What is up with the increase in the Platinum Pass?

djDaemon said:

If they did offer something like this, it wouldn't be remotely cheap.

I'd still consider it, and probably end up doing it.

I'd consider it as well. But there's really only two scenarios:

1 - It's priced so high that very few can afford and/or justify the cost (think an additional $350 per pass), or

2 - It's priced low enough that far too many can afford and/or justify the cost, at which point FL queue times become enormous compared to what they are today.

In either case, that's a tricky value proposition. I could see doing it in a year where my kid is tall enough to ride everything, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't find value in it for my Wife & I. We know enough to avoid crowds, and would rather just hang out when the crowds are too big.

There's definitely trickiness, which is probably why they haven't done anything like that yet. I also don't know the price at which I'd say "no way," but honestly it's more than an additional $350 - that would be a great bargain for my particular situation.

I'd actually prefer something like a FL pack, meaning if I bought 10 at the start of the season, I'd get like 12 vouchers to use throughout the year.

If it's a "great bargain" for anyone, then it's priced WAY too low. :)

That's why I said it's more than an additional $350 ;)

Last year the renewal rate was $164 on platinum passes.
The renewal rate for a Jr. Platinum Pass was $99

Last year I was able to get two adult platinum passes and one Jr. pass for $432

Next year my son will be tall enough for the regular price and my daughter will be old enough that she'll need a Jr. Pass.

I was expecting to buy 3 regular Platinum Passwa at $164 and one Jr. at $99.
Total would have been $591.

Unfortunately, with the elimination of the renewal rate on the platinum pass my total will be $657. That is $66 more than I expected. It's more than 10% higher.

It may not seem like much but when money is tight every dollar counts.

I've got to say that we may not be renewing this summer.

I think we will se a lower renewal rate early next year.

The current 2014 passes are including a visit in 2013, approx value $34

They are advertising 'best rate of the year' it's still 2013.

Holiday shopping will begin after the regular season ends.

NEXT year, 2014, I would expect a renewal rate special based on how well the passes have sold already.

I'll say there is no way I'm going to go for a never-ending monthly bill for Cedar Point with the membership plan they were fishing about on the survey. Maybe it's like someone else mentioned upthread, mainly targeting enthusiasts and locals. The middle class is still being squeezed. This is Ohio and Michigan here.

But then again, I may get a free popcorn at the movies. :P

bgiese said:

Unfortunately, with the elimination of the renewal rate on the platinum pass my total will be $657.

I don't believe the renewal rate has been eliminated, it's just higher than it was this year. Which I assume will translate to a higher "full price" pass than what they cost this year.

3snoH un=l said:
The middle class is still being squeezed.

That's absurd.

They still offer access to the park for a fraction of the season pass price. Last I checked, admission to the park was only around $50.

I would be curious to see what all they would include in a "membership" type based program. Could be a great value if they offer perks above those with a platinum pass.

The only odd part about a membership-type program with Cedar Point (and the other parks) is a cognitive one. The park is open less than half a year, and will people want to pay a bill for a membership to something that has no real-time value from November to May?

Of course, perhaps this is no different that paying off a Platinum Pass in payments (I'm not sure how they spread it out).

Is there some type of advantage to this angle (membership vs. pass) from the company's perspective that I'm missing?

Season Pass payments are spread over 9 months right now so its not much different that paying a year round membership. Once advantage that comes to mind is renewal rates are higher when you do a non-expiring monthly membership fee as opposed to asking people to fork over $190 per pass at one time.

I typically start investing in next season activities in the fall in order to get a better deal. And I'd rather have low monthly payments in the winter then one big payment in the summer. I have many parks to visit next year so I have to strategize now how to pay for it all.

I haven't done my survey yet but but the thing Kevin mentioned was the first thing that popped in my head when membership was mentioned. Membership doesn't do any good in the winter unless they plan on offering something to the passholder. Spreading the season pass purchase out for nine months is different. It's being done as a promotion to encourage more sales by people who can't pay lump sum or who tend to not think about how much money they are spending when it's broken down into little bits. If they offered a membership I would bet that most people would drop it during the winter months and become a member again in the spring unless there was some amazing benefit included.

It won't be a monthly cost that could be dropped in the winter. It's insane to even think that's a possibility.

The membership idea comes from what Six Flags is offering. I have a gold pass membership that includes admission & parking at all of the Six Flags parks. I got mine from St Louis earlier this summer. You pay $9.42 per month and the pass never expires. That comes out to $113 per year. The catch is that you must keep it for one year and can cancel it anytime after that.

I would prefer to pay the full cost up front instead of the monthly payments, but they don't do that.

^ Interesting.

Couldn't you just buy the regular gold season pass instead of the membership in order to pay the lump sum? I'm looking at the site now...I know next to nothing about Six Flags. I selected Illinois as my home park and it looks like they give that option....maybe St. Louis is set up differently.

Six Flags in Chicago had the most expensive membership out of all of the parks. The one near Washington D.C. had the cheapest. You can buy a regular or gold pass, but it will expire this year.

I currently have two Six Flags gold passes. I purchased a 2013 gold pass last October and a 2013 membership last month in August. Only the membership one is good for next year.

bgiese said:

I was expecting to buy 3 regular Platinum Passwa at $164 and one Jr. at $99.
Total would have been $591.

Why would you expect that?

Don't you expect a raise every year? Don't you think CF costs increase?

Maybe they are increasing the price to bring the revenue generated from them in-line with their true value.