Six Flags will soon hate poor people too

It's interesting that they're looking at it as less people spending more is good, which seems to me like the right strategy when you have a product that is fairly unique. I remember we used to talk a lot about what amusement parks competed with, movies, pro sports, concerts, video games or whatever, but I wonder how much truth there really is to that. In times of relative financial health, I don't imagine people are really thinking, "amusement park or Halo Infinite?"

Jeff said:

It's interesting that they're looking at it as less people spending more is good, which seems to me like the right strategy when you have a product that is fairly unique.

Gonch's Business Model™ - everyone should have been doing it a decade or two ago. The lack of price integrity in the industry in general always confounded me.

-----stop here unless you want my internal monologue as well-----

I've reached a new level of Gonchback. It not only references the topic, but the Gonchback itself is a Gonchback about GBM™

I know we're poo-pooing the "prediction" thing, but yet again here were are just saying something in passing today that not only seemed controversial yesterday to certain segments of the enthusiast community, but also was generally being discussed here 15 years ago.

(I enjoy validation, but also the documentative nature of the internet has made me realize how cyclical conversation is. Not just here, but everywhere. And when a topic is relevent for two straight years, you get the COVID thread. But I digress...)

Raising their prices isn't hating on the poor. If there's anyone that hates poor people it's the many people that have complained that six flags and cedar fair prices are too low over the last couple years.

Inflation for the last year was 7%. Due to labor difficulties, many parks had to increase pay rates. Do you consider giving people raises as hating the poor? The increase in costs have to be passed on to the consumer. Price increases were inevitable.

Personally I don't care what six flags does. I've been to five of their parks and frankly I don't care for the way the chain runs their parks. I don't go to six flags parks any more.

I guess I should keep my membership and hope they don't jack up the prices. Although I would hate for CoasterBuzz members to miss out on a self-congratulatory back pat.

PointMan: I think you're missing the joke. High five.

The amazing thing about this strategy is that it comes under a new board chairman who was previously CEO of Spirit Airlines. Seems 180 degrees away from the Spirit model.

I never liked the perceived notion of paying for months that the park is not open.

Granted, some parks are open year round...but the idea of paying for something when you can't use it makes me uncomfortable.

At one time I looked into a boat-club membership.

The weather in New York makes for a non-boating winter...at least for me. The membership required a year-long membership.

I declined both.

Would you be more likely to pay the same price in one lump sum (at beginning of season -- amusement park or boating)? Or the same price but rather than over 12 months, over the number of months the park is open or you can boat in NY?

GoBucks - - - Good point.

Truthfully, I have been watching my pennies of late.

This is the first year in decades that I did not pull the trigger on park related black friday deals.

I only bought a park pass from my state for beaches and pier access.

The boat club thing wouldn't work because it it nationwide and southern states have year round climate making it easy to boat year round. In New york...at least for me...I would only go late April through october...and the prices for it are very high.

I kinda disagree with Richie here. When we had Cedar Fair Platinum Passes we took advantage of the payment plan. Started in September, paid through the winter and finished right about the time the park opened. That way it truly felt like a trip to a park was no-cost admission and left us more money to put towards fuel and campgrounds for the trip.

But I guess I do agree with not digging the year round payment. We never got on board with the Six Flags membership. We always bought the passes in the fall when they were $50 for the following season with free parking and admission to all Six Flags parks. Or when Darien Lake wasn’t Six Flags, you got a handful of bring-a-friend tickets and maybe a free night camping.

ShaneDenmark - - - > I think we might be talking about two different things. I think you may have purchased a seasons pass with an installment plan...which is why you were practically finished when the season started. If I am wrong, please correct me.

I was originally referring to an on-going membership plan that bills every month. The boating thing was a mandatory month-long commitment. There were three different plans: weekdays, weekends and daily. Lots of rules too...about reservations...limits...gas...etc. (It had reviews that were not so good...although some marinas had better reviews than others.) You could book a day and a boat, but if it was out of service, you were out of luck. Turns out there are often too many reservation requests and not enough boats.

Normally, I would get a seasons pass for Great Adventure and Splish Splash and supplement it with individual visits to Rye Playland, Moreys, Sea Side Heights and Keansburg. (We have not had class trips to Dorney since Covid started). I tried to weigh a membership vs seasons pass and figured out that a seasons pass suited me best...especially when holiday in the park (Christmas Season) became a thing.

Richie- You’re right, that’s exactly what I was referring to. I was pinging more on the “I never liked the perceived notion of paying for months that the park is not open.” portion of your comment.

Where in NY are you? I’m guessing you’re downstate… I’m in Rochester, western NY.

Western long island.

Not too far from Kennedy Airport.

Six Flags membership pricing was no different than Movie Pass - laughably cheap prices!!! And we know what happened to them. I'll keep my diamond platinum ruby slipper grandfather legacy pass or whatever it's called for as long as possible, but I do think the higher prices are needed. Now, the list of benefits for each I do not agree with. I also do not agree with dining passes disappearing - just charge double for it or something, but to have it disappear is a bummer. Although, seeing tons of people getting "take out" from the amusement park was quite interesting and I have done it myself. I mean, if I have a meal left on my pass for a day, of course I'm getting a salad or something to go to have for lunch the next day. Magic Mountain is my home park, so I hope increased revenue goes for nothing else besides improved ambiance: better food, more plants, seating area, all new bathrooms throughout the park, paint, lighting, even landscape the parking lot coasters, etc. - literally no new rides for the next 5 years please. We have enough. Make the park not ugly, please.

There was one perk that Upper Tier membership plans had that I wanted, but never had access too...the "members only" area of the water park.

It looked like a nice place to chill out in the shade and get away from it all.

I wonder how they will use that area now or how they will alter who gets in.