From Brian Creedon on February 23, 2009 at 7:10 PM
I see your point. It would appear as though the all parks pass prices are based almost solely on distance to multiple parks. They figure someone living in the Orlando area has the most parks available to them and closer so those people are more likely to pay more for the use of more parks? If I were planning a trip to Orlando I would without a doubt head to Sesame Place (45 minutes away) and purchase the all parks pass, how could I not.

From Chuck Campbell on February 23, 2009 at 8:44 PM
You can buy a two-year Platinum (all-park) Pass through Busch Gardens Europe's Web site for $299.95. I paid for my pass renewal with my Visa ($11/month)two years ago and was grandfathered into the old rate. Who knows if that offer will still be good when Busch-In Bev sells the parks?

From Amy Tupper on February 24, 2009 at 6:04 AM
I remember years ago when I lived in Europe, I had a Six Flags pass that got me into any Six Flags park ANYWHERE. We had bought the passes in the states (to go to the park in New England), used it again for the Six Flags in MD. THEN, we got to use it at the two parks in Europe. :) It was a great deal, and basically paid for itself in two visits (which is how it sold itself to us). I don't see why Busch parks couldn't do the same thing.

(BTW, you freaked me out a little with "Busch Gardens San Antonio". I think you meant "Sea World".) :D

From Larry Zimmerman on February 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Frankly, the horrendous jump in Florida Platinum Passes prices cost them 4 renewals this past May. We might go to Williamsburg this summer, but you can bet we'll be going via San Antonio! ;)

From David Graham on February 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Then really is it possible for someone who lives like in FL to order the S.Street unlimited pass just to use it in FL? Or they making you have to live near that park to take advantage of it? With the Internet, you'd think people would just order one, unless you have to go to the park to validate it?

From Charles Reichley on February 27, 2009 at 6:30 PM
At BGE n Williamsburg, you can also buy a 4-pack of the 2-year platinum passes for $252 each. Unfortunately, you have to pay for 4 passes with a single credit card.

BUT, there is no other rules -- you don't have to be related, in the same house, or even in the same state. So if you have 3 other people you know who want passes, and you can work out the money, you can save a good bit of money by going together on the passes.

What I find more confusing and kind of stupid is the wide variety of "savings" they offer for current passholders.

Looking at BGE again, you can save almost 20% off the normal price of a pass if you are an existing passholder -- for the 2-park pass. But for the Platinum pass, you only save 7%. Throw in the 12-month rule instead of the calendar-year rule, and the "continue month-by-month" you get with ez-pay, and there are simply too many decisions.

Normally I would have paid for next year's single-park pass already, knowing that I could upgrade to a 2-park or platinum if necessary. But they actually TOLD me not to buy my passes yet, but to wait until spring because of the 12-month rule. And now I'm not sure WHEN if ever I will buy.

And I had to do a spreadsheet just to compare all the offers. And that was just for BGE -- I didn't even LOOK at the other parks.

I know that if I decide for a Platinum pass, there is no point it hurrying to get my passholder discount. My family of 4 will be $242 each for 2-years; If I wait too long, it will be $254, or $12 more. Since the cost per month is $10, if I wait 2 months I actually save money even without the passholder discount.

I can't imagine why a company would make a plan that actually encourages it's current passholders to NOT send them money.

If i could change one thing for them, it would be to offer the passes so that the start date is the first time you go to the park, rather than the day you buy.

The way it is, I will wait until the week before I know I am going, and buy my passes. If they offered a pass that started at the 1st visit, I'd have already sent them my money.

One year I got the six-flags all-parks pass for $40, by buying it with a $10 discount from Wyandot Lake in Columbus, Ohio (I did have to go there first to get the pass).