Why Cedar Fair Might Be Struggling This Year

I think Tony is DEAD...

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1040644041703137283/elhFRux8_400x400.jpg

...Clearly the very reason Cedar Fair might be struggling this year.

Where do I start? Very good thread with many points that got me thinking.

One thing I noticed during my short but very enjoyable Friday evening was SV. Managed to get 5 rides on it and all I can say is at a certain point it became unbearable. This is a fantastic ride but the sheer intensity of it makes me think it was designed to be the bar for what the human body can handle on a roller coaster. I think it's safe to say other than a flyer, wooden or 500ft there isn't much left in the coaster department that CP can capitalize on. Two of them will likely happen in time. 500ft would be amazing but I get why it's very unlikely at CP.

Also we live in a much faster paced world than ever before. The idea of waiting hours for an experience seems unnatural. Most of us avoid this with knowledge of when to go. But we are a small minority.

Bathrooms. Even if they were clean most don't have the capacity for a large crowd. I don't understand how management still hasn't realized that every single person that enters the park will use the bathroom. Some might bring their own food, not ride anything but everyone will get to have that terrible experience. It's as absurd as having a beautiful home but an outhouse for a bathroom.

Other great points made about a more diverse selection of rides, better food and staffing. Agree as well.

Replace Cedars, good lord.

As for the economy. Let's just say I'm blessed to have money passed on to me, things are going just fine. However I work a job that doesn't pay all that much. Yes there are more jobs but most of them aren't paying more. This isn't about politics its simply a reality and a place like CP very much off the grid and pricey is out of reach for so many that would like to go. Nothing CP can do about that however it's a factor. Much to Pete's point but adding to it this is one area that they clearly have been thinking about with FL, better resorts ect.

Overall clearly the model still works. Leaving today was proof of that, folks like you and me will hand over a good chunk of cash every year still. Yes this wasn't a stellar year, but lots of money is being made none the less. Also the additions over the past few years have saved this season because without them I think the numbers would be significantly worse.

Forgive my rambling on :)

They (at least CP) wasn't struggling on Saturday. Grass parking started around 3pm. Very crowded and nice to see that the staffing was much improved from last year. Bring on the Halloweekends crowds! LOL

It's true, I thought the park handled the crowd exceptionally well.

I agree. With a very large crowd on Saturday, most everything was operating efficiently with only a few stands closed. I think the challenge is going to be when the park loses the international students in a week or two.

Whats not going to help the 3rd quarter for Cedar Fair is Carowinds being closed all weekend and losing 3 days of attendance and revenue because of the hurricane.

While it’s definitely not going to help the YOY Comparables, Carowinds was only scheduled to be open on Saturday this week, so they’re only losing the one day. The rest of September they are only open Saturday & Sunday.

I’m glad to hear the parks running smoothly this year, i hope it holds up through October. We are headed back Oct. 19-21, Breakers rooms were surprisingly plentiful with almost a complete room code Inventory to choose from, got the walkout room in the new wing we wanted.

Carowinds is open next Friday on the Scarowinds schedule.

Then they should update the website link for park hours.

https://www.carowinds.com/explore/calendar-and-hours

XS NightClub said:

Then they should update the website link for park hours.

https://www.carowinds.com/explore/calendar-and-hours

If you clicked on the appropriate tab, "SCarowinds" you would see the hours listed. There are no regular hours of operation.

You’re right, I should NOT have looked at the tab for PARK hours of operation. What was I thinking?

Your argument was that they weren't operating on Fridays, so there would be limited impact on revenue if there's bad weather. The park may not be operating in the traditional sense, but Scarowinds is still on the schedule, and they're charging admission to that, so there is the potential for revenue to be affected.

What comes around goes around. Not a good day for SIX.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/10/24/why-six-flags-entertainme...ed-14.aspx

The real question is what is that coaster and why don’t they add those trains on all Arrow Suspended coasters?!?

That looks like a Vekoma SLC to me, at least the trains.

Pete- I see what you mean. But the track is all wrong (ties in SLCs are almost squared off) and the supports look like the tree style used on The Bat... Most SLC supports straddle the track; Arrow Suspended coasters had the supports off to one side with a vertical post.

https://rcdb.com/149.htm#p=55921

https://rcdb.com/73.htm#p=55499

Is it one of the Junior SLC models?

Yet another possibility. Damn. I was all excited about another suspended with open trains like Vampire!

It's a Vekoma Suspended, with new trains.

https://rcdb.com/1435.htm

Better book your flight to Thailand!

Cedar Fair's latest earnings release:

https://ir.cedarfair.com/newsroom/press-releases/news-release-detai...fault.aspx

Third quarter net revenues were record high. 2% higher than last year. 2% average in park per cap spending and 8% increase in out of park revenues. Attendance was down 57,000 compared to third quarter 2017.

Prelim net revenues for 10 months ending October 28, 2018 up 1%, 1% increase in park per cap spending and 5% increase in out of park revenues.

Season pass sales higher this year for next year than last year at this point. On the earnings call, management discussed moving to a membership concept (pay 12 months -- similar to what Six Flags is doing). They also noted on that call that several years ago, average number of visits per passholder was around 4. Now its a little more than 5 and trending up.