Originally Posted By t1lersm0m So, I posted on here either earlier this year or last year about the fact that you have to pay $10 more to get a Cedar Fair Maxx Pass (a season pass that includes admission to all Cedar Fair Parks). We live an hour north of Dorney Park, but like going to Cedar Point too. So ok, they added the $10 to the regular season price pass because Cedar Fair bought several other amusement parks such as Kings Dominion. However, for 2008, you now have to spend $40 MORE than a regular season pass to get a Platinum Pass. So for this year, I had to gamble with $30 (not a big deal) as to whether or not we'd make it to Cedar Point, or any other Cedar Fair Park besides Dorney. Not a big deal. I'm still hoping to go to Cedar Point for Halloweekends this year, but if it doesn't happen, it's only $30. Well, if I take the same gamble next year, all of a sudden I could potentially be throwing away $120! Anyone know why the price jumped so much? Also, what other parks within an 8-10 hour drive from PA are decent? I've never been to Kings Dominion. I've been to Busch Gardens WIlliamsburg which is beautiful. But that's not a Cedar Fair park.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Anyone know why the price jumped so much?>> Maybe because they're hurting for cash? I haven't been to Kings Dominion in years and years... like 20. I used to love it as a kid. They've added quite a few coasters since I went. I can't tell you if it's still clean, safe, etc.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Heck, at least Cedar Fair give you options, unlike Disney, which forces folks to get DCA, while many folks would prefer a Disneyland only AP for less cost.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss A DL AP is cheap as it is, and I personally think it would be silly to save a few dollars and not get DCA, especially since it is right across the esplanade.
Originally Posted By brotherdave >>>Anyone know why the price jumped so much? Also, what other parks within an 8-10 hour drive from PA are decent? I've never been to Kings Dominion. I've been to Busch Gardens WIlliamsburg which is beautiful. But that's not a Cedar Fair park.<<< Cedar Fair decided to 'standardize' the pricing of their 'Platinum' passes. In other words, $140 gets you admission to any and all Cedar Fair parks AND includes parking at each park. So, it's the same price for all of their parks, small or large, to be able to visit other Cedar Fair properties. Now, for Cedar Point passholders, this is a reduction of about $15, including a parking pass. But, unfortunately, for most of the other Cedar Fair park passholders (like Dorney), this marks a HUGE increase to be able to visit other Cedar Fair parks. I know that Dorney gave standard passholders free parking anyway, so this perk certainly doesn't help you, at least at Dorney. So, unless you KNOW that you'll be going to any additional CF park, this probably won't be much of a benefit, except for the parking if they don't include it anymore. I for one, am beginning to agree with your gripe. It used to be that a standard CF season pass for any of their parks was good at ALL CF parks. But since they bought out a lot of their competition, mainly in Ohio (Geauga Lake and Kings Island), their reasons for giving the standard passholder these perks have pretty much vanished. Paramount used to offer the same perk allowing a standard season pass to be used at all of their parks. Six Flags still does this. Anheuser-Busch Parks started the upcharge of 'Platinum' Passes for uses at their other parks. Cedar Fair seems to be following suit with their's now, too. (I guess this is one way to help pay off the debt of the Paramount Parks acquistion!)
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m Thanks for agreeing with me brotherdave. The $10 this year was understandable, not really that much of an increase. But now it's an addional $30 on top of the $10? That's just nuts. Like I said, it's a big gamble. We love going to Dorney, and the $99 season pass is well worth it, but so far this year we went to Washington DC and Bar Harbor Maine, so I'm not sure we'll make it out to Cedar Point next month like I'd planned. I'm still hoping we will, but there's just no telling at this point. Darkbeer, I see what you are saying, however for us there are no other Cedar Fair parks in the near vicinity. So it's hard to compare a Disneyland AP to a Cedar Fair season pass. Besides Dorney Park, the closest parks are 8+ hour drives from here.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I for one, am beginning to agree with your gripe.>> WHAT?! brotherdave critical of Cedar Fair?! <-- faints <-- recovers <-- runs to make entry on calendar t1lersm0m, if you know ahead of time that you'll be visiting Cedar Point for Halloweekends, please let me know! I can't guarantee that I can make it, but I'd LOVE to meet you in Sandusky!
Originally Posted By brotherdave As for Kings Dominion, I haven't been to it under CF management yet, but, we found it to be a nice regional 'amusement' park with some theming during our last visit in 2003. It's heavy on coasters, but has a very nice children's area. I miss some of the family rides that were removed (train, sky ride, Haunted River dark boat ride, Smurf Mountain, etc), but, there's still plenty to do there. When compared to Dorney, it is much larger with more show venues. It may not be on par with Busch Gardens Europe in VA with its theming and quality, but, overall, we enjoyed it. But like most regional corporate theme parks tend to be, it is very overpriced for food, merchandise, and other amenities, not to mention admission. If you do plan on visiting the park (or any other CF park), then the upgrade to Platinum on your Dorney season pass might be worth it. Also, if you ever plan on a trip to Williamsburg and Busch Gardens, you may want to get the upgrade to visit KD. It's only about an away from Williamsburg and could easily be visited both on the way down and back.
