pki winterfest

Tilt-a-Whirl said:

Obviously the new management thought it was a great opportunity and from early trip reports- attendance has been huge.

Fair points, but aren't you doing the same thing here as those arguing against are doing when using the '94 event as an example?

Has the weather near KI been as insane as it has been around here? That is to say also ridiculously warmer than normal? I mean, I cut my grass yesterday. In December. If so, I would take caution against using this year's attendance as proof positive that this would be a hit at CP.

Based on Tony's discussion yesterday, it was clear management has genuinely thought about it at length, and probably has a rough idea of cost and what attendance goals they may need to reach for it to be feasible.

Putting Tony's different comments together, if Cedar Point were to do a Winterfest, the park would currently want to prepare by:

• Building a Harmony House/Festhaus type facility. Tony mentioned the lack of an equivalent in relation to indoor food spaces, entertainment spaces, and heated public spaces at the park.
• Adding at least one more indoor entertainment venue, or expanding an existing venue. When Tony mentioned AWE and shortage of venues, he included the size of the current venues as a concern.
• Have a plan to operate the hotels until Christmas, including staffing concerns and costs to keep the hotel functional for 2 months past the current closing/winterizing schedule.
• Providing heat to multiple public spaces not currently heated. I'm thinking shops, entertainment venues, and bathrooms.
• Providing heat to multiple non-public spaces like food stands and any employee break areas.

Since cpfan69 mentioned the risk of freezing pipes in 94, can you operate an event like Winterfest with only ice-cold water in the bathrooms for hand-washing?

All of these are issues to address before even working on the logistics of the event itself. On a positive note, the first two are also concerns for entertainment during the regular season, so the costs wouldn't be born on a Winterfest effort alone.

Good post Ken,

I would also add a concern that the park the last many years has had a terrible record of being truly ready for opening in May.

Adding another 2 months to the operating season and pushing some maintenance into the January weather season could also protract that work.

Also the park looks terrible in the off season- they store trains and equipment all over midways. And there’s no landscaping as it’s all torn out after HWends.

cpfan69 said:
Cedar Point Christmas in the park was more like 24 years ago.... 1994.

You are correct.

I went to art school. I can draw pretty pictures. Math, sometimes that's a stretch....

MichaelB said:

Thabto said:

Do they even issue snow emergencies anymore? I haven't heard of a level 1, 2 or 3 in a very long time, at least not in the Akron/Canton area and we've had some pretty nasty snowstorms.

Feb 21, 2015, and Jan 2, 2014, were the two most recent times I found that a snow emergency was issued for Summit County.

North west Ohio counties have had some last couple years. I think it's been about 2 years since the last one in Lorain county that I remember. I don't pay close attention to them since I work for the schools so if it's bad I don't end up going to work anyway and my husband is emergency personnel so he's one of those people permitted to be out driving to work no matter how bad it is.

You know, on a very limited scale, they should try this out...As a child I remember attending the winterfest at Sea World of Ohio. It was small, but effective. Lights, mascots walking around posing for pictures, live penguins on display and for photos, gift shopping, ice skating and an ice slide.

I am a local and contrary to what appears to be popular belief it IS livable here in the winter. The lake actually keeps us warmer than our pals in Michigan until it freezes, which happens every few years tops. We get next to no snow compared to Cleveland or Akron. Hell, I was wearing a polo shirt on Monday.

What if CP had a small event featuring Christmas lights (people do flock like lemmings to the one at the Toledo Zoo), sleigh rides, a temporary ice rink where the splashpad is in the midway and maybe meet and greets with Snoopy, Tony Clark, management, etc. You could probably erect a small and safe toboggan/ice slide hill over by Gatekeeper somewhere... Then have the Railroad running for "behind the scenes" tours. But instead of showing park rides being worked on, they could have "elves" (hopefully not the Boneville crew) making presents, erecting trees, singing carols etc and then have Santa Snoopy waving from the firehouse porch before coming back into the station. CP brass/marketing folks could be on hand to mingle and promote the next season and the Pagoda could open for hot chocolate and Christmas shopping to liquidate all of the past season's merchandise and stuffed animals. They could offer discounted rates to Castaway Bay and its waterpark and even sell some discounted pass vouchers for spring. As long as they keep it simple and make it clear that the coasters are not running, this would attract a local crowd (we don't have a whole lot to do right now) as well as give out of towners a reason to stay at Castaway Bay..

