Ripcord- Prices too high.......

The prices for the challenge park rides are up on the site, and they have lowered Skyscraper's price down to $10. But ripcord, on the other hand, is still $30 for 1 rider, $22 for two, (per person) and $15 per person for 3 riders. I think that the price per rider is waaaaay too much, especially for a single rider.

And Skyscraper's ride length is twice as long as Ripcord's. I think they should also lower Ripcord's prices, as more people may ride it more often. Just a thought :)

I don't know if it was true or not, but while we were on Drop Tower at Kings Island a kid (he was actually being a jerk) asked the ride op of Drop Tower how much Rip Cord was. She replied "Anywhere from $5 to $30 depending on the day", to which he replied "How much is it now", she told him she would check, and when we got done dropping she came over and told him, I don't remember what she told him, but he replied "OH sweet! guys lets go!"

Does CP adjust the prices at all, ever?

No actually, they stay the same. Funny you mention, I was just at KI and rode Slingshot for $5 in the afternoon! Their Ripcord also changes prices, but not at CP. I wish they would, though. :)

I can't remember exactly what the price was on opening day at KI, but I think it was $15 for 1 or 2 for $20.

I also remember it changing a lot last year, busier days it was higher.

I know at valleyfair they'll lower the prices of the additional fee attractions if they aren't getting much business. I remember back when Skyscraper was there it wasn't unusual to ride that and RipCord for $20 total.

Kings Island's prices change for Slingshot and Ripcord depending on time of day and how many people are in the park. Most of the time they have Ripcord at $5 sometimes $10. Slingshot is usually 5 or 10 in the morning and rises as the day goes on. I never understood why Cp's Ripcord was so high priced compared to Kings Island's.

I think the prices are just fine for an attraction that is outside of the park. It is also a great deal compared to Skycoasters that are found elsewhere with the exception of Kings Island. Their Rip Cord is one of the cheapest that I have ever seen.

I'd like to see the profit variation between Kings Island's and Cedar Point's Ripcord rides. KI fluctuates their pricing very very frequently, but there is almost always a line to ride both that and the slingshot. CP still gets riders on Ripcord, but I don't think they develop lines on weekdays.. Personally I think the fluctuating price is the way to go as long as you manage it well.

Does anyone know if there is a set price for all Skycoasters? Most of them seem to be around the same price (with the exception of the one at Kings Island).

If you haven't done so, check out the 2010 Platinum Pass Point Perks. They offer some really great discounts on Challenge Park attractions!

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/admission/season_passes/point_perks.cfm

Skycoaster suggests a price for each but it is up to the park or property to set their own price. Each operator does have to pay a percentage of profits to Skycoaster each year though so they would factor that into the price to ride.

As long as Skyscraper is $10, and has a buy one get one free offer with the Platinum Pass, I will be very happy. Can't wait to ride in a couple of weeks.

As 99er said earlier, RipCord at CP is reasonably priced compared to lots of other Skycoasters. Especially the triple (3 person) flight for $15 each. It takes just as long for the ride crew to run a 3 person flight as it does a 1 or 2 person flight, so I think the additional cost for diminished capacity is justified. Add in the fact that RipCord is in the unique position of being outside of the park gates meaning no park admission is required to ride it, and I'd say the pricing is justified.

Not to say that varied pricing like what KI has wouldn't be a good thing, especially in terms of keeping a more steady flow of guests moving through the ride. When people walk by and don't see anyone else riding it, that doesn't exactly entice them to head over, especially if they haven't ever seen the ride in action.

LOL! Some people will defend anything. I'll just ride the Skycoaster at KI for $5 and continue to skip it at CP. CP's Skycoaster was the first one I ever rode back in June 2000, and I haven't been on it since.

Lol. Its such a rip off (rip off..ripcord get it?) What is ripcord, 152 feet tall if I remember correctly? You pay $30 bucks. When I was down in Kissimmee, Florida over spring break, I went on the world's tallest Skycoaster at 300 feet. Twice as tall as ripcord and it only costs me $20. Two times as tall, 1/3 cheaper.

^I suggest you try that one in the middle of summer when its the busy season. You won't be paying anywhere near $20. It must have been either a spring break special or they too adjust prices according to how busy they are because the price for a single flyer is $40. Two flyers is a total of $70 and 3 flyers is a total of $90.

It's funny how skyscraper costs $10 for one rider, and ripcord costs $30 for one rider. Three times as much for one person. And skyscraper is twice as long of a ride as ripcord.

Ripcord, they let you swing one big swing and a half before you have to grab that "loop" handle thing to end your ride. At least make you be able to swing longer on ripcord. The highlight of the ride is, to me, just pulling that cord and dropping. After that, the rides pretty much over after one huge swing...............

Hmm, interesting. I see that on the website too. Maybe it was a special. Still though, I'd pay $40 for that Skycoaster as opposed to the $30 for ripcord. You have been on the one in Kissimmee I'm assuming? Amazing huh?

^To be honest, the shorter the better for me. I love heights and can't get enough of them but on a Skycoaster, the smaller ones give you a better free fall and more swing time. Most of the time its the height factor that scares people and that is why the taller ones appear more exciting for people. It's the other way around for me. I even like riding the old one at Geauga Lake better than at Cedar Point because of the initial drop and you get a longer ride. Don't get me wrong, I love Skycoasters and will ride any you put in front of me. I have worked on them before and have rode a good handful of them in the States. That is why I do not consider the one at Cedar Point to be overpriced and it really is not when you compare it to others around the country. Then again, I have never paid for any of my over 900 flights:)

ejh1701 said:
When I was down in Kissimmee, Florida over spring break, I went on the world's tallest Skycoaster at 300 feet. Twice as tall as ripcord and it only costs me $20. Two times as tall, 1/3 cheaper.

If that really is what you paid, then you must have caught some special deal. I've been down to that Skycoaster several times at both busy and slow times of the year, and the prices that 99er posted have always been accurate, and yet they've always had a line. Although I do fly for free, so I can't say I paid lots of attention to their pricing options.

Miss_Maverick07 said:
Ripcord, they let you swing one big swing and a half before you have to grab that "loop" handle thing to end your ride. At least make you be able to swing longer on ripcord.

There's no way to make you swing longer on a Skycoaster. The number of swings depends on the weight of the flyers thanks to a little thing called momentum. One and half swings is typically a light solo flyer or maybe two smaller kids. There would be no point to giving these kinds of flights more swings, as the flyers would be practically stationary over the platform (and out of reach of the loop) after 3 or 4 swings.

A two person flight with average sized adults is usually about six swings before you grab the loop, and three average adults can usually get around nine or ten swings in. So if you want to swing longer, you just have to convince some larger friends to fly with you.

The most amount of swings I have seen is 14. Not really a short ride at all.