Honest Geauga Lake review

40 bucks a night?!? That's just nuts!

MrScott

Crazy Horse- Disney doesn't charge $30 a night for a tent- they don't allow tents at Fort Wilderness.

I too agree that paying for parking is stupid, and not just at Geauga Lake. Even at Cedar Point it seems like (and honestly is) a total rip-off to pay $9 to park your car which is unsupervised and in the beating sun all day, and then you have to hoof it all the way to the gate. Making people feel they are being ripped-off before they are even out of their cars yet is not a great way to put a smile on people's faces.

I've got no problem paying the $6 (or so) for parking at Disney when I am going to get a comfortable lift to the front gate in a quiet tram.

I do have a problem paying $9 for a filthy parking lot that I am going to hoof it through in order to get to the gate. Fortunately, it isn't a long walk at Geauga Lake right now because the crowds aren't there.

Cedar Fair does care what people think. They don't always make the changes you might want them to make but they do listen and sometimes they even act on something in particular.

I used to answer comment cards from time to time, particularly when someone took the time to write along with their yes/no and multiple choice answers. And, I know for sure that some guest ideas have been put into place before.

Mr. Scott, if you don't think someone listens to Jeff when he has what is likely the most successful Cedar Point website outside of their own then you are on crack. Do they do everything he suggests? No. But I guarantee you they are watching and they take more interest in what he says than what you or I say.

The park does listen, as guest feedback is something important to the park, and important to Bill Spehn. While Bill may not always be able to read through every little comment about every little thing posted on these boards, he does pay attention! With him as our general manager, our park is on track to once again become an amazing park!

-Sam

Then that may be their downfall, Chief. EVERY person's opinion counts, not just someone who runs a website.

MrScott

I'm very pleased by what CF has done with the park. Yep, there are plenty of things left to take care of...like the green fencing that Jeff mentioned. The whole area near Steel Venom/Head Spin/Hyde needs a rehab. So does area around the log ride. It looks worn out.

I'd love to see the floating bridge on the other side of the lake return when the other water park phase opens. The view and breeze on that bridge was great! The paved path on the other side is rarely if ever used. Using that path would also let the water circulate preventing that green sludge from growing between the bridge and the land. It looks foul! Add garbage that the staff can't reach and you have a HUGE eyesore. Put the bridge back on the other side of the lake and reopen the path next year...that'd be fantastic!

I will definately agree that they need more of the free tubes at the water park. There were plenty of people waiting at the tube dump waiting for one to be available. The $6 small locker rental is steep...but unlimited in & out usage is very nice. Hopefully they'll add more next year when the other phase opens. If not they'll be running out fast. Shades, even like the ones used over queues, would be great over the bridge and over spots of concrete that are lacking sun coverage...baking feet are not fun. The blue mat/runner used on the bridge below the slides is great! It keeps the feet cool and actually feels kind of nice. Maybe that'd be the least expensive / practical option.

As much as I hated dropping the money I purchased a parking pass for GL. Because I have a CP pass with the add-on I got the sticker...I dislike them but assume that's the only way to go with a GL add-on. The thought of paying $9 each time made me cringe. Fortunately it's paid for itself already. I've utilized the old Sea World lot quite a bit! The lot is virtually empty (bad) so the spots are close (good). It's refreshing to walk into a different gate. And the atmosphere when you walk into the water park is great. The lifeguards are VERY alert...they look like tigers pacing in a cage. Overall, I'm very impressed with what they've done with the water side.

I'm much more impressed with GL this year. I'm glad that I live so close.

Now the Castaway Bay Marina operations....that's a whole other story!

***Edited*** Whoops, found a typo
*** Edited 7/10/2005 1:42:53 PM UTC by Scott***

Just remember, for a few months during the offseason. CF sells $35 parking passes. That is almost half price! I have stickers for both parks on my car. With that, you can just go to the parks for a few hours in the evening and not feel like you are getting screwed.

