Why not discount your food and beverage prices thus allowing guests to spend to eat while in the park. When they can leave the park and get fast food for much less then return to the park or go on home they usualy will. Also, merchandise prices are another point where the guests just aren't willing to fork out a bundle for items they don't need but might would like to have.
Maybe even try giving season pass holder discounts straight across the board for all Food and Merchandise purchases that would make a difference. Years ago Carowinds gave coupons to use in the park when you bought a season pass and now you get you admission and parking (LOVE the parking being included).
Oh and another thing, I am so glad I didn't renew my season pass yet. I will wait and see what other cuts they plan to make before I sink that kind of money into it. Carowinds customer service standards have improved greatly over the past 2 years, but does this mean now it will go down hill???
Note to Dick -- if you want to improve season pass sales, give the holders some benefits to engender loyalty. For a hint, take a look at the Busch Entertainment platinum pass.
It's good for 2 years, includes all the parks, parking, food and merchandise discounts, and some special events. When I had mine, I felt like I had something special, instead of just a cheap form of admission. I know I helped their bottom line, 'cause I always ate lunch in the parks and purchased more drinks owing to the passholder discount.
Also, standardize the passes and benefits across the enterprise. Different rules between KI and CP (two parks in the same state!) are confusing, unnecessary, and discouraging.
Consider how Holiday World can throw in free parking and free soft drinks all day long and still make money...?
I would pay a special attendance fee to see Mean Streak torn down... but I just don't like that ride. I'm not an expert on Kings Island and Cedar Point attendance, but it seemed quite busy this year. The only other park I visited this year, owned by Cedar Fair, was Worlds of Fun which was not that busy at all. Although it sometimes there would be a 30 min wait since they seemed to run only one train on most coasters. My real problem is there parks are losing character, or at least WOF has. I grew up visiting WOF at least three times a year. I would stay all day, and although it may have been hot, I enjoyed it. There we little displays set up throughout the park for you to look at. There was the fountain, near the main gate, with all the shops around where everyone would meet their party at the end of the day. The main entrance has been replaced by go-carts and the new entrance has no character. The same fountain, which had shops to sell that last min fudge brick to you, is hardly even visited by anyone.
I guess what I am saying boils down to, give your park some character instead of destroying it for a quick buck. I know that over time I have spent less and less time in the park each year. Why, I lose interest in being there, and there is nothing to do, but pay money for extra attractions or leave. I choose to leave and in doing so, I spend no money in the park. I'm not excited to tell my friends I went to the park, and I do not try and talk them into going. CHARACTER!!!