So is Castaway Bay "Successful?"

I know that there are a lot of Castaway Bay employees that view these boards. . .

. . .so, my question is for you.

Since you are there almost daily, just how busy is Castaway Bay?

(This isn't a "what's the best day to come?" sort of thing. . .)

I just am interested in if people are going, or if it seems sort of disappointing businesswise so far.

Any comments?

Don't you think it's a bit early to tell. I mean give it a month or two.

It's already been open a month, I think that is enough time to at least see how business is going so far.

Go to resorts and check room availability for a soon to be date. If they're sold out, they're busy.

Smart CF employees wouldn't post this type of info here.

MrScott

I've heard that somedays it's very slow, with like 20 people in the entire park, and other days it picks up a bit. I would assume its a bit more busy on weekends, but don't quote me.

MrScott said:
Go to resorts and check room availability for a soon to be date. If they're sold out, they're busy.

Smart CF employees wouldn't post this type of info here.

MrScott

as a Castaway Bay employee and a former CP employee of many years, I agree with you MrScott

Are you crazy?

"Yeah it's pretty busy! There are always a bunch of people here."

or

"Eh we have some days that are packed and others that aren't so much."

or

"Well. . .you shouldn't have trouble making a reservation."

REALLY shouldn't get you fired.

Simply put, Employees that are smart, as said before, would not post on websites known to management if they want to keep their jobs, why do you think we all stop posting over the summer?

Hah it's not like I haven't worked there. I know you can't say certain things about certain subjects.

I am not asking anyone to talk about something that isn't public info.

Let's see. . .is the parking lot at Castaway Bay usually FULL or rather EMPTY?

They have been open for one month. You can't judge a business like that. The question to ask is how do this years numbers at castaway(rooms filled) compares to last years numbers. I'm sure they are filling many more rooms at much higher rates. And remember the family issue. Family = $$$$$$. With the new indoor waterpark opening on rt.250 sometime Cedar Fair had to get a jump on the competition. They did a great job, while I think it's more geared for 6-12 years olds. I think that was the goal. When the third resort waterpark opens I think they will judge success by still being able to fill the same if not more rooms.

For employees this can only mean good things ahead. How much will the new place pay? And what kind of benefits will they offer?

Crazy!!!!

My original post said "how busy."

I did not say "Based on a 30 day operating history, was this a good or a bad investment for Cedar Fair, and what is the reason for its success or failure?"

All I said was "how busy."

I am going to CB in January and all I want to know is if it seems like people are going or if they aren't so much. Daaang.

I don't have any facts but I think it is safe to make a few assumptions.

First, I don't know how much Castaway Bay was really marketed prior to it's opening. If you know anything about construction you know that it is rare for a project to come in on time. As such, I would be leary to promote the park very heavily to potential guests until I was sure the thing was open.

Second, I'm sure the Convention Business (which makes up much of the off-season business for the hotel) didn't get pushed much for the reason I mentioned above. I wouldn't want to tell a company they should book with me because of the great new waterpark until I was sure the new waterpark was open. Also, companies usually book Convention locations at least a year in advance (my Association books 3 years out). The waterpark's impact on that part of the business may not be realized for a few years.

Finally, I don't think you will be able to measure the success of the waterpark by just looking at the people who are using it. The park was built to put heads in beds. Particuarly during conventions it is conceivable that a small percentage of the hotel guests would be in the waterpark because they may be involved in the convention itself. Maybe mom and the kid(s) will be down there but many more folks may not have brought family with them.

Bottom line, it is too early to tell, at least from our perspective. The Reservations folks and Sales people might have an idea at this point because they see information regarding future occupancy rates but just looking at the folks in the pool right now isn't going to tell you anything.

Of course, if they are getting out of the pool saying, "this sucks" then they've got a problem. But, based on what I have seen I can't imagine there are too many complaints. It looks like Cedar Fair did this project right.

Technically, the title of the thread asks if it's successful.

:) I know, and I noticed that too post-post. Oh well.

Anyway, I honestly received a phone call with a parking lot update so I am happy.

Haha.

Kevin Dudley said: Simply put, Employees that are smart, as said before, would not post on websites known to management if they want to keep their jobs, why do you think we all stop posting over the summer?

Do you really think employee's stop posting over the summer just b/c they don't want to get in trouble with management? I'm pretty sure we all stop posting b/c were too busy working! And the fact that most of us don't have access to a computer like we do over the winter when we are in school.

Caroline you can always put things in perspective. : ) haha.

I know that guests and employees are on a 'need to know basis'. If you look in past threads you will find when employees are promoted they tell you that they can no longer respond to sites such as this one.

While I know management is way to busy to figure out who said what on this site, there are alot of employees who like to act like they know inside information. If you interact with your guests you already know that guests will hang on your every word if they think your giving them inside information. The truth is we don't know anymore than they do,and those who do know better than to tell anyone. And that is because most can't keep quite. I heard rumors about maxair in August. But I also heard rumors of a new coaster also. It's better not to believe til you see.

Honestly, why would someone get in trouble for saying how busy Castaway Bay is on a daily basis? It's not like we don't get that kind of information all summer from employees.

Along with employees not having enough time to post, there is also the point to made that quite a few of them don't bring their own computers and aren't going to shell out money for 30 minutes of the computers that are there.

With that said, there are many employees who post here while they are working at CP. I've done it for two years now and the "trick" is that you just don't post stuff that the public would have no knowledge of otherwise. I'd think that that would be common sense. I find it rather comical how people who have never even worked there have the tone of an old timer and their message comes across as, "ooh! Yabetta not do dat! ya gonna get yaself fired!"

As for people being promoted and them stopping their posting here...I'd venture to say that once you come into a position of knowledge as a silver tag they would start to strictly enforce the line in the contract about not devulging privileged information. I'm sure it's much easier to enforce to a small group of silver tags rather than thousands of young anonymous emplyoyees who are potential posters here.

Exxxxxxxxxxactly. I didn't ask for some secret inside information. Just wondered what it might look like, which anyone who drives down 250 could see. Unfortunately (Fortunately!) I am in michigan, hours away from Rt. 250, so I was just asking people who are close. :)

Now if there was a giant wall erected around the complex and you had to have a reservation to get across the drawbridge, then. . .that's a different story.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who said he tried to get Castaway Bay reservations for the New Year's weekend and they were sold out. So, if that helps you with your question at all, you can say it is "Successful" on that weekend.