Suggested pricing scheme

Don't forget I did say the price was good. I also later admited that it would not be the easiest thing to manage. Anyway, maybe future technology will overcome the impossibility of this now.

Imagine one day when we all have chips embedded in us, they can charge people differently based on their preferences. When you walk up to a ride it will let you in after scanning you.

This will happen when we are talking about Project2107

The Cedar Point - Geauga Lake season pass add on expense is the only one like that in Cedar Fair. At the time, it was the only possibility of getting multiple visits between parks. Was what Cedar Fair thinks is a cost saving/money making measure on their part. Anyone that is close to one of the other Cedar Fair parks can just get their pass at that park and go to Cedar Point, etc as much as they want. I'm lucky, I live in Chicago, but since I work for an airline, I am able to get a Knotts pass. After paying a higher price initially, I now get a renewal every year for approx $79. I am also driving distance to many parks in the midwest, and can fly to the others. I am able to get to at least 5 Cedar Fair parks a year....and can still go to Knotts in the fall/winter when everything else is closed. :)

If I was in your shoes I would get a Six Flags pass. Its seems like there's a park to go to pretty much in every state no matter where you fly. ;)

BigHKid, the only reason that GL and CP are "add-ons" to each others pass is their proximity to each other. If they weren't so close (only an hour apart) it would be treated just like any other park.

As for the varying admission rates, why? There's so much to do at the park, coasters are a perk. And with wristbands, even if a kid has a "height" wristband, the op still has the option to measure them and not let them ride. How do you verify that a ride wristband is legit? CP used to be a pay-per-ride, but long ago switched to POP because it made sense. There's enough value in the entire park that 40 bucks is a steal.

Although it would be hard to enforce a pricing scheme like that there is some good to it. If a senior citizen can pay $10 for admission weather or not they ride the coasters. We all know that some do. It would be nice for the young growing family if they gave that same discount to pregnant women. I have had to cut the number of trips this year because I can't take both of my boys who are 3 and 1 by myself. I wouldn't pay full price for my wife to go, she wouldn't do any more than the 80 year old grandmother. Just walk around and watch the kids go.

You are assuming that TTD is "worth more" than, say, Magnum. Or that Magnum is "worth more" than, say, the Turnpike Cars.

That might be true for you, but it isn't for everyone.

My seven year old has been 52" all year, isn't ready for TTD, but is more than happy riding Magnum. My five year old has been 48" all year, but isn't ready for Magnum. On the other hand, he LOVES the Turnpike Cars.

Would I like to pay less because my kids don't want to ride these? Sure, why not! Who wouldn't?

Do I think we get just as much value out of our family trips as I do when I go with a coaster buddy? Yes, I do.

Gee, why not sell tickets for each ride!

Then you could just pay for what you use!

;)

I don't like the idea of different pricing schemes for different rides (i.e. if you want the coasters, you pay extra) mentioned in the first post because it creates staffing hassles, and confusion ("wait, we have to pay EXTRA for the real attractions?!"). But I do understand why, because the older adults may not want to pay full price if they don't want to or can't do most of the coasters, yet they're not 65 yet.

That's why I suggest there be a "pre-Senior" pricing level, which would start at either age 50 or 55, through 64, and be $10 to $15 less than a regular ticket (currently $40). This age group is more likely to come than 65+, and still wants to do a good deal of the rides available, but most likely not the most intense ones.

You have to question whether or not such a thing would benefit CP financially. If you have a in-between pricing schedule for people, say between 50-64, you'd have to implement some sort of system that would ensure (;)) they'd not be patronizing the attractions they're limited from. So, what you could do is take their driver's license at the ticket counter and give them a wrist band. This wrist band has to be returned at the end of their day in order to get their DL back. That costs money in terms of staffing, etc.

The simple fact is that every graduated pricing structure carries added cost for CP, and they're doing fine without it. Those who have a problem with it can go to a different park, like Boblo. ;)

Knoebels actually has this option. It about ~$25 for an all rides except the coasters wristband, and for ~$5 more you can get the coasters added wristband. However…

Knoebels is still a medium sized park with a ticketing system, and It will never work in a larger park where POP is the norm. Wristbands/ ticketing systems on a large scale just become tougher to manage and deal with as mentioned. With the recent reduction/re-introduction of Senior and Jr Pricing this pretty much gives a break to those majorities who aren’t riding the big rides. The only group that is left out is the parent, but it probably will cost more for a large park to manage a system like than what little extra they would get through the gate.

I don't think he's suggesting "limiting" the 50-64 crowds, but giving them an incentive to come bring the kids.

If you're a coaster junkie, you don't mind getting a season pass (the prices of which shouldn't change). But if your choices are Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Dollywood or Cedar Point, the fact that you've got to pay 40 bucks to sit with a bunch of rides, or you can go to DW and and you know there are good shows (not that CPs are bad). It could be something that pulls guests in.

I laughed at the fair comment. The last time I went to a fair, the big rides had a cost of 4 or 5 tickets($4-$5). And that's per person for one ride! That adds up quickly. Starting this year they sold braclets for $25 for a day worth of rides. Sorry I'd rather pay $30 at CP than give it to a carnival.

I have nightmares about Carnies.