Will long distance trave to CP decrease?

Just a point nobody has brought up.With the prices of gas going up almost weekly,will some of the most loyal CP visitors opt out for fewer trips to CP, and perhaps eliminate those trips completely?Ive heard predictions of gas as high as $3.50per gal.That would certainly put a huge dent into my budget.How do you think that would affect the Sandusky and CP economy?I think the hotel rates will drop significantly.They will have to ,to entice people when they will be spending $200 and up just for gas.

If this dire prediction does come true,I definitely will be limiting my CP trips to just one.:(

PS.I tried correct my spelling(trave)but couldn't.How embarrassing.
*** Edited 4/1/2005 2:25:10 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***

If prices end up being $3.50 per gallon, then I will definately cut back on my number of trips. However, I'm buying a season pass for the first time and I need to go enough times to make it worth buying the pass. I'll more than likely just eliminate a trip or two, but it's not like I'm going to not go at all.

im only planning on 2 trips this year, made 4 the last few years... im about an 8 hour drive away. gas prices arent the only reason, but they definitely arent encouraging me to make extra trips, as much as i wish i could.

I usually go with the school when they have trips eliminating me paying anything (besides my season pass fee). I only go once with family/friends (they are non season pass holders). $3.50 is a LOT for gas, hopefully it drops before I start driving in around a year. :-|

If people really want to go to Cedar Point, the gas won't be an issue. What it is an issue for is for the casual family visitors who may visit 2-3 times a season. However, it looks like a good year for CP to push their resorts then ;)

The $3.50 is at this point just a rumor,but you never know.Right now in my town its 2.14 which is bad enough.Around a month ago I read somewhere that the gas prices were going up to 2.14 and then they would stay there,but I think that was optimistic.

Oh I disagree...it will be an issue for people who drive long distances .Unless they are wealthy of course.Watch the attendance numbers.

Gas won't break $3.00. GM is already unleashing a whole division of Hydrogen Powered Automobiles. People will see gas isn't easy to come by, and eventually switch to Hydrogen, or electric.

Anyways, gas won't effect my trips to CP.

Hydrogen cars are a joke. It takes more energy to produce the hydrogen fuel than it saves!

Hybrid vehicles are the future.

I live in Windsor and in Canada we pay for gas by the litre. If I am not mistaken there are 5 litres in 1 gallon *someone correct me if I am wrong*. Now, for the last while gas has been staying up around 0.82/litre, it has been as high as 0.89. 0.89 * 5 = 4.45. With the current exchange rate, that comes out to 3.66 American dollars per gallon.

So you in Canada already are feeling the weight of that crunch.Bummer.:((

I really do want to go to CP,but at the same time gas is an issue to me.Like I said what will probably do is just make one trip and spend an extra day or two.When you're retired,like I am,its a bit more common to be frugal.

PS What exactly is a casual family visitor?We drive for 8 hrs to get there.Are we in the casual class?Last year we made the trip 4 times and spent a total of 10 nights in a hotel.See,its easy if its a local thing.Im only speaking about long distance drivers like myself.
*** Edited 4/1/2005 4:46:43 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***

Fortunately enough for me, I have never had to worry about gas because a) I don't drive yet, I'm only 16, and b) my last to trips to the Point were bus trips. Last year my school had a bus trip and it only cost $60 which is an amazing price considering with the exchange rate, a ticket to the park costs about $55 Canadian, so $5 for the bus ride, I can't complain.

Allan, my definition of a "casual family visitor" is, well, I guess like my family, who will make a 2-3 hour drive to spend 1-2 days at the Point. Woud it effect a family that makes that trip once or twice a season? Probably not, in my opinion. I see it as a vacation - you don't do a thing on vacations except spend money, and gas is just a part of that.

I do see where you're coming from, however, being on a fixed income and whatnot. Visitors like you who travel 6+ hours to the Point are pretty outta luck gas-wise. For those visitors, who perhaps made 2-3 6+ hour trips a year or two ago, may only be able to do one trip due to gas this year.

*** Edited 4/1/2005 4:53:49 PM UTC by MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR***

Rider,thats what I mean by long distance. a 3 HR drive is only around 150 miles.I can easily make that round trip on one tank.But,going to Cp..I start with a full tank,fill up in Ohio then on the way back fill up in Ohio again and when we get back,the tank is Empty.I figure at 20 MPG figuring Approx 900 miles for the trip, thats 45 gallons.@$214.9,todays prices,$96.75.If the rumors come true and its up to $3.50,now were into some serious bucks,$157.50....

Well, once you start breaking the 11/12 hour drive mark (which i'm sure some visitors do), it's almost more convenient to fly to your desitnation. I don't know how well that would work for CP, but I'm flying to Atlanta (11 hour drive) since its cheaper for a plane ticket then gas both ways (around a 1/3 to 1/2).

Kyle,wont you need to rent a car once you get there?You have to figure that in the equation.Anyway when you talk about an 11 hr drive,well thats another story.I would definitely fly, or find another park to love,lol

Assuming you're traveling by yourself.

We're driving to Florida this month. It's a 16 hour drive with the cost of gas around $125 each eay. Airfare for four from CLE to MCO would be $1,000, give or take.

You can find rental cars for only ~$30 or so a day. And you won't do much driving so you'd only need to put a few gallons of gas in upon returning it.

Good point Walt, when you stick 3-4 people in your car,it makes a huge difference compared to flying, or any commercial transportation.