Halloweekends Bring-A-Friend tickets

So I was looking at the park website today and planning our Halloweekends trip, and we're going to bring some family with us who don't have season passes. I see that the Bring-A-Friend tickets for passholders are $42 for Friday nights. Anybody else think that's a touch pricey for an evening in the park?

Doesn't matter what we think. Bring em, or don't. That's the price, and they ain't hurting on account of it.

The park is open for 7 hours if you include early entry. Given the popularity of the event I wouldn't be surprised if the prices start creeping up soon.

Wife and I went to the U2 concert in Cleveland and the price printed on the tickets was $275 each. We didn't pay for them and I would never pay that much out of pocket but the stadium was full so lots of people did. $200 for a CF Platinum Pass or $42 for 7 hours at CP is a steal in comparison.

Given that Haunted houses around here charge $25-$30 and there's a two hour wait for just one haunt, nothing else.

No, $42 is not bad at all.

With the park open 6 hours, that works out to $7/hr. Which is about equivalent to the cost per hour for a movie on a Friday night. Seems perfectly reasonable, if not a bargain.

On Fridays, during the Halloween season at Kings Island, their crowds are ridiculous. Security took nearly an hour to get through and ride lines were horrible, 2 years ago. Attendance on Fridays during the same time at Cedar Point is not even close. I agree that charging the same price for a Friday night as they do on Saturdays and Sundays during Halloweekends doesn't make too much sense since they don't have a population center like Cincinnati nearby. Most of the rides are nearly walk-ons, including TTD and Maverick.

I guess the way I was looking at it is that the Bring-A-Friend price is exactly the same for Friday and Saturday - so your $42 can net you 7 hours (with early entry) on one day, or 14 hours the next day.

Zoug68 said:

... since they don't have a population center like Cincinnati nearby.

How far is Cincinnati from Kings Island? Toledo is a bout an hour from CP and Cleveland just over an hour. Just wondering how far/close Cincinnati is to KI.

23 miles up 71 from downtown. Mason is essentially a suburb at this point. Probably could take nearly an hour if you live on the west side of town or in KY. I live on the north side of Cbus and it can take 45 minutes to get to the south side, like Grove City or the casino.

Thank you. It is closer than I thought.

Plus the population of the Cincinnati metro area is 2.1m. Pop of the Toledo metro area is 650,000.

Population 100km/60mi from Kings Island = 3.5m

Population 100km/60mi from Cedar Point = 4.1m

However...

Population 50km/30mi from Kings Island = 2.3m

Population 50km/30mi from Cedar Point = 0.4m

So it seems like short visits and competition with other entertainment venues favors Kings Island, especially when you compare the populations of teens and young adults looking for something to do.

The population difference within 30-miles also makes a difference when looking for employees.

And why Cedar Point has to maintain dorms. How many amusement parks other than Cedar Point have to maintain employee housing to address staffing needs?

I've never been offered free transportation from 90 miles away and free housing to work a weekend only job during the fall. That has to be reflected somewhere in the ticket price.

Kings Island has a much younger demographic than Cedar Point. It seems that it's almost a middle school hangout.

Go Intamin said:

Kings Island has a much younger demographic than Cedar Point. It seems that it's almost a middle school hangout.

I grew up right next to there. Seriously my high school is visible from the Eiffel Tower (really any tall ride) and this is exactly what it is. Once my parents felt we were old enough they would ship us to the park for an afternoon to get us out of their hair.

Ken P said:

I've never been offered free transportation from 90 miles away and free housing to work a weekend only job during the fall. That has to be reflected somewhere in the ticket price.

Of course its reflected in the ticket price. Its a cost of doing business.

AndyG said:
I guess the way I was looking at it is that the Bring-A-Friend price is exactly the same for Friday and Saturday - so your $42 can net you 7 hours (with early entry) on one day, or 14 hours the next day.

The online daily ticket price for Friday nights during Halloweekends is $43 and the regular gate price is $54. For Saturday the online price is $54 versus $69 so there is a price difference between the two days. If your bring a friend price is $42 for either day then Saturday would seem to offer more savings. Both days are bound to bring very different experiences so it will ultimately depend on your preferences.