Cedar Fair Again Raises Season Pass Prices
For the second year in a row, Cedar Fair has again risen season pass prices, this time to $140. What are everyones thoughts on the price change?
Cedar Fair has again raised season pass prices, this time to $140 per season pass. While this now "includes" the water parks and parking at every park (which, in my opinion should be included if you pay for season pass parking anyway). I have been a season pass holder for at least the past 5 years (for some reason I can't remember how long, haha) and I don't believe I will be renewing this year. What are everyone else's feelings on the price change? Do you care about the inclusion of the water parks? (I personally, do not.)
I think that cedar points season pass price is really good!! f you think about though almost every season pass to all the different parks are worth the price, I mean if you dont buy a season pass then you will be paying around a $40 admission fee every time you want to go.
From steve lee
Posted October 31, 2007 at 4:53 PM
It's a $50 mark-up from last year, and that is pretty steep IMO. The only CF parks I really planned on visiting next year were Carowinds and Kings Dominion, so the inclusion of the waterparks is completely pointless (as those water parks are already included in admission). While I do appreciate them adding the parking in, I still feel pretty stiffed by the whole thing.
They've got my business next year, since we really need to get good video at Kings Dominion, but beyond 2008 they're going to have to do something else if they want my money.
The Cedar Fair Maxx Pass was 129 last year. It gave admission to all parks (excluding water parks) and free parking for the home park. This year it's called the platinum pass. All parks and all parking for all parks is now included. There are still regular season passes available for each individual park, so I don't really see a huge deal with the price increase.
A lot of people don't understand the cost of parking at amusement parks. A lot with that kind of traffic needs constant upkeep, so parks charge for it. The catch is that the city usually gets a hefty chunk of each parking fare. Cedar Point went to battle over Sandusky recently because the city wanted to charge the park a huge fee (the majority percentage of parking cost) per car. The bottom line is that parks really don't profit at all from charging for parking, and including parking for free dips into their budget for upkeeping the lot and having attendants on staff. A little extra for parking isn't a huge thing for me. I could get into a whole spiel about the business end of it al, but I won't.
The cost really doesn't bother me also because I frequent two Cedar Fair parks every summer. Kings Island and Cedar Point are my haunts, and I go multiple times in a season. The pass is worth it to me, especially if I decide to stop by Carowinds on the way to the beach, or to Kings Dominion when visiting relatives.
I'm not really bothered by the prices, simply because I'm o glad it includes parking. Even though the only CF parks I plan on attending in 2008 is Carowinds, Kings Dominion, and Dorney Park. It will still be so worth it, b/c I got to KD and Carowinds at least 5 times a year.
Derek, I think that the thing that you're missing is that the Maxx pass wasn't the same price at each park last year. For 2007, I bought a King's Dominion Maxx pass for only $90, and since I bought it in Fall 2006, they threw in free parking (at KD only, though). That's a good deal!
However, it appears that they've levelled the pricing across the board for the Maxx pass so that it's now $140 no matter which park is your home park. Since the only other Cedar Fair park I'd likely visit next year is Cedar Point, it was far more economical for me to get a KD-only pass for 2008, which only costs $65. Since I bought the 2008 pass this past weekend, they threw in free parking again. Even if I wind up going to Cedar Point next year (it's an 8-hour drive each way for me, so it's not definite), I can just buy a 2-day pass at that point and still wind up paying less overall.
Dereck something you also may not realize in relation to King's Dominion is that their parking lot is in absolutely terrible shape. I am fully aware of the cost of up keep for parking lots (and for that matter, parking garages, which is quite outrageous). Parking fees bother me much less when there is actually a maintained surface to park on. If you aren't familiar at all with King's Dominion's parking lot, you would probably be shocked as to how bad it and the entire area (including the exit road) actually are. I too paid only $90 for my 2007 pass, and given how far away most of the other parks are (save Carowind's) it makes this this a far worse deal. I'm a bit torn, because I don't know what I'm going to do without a season pass, and a season pass for just King's Dominion just doesn't feel right to me.
Well, it maybe a bit of a pain too some people but I look at as this... If you want your favorite park or home park to get a new top of the line ride or roller coaster then give them thier money. If they dont make the money they need, then they cant put out top of the line rides/roller coaster that all of us want them too put out!
I'm aware that prices were different at other parks. Mine was purchased at Kings Island, and was probably priced according to the park itself and the number of parks closeby. Ohio has (or had anyway) a pretty thick covering in terms of Cedar Fair. I suppose it was probably an experiment that they decided to abandon. At least they are offering the single park season passes for those not in the thick of Cedar Fair parks. The price is higher for the platinum pass, but for someone like myself who uses it extensively, it's a fair price.
I think part of it is that they are just trying to get a little more return on their passes. Cedar Point and Kings Island have a huge amount of passholders, and it's only natural that they would offer a way to visit both. Also given that many Cedar Point/Knotts guests are from different parts of the country, offering a universal pass that gets you into the parking lot and the park for free makes good sense.
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