Gold Pass - Justification

At park close on closing day 2019, Fastlane for Millennium was ~45 minutes, Steel Vengeance was ~60 (I used my season pass renewal fastlane that day). I don't recall offhand what the regular lines were. I have never seen lines even remotely close to that at park close on closing day in any prior year. The only thing that could cause that big of a difference was the addition of the gold pass, so there is no way it didn't impact attendance on closing day.

Oh yes, closing day 2019, rides didn't open until 4:00 {Not Cedar Point's fault at all}, the weather changed dramatically and the last 6 hours of riding was amazing.

I finished the day out riding Magnum XL 200 for the last 30 minutes, got about 10 rides in and getting on the final train of the day, which was trim less.

Great way to end the season.

Gold Pass did impact attendance for Halloweekends, anyone saying differently is lying.

People who purchased the Gold Pass were trying to justify the purchase by getting in as many visits to Cedar Point before the end of 2019 so they could feel good about themselves in taking advantage of Cedar Point. I purchased next years pass and went 3 times this year. The 3 times I went this year paid for the pass and next year is free mentality.

It is a psychological thing for people to get the most for nothing, that is why it was so packed.

Should have just done 1 free admission for 2019. Cedar Point would have made just as much money but not upset everyone due to over crowding and the lack of employees to handle customers at the toll booth, gate, food stands, drink stands and ride operations.

Fix the inefficiencies for 2020, there are lots, and it will be better for all.

Cargo Shorts said:
The old non-gold season pass is still available for those that want to save $14. 🤔

Has nobody else noticed that the regular season pass is only good until Labor Day? Is this foreshadowing the removal of Halloweekends for all passes in the near future, making it a separate admission like it is at some of the other Cedar Fair parks?

DSShives said:

The park would have been slammed regardless of a Gold Pass or not.

But would they have needed to shut down roads leading to the park, for the first time in history, without it?

Rugrats. The KI regular season pass has been like that for at least 4 years. With the Gold pass sale extended well into July and the next season Gold pass sales starting in mid August the base for it is small.

Just Coasting said:

Gold Pass did impact attendance for Halloweekends, anyone saying differently is lying

OR has actual numbers and facts. Not just "I KNOW it was busier and it's all the Gold pass holders fault."

OR has the actual numbers and reason to spin them.
Not just “IGNORE that it was the first time roads were closed to the park and Gold Pass holders were let in for free at the end of 2019.”

Do CP Apologists get an extra discount on park branded merchandise or something I’m not aware of?

^Nope, nothing to see here. ;)

I bet you people are just a blast to hang around with. lol

djDaemon said:

DSShives said:

The park would have been slammed regardless of a Gold Pass or not.

But would they have needed to shut down roads leading to the park, for the first time in history, without it?

Good question. And no one on here knows the answer to that.

DSShives said:

The park has been slammed in the past on great weather HalloWeends long before the introduction of the Gold Pass. I have never seen such a string of beautiful fall weekends like we had last year. The park would have been slammed regardless of a Gold Pass or not.

And no one on here knows wether or not your conclusion is accurate.

You used inductive reasoning to come to your conclusion, therefore it is just as reasonable to use the same reasoning to come to the conclusions on the affect Cheap Pass had in the fall.

Exactly right, there's conjecture on both sides here. And yes, the weather was particularly nice last fall, so that may explain all of the crowds, some of the crowds, or none of the crowds. Your assumption that it explains all of the crowds is just as unfounded as assuming it explains none of the crowds.

Rugrats2001 said:

Cargo Shorts said:
The old non-gold season pass is still available for those that want to save $14. 🤔

Has nobody else noticed that the regular season pass is only good until Labor Day? Is this foreshadowing the removal of Halloweekends for all passes in the near future, making it a separate admission like it is at some of the other Cedar Fair parks?

Honestly when they first announced the gold pass I thought it was going to replace the season pass. I honestly wonder what the point of bringing the season pass back is. Each pass is marketed towards different people. Platinum passes are for those with a lot of money and travel towards other parks frequently or the Cedar Point fan who wants all the benefits. Gold passes are for those who are local and will come to the park frequently but nowhere else. And that was the goal of the previous season pass, wasn't it?? Then they bring it back as a gutted gold pass. What was the point in that?

I would hazard a guess it will be used just like KI does. An incentive to buy gold early or you will be stuck with this crummy one. Though with KI pushing to deadline for gold back each year there is only about a 3-5 week window where standard pass is available. SIX used to have a similar pass that was marginally cheaper and only valid Memorial Day through Labor Day.

I know in my travels there have been times when I figured a season pass to a park was the better deal if I was planning to visit for, let’s say, three days. So the regular pass might be really handy for those who are staying in the hotel, visiting before the water park opens, or with no interest in swimming. I can see where hotel clerks might offer that as a ticket option to those customers when checking in.

That's what I was thinking as well. Sometimes you just want park tickets without all the extras. We've done this at both Dollywood and Busch Gardens Williamsburg over the the years; both times when we just happened to be staying in the area for an extended amount of time, and it just made sense, as most of these passes become a value after (about) the third visit.

For anyone to say that the GOLD PASS didn't have an impact on attendance has their head in the sand.

No one is saying that. As for the degree of the impact? Well that's a pass of a different color....

Purple Pass gets you Fast Lane for Make Me Whole complaint window all season long.

Here's your Make Me Whole Department.