Six Flags Announces Nation's Best Theme Park VIP Program
And sorry about the spelling.
And the sarcasm, I REALLY enjoy where I live. I'm sure Jersey is a great place to live (depending on the area)...but I sure like the weather here.
*** Edited 3/26/2007 5:14:13 PM UTC by janfrederick***
90K? Really? I gotta move...LOL! ;)
Interesting to note that once you get past a certain number of kids, average income starts going DOWN...
Since the last 12,000 or so posts were devoted entirely to ride lines and Q-berts, let me take this in another direction. It mentions the VIP program includes food and snacks.
Since I've read in more than a few TR's about people waiting 15-20 minutes for sodas, and 45 minutes for "meals," do the VIPers get to jump the food lines too? Or are there certain places they are taken for quicker service? People might not notice a virtual ride line, but they sure as hell aren't going to miss someone walking up and getting served food while they're standing there waiting. And what about the VIPs? I mean paying 250 a person and having to wait half an hour for a hotdog means people are going to be VIPissed Off.
In terms of the sheer amount - notice which two states are the highest. Connecticut and New Jersey. What's the connection? Probably a large number of commuters who work in NYC.
*** Edited 3/26/2007 5:36:13 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***
janfrederick said:
Take a look at those figures. That $90K median is a spike. A lot of statisticians would like to throw out figures like that. It looks like, on average, the medians for 4 person families are more like 60K. Conn is an exception. Just seems strange to me. I'm just wondering why the spike for Jersey.
$90k for a family of four in New Jersey is not a spike.
In Connecticut it is $92k.
In Maryland it is $89k.
Mass is $85k, Virginia is at $77k, etc.
We're talking about the richest states in the union, you can see a breakdown of the states by per capita income here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_the_United_States_by_income
Some states are richer than others, I always thought that was pretty obvious. But just because a state is at or near the top doesn't mean it's a spike.
Gonch's approximate math here is really solid, given what few hard statistics we really have to work with. There's just no getting around it. *** Edited 3/26/2007 5:49:00 PM UTC by matt.***
rollergator said:
Interesting to note that once you get past a certain number of kids, average income starts going DOWN...
We need to get the Freakonomics guys involved. Perhaps a correlation between education and the number of kids you have? :)
RatherGoodBear said:
Gonch, take your $499 figure and multiply by 2, since $1000 (little less) is what the family of four would pay for the VIP program, which IS what this thread is all about. right?
Well, it was supposed to be, but you know how it goes. :)
I'll even give you that though, but if we're talking VIP, we're also probably talking a once-a-summer thing. Let's just consider the 12 weeks of 'peak' summer time.
That $1000 day is just 5% of that family's gross income for those summer months.
Again, I challenge anyone to run the same numbers with their own income and tell me that's not a good deal in comparison.
Since I've read in more than a few TR's about people waiting 15-20 minutes for sodas, and 45 minutes for "meals,"...
Interesting that you mention the waits for food and drink. In this week's podcast (to be posted tonight - and yes, I know, you don't listen), we get into SF a little again and I mention how I visited The Greene yesterday.
They have a Cold Stone Creamery there (the one and the same that will be in SF parks this year). The line was out the door and the wait was about 30-35 minutes from the time you got in the back of that line (where the three blond girls are) until you paid for your ice cream (the other end of a line that snaked back and forth throught he shop and eventually made its way back towards the door). The line remained for as long as we were there. People were willing to wait a half hour and pay $4 for a 'small' ice cream.
Sounds like SF is jumping in bed with exactly the right companies. If people are willing to do this in a public setting on a Sunday afternoon, why would they be any less willing in a theme park on a Sunday afternoon?
(just for the record, I have never waited 45 minutes for food at any SF park - but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen)
*** Edited 3/26/2007 6:05:06 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***
rollergator said:
Interesting to note that once you get past a certain number of kids, average income starts going DOWN...
Poorer people tend to reproduce faster and generally have more people (extended family) living in single dwellings.
