This is the year when gas prices WILL affect CP attendance

I really believe it. This is the first time that I will cut back on the number of trips there and I will not be alone. Too bad :(

I agree as well.

$50 in gasoline will be hurting our number of trips we take to CP.

Vacationing has made me look in to purchasing a car with much better gas mileage.
3.45 a gallon now, and they say $4.00 by summer.

What are they predicting, $4? For me at least, that only represents an added cost of $12 per trip over $3 gas prices. That's not enough to keep me away, but for those traveling longer distances, I could see how it may be a concern.

Gas is still cheaper in Ohio than in Michigan, I'm still going as many times as I want (I budgeted my money far in advance). I just fill up in Toledo before heading back home.

We still only go twice a year, once in spring, once in fall. I'm hoping to squeeze in another trip, but that's more dependent on time off than on gas prices.

djDaemon said:
What are they predicting, $4? For me at least, that only represents an added cost of $12 per trip over $3 gas prices. That's not enough to keep me away, but for those traveling longer distances, I could see how it may be a concern.

Up until this year I have agreed with your logic - I have only looked at it as an incremental cost increase. But for some reason this year my way of thinking has changed and I am now seeing the overall cost. So instead of seeing a $10 increase (assuming $4 gas) my mind is saying it will cost me $40 for each trip.

If others start shifting their perception as I have I agree this will be the year that gas really limits peoples visits.

my guess is that attendance will go down somewhat. in my case, it will be business as usual. i traded in my small pickup and got a new prius hybrid a while back. going to cedar point was one of the factors for the decision but wasn't the main reason. even if gas goes to $6 a gallon, i'll still go 12 times a year or until i get burned out.

Pulling into a gas station and seeing that the person before me paid $45 to fill up (likely down to 1/4 tank, based upon my fill-ups and gallons), and then paying $40 as well to fill up certainly doesn't make me want to drive any more than absolutely necessary. Heck, if gas prices stay like this, I probably won't go back down to BSU to visit friends the rest of this semester, and that's only a 35 minute drive for me (but driving in Muncie KILLS my gas tank). If its going to cut out trips like that where I'm not spending much money besides gas and a stop at McDonalds or another fast food place, I can't imagine it helping with the decision to travel a few hours to spend about $100-200 more once you get to your destination, just for a day.

I'm not sure how much of an impact gas prices have on a regional park. While some folks from futher away might not visit due to higher prices, more folks from nearby might visit more often as they would not drive far for vacations themselves.

What will affect the park more will be the cost of the fuel to their own operation. Their vehicles, the cost of food, shipping costs, etc. I think that would likely have the greater impact.

I read that the average this year is being predicted around $3.21.I think this $4 spike is the switch from winter oil to summer oil (correct me if I'm wrong)and I think that it'll go down a hair to the projected average. Still though, it'll take me $40 to fill up each trip and I plan on going just about every weekend in May but then only every so often(events and such) for the rest of the year.

I just got back from a state meeting on a possible 100% green industrial park, and gas prices are not predicted to go to $4, they are going to $4.

Every year people have said that the predictions will never happen, and until now they haven't. But based on our states numbers, the $4 benchmark might just become a reality for more areas than most realize.

I of course hope that gas doesn't go up, but we're already a $3.31, and if they do in fact switch over to the Euro in the next two years for pricing oil, we're all screwed.

(though I think many people need a slap in the face like this...to realize the difference between petty driving and necessary driving.)

I live 430 miles from the Point and NOTHING!! could keep me away. We have actually planned an extra trip in May this year, we usually only go twice. If gas gets really crazy, we will just fly to Toledo and rent a car, it would be cheaper. But right now we are planning a 240 mile trek to King's Dominion in 2 weeks.

Yeah, this could be the summer where it affects me. I live in Toledo but actually went to CP every week last summer, I never missed. Several trips I had people with me, but I did make quite a few by myself and those will most likely be the trips I will be missing this summer. If you can get a car load of people and split the gas, its not that bad. However, you go alone and gotta pay for everything, thats when you feel it. So yall wanna go to cp this summer consistly, get people lined up to go. And shoot, a lot of times, since I have a parking pass, I tell my friends that I will drive my car and I will pay for the parking if they handle the gas, that works too.

gilbert gnarley said:
my guess is that attendance will go down somewhat...

I agree, though I think it will have far more to do with the regional economy overall, and less to do with gas prices specifically.

"What will affect the park more will be the cost of the fuel to their own operation. Their vehicles, the cost of food, shipping costs, etc. I think that would likely have the greater impact."

I agree..maybe I didnt say it right,but I meant the gas prices would jack up prices for everything,not just for fueling the car.

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"

Considering my drive to work is 35 miles each way, give or take - the trips to the point are now going to have an impact on my "work" gas. When I worked in town, it was the other way around. 3 miles to and from work didn't really drain the tank, but CP trips helped.

Does that make sense?

Don't hand me any crap about getting a more efficient car, either. I already get close to 40 MPG (sometimes higher) - but 70 miles each day round trip, 5 days a week, plus trips to the store and the like, means I'm already filling up every single week - pretty much on Thursday.

My round trip is right around 1400 miles which comes out to about 70 gallons of gas. A extra $70 won't stop me from heading west. We're probably only going once this year (usually go twice) but that's due to going to Orlando which unfortunately cut into my Cedar Point budget. I have found that Ohio charges about 40 cents/gallon less for gas than New York, it really hurts to see the price difference when filling up halfway home. Unfortunately my car won't make it across NY on one tank. Can't wait to go back.

CEDAR POINT OR BUST!!!

I am still going to try and make the trip, but I still think it will make an overall effect on every thing. Its 320 miles each way for me, but I will only go once this year.
Another thing I noticed when looking at the online reservations this year is the price of the packages seem like it has gone way up from last year.

I think I will be cutting back too this year.....

If I was still living near the park i would be cutting back on my trips. The price is very high but I am lucky we are about .25 cents less than ohio.

I don’t think it will hurt attendance as much as spending in the park. The extra gas money will just be taken from the top of the slush fund a family or group would be using. In Chicago they are talking about a $1 surcharge for each cab ride. The drivers and most people think most customers will just take it off the tip. I agree and probably would do the same.