News: 2007 Season Passes on sale September 22

Every company should and would benefit from embracing technology. It does so much to help people. And it gives people like me a job :p

If they guy at the top doesn't have an understanding or appreciation for technology then the company is going to lag...just as it does.

For the longest time, the power-that-be resisted desktop computers. Word processing (at least the kind we are all used to) wasn't even considered until the mid-90's. Heck, my high school had better equipment in '88.

I worked in a department that had one of the first desktops with microsoft software. I recall putting together reports with graphs and charts and those reading them were more impressed with the "pretty" instead of the content. I am convinced to this day that the Radisson was purchased because I made some pretty reports with pie charts. (Ok, maybe that is a stretch.)

Infrastructure (including IT) isn't fun. It isn't sexy and in the short-sighted minds of some it doesn't sell tickets. Perhaps that is true.

But, as we all know (heck...as my 4 year old knows) it makes for a better overall experience and that can lead to return trips which DOES make money.

These are some of the reasons why I'm not so quick to say that Kinzel deciding to stay on longer is the great answers that others believe. I think they are in need of some fresh ideas. Actually, the ideas are all there....they just need a leader who will let his/her creative people loose.

RideMan said:
Umm, Walt, did you ever read the paperwork that came with the parking pass sticker back before they offered the pass icon?

I don't know what the wording was like before 2001. Are you saying that the registration paper indicated that it itself was the pass? If so, passholders would have been able to take any car they wanted. I'm not sure I'm following what you mean.

This is what it reads on this year's registration (quoting the relevant parts). It seems clear to me that when you have a sticker, the parking pass is for the vehicle, not for the person.

"... This pass can be revoked without refund for any unauthorized use, including use on any vehicle it is not registered to, ..."

"(sic) BEFORE YOU SELL OR TRADE YOUR VEHICLE, THE PARKING PERMIT RECORDED ABOVE MUST BE RETURNED TO CEDAR POINT BEFORE A FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE ISSUED. Bring the vehicle listed above to the Main Tollbooth for permit removal. If it is not convenient to stop at the Cedar Point Tollbooth, call the Cedar Point Traffic Operations Area Manager at phone (419) 627-2363 for permit removal instructions. If the vehicle recorded above is involved in an accident, and a rental vehicle is provided during repairs, a temporary permit may be issued by providing a copy of the accident report and rental agreement for verification. Temporary permits are not available if the vehicle listed above is in the shop for routine maintenance, repair of mechanical malfunction, or otherwise unavailable for normal use."

Chief Wahoo said:
These are some of the reasons why I'm not so quick to say that Kinzel deciding to stay on longer is the great answers that others believe. I think they are in need of some fresh ideas. Actually, the ideas are all there....they just need a leader who will let his/her creative people loose.

Wow, I don't know if I could agree more. It's an indisputable fact that he was the driving force that has made the company what it is today, with a number of key people under him. But I've heard rumors for years about him making "make it so" decisions that weren't open for debate. Most of the time I'm sure he has been right, but in a changing world it's hard to see outside your own perspective when you've been doing it (successfully) for so long. I find that true even for me in certain things, and I'm barely in my 30's.

Walt, I realize you didn't write the paragraph you quoted, but you have to admit that it's pretty ridiculous.

After seeing what it actually says on the sticker I definitely can't understand why they'd want to go back to that.

I think they are trying to lose business. OK, not really, but it sure as hell seems that way.

In the past few years, I've gotten new stickers twice. Once when my windshield cracked and was replaced and the second when I got a new car. I never found it to be a big deal.

Interesting wording, Walt. That is most definitely NOT what the paperwork said back in 2000 when my car was in the shop much of the season.

In fact, it sounds like they re-wrote it specifically because of the situation they put *me* in. What a bunch of .........

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Jeff said:

How many times have we brought it up that being able to charge stuff to your hotel room is a no-brainer that would increase spending?

Not to mention the ability to actually track in park spending by season pass holders.

It is amazing how they embrace the latest and greatest when it comes to rides, but are totally behind the times with IT.

-Tambo

Ya know, I never even thought of that. If they tracked more of their guests with the use of "credit cards," they'd have a MUCH better understanding of what their guests REALLY want. Scan the season passes for discounts, scan it for parking, scan it for park entry. And, do the same thing with resort cards. That way you know what, when and where EVERYONE in your park is spending.

tambo brings up a really amazing opportunity there. Know what people spend money on and you can target them with very specific discounts that appeal to their tastes, and that will get them coming back and spending even more. The ROI for data mining has been well demonstrated throughout the retail industry. Why waste money on a direct mailing campaign when you can just mail the people most likely to buy what you're selling?