Lord Gonchar said:Again, I challenge anyone to run the same numbers with their own income and tell me that's not a good deal in comparison.
I'm currently an unemployed student but last summer I was pulling down about $330 a week.
330 x .29 is $95.7
$95.7 divided by 4 is a little under $24.
Not bad.
Lord Gonchar said:
We need to get the Freakonomics guys involved. Perhaps a correlation between education and the number of kids you have?
Yeah anyone with any sense knows that once you have more than two kids, Mom and Dad are outnumbered (and out gunned ;))
They have a Cold Stone Creamery there (the one and the same that will be in SF parks this year). The line was out the door and the wait was about 30-35 minutes from the time you got in the back of that line until you paid for your ice cream. The line remained for as long as we were there. People were willing to wait a half hour and pay $4 for a 'small' ice cream.
I have no idea what it is with ppl and ice cream, but a couple of the ice cream shoppes in Old Town Alexandria (VA) during the summer months have these same snaking-out-the-door lines...EVERY WEEKEND. It's almost just an accepted fact that if you want an ice cream on King Street, you will be waiting.
But I'd gladly add another $10 per person to the VIPprogram to have a person actually bring the food/snacks to me. Perhaps I could just push a button on the Qbot.....
But I'd gladly add another $10 per person to the VIPprogram to have a person actually bring the food/snacks to me.
And that's exactly how it could work without visibly affecting others in line. Your escort takes your order and you sit while she heads to the back and brings you your food.
Now that's service! :)
Lord Gonchar said:
Online tickets are $46 each. Parking is $15. And we'll even assume you need the Q-bot to enjoy your day. For a family of four you're looking at around $300 at this point. (184 + 15 + 100 = $299) We'll say each family member spends $50 inside the park. That's a daily total of $499.
Just wanted to correct my info. Turns out a standard q-bot for four at SFGAdv is $80, not $100. :)
(thanks Mike B. :) )
There should be a discount for seasonpass holders
There used to be. I haven't used q-bot in a couple of seasons so I don't know what's changed.
It used to be that you paid an upfront 'rental fee' and then so much per person. (see here)
If you were a SP holder they'd waive that 'rental fee' and you'd just pay the per-person price. (not a huge discount, but a discount)
However, looking at the lo-q site, there is no mention of a 'rental fee' - so it's either been built in to the price (or dropped) and q-bot is actually cheaper than it was 2 years ago or they simply 'forgot' to mention it and q-bot has gone up in price by a few bucks over the past two seasons.
Anyone know for sure, which it is?
Lord Gonchar said:We need to get the Freakonomics guys involved. Perhaps a correlation between education and the number of kids you have?
rollergator said:Interesting to note that once you get past a certain number of kids, average income starts going DOWN...
LOL, I'm telling my mom (seven kids, no HS Diploma) that you're picking on her...and she's an old lady, you mean Gonch you... ;)
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
Coaster Junkie from NH
I drive in & out of Boston, so I ride coasters to relax!
Lord Gonchar said:And that's exactly how it could work without visibly affecting others in line. Your escort takes your order and you sit while she heads to the back and brings you your food.Now that's service!
But I'd gladly add another $10 per person to the VIPprogram to have a person actually bring the food/snacks to me.
Dropping you off at your next ride entrance so you can RIDE while she gets your food, even better! ;)
Lord Gonchar said:However, looking at the lo-q site, there is no mention of a 'rental fee' - so it's either been built in to the price (or dropped) and q-bot is actually cheaper than it was 2 years ago or they simply 'forgot' to mention it and q-bot has gone up in price by a few bucks over the past two seasons.Anyone know for sure, which it is?
Looking at the SFoG price list in the park, I *think* the rental has been "built in" to the cost.
This way they can advertise free Q-bot rentals... ;)
Oh, wait, wrong thread... :)
*** Edited 3/26/2007 6:54:16 PM UTC by rollergator***
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