Six flags season pass parking change?

Dave nobody missed the point. To complain that $20 to park for a family of four is going to keep you from a few HOURS of entertainment on a multiday visit is kind of lame. I don't want to pay to park for one person for a couple hours but that isn't going to affect my decision to do it or not.

The point everyone else tried to make is that you likely will bs going on a pass that is already undervalued yet youre complaining about paying $20 for 4 people to have Fun foe a couple hours when it can cost twice that or more fire a family of four ti just get into a movie of otter comparable entertainment for a couple hours.

DaveStroem said:

My last trip to SFGAdv cost over $600 of non park costs.

So $600 for the trip is fine, but $617 was the break point, then?

but I must ask... what other entertainment did you find for 4 people for 3 hours for $17 total in lieu of going to an amusement park?

This past weekend we went to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell exibit. On a trip last year we went to Gettysburg on our way home from Kings Dominion.

Probably all better decisions than riding a coaster a couple more times anyhow.

You all are missing my point. I am talking about an additional visit to the same park on consecutive days.

Actually, I completely understood your point. You get in the night before your "real visit". You have a few hours to kill. You think that $17 is too expensive to kill them at the park.

Oh, and when you went to visit the Liberty Bell, in downtown Philadelphia, what did you pay for parking?
(Hint: http://www.philapark.org/parkinglocator/parking_locator.aspx?destinationID=24)

Brian Noble said:
Oh, and when you went to visit the Liberty Bell, in downtown Philadelphia, what did you pay for parking?
(Hint: http://www.philapark.org/parkinglocator/parking_locator.aspx?destinationID=24)

That's what I've come to realize about these giant parking lots at amusement parks. They are taking up a lot of space that could be sold or leased in some cases, and in some cases used for expansion. Parking is expensive for a reason.

However I understand the frustration when something you had in previous years has been taken away.

We parked at a meter a block away for $2.

However I understand the frustration when something you had in previous years has been taken away.

Exactly, I am not boycotting SF or anything else, just frustrated with the change.

^My point exactly. Especially when it was part of the deal when I purchased my pass last year.

Most of the time when I am hitting a Six Flags park - it's on the way to other places. Last year, me and my friend stopped at Six Flags America for less than 2 hours; we were en route to Kennywood actually - a place where I know I can spend a whole day with no problem. We were totally done with SFA in about 90 minutes - our first time there, and last in a long time.

I would have been happy to pay extra for parking at all SF parks when I got my pass (well, I did actually, and that has been reneged by SF apparently). The whole idea of stopping in a park to see if I like anything is a selling point for me - I don't want to commit to spending an entire day at most SF parks. After my recent trip to Carowinds and KD - I'll say the same for Cedar Fair parks - but at least I have all inclusive parking with my Platinum Pass. I can pop in for one ride on my way to another park - without having to shell out that extra money.

CoasterDemon said:
After my recent trip to Carowinds and KD - I'll say the same for Cedar Fair parks - but at least I have all inclusive parking with my Platinum Pass. I can pop in for one ride on my way to another park - without having to shell out that extra money.

Because you already paid it up front.

Why is this so hard to accept, grasp or understand?

^If I stop in for 10 visits to various SFs parks, on different days, the total cost in parking will be around $200. That is more than my entire Platinum Pass - all inclusive parking - from Cedar Fair.

Ok. So?

Added - If the higher cost is the concern, I'd say quit visiting parks by yourself

(I don't need to do the 'statistical anomoly' lecture again, do I? Just understand there aren't many people visiting non-home parks...10 times a season...alone.)

Simply splitting the parking fee with a friend, acquaintance, compadre, pal, buddy or even an ememy would bring the SF pass down to the cost of the CF pass.

This has been Gonch's value tip of the day. :)

^You may not need the anomaly - you're plenty quick to figure out things on your own. But - there are other people that read the forums.

I'm feeling that pretty much any sort of reply I have - were not going to see eye to eye on most issues here. I'm ok with that ;)

If SF indicated when passes were purchased that parking would be included at all parks but changed their mind once the season started (or based on past practices, that was an expectation without any dislosure at the time of purchase that the past policy had changed), I would have a problem with that. But otherwise, seems to me that they just increased certain of their prices for this year. As with any price increase, some folks won't mind, some with not be happy with it but will go along anyway and others will reduce how many times they buy or may even stop buying entirely. Presumably, the parks take such possibilities into account in determining what prices to raise and by how much.

CoasterDemon said:
^If I stop in for 10 visits to various SFs parks, on different days, the total cost in parking will be around $200. That is more than my entire Platinum Pass - all inclusive parking - from Cedar Fair.

Are you planning onvisiting 10 parks? I could say something similar but unless you're realistically planning on going to ten parks all I can say is so what? If your going to make multiple visits to a single park get a parking pass. If you're pending money to go to ten different parks is $200 going to put you over budget?

Realistically you can say it could affect youths or that way but are you actually planning on 10 different parks? If not youre complaining about spending $200 that you're not even planning on spending. I could complain about how expensive a hummer is but I won't because I don't plan on getting one.

How about this: Increase the pass prices by....$25-50. Do away with season parking altogether, and give all passholders half-price parking regardless of what park they visit. Raises revenues all around (and gets *something* out of the pesky babysitting situation).

I'm all for that, Gator. Great idea!

I'd be paying a lot more if they did that, I paid $125 for my Great Adventure pass with parking this year. If I had to pay half price parking each time and they raised the pass $25, that would be $252.50 for a season with 15 trips to the park (my average). I don't think it would stop kids from being at the park all day without parents unless they are old enough to drive since don't the parks have drop off areas that the parents can get to for free to drop off and pick up their kids? I'm not sure about other SF parks but I know Great Adventure has a shuttle bus that runs from the main entrance to the Safari, Hurricane Harbor and the drop off area.

Hmm. The lesson here seems to be that no matter what they do it works better for some people and worse for others.

Go figure.

I too was turned off by the change in the SF season pass parking change, but not until I learned there was no upgrade to a "premium" parking pass that included all the parks. Over the past two years I had successfully visited all the US SF parks (save for Great Escape) and it really came in handy. For what its worth I also had a CF Platinum pass and a Busch pass as well, both which included my parking.

I get it and it is what it is. I just think they [Six Flags] are missing an opportunity to have money up front secured...even if they only sold that premium pass for a limited time in limited amounts. Kinda like the refill popcorn buckets the have at the Cinemark theatres around here (once they are gone, they are gone).

Six Flags and Cedar Fair seem to be all about cheaper admission, but the nickle & dime'd park experience. Kinda like a low-cost airline. Sure you paid pennies to get in, but you wanna eat? Its gonna have you coming out the pocket more often.

On the other hand, from my experiences food at the Disney, Busch, etc parks is either cheaper OR similar prices at a better quality. I mean seriously $8 for a 6" sub at the CP Subway? And another $6 for a drink and chips? Really?

Its perception of value. This year I gave up on 4 years of SF passes and did a Disneyland Premium Pass ($459) which is only two parks, but includes TONS of discounts and 365 days of admission. I also got a CF Platinum...mostly for my CP/KI trip this holiday weekend, but also in case I wanted to stop by Knotts while I am getting my Disney fix.