Fun Perks

My driver takes care of such nonsense. I just sit in the back and drink Cristal.

^ +1

But Jeff, don't you still have to carry around your FOB? I had a 2012 Ford Focus rental last year to drive from Calgary to Jasper and it had the little button on the door handle to lock and unlock and had the push button start. It was a nice little car.

* Surely I'm not the only one who hates carrying things. When I go to CP I let them scan my pass, then I exit and put it in my car. I also don't own a wallet. I have a rubber band around 4 cards, all of which I resent having to carry. And I lock my keys in my car when I go ANYWHERE. They make noise in my pocket. And I definitely don't carry a cell phone. Doesn't anyone else see this all as a huge hassle? To have to deal with wallets and gadgets and cards and programs and all that junk?

You're weird.

:)

Corkscrew Follies said:
The fact is, I see alot more water coming out of my tailpipe filling up at some gas stations compared to others.

This is why basic vehicle information and maintenance should be a requirement in order to obtain a driver's license.

Just like some people need an intelligence test to be able to breed. The point is you can beleive want you want about all fuel being the same, just like you can beleive the unemployment numbers miraculously dropping two weeks before a presidential election.

djDaemon said:
This is why basic vehicle information and maintenance should be a requirement in order to obtain a driver's license.

I would much rather somebody not pull out in front of me than know why water comes out of their exhaust. Them knowing how a vehicle works does not impact me. Pullling out in front of me does impact me.

The funny thing is that I have worked on cars on and off for most of my life, and for someone to say buying fuel at this place is the same as buying it at this place makes me laugh. Sounds alot like the mentality that people gotta eat.

Corkscrew Follies said:
...you can beleive want you want about all fuel being the same, just like you can beleive the unemployment numbers miraculously dropping two weeks before a presidential election.

Fuel having different levels and types of detergent doesn't need to be common knowledge, because it's completely irrelevant. Knowing the basic operational behavior and methods to correct common automotive problems should be common knowledge, in my opinion.

And I have no idea why you're trying to take things political. Don't.

Shades said:
I would much rather somebody not pull out in front of me than know why water comes out of their exhaust.

It need not be an either-or proposition. :) Driver's education should be much more challenging and comprehensive across the board.

Corkscrew Follies said:
...for someone to say buying fuel at this place is the same as buying it at this place makes me laugh.

Despite your amusement, it's true - aside from detergent level and/or type, gas is pretty much identical, chemically speaking. And certainly identical as far as your vehicle is concerned (aside from perhaps the occasional contaminated batch).

Perhaps, the occasional contaminated batch is not as occasional as some cheaper gas stations would like us to believe.

Quality of fuel goes hand in hand with the price of oil, which is very political in this country. Oh, and price of gas seems to be miraculously dropping the closer we get to a major political election.

Gee, it's almost as if demand is dropping while supply is increasing! Plus, it's around this time of year where the seasonal fuel switch is made, which also results in lower prices.

People who politicize gas price fluctuations don't understand how gas prices work.

I understand how oil speculation works. All the rest is just filler for the media.

Shades said:
I would much rather somebody not pull out in front of me than know why water comes out of their exhaust. Them knowing how a vehicle works does not impact me. Pullling out in front of me does impact me.

Especially if there is an impact! :)

I hate carrying things, too.

Besides the physical inconvenience, I don't like taking the risk of losing keys or other important items on rides. Done it once, and it sucked really, really badly. I'd much rather someone steal my car than lose my keys on a ride again.

My keys can often be found hiding behind my gas cap cover, on top of a tire, behind a wheel, or other obscure places. It's simply not worth carrying them into the park.

I long for the day when my phone can replace my wallet. No cash, no credit cards, etc. Even my platinum pass barcode!

It's probably not advisable to tell people how to easily steal your car. :)

But, let's get back to Fun Perks. Your season pass acts as the reward account. You're carrying nothing additional. Probably 99% or more season pass holders will have their season passes in the park and not left at home.

This argument doesn't stand unless you want to debate that having to carry around a season pass after entry is a hassle. And the small percentage of people that feel that way don't really matter for the program to successfully work. If people find the program a huge hassle, they don't have to worry about it; it's only their loss.

lol ^ DJ, I was thinking the same thing.

djDaemon said:
It's probably not advisable to tell people how to easily steal your car. :)

Nobody here knows what I look like, and they don't know which green 2007 Ford F-150 I drive.

Kidding about the F-150, but if someone wants to steal my car, go right ahead. It beats the pants off sitting in the Kings Island parking lot at 3:30AM waiting for a locksmith to make it out there so he can cut me a $250 car key with the dang computer chip in it. Done that already and not doing it again.

FYI, unrelated to Funperks, Diamondback will remove any lose items from your pockets without asking first. There is so much zero or negative-g on that ride, depending on where you're sitting, and the seats do nothing to keep things pressed against your person.

Shades said:
Pullling out in front of me does impact me.

Literally... CRASH. Lol.

Back to topic, yes, most people do have their pass on them, making them able to use the perks. If you are to lazy to carry your pass, you don't use the program. Easy enough.

Corkscrew Follies said:
The funny thing is that I have worked on cars on and off for most of my life, and for someone to say buying fuel at this place is the same as buying it at this place makes me laugh. Sounds alot like the mentality that people gotta eat.

Ok, here we go. I was a Auto tech at a GM dealership for 19 years and 3 months, I have all my ASE tests including L1. The fuel today will not make the car run bad unless there are outside influences on it( water intrusion or wrong petroleum as in diesel) Gas detergents are different between the gasses as well as the dyes that are put in from different manufacturers. If you would like to give into nothing more than a clever ad campaign that is full of big promises without any proof than go ahead. Pretty soon I bet you will see a special "limited edition" special gas coming out at some point. Marketing is marketing.

But on a side point to get back on topic. How cool would it be if you collected points on your pass that you collect enough points based on your in park purchases so you can work toward a free pass or discounted pass for next year. It sure would get season pass holders to spend more in park.

the ffej man said:
How cool would it be if you collected points on your pass that you collect enough points based on your in park purchases so you can work toward a free pass or discounted pass for next year?

I'm not sure if you're aware, but that was exactly one of the Fun Perks available in Kings Island's program this year. :)

I believe if you hit level 3, you could choose a reward of "$20 off your 2013 season pass." I'm not sure if the amount off increased in the higher levels or not.

And I agree that it would be awesome and intelligent to have an ultimate reward of a free season pass the next year for the ultra-high spenders. It'd be catchy marketing too..."Earn a FREE season pass for next season!" They'd just have to be very careful in establishing rules to prevent abuse.

I would definitely buy more food from CP if there was a points system. Even if it was as little as $1 off something.