$15 to get a VIP seat for fireworks?

^ I completely agree that for $10 it would be way too popular, I found it amusing that I thought the person who brought it up was using it as an extreme example of add-ons and yet I thought it was one heck of a value.

Rugrats2001 said:

I would consider the Disneyland dinner package to be an entirely different event that culminates in the World of Color show, not just a transfer of options from the 'basic' to 'upcharge' category (premium parking at CP) or even the more useful 'premium fireworks seating' that includes refreshments and an actual seat.

No, that's exactly what it is. Not only did I have to purchase park admission, but then I had to spend $50 on food/refreshments, that happened to include a seat/spot on the pier up front for World of Color. It was the very definition of "Premium Fireworks Seating" - that happened to include high quality refreshments.

coasterblu said:

There were security guards by the beach? I've never seen anything like that. We're there guards last year?

They had to be there for the VIP area to check tickets for vip. Last year there were no guards there, you could just sit anywhere. Maybe just a few lifeguards along the shore. (Also to make dang sure people don't jump into the 4 inch deep lake) We went all the way up between WT and gatekeeper and sat with a huge group and no one said anything. one of the best july 4th's at the park for me. :)

How about you stop dwelling on last year? To get a seat that close without paying, how early did you have to show up? Because I can tell you that my time is worth more than $15 for that hour or more that you had to wait/hold your spot. Then, you had to deal with people crowding you.

Actually, no one crowded us and we got there like 15 mins early. there were only about 10 other groups of people sitting up there, spread out, surprisingly for a busy day. We were actually commenting on how odd it was since no one was rushing up to take those spots. also, I can dwell as much as I want about past times.

yeah. Right.

e x i t english said:
How about you stop dwelling on last year? To get a seat that close without paying, how early did you have to show up? Because I can tell you that my time is worth more than $15 for that hour or more that you had to wait/hold your spot. Then, you had to deal with people crowding you.

How about you turn down the rudeness and stop telling people what they can "dwell" on. We're ALL dwelling on VIP spots and fireworks that happened 3 days ago. Everything is in the past no matter how long ago one was more than the other.

How about you never address me or reply to one of my posts again?

I believe we all have the right to address who we want. But there's a certain way to go about it, and telling someone what they can and cannot dwell on something when we're all guilty of it is a little redundant.

When the Temperature is hot, Tempers flare.

Honestly, I really like this pricing model. I liken it to enjoying flying Frontier Airlines. I pay for what I want (a flight and a checked bag) and don't have to pay for what I don't want (drinks and reserved seats). At cedar point I pay for what I want (the roller coasters) and not for what I don't want (slingshot and such).

Rugrats2001 said:

It is amazing how many consumers concern themselves with maximizing revenue for a business that they are a customer of. At least on this board.

I know I'm weird. I'm just a big fan of businesses whose products or services I enjoy remaining in business so I can continue to enjoy those products or services.

Rugrats2001 said:

It is amazing how many consumers concern themselves with maximizing revenue for a business that they are a customer of. At least on this board.

As others have stated, its not revenue that I'm forced to contribute to. If I don't WANT to pay for fast lane or vip seating etc. then I don't. And I don't walk around all day upset at the people who did choose to pay extra or the park (who exists to make money after all) because I would have if I felt it necessary. I remember the first time I used Fast Lane in 2012 at TTD and seeing people (several separate groups) flip me off as I walked past them and I never understood that. Why couldn't they have paid for it too if they didn't want to wait? I understand simply not having enough extra money to throw around but once again you don't NEED Fast Lane to ride anything... I'm not in that line because I got lucky or the park likes me... And it's the same thing with people who get angry at the park. They aren't forcing anyone to spend any more money than the price of admission/parking to experience anything inside the park gates (minus Dinosaurs Alive or Slingshot) and if you're not happy with the expense of a ticket and parking then maybe you should reconsider visiting the park at all.

Staying on topic, it was actually all-you-can-eat hot dogs, chips etc. inside the VIP section on the 4th. I think 2 hours of all you can eat food and drink for $15 is a great deal with a free seat on the beach for fireworks. No wonder it sold out.

The only real question is why they never thought of this sooner. All that money on left on the table, er, beach.

It seemed to me that Kinzel just pretended the beach didn't exist. It was probably something that the new management thought of but held off on implementing until the Hotel renovations and the renewal of the beach area was completed. That whole area is so nice now during the Beach Blast or movie nights, I definitely don't miss the old pool area one bit.

You're actually probably correct. The beach was essentially ignored for quite a long time. Really good point.

And it was all you can eat/drink? That makes it even more of a no-brainer. I say give the guy/gal who thought of this a raise.

Top_Thrill_Tyler said:

It seemed to me that Kinzel just pretended the beach didn't exist.

Couldn't be more of the opposite. It was his favorite part of the park and he enjoyed the boardwalk the most. Every Sunday around the same time he would walk the boardwalk from Wicked Twister out to Sandcastle Suites. The music selection along the boardwalk at the time were songs that he picked or liked.

I'm sure he liked the beach - whether or not he ever realized he could make money with it is a different story. I don't recall much of an effort to promote the beach while he walked down it every Sunday - with Love Shack and Funkytown blasting!

Rugrats2001 said:

It is amazing how many consumers concern themselves with maximizing revenue for a business that they are a customer of. At least on this board.

It was some years ago Cedar Fair's stock was in the crapper and the company in danger of being sold. It's a far cry from that now so I can't imagine squealing with glee with every new upcharge privilege unless I had a vested interest.

I enjoyed the $1 hot dog, chips, and drink last year for the passholders, I mean who could pass that up, remember?, but I couldn't eat $15 worth of that meal, $60 for my family. Oh, and a view that was free last year apparently. Vhat a bargain!

If Kinzel really did walk the beach every day then he should have noticed it was crowded out of view from the park by Disastrous looking structures. It is very telling that years ago the stock was in the crapper and now it is not. Obviously the company is run much better these days and it continues to show at all of the Cedar Fair parks. Cedar Point is currently in the best shape I can remember, live entertainment is more plentiful, they are holding more and more events etc...

If prices kept going up and there was no additional investment in the park then I could understand being upset. However, there have been massive expenditures and projects to enhance the park, therefore it feels like some of the profits are indeed being re-invested in the park to make the experience there more enjoyable. At the same time from a business standpoint the company is on better financial footing at this time. Obviously the ideas management has are working and as long as that is the case - expect more and more of what we are seeing now.