Six Flags 25% off season passes

All they're doing is leaving tons of money on the table. People are pretty much conditioned to think that a season pass is somewhere between 2 and 3 times the cost of a single day admission-- and usually closer to 3 times than 2. So why charge barely above one-day's admission for a season pass?

Even if they raised season pass prices 10-15 dollars above last year's rates, they could still point out that they're cheaper than CF, Hershey, etc. How many people bought a pass for 50 or 60 dollars that wouldn't for 89 or 99? If the answer is "not all that many" then they should be kicking themselves in the asses for leaving 40 bucks on the table per transaction.

If the answer is "a lot," then you should ask whether you really want to fill your parks with bargain hunters. If they won't spend 90 bucks for a pass that lets them come in 3,4 or 50 times a year, how willing will they be to drop 4 dollars on a Pepsi, 15 for parking, and another 15 for lunch?

Even if the reasoning is to get bodies through the gates to show them how much things have improved, it doesn't do much to increase their bottom line. If people are really impressed, what will they do next? Probably bring along 5 friends for free next time. That puts money in the coffers.

Agreed 100%. :)

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RatherGoodBear said:If people are really impressed, what will they do next? Probably bring along 5 friends for free next time. That puts money in the coffers.

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Only if they all drive themselves to the park... ;)

^I guess it really comes down to personal opinion. I don't hate Gonch cuz he likes the bigger parks over the small family places.

But heck, I can remember so many times being at a big park (MM, SFGAm, SFGAd, KI, CP) where I was just so desperate b/c all the lines were so long (and running one train/understaffed to boot).

I've spent entire days at Americana (granted, that was like 1989), Kennywood, HW, Hershey, etc. And never ever had a bad time. Indiana Beach is the bomb! And I don't have alotta money, so it works out good for me anyhow.

I was at Lake Winnie for the first time this summer, we weren't there long. I couldda easily spent a whole day there. They have some Amazing rides!

Maybe they are trying to boost season pass sales so they can get more sponsership money from corporations. I can't believe they don't have advertising on the actual season pass, yet. Ofcourse in the e-mails they send out to season pass holders they do. The approach could be just get the turnstile clicks, maybe then we can get another sponership and throw up another banner. It seems as if lately the parks are becoming more about continous advertising which I feel is taking away from the theming of the parks. The parks are becoming so plastered with advertising that it is worse than a NASCAR car.

It seems the approach with the season passes is taking the park more away from a family park, which is where they wanted to be headed. How many families want to go to a park where there is no perceived value? Plus I think people start looking at it as a value park when they see the addmission, then they get inside see $4 drinks and get pissed off since it does not resemble the type of value they perceived when they bought the ticket.

^Exactly! I really think if the parks charged a 'normal' price for tickets and season passes, then included soda like some parks, that would be a great value.

(I know we've gone around and around, but I still believe it can and will eventually happen.)

People talk. I mean, it's almost hard to pay full price going to a Six Flags park.

One of the things that I would think is stopping them from 'free (included) soda' is the fact that lots of the kids they babysit would abuse it. There would be lots of 'pop fights'. At a family park, that isn't much of a problem...

Just wondering, how many in the GP would've known to take advantage of this offer only on the website, on a Sunday? I by chance happened to be looking to buy that day and then came to CB and saw it posted. How many here, who may be more apt to check SF website in the off season would have known if not posted here?

I took advantage of it with the intention of spending two days at GAdv and if I have to, two days at SFA. I agree with many here that those two parks don't offer the best experience IMO but their proximity to me got me to purchase the pass.

Look at it this way.

How many 'folks' love Hersheypark, Idlewild, Kiddieland, Holidayworld and Indiana Beach?

How many folks love SFGAd, KI, CP (alot!)...

But after those experiences, who's gonna wanna really , truly go back?

The 3 million+ those parks draw every year, I suppose.

Six Flags way of thinking is simple. Sell many seasons pass as you can. If you sell them cheap people will buy them but there is a good chance that many people will only use there pass 1 time or not at all. Some people will buy it put in a drawer and forget about it. Summer will come and go and Six Flags just got some money from you and they gave you nothing in return. It is no different then Gift Cards at stores. They sell them and people buy them. But there is a good percentage of people who will never use the Gift Card. What happens? Store makes money without giving you anything.

yes! simple minds is where its at~

target, gap,northface, starbucks... costco... wal mart...