Exactly, I couldn't agree more. And the thing is, due to the infrastructure that they already have in place, it wouldn't be that difficult to upgrade their system to include such efficient computer systems. Granted paper is still available when the power goes out, but backup generators can temporarily solve that one.

In my history class today I was so annoyed with having to right everything out small, neat, and organized that I realized just how efficient it would be if I had a laptop in class. The same applies to CP/CF, they would benefit greatly from using the available technology to their advantage.

With all the people here in agreement, wouldn't it make sense for them to take our ideas and put them into action? Would a petition do the trick?

Just some food for thought... Or thought for food... ;)

Heck, if you used tickets other than mostly paper receipts, you could scan those too.

Aren't the paper receipts good "today only"? No need to scan those since 99.44% of them are printed at the POS system and immediately dropped into a ticket can. Just track those on the POS system and assume 100% utilization.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Yeah, but again - hello fraud. If you're just taking things from people's hand when they enter the gate, you're ASKING to be taken advantage of. Come on. You should be scanning those receipts too because then you can compare the numbers, see if they match, and if not, figure out what's going on. Information is CRITICAL to a business.

Just a little something to toss into the fire:

Ohio law states following: Windshield stickers are prohibited, except that there may be in the lower left-hand or right-hand corner of the windshield a sign, poster, or decal not to exceed 4 inches in height by 6 inches in width.

According to what someone stated earlier in this post, the stickers are 4" square. Now if someone, such as my self, buys a sticker for GL and CP, my quess they can't legally put both stickers in the same corner since the total size would be 4"x8". They would have to put one in each corner, wouldn't that cause some confusion and problems at the toll booths?

Anyway, I agree with most of the people here, parking on the season pass is the best option. I have a feeling this whole parking sticker only thing is going to be trouble-some for both CP and GL, as well as season pass holders. I really hate to see all the cars on opening weekend trying to get there parking stickers put on.. lol

You bring up a good point Ralph. I live in PA where we are required to get our vehicles inspected each year whereas they put an inspection sticker in the bottom left corner of our windshield. As of a few years ago we now, in Mercer County as well as other counties in PA, are required to get an emissions inspections too which adds another sticker. Now we're up to two stickers in the bottom left corner of the windshield. Let's add a GL and CP parking pass to those two and you can only imagine how awful that'll look.

I'll have to speak with a good friend of mine who has an inspection liscense and see, after the two that the state requires, if you are permitted to place anything else on your windshield. My guess is that PA does not permit there to be anything else placed on the windshield, but again, that's just a guess.

*** Edited 9/14/2006 10:41:27 AM UTC by Loopy***

topthrilldragster4lyf said:
And the thing is, due to the infrastructure that they already have in place, it wouldn't be that difficult to upgrade their system to include such efficient computer systems.

Infrastructure? They don't really have any to speak of. Phone lines and network cable make not an instant system. It wouldn't be cheap to build a centralized network for charging cards and room keys, but I do firmly believe there would be significant ROI. Makes a lot more sense than the half-dozen credit card machines at every counter service location.

You can't put infrastructure in a commercial and the current powers-that-be have never have shown an interest in, or appreciation for infrastructure.

OldCPer said:

So...being a season pass holder and renewing via mail, how do I get a parking sticker if it must be placed on the windshield by an employee?? Will I have to pay for parking the first time, then wait in a long line for someone to put a sticker on my car? Or do you show the certificate at the toll booth to get the sticker?

I'm still looking for an answer to this question. I did the "contact us" thing on the CP website and filled out the information with my question and still haven't gotten an answer.

Is there anyone on this forum who renews on-line and gets their passes via mail who might know how to deal with the parking sticker now? I never purchased a sticker before they allowed them on the Season Pass.

Whether I get a parking sticker is going to depend upon the answer I get. In fact, another question I asked is does the regular CP season pass still work at the other Cedar Fair parks, or do we now have to purchase a Maxx pass in order to visit, say Michigan's Adventure? I doubt I'll be able to get to any of the Paramount Parks next year as they are too far away and require an overnight stay.

Again, if I have to get a Maxx pass now in order to visit Michigan's Adventure, I'm seriously considering NOT getting a season pass at all for next year, get discounted tickets through my credit union and cut the number of visits.

There is an option through Michigan's Adventure to get a CP/MA only pass. I believe it is 98 bucks or something.

I'm still debating whether I want to go that route or get the MAXX Pass.