Say Goodbye? Laser at DP

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Jeff said:
But that's just it, you can't even lump people into pro and against Conneaut/small park group. That's the kind of crap that has been plaguing this country for years now. "If you're not for it, you're against it." I love me some Kennywood and Holiday World, and I've been itching to get to Indiana Beach for years. Those places offer something that I, and apparently many others, want to experience and pay for.

And get this, I can love those places and still love Cedar Point and Universal Orlando. It's a crazy world, eh?

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Thats my whole point in a nutshell, Maybe you think a visit to one of these parks isn't worthwhile. But visiting three or four of them is, At least for me and truelly enjoyable. A day at Kennywood followed by a split day at Conneaut/Waldameer is one heck of a weekend and doable for less cost than one day at some of the destination parks.

Lakemont, Delgrossos and Knoebels in one day is DA BOMB to me. I often spend many days at Knoebels and venture out to the dorneys, hersheys, SFGAD's as well as the little parks.

Just enjoy what you enjoy and keep a open mind on what you haven't yet visited. Thats all anyone can ask.

Chuck, who says, Yes this is a circular discussion, but it gives perspective where your coming from

Who doesn't appreciate small parks? Did I not just say that I did? I don't like them all, but then again I don't like all Six Flags either. As I said somewhere else, I think you see what you want to see, and you see your favorites being cut on.

Heck, I got booted from CP's marketing mailing list at one point because I was dogging the Dragster fiasco in the press. That hardly makes me an irrational partisan tool.

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Rob Ascough said:
Correct. But it would be wrong to form an opinion of motorcycle riding or rugby without having experienced either.

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I've never smoked but I have an opinion of it.

Heres a Idea for the Gonch minded people. The parks reserve five days a year with limited sales. Say for CP. 10,000 at 100 bucks a person.

You get the park exclusively and they could even give passes with times to ride the top draws like Maverick for the first couple hours. You also get one meal of your choice of many and one snack and free drinks.

Would you visit on one of these days Gonch? The GP at large would not support a park at those rates being open 100 days a year. It just wouldn't work where ten percent of the population can support that. Parks have to be diverse in order to survive. Expecially when kids are in school from Mid August to Mid June. Theres your holes in a nutshell

Whats the difference in that and a corporate picnic day? It might make the parks more money than a picnic.

Chuck

Where's my holes?

Because you said so isn't an answer.

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The GP at large would not support a park at those rates being open 100 days a year. It just wouldn't work where ten percent of the population can support that.

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Based on what? Your personal opinion?

Based on mine, it would. Looks like we're at a standstill again.

Are you trying to tell me people won't pay $100 for a day at the park?

Try telling that to the people who complain that Six Flags gate is too high at $60 and that parking is $15 and that you need a q-bot (another $20-$30) to enjoy the park and that so many people use q-bot that their day is ruined.

Because the people they descibe are paying $100 for a day at the park.

So are not enough people willing to pay $100 for a park visit to support that business model or are so many willing to that it hurts the experience of those that won't under the current systems?

We have two completely different arguments, so someone HAS to be wrong...unless of course you share my view (which plays to both sides) - and that says there's a lot more people willing to pay those kinds of prices than some of you think.

Strange how you just mentioned five reasons NOT TO VISIT vs how many reasons FOR?

Chuck, who respects your view, I just don't agree with them. They are making that extra 50 sixty dollars off of 10 percent of their visitors tops while probably pissing off another 50 percent. Think long term my friend. KI isn't down 14 percent in attendance for no reason over the last two seasons.

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Lord Gonchar said:

Try telling that to the people who complain that Six Flags gate is too high at $60 and that parking is $15 and that you need a q-bot (another $20-$30) to enjoy the park and that so many people use q-bot that their day is ruined.

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I'm not looking to start this pissing match all over again, I just wanted to comment on this one thing because it supports my theory that theme parks should be "overpriced" so that all guests are treated to the same good experience because they all paid money to do so. This would keep people like me from crying "unfair" when Q-botters skip to the front of the line and still be part of the plan to make more money on less people.

Maybe the industry is going to split into two factions- the smaller, local parks maintaining their low prices and attracting as many people as they can because of their location away from regional theme parks, and the regional theme parks pricing themselves out of the reach of many people so that they can provide a better experience to offset the increased cost of admission. This isn't something I'd be averse to because I'd be willing to pay for both, including the latter if the quality of the experience is going to match the amount of money I'm paying. Right now I don't see the current plan leading to long-term success because many theme park chains are trying to appeal to two different demographics- the people used to paying next to nothing to get into theme parks and the people that are willing to pay more but are expecting more as part of the deal.

I'm, by no means rich, but I actually paid single day admission with my wife (When it was around $65) to Animal Kingdom and had a great time. Why were we willing to pay $65 each? Because we were confident about the quality of the experience.

Exactly. See my recent post in the active Six Flags thread because what I said definitely supports what you just said.

Ok, back to the topic of Laser at DP. I am thinking that if they cannot find a buyer before the start of next season that I have a great alternative. Send it to Michigan's Adventure! Start the rumors now, "New at MI for 2008 a steel looper!!" LOL

I'd rather see it go to Knoebels, Holiday World, Indiana Beach or Waldameer- all smaller parks that would benefit nicely from a solid looping coaster.

Didn't Knoebel's just get rid of their small looper? Granted it wasn't solid, but...

That's true, but the ride had no ridersship because even the uninformed knew it sucked. Laser would probably be received a lot better, but you do bring up a good point.