New Marketing Strategies

Here's my opinion on the whole thing... Bear in mind I haven't seen actual numbers from the park or anything. My assumption is that people making long distance, multi-day, overnight stays is down, hence the new discount on resorts for Platinum Passholders. CP is realizing that the majority of their visitors this year are those making "one-tank trips" or "staycations" and therefore are offering better deals on one day tickets, and one day ride/meal packages. Even the Hall of Fame deal seems to say that they are aiming at a much more regional, one day visit demographic this season due to the economy/gas prices.

Being 200 miles from the park, I can definitely see this being the case. Before the season started I was planning several overnight trips to the park this season, but due to prices I have cut way back. I now am only making a few one day trips instead. At 200 miles I am probably close to the threshold of where most guests would drive for a one day visit.

Get off the wallet Mr. El Cheapo. ;)

Josh M. said:
My assumption is that people making long distance, multi-day, overnight stays is down, hence the new discount on resorts for Platinum Passholders.

As someone who lives roughly 500 miles from CP I can say that is true, even if in my case only.

I want to see them try a "Buy 2 get 1 free" deal for Ripcord. It would save guests a whole dollar but probably increase sales.

I was at Kings Island on Sunday and I couldn't believe the deals they were offering on their pay-per attractions. Maybe it's different because their attractions are located right in the park, but you could ride their ripcord for $5 per ride. It didn't say the usual price, it just said $5 for a limited time only. When I walked by later in the day it was $10. You could ride their slingshot ride for $10, and I read that it is usually $25.

Jeff said:

Dick said resort bookings are down, which is not surprising in this economy, so they're discounting them. That's what you do when demand decreases.

Well, when you raise the rates nearly 20 dollars a season....

It's absoultely rediculious to pay some $250-300 for a room that should be no more than $125.

I don't disagree. I've been saying that for a long time, and the fickle travel market is likely sending that message now.

cedarpointlover said:
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It's absoultely rediculious to pay some $250-300 for a room that should be no more than $125.

The El Resorto motels 10 miles away from Cedar Point are 100 bucks a night on weekends. You can't expect them to charge the same thing for Breakers which is on pointe.

Jeff said:
The art of the package deal is to make it seem attractive, but in practice most people don't take full advantage of it. I have it on good authority that the Disney dining plan tends to work that way. And I've done the math on Universal's meal deal, and I know for a fact that would never pan out for me (of course, they don't include drinks either). In both cases, people readily plop down cash for them.

Jen and I did the DDP when we were down there in May. I will absolutely NEVER go to WDW again without it. It came out to around $37 per person/day, and with each sit down meal (one per day), our check was well over $75 worth of food. Essentially, it was like getting a counter service meal, and a snack for each of us, free every single day.

It really gave us a chance to experience the dining side of WDW like I'd never thought to before. Usually, I'd eat one or 2 sit down meals per trip there, but this time we experienced 6 new restaurants, and established a new favorite (BOMA, of course).

Dining is now on the list of priorities whenever we're looking into a vacation down there.

DLR's dining plan, however- no so much.

Like I said, if you really use it, I suspect it's a deal. But how many people don't? A lot of people complain that it's too rigid, but looking at the participating locations, it doesn't seem like it to me.

^^^ Since when has it become wrong to expect a hotel to charge a reasonable price on the services and accommodations rendered? Paying 355 on weekends for a 300sqft room with two simple queen beds, a fridge and 20" TV? The park proximity and early entry don't justify such a rate increase. People can talk about gas prices and ethanol ruining everything, but that shouldn't equate to more than 5 or so dollars increase a year.

Maybe they should lower their prices, and see what happens. *GASP* A full house at the peak of the season?! Blasphemy!

e x i t english said:

I will absolutely NEVER go to WDW again without it.

You can put us in that same boat. Its not too much of a stretch to use it either. Heck, we ate at Coral Reef one day, did a Character Breakfast another day (I know we don't have kids, doesn't mean I don't like seeing all the characters), got sushi in Japan another day. Not to mention being able to walk up to nearly any cart in the World and grabbing a drink or fruit or ice cream bar without having to think about it.

Vince982 said:
I was at Kings Island on Sunday and I couldn't believe the deals they were offering on their pay-per attractions. Maybe it's different because their attractions are located right in the park, but you could ride their ripcord for $5 per ride. It didn't say the usual price, it just said $5 for a limited time only. When I walked by later in the day it was $10. You could ride their slingshot ride for $10, and I read that it is usually $25.

I think Kings Island is very smart about their pay extra attractions. When I was there (on a weekday) there was a line of 10+ people for their ripcord ride every time I was near it. So what they loose in profit per person they make up with a continuous stream of riders.

I thought the half court hoops deal was brilliant. The sign said $10, but they had a special sign out on front of the game that said $5 for a limited time and there was a line of 10+ people every time we passed it (except for at 10:30am). The games last 40 seconds and each person is paying $5, so that works out to up to 90 people per hour at $5 per person meaning if there is always a line they can make up to $450 per hour on that game! (Yes they have to pay the 2 employees working the game and a little bit for the pathetic prizes that they give out, but still, I wouldn't be surprised if they net around $400 of pure profit per hour off that game most of the day! Now when I was at Six Flags they had a half court hoops game for $10 and people would play every few minutes, but there wasn't a line, so Six Flags was probably making less money per hour on that game despite charging double the price.

Really, spending $5 to shoot a basketball and have a remote chance of getting a "good" prize (basketball or even jersey if they are really good) isn't a great deal, but I think that when people see that the game is "half price" they don't think about the fact that they are basically spending $5 to shoot baskets for 40 seconds.

To summarize, by charging much less that the posted/normal price, Kings Island has come up with a good way to get a continuous stream of riders on their pay per ride attractions while making more money than if they were charging full price.

Why do you think Skyscraper is buy one get one free now?
The best part about that is that some people still only take 1 ticket. They'll pay 20 bucks for 1 ride instead of taking 2 or even just giving the ticket away to someone else.

"In response to Jeff Young's last post, I do find it interesting that they are now offering Platinum Passholders 10% off resort stays... Wonder if there is a reason for that?"-Josh M.

Where did you hear about this? I booked a room at the Breakers in Feb. I wonder if I can get that 10% off. I have a platinum pass.

With the Marketing they should advertise season passes during christmas time. I got one as a gift and so far it's been a great gift. I have used it at Kings Dominion in VA and will be going to Cedar Point in August.