Season Passholder Appreciation Weekend

Ffej said:
...it appears renewals get no bonus incentives? Platinum is $164, but I see no $10 discount for a renewal...

Seems long overdue to me. I suspect the lack of renewal discount will have no significant impact on sales.

I mean, you're still gonna buy one, right? :)

djDaemon said:

Ffej said:
...it appears renewals get no bonus incentives? Platinum is $164, but I see no $10 discount for a renewal...

Seems long overdue to me. I suspect the lack of renewal discount will have no significant impact on sales.

I mean, you're still gonna buy one, right? :)

Cedar Point delivers plenty of value for Platinum Pass holders throughout the year. Most people that take full advantage of it would pay much more than $164 if they had to.

Starting (and keeping) the price high protects price integrity on what is marketed as a premium product. On the other hand, a small renewal incentive could be good business sense, if the goodwill increases in-park spending or if less people take a year off from Cedar Fair parks.

For anyone interested in amusement park pricing, read this interesting blog post from a consulting firm that (apparently) studied Holiday World's pricing model: http://service360partners.com/uncategorized/service-means-leaving-m...the-table/ .

I'll buy a new pass, yes. However, I'd argue that rewarding customer loyalty is smart business.

If they didn't want to give out a free ticket for a renewal and didn't want to provide a discount like last year, they could have done a free meal voucher or exclusive coupon book for renewals to show appreciation for being a loyal customer.

I would have bitten on a $10 renewal discount or a small token of appreciation. But, if I'm not going to be appreciated as a loyal customer, then I'll be a new one. Why would I want to leave a $51.99 value ticket on the table? They're essentially charging new customers $112.01 for a Platinum Pass and loyal customers $164. I'd think this silly promo is just going to screw up their renewal metrics.

My Dad always bought tickets for me growing up, so now it's time to return the favor and "buy" one for him this year! :)

Ffej said:
I'll buy a new pass, yes. However, I'd argue that rewarding customer loyalty is smart business.

You mean like the discounts you're awarded as a season pass holder? :)

At $164 it's still a steal. With parking, ERT, Soak City and the other parks included, not to mention the in-park deals and discounts. You just can't beat it. I would like a discount, but I won't let that stop me from renewing.

I've used mine over 30 times so far. Add Soak City, Wildwater Kingdom and Kings Island. I can't imagine what value I recieved for what I paid.

The "free" admission for new passes is very likely only valid for the passholder, using the newly processed 2013 season pass.

This is a deja vu argument from the past, and I know it goes round and round, so I'll just restate what I've said in the past.

I feel the Platinum and season passes are a tremendous value, yes - I'm not arguing that. However, both new and renewing pass holders get all those exact same benefits throughout the year.

The only big difference is that loyal CP customers are being penalized by losing a $51.99 value for renewing.

It appears some feel that because they got a good value out of their season pass in the previous season, they are happy to spend $51.99 more than the other guy in line buying a pass for the first time. I'm not.

Ffej, i do understand your point. Many places do the same thing to lure new customers. As a loyal customer you feel screwed. magazines are a good example. The current subscriber has to renew at regular price while the new customer gets a subscription for maybe 25% of that price.

Ffej said:
It appears some feel that because they got a good value out of their season pass in the previous season, they are happy to spend $51.99 more than the other guy in line buying a pass for the first time. I'm not.

Then I think you have a demented value scale. :)

Yes, I know you're saying you agree that the passes are a great value, but in the next breath, you're complaining that a new customer gets a better deal. Who cares? You're still getting a great deal.

All that said, is there anything stopping you from buying a non-renewed 2013 pass and selling the ticket?

malem said:
The "free" admission for new passes is very likely only valid for the passholder, using the newly processed 2013 season pass.

How they've done it in previous years is that you buy a voucher for a 2013 season pass. They print you off a receipt-style ticket good for a free 2012 admission. Neither the voucher or the ticket are tied to a name.

djDaemon said:

All that said, is there anything stopping you from buying a non-renewed 2013 pass and selling the ticket?

No. It might say no resale on it, but you're really entitled to do whatever you want with your property. The only thing is that I can't remember if the free ticket was only good for the same day the pass was purchased, or if it was valid any day the rest of the season.

I'm wondering if come 2013, you could take your new 2013 voucher and get it processed as a quick renewal to avoid the new processing and picture. It'd seem like they'd have something like this, because I know that some parents gift their kids new pass vouchers for Christmas every year.

Being that I always stayed on Point for a long time, I don't think anyone's getting screwed on their pass charges. It cost more than 2 platinum passes to stay at camper village for 2 nights and buy 4 passes into the park. You get in the park an hour early for just 2 days and there are 10X the amount of people in line than the folks that stayed on Point. They enjoy their perks all year long. Just get a fast pass and go once next year if you wanna save some dough. Do the math. Go once or all year long.

Has been 3 years since I had a Platinum Pass. On the fence about taking up the free tickets for our only trip this year. I know I'll be back next year with or without a new ride. Probably pay the upcharge to stay overnight without complaining!

Ffej said:
I'm wondering if come 2013, you could take your new 2013 voucher and get it processed as a quick renewal to avoid the new processing and picture.

They've done the instant online renewal for current passholders for a few years now, which is exactly how I've renewed my pass since they started doing it. I assume that if you currently have a pass, they'd just renew it instead of giving you a voucher, but I don't know.

Anyone know all the exciting offers and prizes they're lining up that they keep posting about via Twitter?

What we know:
-Bring a friend for $10 on Friday or $14.99 on Sat/Sun as a pass holder
--32oz soft drinks are $1 for pass holders
--Platinum passes are $164 and regular passes are $104.99 with a free 2012 ticket only for new pass holders

a lot of 'complaining'(by a few) in this thread about something that's a bonus,what if 'appreciation weekend' didn't exist.

so who's going,I'll be there friday & sunday and if my saturday plans end early,I'll finish the day there.

No complaints from me. An hour away from the best park on Earth + Platinum Pass in hand = Sheer joy!

Dennis, I don't see any complaining in this thread about appreciation weekend personally. If you were taking my post before yours as a complaint, I was simply asking if anyone knew what the prizes and additional offers were that CP is telling us to stay tuned for on Twitter. For example, it'd be nice to know if they're doing a scavenger hunt, contest, etc. so that plans can be made in advance to go at a particular time or day.

Ffej,no,you were not one of the 'few' it was commented about.

I'll be there Sunday morning with my family.

And we will renew with or without the $10 or free ticket. We live 140 minutes away and have gone to Cedar Point 8 times already this year. Between that, the 3 trips to Kings Island, the Platinum Perks, KI's FunPerks, ERT and everything else, I think the Platinum Passes are an exceptional value.

My wife and I are going to make the long 45 mile trip on Sunday. Should be a pretty nice day and not much of a crowd. Will probably go ahead and renew pass for 2013. Great value for everything you get and as much as we go to both the park and Soak City.

Anyone ever figure out what the prizes were for pass holders that CP was referring to on Twitter? I went Friday & Sunday, but I never found any. :( Just wanted a cookie from Snoopy... ;)