How many of you in the NE Ohio area would go to GL or CP for a 2-3 hour visit if the only thing it would cost you is gas money? I live in Strongsville, 1 hour from CP, 30 Minutes from GL. Some of the best trips are weeknight evenings, it's cooler, the parks are generally cleared out. If I had to pay $9 each time out, these trips would never happen. Most people I know say they can't justify paying even the $60 price for a pass. They say they don't go enough. I think if most people had parking passes, there would be more spur of the moment trips to the parks and you would get your moneys worth. Just my thoughts!

Fastball84 said:
Parking is the one part of that park that just really pisses me off. You can go to the park and not eat food, but you can't go to the park and not pay for the parking. It's impossible. I think, that if you pay $60 for a parking pass it should be good at any CF park.

I agree Fastball84, I would not have a problem paying $60 for an all CF parking pass. Paying the parking fees stops me from frequenting GL. I know $9 is not a lot (we pay $20+ for a t-shirt), but when you go so frequently, it adds up. But then you need to think mathematically, will I get what I paid for in the pass? I know with the MI Adv pass, I usually break even.

I have been to Knotts, MI Adv, CP, and GL this year. A season CF parking pass would be a great thing. Hopefully I can add Dorney on this year too!

Parking is (or has become) another gate. And that is sad.

MrScott

I got myself free parking at Knott's with my CP pass. :)

I've never been to Geauga Lake but from what I'm hearing from you guys is that the park seems to be heading in the right direction operations wise. Coasters seem to be constantly running multiple trains, it's clean, the water park is great, etc.

The pricing is just whacked though. Sure it's nice to go for $25 but then you have to pay money all day for everything.

They should make parking $1. People wouldn't really care, they'd probably laugh actually, and they'd still make some money.

Free Pepsi would be a GREAT idea. I work at McDonalds (I'm 16 and I'm not working there the rest of my life lol ;) ), and it only costs 5 cents to fill up a 21 oz cup of soda. That's 5 cents you can either give away for free and get people happy, or make alot of money but make people unhappy. CF has gone for the make tons of money and HW has gone for the give it away for free idea. It's just a different business approach but obviously holiday world's idea has worked for them and doesn't cost them THAT much considering how cheap it is to buy fountain soda.

They'll fix it up. With the CEO being so close compared to Knotts, he'll be there a bit I'm sure making sure everything is going smoothly. Kinzel isn't perfect but he does a good job and keeps the company from losing money and has made some great decisions over the years, definately more good ones that bad. The positives being the operations at all the parks, the negatives being the in park food prices as well as parking prices.

Give credit where it's due... Bill Spehn and his crew are the ones driving the boat.

Here is a new idea...

1. Raise admission next year to $29.95
2. Reduce parking to $5 (not quite so bad)
3. Free fountain drinks

Now lets look at how much this would effect Geauga Lake profitability

Raising admission by $5 per person would mean a family of 4 would pay $20 more for a one day trip.

Subtract the $4 loss on the parking its still $16 more than what they are making this year.

That basically leaves us with each person paying $4 of their admission price for unlimited Pepsi. For a family of 4 that is more than 5 20oz bottles. Figure in all the free publicity and good PR for this change and it might actually be more profitable to operate in that manner.

Michael daling said:

Crazy Horse- Disney doesn't charge $30 a night for a tent- they don't allow tents at Fort Wilderness.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=FortWildernessCampgroundResortLandingPage

Um yes they do....check out the link.

Cedar Point does not allow tent camping.

Not bad Ridephoto on the admission fee, but I like Daves idea better. Free parking and raise the admission fee by a few dollars.
*** Edited 7/11/2005 5:54:58 PM UTC by Hooper***

There is however a campground (bayshore estates), that has tent camping for $20 a night. It is right down the street from castaway bay, and they also have a shuttle to the park.

I have been camping for years, and have never paid more than $30 a night for a tent site. Geauga lake is charging $40 a night and they dont even have a shuttle to the park. So now on top of the $40 for a campsite, you still have to pay $9 to park.

Like I said, for $40 I can stay at a super 8 hotel.

crazy horse said:

Um yes they do....check out the link.

The last Disney trip I booked (2002) I checked on getting a site at Ft. Wilderness and I was told by the Disney folks that you could not tent camp unless you had an RV on the site. Since I do not own an RV, I did not stay there.

Someone lied to you.

I cant believe how cheap it is to stay at the disney campground compared to geauga lake.