What age group does CP target? Are they the ones with the money?

I've read many times that CP tries to be most appealing to the ages of 12 to I think, 32. I've read that they try to put in rides to draw people mainly of these ages.

Do you all feel this is a wise decision on their part? I am not within that age group, and I go quite a bit. My parents always liked to go, and they certainly weren't within that age group, either.

Do teenagers have that much money to spend there? Consider the prices of everything...sheesh.

I found this article on medialifemagazine.com

Cedar Point visitors are a more traditional theme park classification consisting of adults from 25 to 49 years old and their children, with a slightly female skew, Hildebrandt says. “Mom does the planning for travel, recreation and entertainment. She’s the information gatherer, the gatekeeper and gateway, which is why parks traditionally work with grocery chains,” he adds.

Cedar Point attracts visitors who are slightly above average in terms of household income.
*** Edited 6/29/2007 7:38:31 PM UTC by campfreak06***

Older kids/teens seem to have more discretionary income these days then back when I was a kid. Of course, targeting younger kids is, in effect, targeting their parents.

I have been making the argument (largely to deaf coaster-loving ears) for a while now that the capital improvements at Cedar Point in recent years were being aimed to the wrong demographic...if CP was really trying to make money.

When I was in my early to late 20s I went to the parks a lot (not just CP) but I was always very conscious of the money I was spending once I got inside. I really kept it limited.

Now when I visit parks with my kids I am spending a LOT more money than I ever did. Good for CP I suspect. When I took my 4 year old to the park a few weeks back I was thinking about the fact that there wasn't a whole lot for us to do together. In Camp Snoopy I could ride a few of the rides with him...and of course we did the train, car rides and so forth. But, I really do wish there were more "family" rides and that is what I was hoping for when they took out White Water Landing. Alas...Maverick looks like fun but it isn't a family ride.

There is no doubt I spend FAR more money in parks these days with the kids than I ever did when I was younger. And, I'm not just talking about food. It is hard to pass by the games, merchandise stores, balloons, etc with the kids nipping at my heels. I almost had to give my kid CPR when I refused to let him have a lemon chill before dinner.

We got the lemon chill.
*** Edited 6/29/2007 7:41:07 PM UTC by Chief Wahoo***

I had the same problem(lemon chill fit) with my 4 year old a few weeks back....
but I'm really hot dad! and it would make me colder again....

No Maverick is not a family coaster, but it doesn't really fit into the huge side either. It's not to tall, not to fast, and not to short. But it also has a steep first drop and overbanks alot. It's a good coaster to take someone on who only been as high as Gemini, but wants more. Then if they like it they can go bigger. I guess what im saying is that Maverick kind of is a family coaster in a way........a very very small way:)

What Cedar Point needs is a ride like the Viper at SFGA. It's a perfect ride for the family....... In my own opinion.

I think we need to define "family". I'm thinking mom, dad and two kids who are under 8. THAT is the market that I think has been completely ignored in recent memory.

The coasters and the super flats aren't addressing that market segment in my opinion.

well lets see, my 9 year old rode all the coasters, my 7 year old rode corkscrew(his first loop), iron dragon and wild mouse: my wife.. well likes the shows and the beach(we stayed at the resort) and i loved everything. we drove from philly area and bought dorney park season passes to comes to CP. we also hit GL and KI. In all, my kids thought the parks we beter than WWD and we will do it again!!!

It depends on the kids, but generally speaking there aren't good middle-of-the-line rides as far as thrill/excietment goes that smaller kids can ride.

I must also say I'm not sure that 12-32 is a good age to target, being in that group (age 20) I go to the park and spend as little money as possible. I'm in college and I think that says it all. I just don't have the money to buy anything extra. Aside from my season pass, I've spent a total of $4 at CP for some Diipin Dots this year. I've been to the park four times. While there are the exceptions, the kids and college students who don't watch their money or the kids that get huge alllowances or handouts to spend, I know more people that pack their lunches and ride together just to save money.

Leaxster, when you said Wild Mouse did you mean the Wild Cat or were you talking about a coaster at a park other than Cedar Point?

Leaxster,

What is WWD?

^Walt Disney World. he just put it in the wrong order.

campfreak06 said:
“Mom does the planning for travel, recreation and entertainment. She’s the information gatherer, the gatekeeper and gateway, which is why parks traditionally work with grocery chains,” he adds.

She's also the one who will be less forgiving if she has a bad visit... as we've mentioned in threads in the past.

THREE WORDS:
FLUME....RIDE...PLEASE!

^ Echo that. Despite White Water Landing being gone for a season and a half, my son and I have still ridden that ride way more than any non-coaster ride at CP. It was the funnest ride that a family could ride as a group...

I see all these people constantly enjoying water rides at all these new parks and that is one thing CP really does need.

We don't want our beloved to fall to the likes of SFMM now do we?? :)

I'd say late teens and college kids because that's when they get there own car and own jobs and go on roadtrips to 4 different parks in one month. (o wait, that's me) Every October, I start the "Coaster Fund" for the next up coming season.

It also targets ACE members and other coaster nuts

^ I do the same thing every year. I've only been to CP once this year, but I did buy two max passes and spent 3 days in the park. We (my fiancee 21, sister 27, and brother in law 28) ate at least one meal a day in the park. Overall I plan on at least two more 3 day trips this year. One in August and then closing weekend in October. I spend on average at least $150-$200 each time I go and that is just between me and my fiancee.