Does the public think CP is only thrills?

I think the problem is that while Cedar Point obviously has a ton of thrill rides -- and a ton of kid rides -- few of those are family rides where everyone rides together. I think parks like PKI and Kennywood have a much better collection of "family" attractions. Those parks actually have dark rides (yes, Disaster Transport is technically a dark ride though a height-restricted one).

And, yes, you can start rattling off the complete family attractions at Cedar (ferris wheel, skyway, train, paddlewheel, space spiral, TWO car rides, etc.) but it's not something that you can actively market.

You can't be all things to all people, and that's fine. Abraham Lincoln knew you couldn't please all the people all the time and the same goes for marketing a park. Why do you think SFWOA is adding water slides and kiddie rides this season? Because it knows that that's where the only realistic sweet spot is to market the park this summer with TTD opening an hour away.

Besides, I think that marketing itself as the greatest thrill park is more effective in recruiting families than the alternative -- simply an adequate family park.

A few points to add, (BTW Jeff your are right, this is a GOOD Off season Thread that makes you think;))

First, CP is a "regional park" that does market to about a 250 mile radius of Sandusky. With limited budgets to reach this market, CP has to show the "BIG TICKET ITEMS" ie, Coasters that will draw the crowds. CP is VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY,( LOW COST of the Junior ticket, Parent Swap Program, Snoopy On Ice Show to name a few) it is just a lack of "knownledge" of the GP that is "hurting" this image. While MOST of use aren't in the "family demographics" so you don't see the marketing that is directed at FAMILIES, believe me it is being done more than you realize, just look at the success of the Resort side of the Park. Someday CP will do more NATIONAL Advertising and the park will have to show BOTH sides (Thrills and Family) better.

Second, someone mentioned PKI's waterpark is included in the admission ticket because they can afford to. That isn't the reason. IF PKI COULD GET PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THE WATERPARK THEY WOULD.Basically PKI built the waterpark to compete DIRECTLY with the BEACH Waterpark located directly across the interstate from PKI. (a PKI historian can fill in the exact details here) but the story goes, PKI was set to BUY the BEACH and run it as a separate park when the deal fell through at the last minute. PKI then said screw you we'll build our own and did!

CEDAR FAIR runs Soak CIty as a separte Park, there is NO WAY Soak City could handle the daily capicity it would reach if it was included with your CEDAR POINT admission. Again, we see the "perception" problem here. SOAK CITY is a COMPLETELY SEPARATE PARK not a WATER PARK AT CEDAR POINT.

Duane, I still think CP is missing out an a large "family" base by not advertising their family attractions enough in the Detroit area. Heck, the two closest parks are Cedar Point and Michigan's Adventure.

Although CP did have a lot of flat/dark rides in the 60's and early 70's, the park went through a period of catering mostly to the thrill seekers in the late 70's and 80's when there was very little for small children. There was no Soak City, no Camp Snoopy, and the only hotel on Point was Breakers.

These are the people who are now married with young children. Unless CP makes it known that there IS more available for young children now, many of these people just aren't going to know.

And for the record, even though I'm a major CP fan, I am much more impressed by PKI's kids area than by what CP has to offer.

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

The thing is, parents with small children aren't going to think of Cedar Point first. They will think of a park like Disney World.

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Aww.....Florida! But That's America's Wang

When I was at SFWOA last summer my college friends and we noted that the park seemed more 'kid' friendly than CP. While we did not have the greatest of experiences at the park, we all said we would consider going back when we have children of our own. For now though, Cedar Point is the park that best caters to our needs.

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ONE freeway stamp a day... ONE

I now have another perspective from the general public to add to this. Today I had a substitute teacher who started talking to me about CP (I was wearing a WT shirt). Her compliant wasn't that there weren't enough kiddie rides, but rather the "more timid" coaster riders haven't gotten anything since Iron Dragon, unless you count DT in 1990. She went on and on about how great a ride Face Off was at PKI (while I tried not to laugh) and said CP needed something like that. I would think that if you can handle Face Off, you could take Raptor or Mantis, but that's not the way she saw it. She said that it was fun without being "too tall".

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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.