Insulted by "nominal fees" at theme parks?

Originally Posted By Capri

I wasn't quite sure where to post this question.

Anyway, I was just wondering if any of you feel, well, kind of insulted when theme parks ask for nominal fees to participate in some activity offered to guests at the theme park? I try not to feel that way, but deep down I always do.

For example, at Legoland they have the Dinosaur Dig area where kids can dig in the sand for bones. However, you have to pay a "nominal fee" to rent a little pastic shovel and pail so your kids can dig. I don't know about you, but after paying 46.95 per adult, and a little less for our six year old, I'm thinking the pail and shovel should be provided at no extra charge. I mean really, renting out a plastic shovel and pail to make money?!!!

Then at DCA, they have the Games of the Boardwalk. Now, I know I shouldn't think this way, but after paying a lot of $$$ for tickets, extremely over-priced yet not-so-great tasting food, beverages, parking, and over-priced vacation memorbilia (toys, t-shirts, ect...), I see the Games of the Boardwalk, and I just feel like, "That's enough for crying out loud!"

This seems to be the case at many themeparks, including waterparks where you have to "rent" tubes and such. I was just wondering how many of you feel the same way I do?

 

Originally Posted By cstephens

If it was for something essential, I could see feeling that way, but in the cases you cite, I don't. Think of it this way - if they were to include everything for free, they'd probably bump up the admission charge. If they charge extra for those things that only some people would want to do, then the admission price is less. Disneyland's admission price doesn't include the shooting gallery. Fine with me since it's not something I'm interested in. Same with the boardwalk games at DCA.



/cs

 

Originally Posted By Capri

Yes, but what's "essential" at a theme park?

Don't get my question or comments wrong. I don't want theme parks to give away everything for free (although something, just one tiny little anything for free would be nice from time to time). But to charge for the use of shovels and pails at a dinosaur dig attraction is kind of like DL charging extra if you want to use the laser guns on Buzz Lightyear. I just think the extra little charges get a little petty after awhile.

I don't know...

...maybe I'm completely in left field here.

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

I agree that the upcharge of 'non-essential' items to enjoy oneself at a theme park, (such as midway games, shooting gallery, etc) is just a part of the business. I can choose NOT to participate in those extra activities. Your admission covers most of the major attractions and rides. However, it irks me to no end that you need to RENT an innertube at a water park to participate in some of the activities that you have ALREADY PAID FOR with your park admission! THAT to me is just plain 'insulting' and greedy. It's like 'renting' the roller coaster car for you to ride after you've already paid admission to ride it. It's impossible to enjoy some of the waterslides and other attractions unless you have an innertube. To charge extra for them, to me, is just short of 'blackmail' by the park!

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Knott's Soak City provides free inner tubes at all its slides and areas like the lazy river, and the wave pool.

Now, you can get a "personal" tube for a fee, which will let you straight to the Wave Pool and the lazy river, as sometimes the amount of "free" tubes doesn't meet demand.

But I have never rented a tube, and got to do everything I want.

But it is amazing that Disneyland has a lot of "extra" perks for a fee...

Yes, the games...

But how about the tours

Or the priority seating for Fantasmic! (and at $56 a person!)

Or the Enhanced FASTPASS option if you book thru AAA and stay at one of the three Disney owned hotels (aka pay more)

And sometimes it isn't money, but knowledge that gives some folks more enjoyment than others...

Knowing the right time to call to get a reservation at a certain restaurant, such as Cinderella meal at WDW...

Knowing how FASTPASS works allows you to get more FP's than others who just read the Guide to the Magic....

Planning in advance gives you access to ticket discounts, and better rates at hotels.

Alas, just like with life in general.

 

Originally Posted By cstephens

Capri wrote:
> Yes, but what's "essential" at a theme park?

Yes, that's obviously a hard question to answer, but to me, I guess it's in terms of the major attractions.

> But to charge for the use of shovels and pails at a dinosaur dig attraction

Now see, if this was a a park themed to dinosaurs, I could see the point. But we're talking Legoland, right? I think I'd agree with you if they were charging extra for, say, entrance to Miniland.

> is kind of like DL charging extra if you want to use the laser guns on Buzz Lightyear.

Now, I disagree with that analogy. Buzz Lightyear is a major attraction at the park, and while you can enjoy the attraction without a laser gun, the laser gun is part and parcel of the attraction.

But charging for the guns in the shooting gallery? Makes sense to me.

Maybe I'm keying on the word "insulted". I'm not sure where the insult comes in. It's a business. They used to charge an admission fee and then charge an extra fee for each ride you wanted to go on. I could see how that would be more frustrating. I remember how precious those E-tickets were...



/cs

 

Originally Posted By jdub

I think once you've paid your admission fee, the attractions inside should all be included--whether you're to dig for dinos, climb a rock wall, be hurled around in a bunjee cord, or what have you. If such an idea is cost-prohibitive, then the pay-for-play shouldn't exist at all.

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

One of the reasons some attractions are "pay for play" have to do with capacity issues. For example, SeaWorld San Diego has kept the older attractions, the SkyTower and the SkyRide as an additional cost, because they would have long lines if they offered them for free.

Same as Knott's Screamin' Swing, that has a maximum capacity of 8 people every 3 minutes or so , so you are talking about 160 guests per hour, and that just wouldn't ork out as a "free" attraction.

Same with a Disney Tour (or SeaWorld, etc..), if they just offered them for free, you would have to have a LOT more tour guides. Heck the "free" VMK tour is booked now usually within minutes of opening.

