Why doesn't CP offer reduced admission for the disabled?

Why doesn't CP offer reduced admission for the disabled?

As for disabled admission to parks, I emailed 3 in Ohio -- 2 offer disabled admission prices and one does not. Can you guess which one? Yep - Cedar Point! I have copy/pasted their replies below:

Kings Island:
Dear Dreamweaver:

Thank you for writing. There is a price offered to those with medical restriction which prevent them from riding the majority of our attraction which is available at the front gate admission window. The price is $25.99.
Taryn Weber
Operations Manager, Guest Relations
Paramount's Kings Island
taryn.weber@paramountparks.com

Geauga Lake:
Dreamweaver,

Thank you for your interest in Geauga Lake Family Amusement Park.
Geauga Lake offers a discount for disabled guests as well as a brochure available at guest relations when you visit the park.

We look forward to having you at our park. If you have additional questions please contact us at (330) 562-8303. The extension for guest relations is 4222.

Sincerely,
Ashley
Information Center Rep.

Cedar Point:
Hi

Thank you for your interest in Cedar Point.

Cedar Point does not offer a discount for disabled adults.

If you email address to me, I will send you the Family Getaway Guide, our detailed information booklet that contains pricing information, a calendar with hours of operation, resort package information and lots more. It takes about 7-10 days to receive it. If you are coming sooner, we can hold the booklet at Guest Services (located just to the right of the admission turnstiles) for you to pick up when you arrive.

If you have any other questions about Cedar Point, please call our Information Line at 419-627-2350.

Judy Smith
Information Specialist
Phone: 419-626-0830 ext. 2908
E-mail: cpinfo@cedarpoint.com

My email to each park:Hello,I am a handicapped mother of 2 children.I was wondering if you offer free or reduced priced tickets to handicapped people who like myself, cannot ride any rides or play any games, do to physical impossibility (I am a quadraplegic and cannot move legs or arms) and are attending solely for the purpose of escorting their minor children that require parental supervision?

I'm not sure that anyone on this board is qualified to answer the question, "Why doesn't CP offer reduced admission for the disabled?"

Perhaps it's something best followed up with Judy Smith. She gave you her contact information.

It's stupid CP doesn't have a discount off the admission. Personally, I think it should be less than 20 bucks for admission for the disabled or even free, since the rides aren't catered for them. If CP had rides that could allow disabled patrons to go on, I might understand their thinking a little more, but they don't have any rides of that sort, and why should you have to pay for what your not allowed to ride? All you're are going to do is watch your kids, so they should let you in for a discount price. Plus, I'm sure you'll still spend a bunch of money there anyone, not like they'd be losing money by having a discount on their admission.

-Eagle-

I'm sure that the park takes the stance that admission pays just as well for the shows in the same way it does for the rides.

However, and this goes along with the elimination of senior citizen admission prices, I think it's a pretty poor PR move.

I forgot that they canned the seniors prices. Did the media ever get a hold of that and have they ever gotten ahold of the lack of disabled prices?

Yes, very bad PR move. Not only that, it's not like their shows are that great. Their shows can't possibly constitute paying $43.95. It's not broadway entertainment. So, is there anyone else Cedar Fair can alienate...we have seniors and the disabled. What's left?

Well, they already alienated all of the poor little school children. Remember?

Well, there was that guy with the glasses a month or so ago.

And of course, guests of larger than average size.

Tent campers.

Kids who like to jump around in ball pits.

Dark ride fans.

Then there are those who aren't good at the carnival games. They don't have the same opportunities to win the prizes as people who are proficient at that sort of thing.

People who like to buy more than one beer at a time.

Kids who like to wear shirts that aren't considered "family friendly".

People who want to bring their own food into the park.

Coca-Cola drinkers.

Riders who want to carry telelphones, pagers, cameras, stuffed animals, basketballs or bulky objects onto roller coasters.

That about does it.

Now, you're just being silly. I am referring to legitimate complaints...like the children, senior citizens and the disabled. Nobody else.

Well, you could mention the lawsuit against Dollywood. They used to let the disabled in for free. They were sued for giving them preferential treatment, which is illegal under the ADA. They had to reverse the policy.

They should still charge the diabled because how do you classify wether some one is disabled or not. Last year I had broken my arm and when we went to the point for vacation I was still allowed to go on the rides. Technically I was diabled but I was still able to ride all of the rides, and how is it fair to the other guests if they made the admission $20 or free for the disabled when they paid $40 to be able to go on the same rides as me.

That is my point you broke your arm, but you COULD still ride the rides, play the games etc. I on the other hand CANNOT do any of those.

The thing is, not all disabled can't ride the rides. They have ride programs for the disabled which allows them to skip the lines. So what's to keep somone from paying a reduced rate at the door and then heading to the park services office to get the stuff for the disabled ride program?
I can see something like this being abused very quickly. I don't understand why they'd get rid of the senior discount though, but they must have had their reasons.

Mabey Cedar Point should introduce a general grounds admission like we have a Paramount Canadas Wonderland. although they will not let you ride any of the rides you can still play the games and see the shows. This would also stop the possible abuse of the disabled ride program

How do they mark who can ride and who can't? Because I can tell you right now that a pay per ride is not going to go over well with anyone.

when you purchase a regular ticket you recieve a hand stamp which the ride atendants check for as you are lining up for the ride. If you just purchase grounds admission you donot recieve one. I have seen many people get tossed out of the line for not having a stamp.

Being a quad I can't even move my arms to play the games. I just wanted to take my 2 children. Paying $43 to follow my chldren [7 & 8] around in the heat waiting in lines to watch everyone else ride rides is not my idea of a great time, but I want my kids to have fun too.

There is no reason tey couldn't issue a disabled braclet, tamp, pass, etc. that could be easily recognizable by employees as inelidgible for the rides. They use a stamp so you can reenter the park all day if you leave to go to your car afterall.

If the same outfit owns Geauga Lake, why do they offer a reduced admission there?

I don't think it is unprecedented. I am pretty sure there is no different ticket media for disabled guests at Disney or Universal.

Not that I agree with it. My grandfather wanted to go to the park with me but refused because he didn't think he should have to pay that much money (even when I offered to pay..."it is the principle") when he wasn't going to ride any of the rides.

I don't think stamps would work very well, cuz I know for our basketball games you get stamped for admissions, and kids just lick their hands and stamp other peoples hands to make it look like they both got stamped. Plus, stamps can wear off easily with sweat, water, and whatever. Now a wristband might not be too bad, they'd just have to change the style(color)everyday. I do agree with having two different kinds of admissions, because my mom will never ride any of those rides. Yet, it'd be a hassle and too much to deal with.

-Eagle-

Kennywood offers a general admission, which gets you in the gate. If you want to ride you either buy the Ride All Day,(hand stamp) or individual tickets. CP hasn't offered anything like this since 1973. They went POP in 1974. *** Edited 7/14/2004 7:37:45 PM UTC by Dutchman***