Originally Posted By brotherdave >>>WHAT?! brotherdave critical of Cedar Fair?!<<< Oh, I've been very critical of them before, you just may not have seen my posts on other boards outside of LP. Yes, I do like some of their offerings. Cedar Point being one of them. But, I have HEAVY criticism of the way they've been handling Geauga Lake (basically downsizing it to reduce it's competition with nearby Cedar Point), and for purchasing the Paramount chain. They've gotten way too big too quickly (shades of Six Flags), and their pricing is getting to the point that I may not visit them as often as I used to. I hate the fact that they have a virtual monopoly of all the major parks in Ohio and neighboring Michigan. I like competition. It forces them to add new attractions and to compete in pricing. It used to be relatively cheap to get passes at Cedar Point, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (now Geauga Lake again), and Kings Island. Now, it costs you three times as much to enjoy the same benefits. Believe me, I do enjoy visiting MOST of their parks, but, I'm not entirely happy with some of their decisions of late.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Your criticism of the handling of Geauga Lake might be bubbling over here in the next week or two. As for the price of a Cedar Fair AP, I still think it is reasonable. Frankly, I've always thought the prices were too cheap.
Originally Posted By smeeeko Michigan's Advenure is owned by Cedar Fair right?? We just went there Saturday the 7th. We printed a $5 off coupon to save on admission but they also charged the $8 for parking (I'm assuming this is free with a pass??) Anyway we had an ok time.. It's not Cedar Pointe but then Cedar Pointe isn't WDW either.. =) We had a good three hours (and the brats were alright!) I think I'd be dissapointed if it was the only park in the area and we weren't going to WDW in a month.
Originally Posted By brotherdave >>Your criticism of the handling of Geauga Lake might be bubbling over here in the next week or two.<< If some of the many rumors I hear are going to happen, yes, I will be unhappy. But, not surprised. I predicted that they would downsize the park when they bought it in 2004. I wouldn't be suprised that all we have left of Geauga Lake is the new waterpark on the site of the now defunct Sea World. I'm very concerned that the core part of the park, including the classic Big Dipper roller coaster, may be in danger.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m Well Inspector, I've got my hopes on coming out for the last weekend in October. I just put in for that Friday off, I figure we'll leave early on Friday since it's about an 8 hour drive, and we'll spend two nights, going to Cedar Point all three days. I love Cedar Point! (Haven't been there in about 3 years)
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m We were at that Sea World when Tyler was about a year old, which was 8 years ago. It was nice knowing we had a nice theme park (aside from Busch Gardens) within an 8 hour drive.
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl I went to King's Dominion two weeks ago. It was a good amusement park with lots of good roller coasters. It was well staffed, reasonably clean, and a few of the roller coasters (especially The Beast) are fantastic. The roller coaster Flight of Fear has some really good Universal-quality theming, and the queue even goes into a giant UFO in a military hanger. I had lots of fun. It's no Disney World, and I won't know how it compares to Cedar Point until this Sunday (If I don't have too much homework), but it's definitely worth a visit.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Busch Entertainment also has multiple tiered Annual Passes (and some season passes), if you want to visit the other parks in their chain, you need to get the Platinum for free admission to all their other parks (except the upscale Discovery Cove, where you get a major discount). If you just want to visit your local park, you can get a very good deal, if you want to visit more than one, then you have the decision to make if you want to pay the extra money. But at least you have the choice.
Originally Posted By brotherdave >>I went to King's Dominion two weeks ago. It was a good amusement park with lots of good roller coasters. It was well staffed, reasonably clean, and a few of the roller coasters (especially The Beast) are fantastic. << It sounds like you got your parks confused. The Beast is at Kings Island near Cincinnati, OH, while Kings Dominion is near Richmond, VA. Kings Dominion does not have The Beast. The parks do have some similar rides, but the Beast is not one of them. >>Any park ran by Cedar Fair is not worth spending even $5 to visit!<< I think that is a bit harsh. Most Cedar Fair parks are nice parks and worth visiting if you like traditional style amusements. Aside from Knott's and the Star Trek Experience, Cedar Fair theme parks have minimal theming, for the most part.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I suspect Mr F is a Disney fanatic with blinders on. There are a lot of those who won't give credit to any park unless Walt's name is on it. That said, I would go to ANY of the Cedar Fair parks well before I would pay admission to DCA. brotherdave...it is my belief that the Dipper would be salvaged in some way. That coaster is too good to just tear down. Now, I don't know about the Wolf Bobs and some of the other coasters. Frankly, the "Sea World" side was always the more picturesque and a small park rebuilt around the newer waterpark makes a lot of sense to me...and would be very attractive to me if I lived in the Cleveland/Akron area and didn't want to haul all the way to Sandusky.
