Does the public think CP is only thrills?

I was looking at the refreshinglook.com forums (SFWoA) for awhile, and I noticed the perception of a lot of people over there is that CP is great for thrills, but isn't very family oriented, and doesn't have much for small children.

Now, us regulars know that CP has tons of stuff for the entire family, including many rides for small children, but do you think the public is starting to view CP as only a thrill park? With all the coaster construction in recent years, I can see how that might be happening.

Do you feel that CP should take a few years off from thrill ride construction and make a major push for more family attractions, and advertise the park in a way that make people see all the family attractions the park has? With the shift in demographics to more older people, I think this is something the park may have to address in the future. What do you think?

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Florida may have Disneyworld and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!
*** This post was edited by Pete 4/2/2003 10:33:56 AM ***

I am also on PKIUnlimited.com, which has the same concept as GTTP, and a majority of the people on that forum believe that CP has no family atmosphere at all. CP did just build Camp Snoopy a couple years ago and also dedicated an entire floor of the Breakers Tower with a Peanuts theme. Those who believe that CP is just thrills just did not do their homework. Granted PKI did get the Golden ticket for "Best Kids Area" two years running now, but CP received the ticket for "Best Overall Park" four years running. Those families with young children normally don't spend as much for items in the park, and also don't spend as much time in the park.

CP is doing a fine job. They can't promote everything all the time, the advertising cost would be too much.

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The best thing about Six Flags "Worlds of Adventure" is that Cedar Point is nearby!

Yes, no question that they suffer from this perception. I'm surprised that they haven't pushed the family angle a lot harder. I wouldn't be surprised if we actually see some of that in ad campaigns this year, because they've got a lot of winners for families, especially if you're staying at the resort.

To their credit, resort marketing is almost entirely family oriented, as well it should be, since I suspect Soak City use is heavily resort guests.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

I agree that it's pretty much a lack of information on CP's part. Even Soak City doesn't get mentioned much in their advertising (at least not in Michigan). So much has been added in the past 10 years, yet people are unaware of it. When I mentioned to a friend she should take her grandkids to CP (ages 5 and 7), she thought I was nuts until I told her about all the children's activities. All she ever knew about CP were the thrill rides.

That's a major reason why we didn't think about taking our son to CP until he was of "major coaster riding height" of 48" (at the time, Magnum was the biggest coaster). There was very little for younger kids at the time. I think Kiddy Kingdom was pretty much it.

Now there are two "kid" areas in Soak City, Camp Snoopy, kid karioke (sp?), and shows geared toward the youngsters. It's still no PKI, but there is enough to keep them happy.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

And I think CP not being like PKI or any other park is for the better. CP puts the rides for family/kids they just don't advertise (sp?) it well enough. Like I've seen in other threads...."If you want thrills go to CP, If you want family/kid rides go to a PKI or Disney".

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Thunder Canyon 2003

PKI's kids area is actually better, in my opinion. Not just because they got the Golden Ticket Award for it, it really is outstanding. Heck, they've even got their own little flume now!

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

i think on every off year(you know how CP usually makes a coaster/attraction every 2 years execpt for last year) CP should make a little think kid/family oriented

PKI does not charge extra for their waterpark (Waterworks), yet CP charges for Soak City. From a family standpoint that is huge.

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The best thing about Six Flags "Worlds of Adventure" is that Cedar Point is nearby!

That's b/c PKI can Afford that. Paramount Pictures ring a bell?? CP probably could afford it, but why? If it works don't try to fix it. And all the sudden this topic has seemed to turn into a CP KNOCK thread. Isn't this GTTP??
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Thunder Canyon 2003

Although we all know CP has plenty for kids, the general public usually does not. I don't know how many people with small kids or grandkids have complined to me about how CP is always putting in huge coasters, but there's nothing for the non-coaster riders to do. I guess that doesn't just apply to the kids either. While I agree that thrill rides is the premise of the park, there are other rides and many great shows to keep everyone entertained, CP just doen't harp on it as much because it is the coasters that bring the people.

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-Chris Woodard
"If you're standing in an uncomfortable position, that means you are in the right position because you are riding Mantis!" - Mantis ride op doing spiels on closing day.

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Browntggrr said:
PKI does not charge extra for their waterpark (Waterworks), yet CP charges for Soak City. From a family standpoint that is huge.

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I think the reason CP charges for the water park is for the resort guests. If a guest only wants to go to the water park, they can buy the less expensive Soak City admission. It may help extend hotel stays, as people may stay an extra day just for Soak City.

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Florida may have Disneyworld and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!

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CrazyCoasterGuy said:
That's b/c PKI can Afford that. Paramount Pictures ring a bell?? CP probably could afford it, but why?