I was wearing shorts on Monday; today I'm not leaving the house without being bundled up to "enjoy" temps in the mid thirties.

What you're describing is largely like Christmas In The Park, which Cedar Point tried and didn't repeat. Call me a corporate shill, but if Cedar Fair saw an opportunity to make money with a holiday event in Sandusky, they'd be doing so.

Not sounding like a corporate shill by any stretch, just exhibiting common sense. Businesses with an acute sense of self preservation don't regularly leave money out on the table. If there was a way to make this work and be positive to the bottom line, they'd do it.

I love going to CP, but I've spent enough times during HW with lousy weather that I'd be hard pressed to go during Christmas time.

We can all take turns sitting on Tony's lap telling him what we want Cedar Point to add into their "5-year-plan".

Tony dressed as Santa with a line of people holding their 5-year plan wishlist would be a great addition to his annual Christmas video.

If CP does Winterfest they need to go "all in", and do it in spectacular fashion plus have a nice selection of rides running including Blue Streak, not a simple, small event. That is what it will take to get people to make the trek to CP, otherwise they can see Christmas lights and drink hot chocolate in their hometowns. I'm going to King's Island Saturday to see their Winterfest. Since what King's Island does is compelling enough to get me to drive 240 miles, I'm sure CP can do an event that is good enough to make people drive 70 to 125 miles from Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit.

We will be there too, Pete! You've been warned ;)

I see it could snow Saturday at Kings Island, would they still run Mystic Timbers if it does?

cptedsdisciple2 said:

. But instead of showing park rides being worked on, they could have "elves" (hopefully not the Boneville crew) making presents, erecting trees, singing carols etc

And why NOT the Boneville crew? PUT A SANTA HAT ON DR. POSSUM AND HAVE THE POLECAT PICKERS PLAY JINGLE BELLS, DANGIT.

cptedsdisciple2 said:

..... maybe meet and greets with Snoopy, Tony Clark, management, etc. ....... CP brass/marketing folks could be on hand to mingle and promote the next season.... .

Just what those folks want to do around the holiday season, a time of year when they actually can look forward to weekends off, some vacation time, and a normal, structured work schedule. Stand around and talk to enthusiasts.

Pete said:

If CP does Winterfest they need to go "all in", and do it in spectacular fashion plus have a nice selection of rides running including Blue Streak, not a simple, small event. That is what it will take to get people to make the trek to CP, otherwise they can see Christmas lights and drink hot chocolate in their hometowns. I'm going to King's Island Saturday to see their Winterfest. Since what King's Island does is compelling enough to get me to drive 240 miles, I'm sure CP can do an event that is good enough to make people drive 70 to 125 miles from Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit.

Agree 100% with Pete. If Cedar Point does ever do Winterfest, it has to be a spectacular event. I can see great Christmas Lights at the Toledo Zoo. I'd go to Cedar Point regardless, but they need to attract the casual people to make the trek to the park.

Enjoy Kings Island Pete, we spent 2 days there and really enjoyed it. Kings Island did it right.

Spectacular? Okay, let's give this a go. Every ride and coaster open. Decorated trees everywhere. Lights everywhere. 25 cent hot chocolate. $10 insulated Cedar Point branded jackets. Turn the Snake River Falls landing area into an ice rink. A nightly Christmas themed fireworks show.

CP and coasters are no fun when it is cold or wet. Especially to spend a good $100.00. Maaaybe if there were 2 or 3 top notch indoor rides/attractions or even if they left the haunts open.

WZNM said:

CP and coasters are no fun when it is cold or wet.

I know someone would say this so here is the solution; sell those facial ski mask things for $5.

PyroKinesis09 said:

WZNM said:

CP and coasters are no fun when it is cold or wet.

I know someone would say this so here is the solution; sell those facial ski mask things for $50.

Fixed that for you Cedar Fair style.