2016 Season Passes on sale

I noticed that the online store is now charging tax on the cost of 2016 season passes. For the dining plan, I get that it's food and that's taxable. For passes, though, the tax has been baked into the advertised price as long as I've been a passholder. Why is the site charging an additional tax on passes?

They're not charging additional tax, but rather wanted to advertise a lower price. That would give the impression that the prices haven't gone up, when in fact they've been raised ~$20.

Yeah, it is an additional tax. It varies by park whether they even charge it or not.

CA Great America: $0

Kings Dominion: $0

Kings Island: $0

Knott's Berry Farm: $0

MI Adventure: $0

WildWater Kingdom: $0

Cedar Point: $7.2

Dorney Park: $8.5

Carowinds: $11.03

Valleyfair: $12.38

Worlds of Fun: $14.58

Canada's Wonderland: $23.4

Tax in Canada is such a good deal, gotta love socialized medicine.

Does anyone remember when CP didn't charge tax on food? They had a sign up saying they don't add tax because a certain Ohio law let them absorb the tax. That went away many years ago.

"But Canada has FREE healthcare!"

Nothing is free in this world, you pay for it somehow. Taxes are usually a good start for "free" government services.

On topic, I purchased a 2016 pass, dining plan and *cough cough* "free" refill cup. My total was still around $300 which is about what I paid last season, cause I think dining was $120 at the time of my renewal. I didnt really see a difference in an added tax or what not. Taxes are just a part of life, like death and coaster nerds complaining about next seasons new ride before it's even announced.

We are making a trip to Knotts Berry Farm this fall. Do you think it will mess up our Platinumpasses for next year if we renew/buy new through the Knotts website to get the FastLane pass/free day? Next year we would want to renew through Cedar Point. Has anyone done this? Debating if it's worth the potential problems...

topthrilldragster4lyf said:

Yeah, it is an additional tax. It varies by park whether they even charge it or not.

It's admissions tax. It is a city tax, which is why it varies greatly between locations.

And it's historically been included in the posted price. :(

They may be separating it now so that customers see how much the tax is. Many people may not know there are taxes that the parks are absorbing into their prices for large ticket items like this and so assume any increase in what they pay is going straight to the park. Many of my dad's tenants used to brag about how they would vote for every school levy or other property tax increase that came their way becasue they don't own a house and therefore don't pay any of it yet were puzzled when their rent went up after the passage of a levy to cover the additional taxes my father paid on the property. Some people don't understand the taxes and fees involved unles you put a neon sign in front of them pointing to which part of what they are paying is taxes.

And some people still wouldn't understand....

Question: How many CP visitors reside inside of Sandusky?

The remaining 2.5m+ (and probably it's 3m+) visitors have no say in electing the people who set the tax rates.

Which is why the local government taxes the transient population: generates revenue without raising taxes on the local population. Pretty much every city everywhere taxes hotel rates.

And why seperating them out on a bill does no good--the people who get the bill have no possibility of affecting tax policy

I renewed my platinum season pass at the park last night, which I've had since 2011. They didn't have me get a new picture to get a new card, so now I'm concerned since it seems like a lot of others on here had to get new cards. I did get the receipt voucher for the Fast Lane Plus and a receipt for my purchase of the renewal. Anyone else not have to get a new card?

You shouldn't have to get a new card unless there's something wrong with yours or you lost it. However, the online store is requiring a photo either via webcam, uploaded, or taken at the season pass center..

I renewed my pass this afternoon at the park. I did not have to get a new picture or a new card. Then used it to enter the park and the meal plan. No problems.

Do they require you to get a new photo every so many years? That could be why some of you needed to get a new card. They could require an updated photo after so many years.

I have had the same card since 2009.

Captain Hawkeye said:

And why seperating them out on a bill does no good--the people who get the bill have no possibility of affecting tax policy

They have no possibility of changing the tax but they will know how much of the changein price is the park's raise in price and how much is the taxes going up so if they're angry they know who they can be upset at. Of course many people would still not understand it anyway.

I think that anytime you buy something they should show how much is the cost of the product or service and how much is tax. Let people know how greedy some governments are.