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It has nothing to do with what they can afford. Paramount is not a chairty, neither is Cedar Fair. Charging extra for Soak City makes perfect sense, and they generate a lot of revenue for it. With it sitting in the middle of your hotels, it's another opportunity to spend money.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

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Ralph Wiggum said:
I don't know how many people with small kids or grandkids have complined to me about how CP is always putting in huge coasters, but there's nothing for the non-coaster riders to do.

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I think that is one area where CP marketing could use improvement. Maybe they feel advertising coasters will bring a greater return for investment, but I think they are missing the ball on marketing to families.

Going to CP as a child in the 60s and 70s, there were very few coasters, but CP had a lot of success because it had a lot for families to do. That hasn't changed. Most of the rides, rides other than coasters, can seat kids if riding with an adult. Plus they have 3 childrens areas, a beach, a water park, games and all the rest. What has changed is the public's perception. Young families now seem to view CP as only a thrill park. CP needs to heavily market what they have for young kids and families to those young families. Get families with young kids into the park. Hook the young kids on the park and they will come back for the rest of their lives (like us).

With TTD getting so much attention, I think the thrill rider market is taken care of for this year. The trick will be to get some more of those people into the park that will bypass it for PKI and (it hurts to say) SFWoA. Both of those parks seem to have a reputation that their is a lot to do besides coasters.

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Florida may have Disneyworld and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!

I think a junior coaster might help out a lot. Something like Runaway Reptar. Its not as expensive as the bigger coasters, it increases their coaster count, and advertises to family. I also think a revamp of Kiddie Kingdom would help as well. That area looks very worn down. Revamp it with some Peanuts stuff, or brighter colors. PKI also has The Beach for a water park contender. Soak City doesn't have any competition. And people complain because they want to see something they love (CP) get even better!
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----Jesus Freak----

There are a couple of issues at hand here.

Anyone who has taken a family to CP realizes that it is indeed a great family park, but the point of the thread is "should they try to get the word out" to those who haven't been there?

It's been my experience that (Disney excluded) most families are going to go to their closest park. That means that in Northern Ohio, CP is going to get the families anyway. In Southern Ohio, those folks are going to PKI, in Indiana they're going to Holiday World, and in PA they're going to Kennywood, or even Idlewild.

I live 20 minutes from Hersheypark and less than 90 minutes from Dorney, but it amazes me how many of the families that I know have never been to Dorney.

Cedar Point advertises itself within a limited radius (150 miles?) and seem to be relying on word-of-mouth to spread the word to the coaster/thrill ride enthusiasts beyond that. I'm guessing that they think they have the majority of the families that they're going to get, based on that advertising radius. If they're getting those people anyway - people who know from experience (or again by word of mouth) that CP is a great family park, why change the message?

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Duane Cahill
http://www.RavensSuck.com
The only thing other than CP that Steelers and Browns fans agree on

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CrazyCoasterGuy said:
... And all the sudden this topic has seemed to turn into a CP KNOCK thread. Isn't this GTTP??

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What's wrong with pointing out a few short comings the park has? Some of Cedar Point's biggest hecklers are its biggest fans. Just ask Dan, the biggest Magnum fan in the world, about what he thinks of Cedar Point's decision of Fascination. Cedar Point has wonderful family attractions, but most advertisements deal with their thrill rides.

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Formerly the imbecile known as ddogg
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2003 Raptor Crew

Jeff I was saying that about Soak City. I said It was a smart Idea to charge extra. I was directing it to Browntggrr who was complaining about Soak City not being included like Waterworks is. Like I said, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Meaning if the ppl. will pay extra, let them pay extra. But I understand where you're coming from.

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Thunder Canyon 2003

Yikes, a thread that actually doesn't suck and makes you think...

Anyway, I agree with what you're saying Duane, but I think you'd agree that the park is growing the business via the resorts. One or two thrill-seekers don't get hotel rooms, families do. Locals don't get hotel rooms, travelers do. See what I'm getting at?

Of course, it could be all academic, because as they've mentioned time and time again in earnings releases, the resort business is really strong.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

Fanboys are known to paise their park while tearing down others especilly if their nearby. It's very difficult to find flaws in Cedar Point because it's such a great park. More than half the rides are family oriented. Cedar Point has a lot of rides. They range from gentle kiddie rides to white knuckle thrill rides and everywhere between.

It's less of Cedar Point not having family rides and more fanboys having trouble finding legitement reasons to pick apart it.

Wait, I did not "complain" about the extra charge for Soak City. The complete intent was that kids love waterparks and that PKI's is included with the admission price, which makes it cheaper. CP charges for a reason, and must make money doing it or they would not improve Soak City. This entire thread is how the public feels about CP just being a thrill park, and I made a statement about one of CP's competitors.

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The best thing about Six Flags "Worlds of Adventure" is that Cedar Point is nearby!