Six Flags declares second quarter profit

But you missed all that Jeff said. You're closer together than you think.

He said the destination parks ( like SFGadv) will continue to sprout monster coasters while the mid-range parks really, truly are about the wet stuff...exactly why you can get on a coaster so quickly there.

Would somebody do me a favor and let the VF folks know? One wavepool, hold the coaster. Thanks!

-'Playa

How do you explain HW Playa? It seems both may be working for them? Or are they just pissing away money on the new coaster?

P.S. I did not miss your point Jeff! I agree 100%.

I just wonder if a coaster does not provide a longer ROI after the thrill of the new waterslide fades away...? Do you measure ROI at 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, etc... For extreme example what has The Beast done for PKI? Magnum? Raven? These seem like gifts that keep on giving in the ROI. Do water slides do the same...? I honestly do not know, because I don't have the numbers... Maybe my thought pattern is outdated...?

I'm slowly becoming convinced that waterparks are where the growth is at...

Waterparks are more like playgrounds and beaches. Kids don't quit going to the local swing/slide/monkey bar complex because somebody else builds the world's biggest sandbox. People keep coming back for the same ol' thrill.

As for HW...I might not go so far as to call Voyage 'the coaster that waterslides built' but I'm sure they at least put up the station and lift hill. :)

-'Playa

You wait in the one hour line just to get IN the waterpark at SFGAm and tell me it isn't because of the waterparks...

...and mind you, these people could walk off and ride some damn good coasters instead!

Waterparks are not the end-all, cure-all. Unless a park has a well-rounded offering it's not going to bring the people in.

If waterparks were the golden egg for the amusement industry why do places like Wet-n-Wild Las Vegas close?

If that were the case amusement parks would be closing and waterparks would be opening. Why don't we see more places like Schlitterbahn?

Exactly.

P.S. Waterparks ARE the new "opiate of the masses"...

I don't MAKE the news, just report it... ;)

P.P.S. Voyage was built AFTER Will was done spending money growing one of the larger waterparks around....and in Santa Claus, Indiana no less....true enough that Voyage will bring in people for a LONG time to come, but the money Will is busily spending on Bahari and Voyage and the dark ride and ALL the other goodies....the money for all that expansion...came from S.S., and not the SS Minnow! ;)

Finally, since I see more postings, W-n-W in Vegas closed because not even wavepools bring in the ca$h that a gaming venue does....ever seen anyone playing poker on TV lately? ROFL!

These all-inclusive parks, they need "amusement rides" to expand their offerings for sure, since no waterpark-only place on earth can charge 50 bucks for admission.

As for why there aren't more Schlitterbahns....there are now... ;)
*** This post was edited by rollergator 8/9/2005 2:29:47 PM ***

But if waterparks were really the 'opiate of the masses', Bill, We'd be seeing more Schlitterbahns than Six Flags. But instead, we're seeing waterparks and hotels with indoor waterparks building up around those amusment parks...because they know what the people are coming to.

But wouldn't that prove that folks would like to go to a waterpark and stay overnight, unlike all but the destination parks?

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If waterparks were the golden egg for the amusement industry why do places like Wet-n-Wild Las Vegas close?

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That's an easy one. Cuz better indoor waterparks are closer to many more folks these days.

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If that were the case amusement parks would be closing and waterparks would be opening.

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Really? Are you sure? 15 resorts opened from '03 - '04 and that's not even counting this year's expansions and next year's openings. Guess you have a point there.

Better get used to climbing stairs...;)

-'Playa

*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya 8/9/2005 3:03:46 PM ***

Is there a WaterparkBuzz somewhere on the internet, by chance?

Off topic from the rest of you waterpark nuts, but Marine World is having one of its best seasons ever. Ocean Discovery and Shouka have really brought the crowds in.

And what would they do at WPBuzz? Debate the height of the tallest stairway? The biggest splash? The coolest inflatable tube color? Honestly, how often do you see me in these forums in the summer when I'm not in my office?

Coaster folk will always win in the 'hot air per capita' category. Wet folk are too busy splashing, laughing and uh, observing their surroundings.

-'Playa

(is it Friday yet? *lapses into distant stare of wavepool coma*)

*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya 8/9/2005 3:18:08 PM ***

I wish I could be as cool and awesome as the far superrior wet folk. What I wouldn't give to always be right and go around rubbing peoples faces in everything all the time.

I want to be 1337, too.

Don't hate. Find some size 36 shorts and hop in. There's room in the wavepool for everybody. Almost. But then again, isn't that why they keep building extras? :)

-'Playa

*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya 8/9/2005 3:23:28 PM ***

So when are you changing your name to WataPlaya? ;)

From the press release...

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They reflect the successful implementation of our investment program, which added new attractions in 13 of our 18 domestic theme parks, and three of our water parks and both of our international parks...

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Too bad Wyandot Lake wasn't part of those seeing an "investment." Maybe with the surge in waterpark popularity, Six Flags and (perhaps more importantly) the Columbus Zoo can finally figure out a future for the park that may involve a considerable expansion of the water attractions. Something will need to happen sometime soon, with Wyandot about to lose a significant chunk of its picnic grove to a road relocation.

Hehe, I may be "the gator", but I am far from a waterpark lover....

Doesn't mean I don't know what Jeff's talking about when he mentions "the folks at ProSlide...filling slides with cash and going down them head-first."

Besides, the waterpark biz is making the amusement parks TONS o' cash, and some of that will eventually build me some more Rides of Steel...or so I desperately want to believe... ;)

As I've been saying all along, it is NOT about me...it's about the amusement industry. Hotels and waterparks are obviously where the free money is at, so all the better for the industry for being smart enough to see it....and only 4-5 years after we told 'em about it... :)

Techno said....

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People don't go specifically for waterslides. That just happens to be a bonus. Heck, SFGAm added a brand new park to the one they already had, and didn't charge extra for it.

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Don't be to sure of that. Water World stood alone next to Astroworld for many many years, as a seperate admission and did very well. In the past, I even paid the 19.99 entrance fee more than once for the water portion alone. Premeir combined the ride and water sections to improve attendance with out adding capitol to AW. I can also tell you I have visited Water World twice this year, which requires you to go past many rides to get to the entrance. The Water entrance in actually inside of AW towards the middle of the park. Point is... on 2 trips I never even rode a ride. I specifically went for water only. Stand in line anyday in the summer at AW, and you will see plenty of people in bathing suits, just for the water park.

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We'd be seeing more Schlitterbahns than Six Flags.

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Their working on it. Give them time! S Padre is opened, and Galveston is opening next year.

That's what I was thinking, Markieb....Schlitterbahn opens two new parks in two years. How many brand new parks have SF, CF, and PP added in the last few years....zero!

Those are not REAL Schlitterbahns...Unless they have the real river rides and multiple chutes (some greater than 30 minutes long without repeating the course) they are just another typical waterpark trying to cash in on the legend.

As much as I love coasters, I would rather spend a day at the original Schlitterbahn than ANY park in my 36's! :-)

P.S. Wet-n-Wild Vegas was always packed. They did not own the land and could not keep up with the boom!