Cedar Point 2012

My theory is that FunAndOnly is secretly someone who works for Cedar Fair that is paid to come into the boards every summer to post such ludicrous theories and drivel that we stop reading posts and leave, and therefore forget our dissapointment when they inevitably announce a ride that is either less than thrilling, or, not open during our first two visits to the park, thereby forcing us to wait until the end of summer for a third visit to ride something we've been trying to dehype ourselves about for the last 14 months...

Just saying.

^ Do you really think that or are you just being sarcastic.

FunAndOnly said:
Its turning into Disney its so ridiculous.

You should probably research just how much money Disney makes before talking out of your posterior.

Me and my friends went in a gift shop and started dropping merchandise on the ground to scare people lol at all the girls screaming.

Also, grow up.

Welcome back FaO...

Now lets all remember the golden rule of the internet, "Don't feed the troll!" :)

Well, his account is gone now. Adios.

So, I'm sure many of you have read about the new FastLane at Kings Island by now. It certainly seems like a trial run for the system, since it is starting in mid-July at KI only. I would say that based on how it does, there is a high probability that it will come to CP next season. CP still has all of those alternate line entry points from the old FreeWay system. Too bad they will have to call this system PayWay. ;)

A pay system is fine by me, so long as Platinum Pass holders get some sort of reduced rate (which, no matter how reduced, will still be decried by many who feel that they're not getting perky enough perks :)).

As Rideman pointed out, the system at KI isn't a virtual queue, it's a VIP system. I think whatever system Ouimet ends up implementing, won't be very much like the system KI is running.

They should just have us pay more for or platinum passes and have it included in our pass.

Disney's system (Virtual Queue) is far superior to any pay system out there.

^ I agree to a point, but it depends on how you use the system. New people using Disney's Fast Pass system don't really know how to use it wisely, while that same new person can use Six Flags system a whole lot more efficiently.

It's the implementation which makes it superior. A pay system turns the park into a place filled with haves and have-nots. I find it repulsive.

For example:

The Simpsons are a family of 5. The kids have been waiting for years for a trip to Cedar Point, and the family finally has the finances to put a trip together. They get to the park, and while they have a fun day, they simply cannot afford an extra $50 per guest to purchase a "fast lane" pass. The kids get to feel like second-class human beings while other kids race ahead of them in line, simply because their mommy and daddy could afford it.

Is the Simpson's time more or less valuable than the "haves"? (Or the Sneeches with stars on their bellies, for those Dr. Seuss fans out there). Or would, perhaps, a system that is at the very least equally available to each paying guest a better way to go?

Whether it is a pay system or not, both require knowledge of its presence to take advantage of it, so that is really a mute point with regards to which system "works" better. They can both function, but a free virtual queue like what is in place at Disney is a far superior system with regards to availability.

People pay enough to visit the park, park their car, and eat. It's disgusting to create a first-class and second-class tier of guests inside your park to ride the rides...especially when Disney has shown that it can be done well, at no extra cost. If Disney's system did not work as well as it did, I would say it has merit, but its great.

^There will always be haves and have nots in a capitalist society. A little boy can just as easily feel bad about seeing other kids get a t-shirt at a gift shop & Icee's and soft pretzels to eat when they don’t get any souvenirs at all and have to go back to the car for juice boxes & animal crackers. That’s the way it was for me; the only treat we got was ice cream at the very end of the night… otherwise it was sandwiches and peanut butter crackers in the Taurus wagon.

I don’t see how a ride pass system would relate to a child’s experience at CP anyway… Frog Hopper & Sir Rub A Dub’s Tubs don’t generally have 2 hour wait times.

Kevinj said:
It's the implementation which makes it superior. A pay system turns the park into a place filled with haves and have-nots. I find it repulsive.

I would encourage you not to get on airplanes, or go to restaurants, or concerts, or sporting events. In fact, don't leave your house. You'll be repulsed.

Seriously dude, you'll have to get over it.

I get it; they can, that doesn't mean they should.

I think you're missing the point. There are two systems out there: both achieve the same goal, but one costs the guest nothing extra while the other does. Both work. So which one should you do?

Well, I guess that boils down to how much you care about all of your guests' experience at your park.

Pay to cut in line. That will lift everyone's collective happiness level.

With pay-to-cut systems, you're messing with a person's time...and their place in line, which is sacred ground.

I'm saying your point is irrelevant. Your goals aren't a priority over the park's goals. As a business, its goal is to make money. People have been predicting for years that pay systems would negatively affect attendance, and it hasn't happened yet.

^I agree. The parks goal is to make money. With a "pay to cut pass" it WILL earn the park money because there are people out there who would spend the extra money. Now I wouldn't go and purchase this pass every time I go to the park, but maybe once a year I would buy this pass to get to the front of the line.

I believe that if they do create such passes, and people are willing to buy them, let them buy the passes. People have the right to choose weather they want to buy it or not.

While I agree that the paid systems are somewhat deplorable, I think Kevin's example may have been less than eloquent.

I know the story about how people predict doom and gloom at every park this stuff is implemented in. I'd even go as far as to say that Six Flags parks became a much less fun place to visit after they implemented Flash Pass, although not because of "two tiers of guests" but because they implemented it so poorly on so many rides.

I do have to wonder how well it would be received at a place like CP. After all, this is the park that shut down their free VQ system because too many people complained about it. I can't see the guests being any happier about a paid version.

Kevinj said:
A pay system turns the park into a place filled with haves and have-nots. I find it repulsive.

It's always been this way. Even now, you have families that can afford to spend an entire week at CP, staying in the nicest suites, possibly even using the VIP tour. How is this any different? Hell, one could argue that ANYONE who can afford to visit Disney is part of the "haves" group. Those bastards!

And as Jeff and others have pointed out (and you should really read the discussion over at CB), this type of tiered pricing exists pretty much everywhere, and with great success. Civilization has yet to crumble.

I do get where your displeasure comes from, I think. This costs money, and nearly everyone has a budget when it comes to entertainment. For some, this additional level of service isn't realistically attainable. Just like everyone can't afford a suite at a baseball game. Just like everyone can't afford valet parking. Just like everyone can't afford to go to Cedar Point more than once a summer. Just like at parks where you buy tickets to gain access to attractions, those with more money get to ride more.

But again - check out the discussion over at CB (where most of my examples are cribbed from).

I'm not dim to the fact that it is a business that needs to make money, etc., etc., and of course nearly every aspect of entertainment has extra perks one can enjoy with more money. That's fine. I'm actually pondering why this bugs me so much, and I think it's this:

Let's use the sports analogy; a baseball game. Yes, some people can afford the suite with a/c, unlimited beer and wine, 5 t-shirts, 6 hot dogs, etc., while someone else can only afford a bleacher seat. Just like at Cedar Point, one family can simply afford to get in, while another can afford unlimited games, souvenirs, etc. Fair? Yes...because what is the same? Both are getting the core experience; the baseball game, and the rides...same game, same rides...one just comes with some perks, while the other does not.

I don't care if Cedar Point installed gold-plated special toilets for people who want to pay extra. I don't care if they charge a quarter for water fountains. Nor do I think for a second it will crumble Cedar Point, Kings Island, etc...in fact it will most likely turn a profit. But that does not mean they should. I'll check out the talk at CB.

You are arguing about Disney parks they can afford to have it free because of the income they pull in. They are also open all year.