News: Cedar Fair reports continuation of strong attendance and guest spending trends through Labor Day weekend

Cedar Fair said today that strong attendance and guest spending trends had continued across its portfolio of 13 properties through the 2021 Labor Day weekend, while strong initial sales of 2022 season passes offer early indications that market demand remains high for immersive, outdoor entertainment experiences.

https://pointbuzz.com/News/Story/3346

I know it’s NOT the only factor in closing a ride, but do you think it’s part of their strategic operating plan to close a big ride every year in order to help boost attendance from those who want one last ride?

I doubt it. I don't think the GP really cares about a ride a closing and the slight bump they get from the enthusiasts is negligible.

^^No, I do not.

Cedar Fair stated a few years back that they would be closing rides with high maintenance costs and/or poor ridership. Since that point they have been removing things across the chain at a pretty good rate. Coaster wise it's been Vortex, Firehawk & Volcano, Wicked Twister. They also removed Carowinds rapid ride, 2 Enterprises(CP & Wonderland), The Crypt at KD & a few small rides at some other parks.

The rapids ride not being open at Carowinds is awful. On all 4 of our trips there it has been unbelievably hot. To have no water ride at all in the park is crazy, especially given that Cedar Fair operates rapids rides at essentially every other park in the chain and just renovated the one at Knotts. Frustrating.

^A few weeks ago I took my first trip to Michigan's Adventure. While I had low expectations, I was really shocked at how few drink stands were open on a blazing hot Saturday afternoon in August. And the log flume was also non-operational all day. I can forgive the log flume, but it should never be that difficult to find an open drink stand on a hot day in peak season.

Just need to wait for another Cedar Fair park to close/remove a drink stand so MA can have one, I guess.

CED23 said:

Cedar Fair stated a few years back that they would be closing rides with high maintenance costs and/or poor ridership. Since that point they have been removing things across the chain at a pretty good rate. Coaster wise it's been Vortex, Firehawk & Volcano, Wicked Twister. They also removed Carowinds rapid ride, 2 Enterprises(CP & Wonderland), The Crypt at KD & a few small rides at some other parks.

Forbidden Frontier should be next= low ridership + high operating expense + the parts (employees) could be moved elsewhere.

You assume that you know the park's ridership target, which I would imagine is relatively low given the uniqueness of the attraction. Whereas WT was one coaster among many.

A thousand apologies for not adding the sarcasm emoji... I am not emotionally invested one way or another in the retention of anything at any park in any chain in any country.

I was just jokingly referring to the metrics mentioned above for ride retention mentioned from the CF statement, I am sure a lot goes into their decisions that nobody here knows anything of and likely changes on a yearly basis and for sure changes when a CEOs focus changes.