and we generally could have done a family day.

That was also a time where I didn’t mind hopping up there after work on a Friday night to catch Luminosity or whatever, and enjoy hanging out in the crisp night air under the lights, or going to the beach for lights, music and bonfires. I felt like I had a true vacation destination nearby that I had access to all summer long

Now, it seems like the old days, where parents/grandparents don’t have much to do while the kids wait in lines for rides.

RideMan:

Have you ever been to Adventureland out in Altoona (Des Moines), IA?

I don't know if this is still the case, but when I went there many years ago, they actually had a program where they paid retirees to park their RV's in the park's campground and work in the park.

Knoebel's has had a work/camp program. My wife doesn't know that that's my retirement plan.

https://www.cleveland.com/e...-they.html

I don't know about you, but I intend on writing a strongly worded letter to the White Star Line about all of this.

You shall embrace your new corporate overloads, and the new B&M in section 75K of the parking lot.

MDOmnis:

Now they seem to be going in the complete opposite direction. They seem intent on driving transactions with cheap offseason deals and then cutting the experience so much that people start questioning whether even the low price they paid was worth it.

I think part of the problem is they are still adjusting to a post covid world. My marketing classes project a slight decline in tourism for 2024, but I disagree. I suspect 2024-2025 we will see a shift back to that idea of making cedar point more of a destination. They do need to make a few more refurbishments to the park and increase Live E and better staffing and theyll be solid

The Gold Pass strategy at Cedar Point started in 2019, so the current model seems to have already been at least partially in place prior to the pandemic.

I also don't think you continue to make drastic cuts to the 2024 season in terms of Live Entertainment and non thrill rides if you're looking for 2024-2025 as the timetable you want to have to return things to where they were ten years ago.

I absolutely think there is merit in the idea, but I don't see this as the current Cedar Fair and soon to be Cedar Flags strategy. With Matt Ouimet and others from his era gone, the focus on the guest experience is not what it was even five years ago.