How could the park extend its operating season?

And no rain checks if the thread never ends. We will try to get see if we can get you a coupon for a discounted Pointbuzz t-shirt though.

I hate to say this. I love the train. Lots of people love the train. I would have a fit if the park tried to get rid of the train. I agree with everything you said about the train. But, no one in their right mind considers the train a major attraction. That said, I already said, if someone wanted a rain check because the train isn't running, then they should get a rain check.

Also, just to briefly touch on operating expenses. If the park is open, it raises revenue, that covers operating expenses. Labor cost is the biggest operational expense in any industry, especially the amusement industry. Just one example that hugely simplifies what I am talking about. CP averages toughly 3,000,000 visitors a year. Divide that by roughly 120 operating days a year. That is 25,000 visitors on average a day. Charge just $30 per guest for a limited operation "sneak peak day" that is $750,000 a day in just admissions. X2 days for the weekend and that is $1,500,000 in 1 weekend alone. These numbers don't take any of the other money generating sources into effect. Now hire 100 year round staff at $30,000. That is $3,000,000 a year. In just 2 average weekends the park would generate enough revenue in admissions alone to hire 100 permanent full time staff.

I repeat again, it is an over simplification used to give just a ball park frame of reference when people talk about operating expenses. I know I left off insurance, utilities, food cost etc... I also didn't include parking, hotels, food, games, merchandise etc...

Your calculations are wildly simplistic and incomplete. That's all I have to say about that.

You keep ignoring my statement, go tell somebody who cares AND is in a position to make changes. I'm pretty sure none of us here can do either.

The PointGuru said:
But, no one in their right mind considers the train a major attraction.

I consider the train to be a major attraction, very much so. My kids all look forward to it, we ride it 2-3 times every time we go.

This thread has got to end. No work is getting done in the Cedar Point/Cedar Fair offices. Managment is too busy rolling on the floor in laughter over the Point Guru's ideas.

The train is most definitely a major attraction. It was part of the CP logo for many years and is a fabulous iconic attraction at CP. Pointguru seems to be of the "coaster park" mindset, not of the "amusement park" mindset. Rides like CP&LE RR, Sky Ride, Giant Wheel and Cadillac Cars are all examples of what I think could be argued to be examples of major non-coaster attractions.

Bluestreaker said:
This thread has got to end. No work is getting done in the Cedar Point/Cedar Fair offices. Managment is too busy rolling on the floor in laughter over the Point Guru's ideas.

+5

It's not my ideas that they think is so funny. It's the notion that they should provide good customer service or that guest should be able to get what they pay for.

If its not a major attraction. Do you care to explain why it is the ride with the highest number of riders every year? Only the Gemini used to beat it and that was back when it was 6 train operation and no air gates.

You just beat me to it. I was going to admit the train has huge ridership numbers. That does not mean it is a major attraction. People are not going to wait 4+ hours in line this year to ride the train. The vast majority of people do not come to the park just because it has a steam powered locomotive. Are there a few that come for the train? I wouldn't doubt it. Is that number of people larger than the number of people who come to ride the parks big 3 (or now 4) coasters, obviously no. The train and the other rides Pete mentioned are popular and nostalgic but they will never be confused with the other major attractions of the park.

You just don't get it. Enough said.

I get that in order for the park to make money it needs to be open. That is the biggest thing everyone else seems to be forgetting. Yes, it takes money to make money, so you have to pay people to work. Does everyone forget that there are already year round employees who work for the park? Why doesn't the park go bankrupt from these employees working all winter when they generate no revenue? The only question is how many more of these employees can the park employ and still be profitable. That is the hard question that would need to be worked out for CP. Other parks do it, it works for Halloweekends, and the extended time open only raises big profits for the park.

I really find it strange coaster enthusiast on a website dedicated to the park are against so vehemently apposed to a proven strategy that raises big revenue for the park and provides more time to ride the coasters that they love. The only thing stopping it is just lazy management.

Yes, this site is full of coaster enthusiasts, but there are many, many smart business people here that understand the operations of a business. You cant just open the park additional weekends and expect that the park will generate the necessary income not only to cover expenses, but to generate the kind of profit margin that justifies being open more.

Keeping the park open past Halloween is pointless because the draw of Halloweekends is over and the weather really goes downhill quick. Granted, you might be able to open a weekend or two earlier ( but not open during the week ) but at what cost? Its a crap shoot with the weather and the park staff are still busy with final preparations.

I will say your budgeting skills are very entertaining to watch. Too bad they don't work in the real world.

Proven Strategy???

If it was proven, don't you think Cedar Point would have caught on by now?

No, I said before, in my opinion. Former management left a lot to be desired and was lazy. Plus, it did expand the operating systems to include Halloweekends. It did make more sense to extend the operating season to Halloween because of the hoopla over the holiday like Ouimet said in his interview. The logical next extension is to open the park earlier if it wants to raise more revenue.

It is interesting to see King's Island and Cedar Point opening two weeks apart. Obviously the climate on the Lake is iffy. However, the temperatures at CP on April 27th would probably rarely be any worse than they were on May 11th, when they were open.

***The CP LE Railroad is not what causes people to plan their vacation at Cedar Point, and not many people would want to wait more than a half hour to ride it. But, it is in most people's eyes, a major attraction. If you don't agree, just imagine a thread on this site should a decision be made to remove the ride.

Kings Island is twenty minutes from Cincinnati and an hour from Columbus. They have plenty of people able to work even without collages. Cedar Point has no one to pull easily that early, so it makes more sence to open later. The weather isn't the only factor in the season opening.

Just relocate the park further south and suddenly this works. May involve some off season juggling, but it would be the last off season.

The PointGuru said:
opposed to a proven strategy

The PointGuru said:
No, I said before, in my opinion

No one is vehemently opposed to maximizing the opportunity to visit Cedar Point. Everyone is vehemently opposed to your opinion that this plan works on any level.

This thread is a big box of stupid. Seriously.