Time to replace Snoopy?

I know this is a somewhat fringe topic, but given the forums are relatively slow this time of year, I thought I'd throw this out there.

With the acquisition of PKI, is there any possibility that Cedar Fair could bring the Nickelodeon theming to Cedar Point, and replace Peanuts? The last Peanuts comic strip was published January 3, 2000, the last new television programming ever further back. I think bringing this new theming would have a big impact on attendance. Nick is the premier kids programming on television today, I'm sure it would draw many more families to the point...thereby giving Cedar Fair more funds to create the next great coaster.

So does anyone know if it's possible to bring this theming to the point, or are there copyright/legal issues that would prevent this?

It'll never replace Snoopy. As far as I'm concerned, Nickelodeon is full of garbage anyways. I think what you might see is a mixture of the two, but who knows.

Also, if they were to plan a switch in the near future, why on earth would they have gone with Planet Snoopy?

My daughter watches nick all the time. She loves sponge bob and all the nick jr crew. The only snoopy that she knows is the christmas special.

I know snoopy had been very popular at one time, but I think it's time cp got with the times. Not sure it's going to happen though, they just built the planet snoopy area.

I think our times have gotten retarded. A talking sponge...really?

Snoopy won't be going away any time soon more than likely. We've seen the disinterest on the part of Cedar Fair in maintaining theming that they don't already have the license for, even if they acquire through a purchase of parks. I know the Nick contract at the Paramount parks was about twice as long as the Paramount licensing that was a part of the acquisition (5 years for Paramount and 10 for Nick). I think its safe to say that any parks that already had Snoopy will remain Snoopy parks, and anything with Nick has a good possibility of going to Snoopy between 2014-2016.

Exactly. Snoopy has staying power. I doubt talking sponges will be remembered 50 years from now. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nick characters leave the Paramount parks whenever the contract expires.

I like sponge bob and all, but I would much rather preffer Snoopy and the gang. They do have that staying power and so what if they are not on TV anymore. Honestly, I know this character is in a league of his own, but how often is Mickey Mouse on TV anymore?

NO! I love Snoopy! He is my dude! I love the Nick toons too, but I love when I am heading to the point, Snoopy and the gang are there! If they want to add a Nick section, that would be cool for the kids. I would love the fact if they would add Coke products to the park! I was so excited last summer when I went to Kings Dominion and there was Coke! I am a person that would love to have both Snoopy and the Nick Gang! I don't want to start the Coke-Pepsi so I will just say this! I feel that it would be cool to have both elements in the park! Keep Snoopy and have Nick and keep Pepsi and add Coke! If they add stuff like that and work on their food, That may be a great addition to the park!

How many comic strips in the paper are reruns? One. Peanuts.

My 2 year old has two or three stuffed Snoopy's. My thoughts on why he and the gang will last over the Nick characters really center on the Nick toons being too "now". There are so many pop culture references in those cartoons that I wonder if they will be relevant in 20 years.

But, Snoopy and the gang keep it pretty simple...which resonates with every generation.

Anyways, how long has it been since CP changed from the Bernstein Bears. It hasn't been too long has it? Keep Snoopy.

CP_Obsessed_Freak1987 said:
I think our times have gotten retarded. A talking sponge...really?

As opposed to a white beagle that pretends to be a WWI flying Ace?

NO! Snoopy IS Cedar Point. My two boys love Cedar Point and Snoopy. In fact as i am writing this a commercial with snoopy came on (nothing to do with CP) But my two boys screamed DADDY look its Cedar Point! i looked and said cool! but it was only Snoopy. I do the same thing they do when i see snoopy i automatically think Cedar Point. They have done a really good job marketing Snoopy with CP! So SNOOPY STAYS!

In my opinion, The Berenstein Bears was "family oriented" and Snoppy is pretty close to being family oriented and is well known by all generations. As mentioned before, you still see the Snoopy comic strips in all Sunday papers.

As most of you know, CP does have Sponge Bob, Scobby Doo, Bobby, Sesame Street, etc. and other characters as games prizes and to me that is good enough Nick advertisement.

Keep Snoopy.

I love how everyone thinks Snoopy is a critical part of the park, forgetting how little time he's been a part of the brand. In fact, SpongeBob has been around for as long as Snoopy has been in use at Cedar Point.

I think the Peanuts become more and more irrelevant every day. If you think that the Nick properties are a flash in the pan, you're not paying attention. Go to Kings Island and see the lines form of kids wanting to take their picture with those characters.

But I suspect it won't matter in the long run. I've had the impression that Cedar Fair was anxious to dump the brands from the day they announced the acquisition. My only hope is that they've been forced into living with it for enough time to see some value in it, even if they do have to give kickbacks to Viacom for every plush sold.

I'm not saying they aren't relevant today. Sure they are. But...will they stand the test of time? 20 years from now if they abandoned Snoopy for Spongebob will the sponge be relevant then? That is what I doubt.

I think Snoopy will still be relevant in 20 years. MetLife must feel pretty strongly about the beagle too.

Jeff said:
Go to Kings Island and see the lines form of kids wanting to take their picture with those characters.

Yeah, but what's the ROI on that? :)

The roi is my daughter wanting me to take her to the park almost every weekend so she can see sponge bob.

People will make a trip to see Nick characters. They won't make a trip to see Peanuts characters.

When I was about 7 years old, the only reason I wanted to go to Universal Studios was to go to Nickelodeon. I don't remember much else from that trip other than the back to the future ride.

I think you draw an important distinction between characters that accent the park and characters that are actually a draw to the park. Chuck and the dog don't draw anyone. SpongeBob does, and at ten years I think he's beyond a fad. Certainly the Mall of America is banking on him being a lot more.

I'm sure the Nick licensing is expensive, but Nick is arguably the most recognizable brand for kids. Sure they don't have the movies like Disney/DreamWorks, but most kids watch it every day. Spongebob will decline eventually but something else will be just as popular in its place. You could say the same thing about Rugrats 10 years ago.

Snoopy is fine for CP because kiddie stuff has never been the major draw. Heck, I would say Lake Eerie is more of a draw than Planet Snoopy.

As for all the Nick stuff at KI, the question to me is whether CF can operate a successful park using a different strategy than that of CP. Diamondback will be a great addition, but let's hope they don't abandon their best attraction, Nickelodeon Universe.