What is up with the increase in the Platinum Pass?

Pete said:
You guys don't appreciate how good you have it with a Platinum Pass. A ski resort I frequent charges $910 for a season pass, and the season is shorter than CP's. A Cedar Fair Platinum Pass is an absolute bargain compared to some other activities.

A regular season pass is less than the cost of one month of cable and internet if you're not getting a promo rate. I'll have to do the math for the Platinum when the time comes considering I only use if for free parking.

Ok, this is the weird way I factor in if the pass is worth the money...

Ever since 1982 when I started going to Cedar Point.. I figured getting on a ride would cost $1.00

The Tickets were about $15.00 (from the Toledo Edison) So If I got on 15 rides the tickets paid for themselves, as the cost of tickets went up, I just had to get on more rides per visit..

Today I still figure $1.00 per ride (really) I know that's low but

$180.00 minus (let's just say) 5 visits ; minus the cost of free parking $15.00 x 5 visits = $75.00 off from parking. The balance is now $105 or 105 rides total, I divide 5 visits meaning I have to ride 21 rides per visit (I average about 15-25 rides per visit)

The more times I go the less rides I have to get on to make it worth it.

Unfortunately I am not renewing this year. I am going to take a break from all those visits in a year (I average 8 to 10 visits)

So for now the $180.00 is not out of my price range, I just have to hit more rides and visit more to bring the RIDE cost down. :)

I could make the pass really worth it if I said that paying to ride was $2.00 to $5.00 a ride.. but its fun to get the cost down to $1.00 a ride.

Did I give anyone a headache. :)

Prices are going up, and will continue to do so as long as people can justify (at least, in their minds - if not on paper) it's still worth it.

But when the prices increase, and the improvements are new midway pavement, a couple of flats, and in a hotel (you aren't even staying in) - you will ignore the profit margin the park is making, and thank the management for taking their increase - because (after all) it's still a great value.

There is no real competition left in the regional market, and the lines are drawn like state boarders between the SF and CF chains. It's basically a monopoly, and that's when you can charge whatever you want - and get it.

Still a great value in my book. Just look at the capital investments in the park over the last couple of years (and to most Cedar Fair parks) and what is yet to come. Yes, you may not use all of the improvements, but this just isnt about you, its about their entire market serve. Just look at what they are doing for the coaster club community. Media day was absolutely amazing and the Halloweekend Kick-Off event looks to be great as well.

Throw into the fact that they allow you to spread your payments over 9 months makes this affordable. No one likes price increases, but for what we get out of our passes, its a great value.

SteveH said:
It's basically a monopoly, and that's when you can charge whatever you want - and get it.

It's not a monopoly, or even close.

Amusement parks don't compete solely against each other; the also compete against footballs stadiums, concert venues, casinos, museums, racetracks -- I could go on, but basically they compete with many different kinds of businesses for the leisure time spending of the public.

Cedar Point can't charge "whatever" it wants and get it; if it prices itself out of the market those dollars will be spent elsewhere on other activities. Cedar Point can charge what research indicates the market will bear.

In the amusement park business - it's a monopoly. In the leisure business there is a lot of other competition - but you can't lump everyone into that customer base equally (like you have) because not everyone likes sports, amusement parks, or casinos. For every CP fanboy there is a equal sports nut that sees no value in what a amusement park can offer.

Many people like sports, amusement parks and casinos. And other things as well.

One family may consider a day at Cedar Point or a day at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of their vacation. Someone may choose between a Cedar Point season pass or a Broadway in Toledo season membership.

There are a lot more consumers making such choices than fanboys or sports nuts or what have you, intensely focused on one particular passion.

They are stating 'lowest price of the year', which is including one visit in 2013 to Halloweekends.

That would imply about a $34 value for the 2013 visit.

Current passholders do not benefit from the 2013 visit, So they are obviously targeting NEW passholders at this time.

I will wait until after the season to renew, I am hoping for another group renewal rate at that time.

I think a lot of commotion is being raised out of what is just a simple change in marketing strategy.

BTW, Congratulations to CP and Mr. Hildebrandt on Best Park for the 16th year, great end to an amazing career MR. H!

I don't see the increase in price a problem. I still get my money's worth with 10-20 visits a year.

I don't think the 180.00 renewal for a Platinum pass is at all bad -- I also have a WDW season pass and that renewal is 650.00 a year -- though it comes with WAY better perks...like discounted meals and 30% off resort stays most of the year...Still, its really an entertainment bargain any way you look at it if you go more than once or twice a year...I manage to make it out 8-10 times a year.

I already renewed mine. At the $20 per month payment plan, it makes it easy to do without taking a huge amount of money at one time. Like pretty much everything anymore, prices go up all the time, but this small increase does not seem unreasonable. I only live about an hour away and go all the time, so the platinum pass pays for itself within a few visits.

$20 a month is still a bargain for that level of entertainment and perks.

I think the pass is of great value, but when I visit the point I stay at the resorts. Usually 3 trips a year. Really love the value of staying at camper village. And the value of going into the park for half a day on checkout day, or stopping on the way to/from a casino, zoo, or sporting event. My plan is to buy it every other year. Next year my wife get's 2 $10 tickets from work and we'll buy a pass during holloweekends for 2015. Take a trip further abroad. If you figure 3 stays at the resorts probably cost enough to go to the ocean, Niagara Falls, or Pigeon Forge.

I can tell you that this year the passes we bought during halloweekends last year were a great investment. 3 of the 7 days we went into the park we stayed less than half a day. The food perks at the Happy Friar are awesome. Probably saved us $50. I'd have to consider $34 the price of admission. So $34X10=$340. That's probably the value of my pass just in admission. It is well worth it. Going to book our last trip right now.

I think what's most disappointing about the price increase is that there is no benefit for loyalty. In 2 seasons we have had to renew at the same price the general public gets. The general public is even rewarded with a visit in 2013 something current passholders cannot use. In years past, there was always a special renewal rate that was different for current passholders. We also have Walt Disney World annual passes. Those are much more expensive but they have great benefits and we always get a renewal discount. There is something to be said of loyalty and when you stop caring about those customers most loyal to you then you will eventually lose them in the end. I personally would like to see different pass options. We don't care about going to other parks, we go to Cedar Point and Soak City. I find no value in a pass that lets me go to a park in VA or CA as I may not have any desire to go there. I think an all Ohio pass or at least a Cedar Point pass that includes Soak City and parking would be great. In the end we may renew our passes but it is definitely up for discussion -something we never had to even consider for over 20 years of having a pass.

Cedar Fair isn't in business to reward loyalty; Cedar Fair is in business to make money.

If the company has changed how it prices passes, if the company doesn't offer Ohio-specific programs -- they've made decisions based on the data they have to best benefit their investors. (It's a public company; their primary legal responsibility is to their investors, not their customers.)

The payment plan is pretty awesome. I'm considering doing it that way for the first time this year.

The payment plan is a no-brainer. Using other people's money interest free is always a good idea.

djDaemon said:
The payment plan is a no-brainer. Using other people's money interest free is always a good idea.

Somewhat agree with this and I will use the payment plan but on the flip-side I don't get to use it untill 8 months have gone by. So in one way Cedar Fair is getting free money...

CF is getting free money regardless of which payment option you choose. When you use the payment plan, they're getting less free money and you're getting more.

djDaemon said:
The payment plan is a no-brainer. Using other people's money interest free is always a good idea.

Unless you are using certain VISA cards that have quarterly bonus points like mine does for Theme Parks in Q3-2013... there is a 5% cash back bonus so I'm going to pay the whole thing in full to take advantage.