Could this boost attendance?

Paisley said:

I think the important thing is what are they advertising parking prices as online? Is there any mention that the price fluctuates? Do they advertise the highest price and then if you're there on the lower priced days it's a pleasant surprise or will people show up having been given the impression that they need $15 only to find out they need $20?

I think prepaid parking online is the same price no matter what. This encourages people to buy it up front cause they can market it as a deal and you're "saving" money! Currently I only see it advertised as $15 with the tag "save up to $5" next to it. And I only can find parking prices in the check out process when you go to buy tickets online. No mention of fluctuating prices. So there ya go!

In an environment such as Cedar Point, the only real reason to charge for parking (besides "because we can") is to improve the value of s season pass that includes parking. At $20, your platinum pass pays for itself in 10 visits on parking alone.

Parks these days are viewing parking as "free money" and so are pricing it like a second gate...for which the customers receive NO value in return. But is it really? It is your first impression when you arrive at the park. And while economics is generally not a zero-sum game, at the level of a park visit, it IS a zero sum situation. A dollar spent at the parking kiosk is a dollar I don't have once I get inside the park. Yes, it is a front-loading tactic that boosts the per-cap you know you're going to get. But at what cost to your inside money, and to the attitude of patrons as they approach the entrance gates?

I still think parking should either be a nominal charge ($5 or less) or rolled completely into admission and advertised as "FREE!" in large, friendly letters. Put the customers in a better mood before they even get out of the car.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

^ silver dollar city does that exact same free parking thing. The tickets are $61, but they say "FREE" parking.

The first fee, "parking", would be the first thing every guest that pays it forgets about after enjoying a day at CP. obviously not enough people are butt hurt about it that it's a concern.

I'm not butthurt about the parking price now since my pass covers it, but if my pass did not cover the parking, that would definitely affect my visit patterns and the amount of money I spend at CP. In recent years, I've spent more liberally on a drink or two at Surf lounge, a meal here or there at Famous Dave's, some fries, or souvenir for the kid, etc. I'd likely curtail it if I had to pay for parking each time. I'd also probably end up going one or two days on a trip instead of three since I'll often go for just a few hours on a Sunday before heading home, but I wouldn't bother with that if I had to pay parking.