I mean, Wal Mart have even gone back on their values.. offering "partnership insurance." Good lord. I'd rather be strung out on codien.... *** Edited 12/20/2007 6:50:56 AM UTC by J7G3***

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MrZero said:
Just wondering, how many in the GP would've known to take advantage of this offer only on the website, on a Sunday? I by chance happened to be looking to buy that day and then came to CB and saw it posted. How many here, who may be more apt to check SF website in the off season would have known if not posted here?

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They were advertising it all day on Yahoo.

It was also listed on the main page of Slick Deals and posted at least three times on Fat Wallet. Two of the most visited "savings" sites on the net.

People knew about it.

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RatherGoodBear said: How many people bought a pass for 50 or 60 dollars that wouldn't for 89 or 99? If the answer is "not all that many" then they should be kicking themselves in the asses for leaving 40 bucks on the table per transaction.

If the answer is "a lot," then you should ask whether you really want to fill your parks with bargain hunters. If they won't spend 90 bucks for a pass that lets them come in 3,4 or 50 times a year, how willing will they be to drop 4 dollars on a Pepsi, 15 for parking, and another 15 for lunch?

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I wasn't willing to pay full price for the pass based on the end of the season at Great Adventure with the long lines. I figured for $67.xx I can visit twice in the Spring and have it paid off since I only plan to visit in April, May, early June and maybe September (the lines are too long other times of the year).

I am the type of customer SF doesn't want, I plan to stop at WaWa before I enter the park and eat in the car and the only money I plan on spending in the park is in the arcade (they have games I can't find anywhere else). I think I am the exception though since even on a trip to GADV when the park was dead, I saw plenty of people gladly paying $6.49 for a slice of pizza and $9.99 for a sandwich.

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I think I am the exception though since even on a trip to GADV when the park was dead, I saw plenty of people gladly paying $6.49 for a slice of pizza and $9.99 for a sandwich.

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Exactly.

This is where I fall also. Sounds exactly like the scenario I will follow.

Didn't know about their other sources for advertising the sale, that should've certainly heightened awareness and surely purchases. *** Edited 12/21/2007 7:09:36 PM UTC by MrZero***

Well, if they were doing the sale, wouldn't they want to have people know about it? What would be the point of changing the price and then keeping it a secret?

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MrZero said:
Just wondering, how many in the GP would've known to take advantage of this offer only on the website, on a Sunday? I by chance happened to be looking to buy that day and then came to CB and saw it posted. How many here, who may be more apt to check SF website in the off season would have known if not posted here?

I took advantage of it with the intention of spending two days at GAdv and if I have to, two days at SFA. I agree with many here that those two parks don't offer the best experience IMO but their proximity to me got me to purchase the pass.

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They were advertising it a lot of the day on yahoo. So, it's not only enthusiasts that could have got a great deal.

This is just another stupid Shapiro thing. He said they would rise season pass prices. Than, why are they the same as last year? This one deal was just so stupid for a bleeding corporation. It would be different if season pass prices were $120, and they would lower them for a day to $70, but that's not what's happening. Season pass prices NEED to be higher. Have people given up on this guy yet, or not? I've given up on him a long time ago.

The brand is a thrilling amusement park corporation. He wants to change it the other way. The park needs more thrilling flats because I don't think they have enough. People enjoy roller coasters, but they need more rides to go on other than roller coasters, and the flats at most Six Flags are lacking. They were on the right track with SFGAdv, but than they just gave up because they bought the wrong rides.

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Have people given up on this guy yet, or not? I've given up on him a long time ago.

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Not even close. This is the only thing I think they're still missing the mark (pun intended) on.

Other than the stupid pass pricing, I think they're doing just about everything right.

I agree with Gonch but would add one other item I think is a misfire: the cost of parking. I think it's a bad idea of make park guests feel as if their pocketbook is raped before they even step out of their car.

Raise the ticket prices by $5 and make parking free.