Games of skill isn't gambling, but it is close. You are putting up money for a chance to win a prize. Of course, they figured out what value prize to give out based on how often someone wins, and taking into consideration the costs of operating the games, and of course, some profit.

 

Originally Posted By Capri

Maybe I didn't use the right term - "insulted".

Maybe it makes me feel more "frustrated" or "drained" or...

...I don't know. I can't describe the feeling, but it's the one you get when you roll your eyes.

Of course, I'm just looking at it from a customer's point of view. I know for the park, as a business trying to turn a profit, it's a great way to bring in extra dollars.

But when you have kids who want to do everything they see at a park, which I understand because I would be the same way if I was still a kid, and then you see those extra fees coming at you after you've paid all the money for everything else (tickets, food, drinks, treats, trinkets, etc...), I still can't stop myself from thinking, "What... you didn't get enough of my money today? You need even more?" Then I just sigh, roll my eyes (because I got that feeling I can't describe), and reach for my wallet yet again. LOL, I guess I'm just a sucker, but whose sucker...the parks?...my kids?...or both?

 

Originally Posted By jdub

I don't use the word "insulted." "Irritated," that's good--"cheezed" also fits. If a park knows a potential attraction won't be able to accommodate enough customers at a time, they should not add an additional fee--they should scrap the potential attraction. OR, maybe have a separate, free-entry "county fair" area where everything is pay to play, and you GO IN expecting to be hosed.

 

Originally Posted By schoolsinger

I think Sea World San Diego is one of the worst examples of charging extra. The Sky Tower and the Sky Ride are of a big enough scale to be considered major rides, and their capacity seems reasonable for a free attraction

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

The capacity is about 80 people (2 levels of about 40 people each), the actual ride is about 7 minutes, with loading and unloading, you will get 6 or 7 trips an hour max, for a capacity of about 500, and that is too low, as the capacity for Journey to Atlantis is close to 1,800 per hour, as are Wild Arctic and Shipwreck Rapids.

 

Originally Posted By SFH

I think just about everything should cost money inside theme parks, except some of the entertainment that would be hard to keep people from seeing if they didn't pay.

This would encourage making the services good enough to compel people to use them, and would encourage making attractions high-capacity, repeatable, and frequently improved.

<a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID111330.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/N
ews-ID111330.asp</a>

SFH

 

Originally Posted By peeaanuut

i dont mind paying for the games on the pier or for digging for bones as long as you are able to keep something (or at least attempt to win something). I mean I wouldnt want to pay for a ride after paying an extrance fee, but for a chance to win a stuffed animal I wouldnt mind paying (if I wanted a stuffed animal that is).

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

Biggest theme park 'nominal fee' rip-off? Parking!

$10.00 to park your flippin' car at Disneyland.

Yeah, I know. In New York City, it costs $57.00 an hour to park your car, and if you go see The Stones at the Arrowhead Pond, it costs $15.00 to park your car.

And okay, tickets to see 'The Lion King' on Broadway are $100 and up.

And yeah, it isn't everyone's inalienable right to go to Disneyland, -- but for the love of Thomas' English Muffins, where else does the average person park their car?

I'm sure some of the more militant Disney fans have places where you can park for $7.00 and then get a refund if you pay for movie tickets or whatever...

But is there a large number of people who park in the Disneyland parking garage and go elsewhere? Maybe the AM/PM on Ball?

And fine. Charge for parking, make the parking structure a profit center -- but maybe Disneyland could make it a bit more 'nominal' and charge $5.00 just to be nice.

Yeah, I know. 'It's a business and they charge what the market will bear.'

But sheesh. Talk about feeling turned upside down and shaken until the last nickel falls out.

 

Originally Posted By Lisann22

JiM - you're not using your head, you have to rationalize this stuff. Buy the $400 Premium Annual Pass AND get free parking.

 

Originally Posted By cstephens

Parking kinda irritates me when it comes to theme parks, but I guess I'm just used to it (although I do consider that an essential part of the experience - I guess you get a "discount" of sorts if you're using alternate means of getting there). Parking when you go shopping *really* gets to me - you want me to come here and spend money, right? - that's why the parking at Universal Citywalk irritates me.




/cs

 

Originally Posted By peeaanuut

<<I'm sure some of the more militant Disney fans have places where you can park for $7.00 and then get a refund if you pay for movie tickets or whatever...>>

If your a regular at DL, park at DT disney, stop in and get a water at the pizza place and get 5 hours free. If your there all day, move your car once or twice.

Also works at Knotts. When i was younger and had a pass, we would park in the 3 hour parking and go and move the car every 3 hours.

 

Originally Posted By jdub

<><Biggest theme park 'nominal fee' rip-off? Parking!<><

Oh, YEAHHHH! Just ludicrous. I mean, if you're charging to prohibit people from using your lot for neighborhood parking, then put the collection booth at the EXIT, and only charge people without proof of park attendance! It really bugs me when places in the middle of nowhere, with plenty of parking space--and no options for outside parking--hijack you like this. San Diego Wild Animal Park comes immediately to mind, but there are countless others.

 

Originally Posted By tagboy

I TOTALLY agree with the parking. It's kind of like making you pay for parking when you go shopping. It's ridiculous. In general I think everything in theme parks costs way too much. Soon it's gonna be $100 for a day plus $20 to park, etc. I truly don't think that day is too far off. I LOVE my parks, but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep going. I can't even imagine having to pay for a family of 4 or more.