News: Castaway Bay offering evening passes, season passholder specials

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=808

I wonder how limited the availability of the one day pass will be. I might actually check out the waterpark now considering I certainly wasn't going to pay the inflated prices to stay at the hotel.

I took a day trip last winter when they offered the passes, and it was pretty good. Only problem with the day trip is that there really isn't a changing room there, you just have to dress in the bathrooms.

That being said, I'm curious if Jan. 16 (MLK day) is one of their blackout dates. If it's not, I think I'm gonna make a trip out there. *** Edited 1/6/2006 8:49:48 PM UTC by Ralph Wiggum***

Hmmm...I might finally head over to Castaway Bay on my trips this summer, or maybe even the day I go up to get my 2006 pass.

I wonder how bad they're hurting for people if they're opening this up like this...

From what I saw on December 30th (holiday week I know), none of the indoor waterparks are hurting too much. All three had parking lots that were completely full, so things can't be too bad. Compare that to the other hotels that I passed on 250 that only had 4-8 cars in the parking lot and the waterpark hotels are certainly doing ok.

I think the water park hotels are doing fine, particularly Castaway Bay and Kalahari. I just think this is something that Cedar Point is adding to see if it boosts season pass sales. Because even if it doesn't boost sales all that much they still aren't losing much by having the discount anyway. At least, that is how I see it. *** Edited 1/7/2006 3:08:50 AM UTC by BlueStreak64***

I think the answer lies in what mulfinator said in the 2nd post of this thread: "I might actually check out the waterpark now considering I certainly wasn't going to pay the inflated prices to stay at the hotel."

The day passes, and now evening passes, are a great way to 'try-before-you-buy'. Come spend the day, or the evening and enjoy the waterpark... hopefully you'll enjoy it enough to return and spend the night.

I doubt it will help boost season pass sales, but it's another nice bonus for those who do have passes.

From what I have heard, CB is doing just fine. This is just a way they can earn a few more $$, while generating more possible overnight guests. They are not "hurting for people".

MrScott

Castaway Bay is certainly during much, much better than the Radisson did. I'm sure that alone makes them happy.

I'm not in the hotel or resort business, but I imagine it (or any other Sandusky resort) doesn't have to even approach selling out every night to be deemed "very successful."

I thought CF has annouced a few times throughout the year the Castaway Bay did everything they hoped for.

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=581
"strong performance of Castaway Bay helped offset a $2.0 million revenue shortfall at Knott's" 5/5/05

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=647
"out-of-park revenues were up 20%, driven primarily by the strong results of Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort" 6/1/05

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=714
"out-of-park revenues were up 14%, or $9.6 million, driven primarily by the strong results of Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort" 9/6/05

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=769
“The positive results of these parks, combined with the strong performance of Castaway Bay, helped to offset attendance shortfalls at our other seasonal amusement parks in the quarter.” 10/31/05

It looks like it did well.

Hotels calculate how many rooms they need to fill on average to turn a profit. Usually a program is used that will anticipate the patronage and adjust the base rates accordingly. If they hit that critical number then they will likely increase the rates more. There is a maximum limit that they can charge for a room that is sometimes posted on the door. Sometimes they charge the max amount from the start if they know they are going to fill the rooms. Trade shows and other major events as well as busy days at Cedar Point can fill every room in every local hotel.

If they hit that minimum number on average, the hotel is fine. Castaway Bay has higher costs but also attracts people outside of Cedar Point's operation period.

Judging from the day I went last year when they were offering day passes, doing this on weekdays is a pretty good idea for them. I think until sometime around 2 PM there were probably more lifeguards than guests in the waterpark. From the way it picked up later in the day, I have no doubt that they're doing alright even on the weekdays and probably doing very well on the weekends.

I think this is definately a great idea for people who don't necessarily want to pay to spend the night at a waterpark, but still want to check it out. Especially for people with season passes, it'll be a real nice bonus.

Just in case anyone was wondering about my question from before about MLK day being a blackout date for the day passes, I got an email today informing me that day passes will be sold that day. I'll certainly be there.