Why do parks share info.?

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Brian Noble said:
But gee, Marge, why go this year when they're getting a big shiny new rolly-coaster NEXT year?

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So the big fence, construction and signs that have been there all season aren't tipping people off?

Then the posts on the CP site blog talking about 'Project 2007' since before the park opened for the season...and the ones at the end of last year with the removal of WWL.

If the idea was to keep it all hush hush as not to encourage people from putting off a visit, then signs and info on the website work exactly against it.

It's all about the hype.

I suppose I get more excited about, "Man, I can't wait to ride that" than I do about, "Man, I can't wait to find out what it is" and that's why I just don't get it.

Stuff you find on the web, most *regular visitors* don't see. And if they (Jane and Joe Six-pack) go to the park once a year, and see the construction WHILE they're there, then you've already got their annual visit.

But yeah, NOT advertising in June for NEXT year's new attraction, that's just common sense. More and more, I think parks are realizing (finally!) the Halloween season. Starting to wonder if they're afraid of hurting the fall-time visits by announcing next year's attraction ANYTIME during the season.....then again, does that hurt next year's *advance* SP sales by keeping it secret what "the next big thing" is gonna be? I wonder how much collection/analysis of this sort of information has been done? I wonder if there's a job there somewhere? ;)

*** Edited 8/23/2006 5:20:28 AM UTC by rollergator***

Well, I'd also argue the same people *not* seeing the blog posts aren't exactly going to find a similar announcement either.

I'm not saying advertise next year's ride before this season is over, but really, what is the harm in a park like CP coming out and saying, "here's next year's ride" - especially if the average guest doesn't find that info. Hell, if most people aren't seeing the blog, then 'pre-announce' it there.

In fact, Dollywood did kinda like I'm saying. They ran just 4 weeks of silly little teaser stuff and then said, "Hey, here's what we're building for next year. Check out this badass Mystery Mine coaster we came up with!" (a full nine months before we'll ever get to ride it, mind you)

...and their season runs much longer than most seasonal parks (April - December), so I'd think that using that logic they have a lot more to lose.

Again, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I understand the idea of generating a buzz and manufacturing your own hype.

But then again, if the average guest isn't finding that info then it's a very limited buzz among enthusiasts (of both a general and park specific nature) and those people represent a very limited number of potential guests and they are most likely going to come regardless...heck, look at the CP07 thread - everybody *wants* to know and I guarantee not an iota of business woud be lost among the type of people actively seeking such information if a detailed description of every last nook and cranny of the ride was released this past May.

I just don't care enough to play the little game, I suppose. When next May rolls around I'll be right there riding it alongside everyone else. Until then, knowing or not knowing doesn't make a difference to me. (which was the point of my original post)

Still, it's neat to know what's coming up. Sure it won't affect my life too much, but hey, I can start making plans now. And with the way life is these days, I have to start making plans for next year now.

That being said, I'd rather make plans for rides that have already been built and tested by the community of coaster nuts. Hey, my resources are limited and I wouldn't want to miss Holiday World because they were building something newfangled at CP, which, despite the pointy hills, could be a dud...won't know until next year.

As far as getting excitied, I guess the only really important thing to me is that a park is building a coaster at all. I don't know about you, but I love 'em. That's not to say I'm going to run out and go to a coaster-only park like Magic Mountain...but there is an interest.

I think one of the things that's overlooked in the enthusiast mindset is that while the enthusiasts do make up a small portion of the population, the people they talk to and know I would imagine make up a significant portion of the park going attendance. I've taken friends at least 10 times to the local six flags, and once as many as 20 people. (Heck, for my bachelor party, 15 of us are going to Great Escpae).

Everybody always knows somebody who LOVES roller coasters and told them about this great new ride being built.

So getting the enthusiast crowd pumped up can create buzz in the non-enthusiast community.

So you're saying parks should start using viral marketing techniques?

What the heck, we're all sick already anyway...

I don't know, Apollo Andy, most people only care what's being built while they are at the park...once they get home they don't dwell on it like us. :)

Getting the enthusiast crowd pumped up is only in our minds, we pump everything up. Everyone else is like, "cool new ride, maybe I'll come back."

Bachelor Party at Great Escape?! Now I know for sure you're an enthusiast.

Have fun, man ;)

People want to know what is happening because they are interested in roller coasters and amusement parks, and they enjoy reading about them. They crave information and news, and reading about the fluctuations of Cedar Fair's stock price or Dick Kinzel's screen saver ceases to be intersting after about a nanosecond.

And as far as what Cedar Point does or doesn't do..jimmy crack corn and I don't care. I already have enough amusement park-related projects to keep me occupied.

Anyway, I already know that it will be the most overhyped ride on the planet!

Awesome, I hope then I'm the only person there to ride it!

Andy's right....the other day my friend asked me what Cedar Point's building for 2007 because he saw all the construction there when he went in July.

This is your average friend asking the only guy he knows' that knows about all that rollercoaster stuff.