[KenB]

Saw on RRC that PKI has released their 2007 season pass information. Looked on their site and found this:

<a href='http://www3.paramountparks.com/kingsisland/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm' target='_blank'>PKI Season Pass Info</a>

This doesn't include pricing, though. Hmmm - found another link from the Cinci paper that lists the prices (sidebar to the Son of Beast story) :

<a href='http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/NEWS01/608230365' target='_blank'>Pricing Info (see sidebar on right)</a>

$75 for a Gold one-park pass, $125 for a Maxx pass for all the CF parks, and $35 for a parking pass. Upgrading season passholders get free parking if they get a pass before Oct. 29th.

Not a bad deal. I was used to paying $110 or so for a Carowinds' Gold pass a few years back, and the Maxx pass is about the same price. Remember too that Ohio is a special case, since there are 3 CF parks in the state. Season passes at the other CF parks have been good chainwide in the past (just like the Paramount passes were) and cost less than the combined Cedar Point - Geauga Lake passes were.

So the $125 Maxx pass deal should be the worst case scenario for us here in Carowinds country. It's entirely possible that Carowinds and the other non-Ohio CF parks will either include entry to the other CF parks with their regular season pass like they do now, or that the Maxx pass may be cheaper than it is in Ohio at these parks. The only negative with the Maxx pass option if they go that route here is that you have to determine whether you're going to do a "road trip" to make use of it when you buy a pass - unless there's an upgrade option later in the year to go from regular / Gold to "Maxx.

Hopefully with them releasing info now and selling passes starting the 25th at PKI, we'll hear something from Carowinds "soon".

KenB

[CoasterDad]

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>HOLY COW! </span>

This would be unacceptably $$ high, if it proves to be the case for our park. Fine, I guess, if you're single, near the park and just want to visit our park. Without some a decent new ride(s), I don't see it. I wouldn't want the Gold Pass unless I opted for the more expensive Max pass allowing visits to the sister parks. Even so, in my case, with my kids, I'm looking at $800 and I don't believe I would "spring for it" unless I knew, for sure by late October, that a trip to Ohio could be certain. I hope our ticket will not be this high!

[coasterdave]

Heck I have not even been to Carowinds one time this year and used my pass. The only way that I will get a pass at Carowinds this year will be if I can get into the old Cedar Fair Parks with it.

If you look at the $125 in that you can get into about 12 parks with it, then that is a great deal.

[KenB]

Update:

As of now, the PKI site states "2007 Season Passes are currently unavailable for sale via web, phone or at the park. Please check this web site periodically for updates as they become available. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience." Earlier in the day the SP page was just blank. The original info said that the 2007 PKI SPs were supposed to go on sale today, but I recall somewhere else I saw tommorrow's date mentioned.

I've seen on RRC and elsewhere that Canada's Wonderland also had SP info on their site, and that there was no "Maxx pass" option - only a PCW season pass that *wasn't* good at any of the other parks. As of now, though, their SP page is also blank.

Hard to say what's going on at this point, guess we'll just have to wait a bit longer for some official info. Perhaps some wrong info was released, or CF is rethinking things.....

KenB

[bgwfreak]

Looky what I found...

2007 Season Passes On Sale Saturday, Aug. 26

KINGS ISLAND, Ohio— Mark your calendars, park fans! Saturday, Aug. 26 marks the first day that Paramount's Kings Island guests can purchase their 2007 season passes. The new passes are valid for the remainder of the 2006 season – including free Nick or Treat and FearFest – as well as all of the 2007 public operating season. 

A 2007 adult season pass for Paramount's Kings Island costs $74.95 and is available for guests under 62 years old as well as those 48” and taller. A junior/senior pass (under 48” or ages 62+) is priced at $44.95, a savings of $20 from the 2006 lowest pass price. Children under 3 are free.

The brand-new Cedar Fair Maxx Pass provides access to all 12 Cedar Fair amusement parks across the country, including both Cedar Point and Geauga Lake located in Ohio. This pass is priced at $125 for both adults and children. The Maxx Pass can be used at Paramount's Kings Island immediately and is valid at all Cedar Fair amusement parks during the 2007 season.

All renewing 2006 season pass holders will receive FREE season-long parking, provided they purchase their passes and have photo IDs taken at the park by October 29. Renewing pass holders should bring their 2006 passes with them to the park when they have their photo IDs taken. For new pass holders, season-long parking is available for $34.95 per pass. Parking is valid at Paramount's Kings Island only.
             
Season passes are available online at http://www.pki.com, at the park, or by phone at 1-800-288-0808 beginning August 26.

<a href='http://www3.paramountparks.com/KingsIsland/news/detail.cfm?item_id=426' target='_blank'>http://www3.paramountparks.com/KingsIsland...cfm?item_id=426</a>

[coasterholic14]

^i guess that also answers our questions on park names, as they kept the Paramount portion at the beginning (or is that just because that is what it is currently called?)

[KenB]

That was up there previously, and seems to echo what was on the SP page and what was in the news report. The SP page is still blank as of now, though - and it's the 26th.

As far as the names, I doubt that tells us anything as yet, either. Right now, it's Paramount's Kings Island, so that's what they're going to call it. What would be interesting to see is what's on the new passes themselves. Perhaps one of the PKI faithful will attempt to buy one today and report somewhere if they are available, if the prices are the same as in the press release - and what park name is on the pass.

KenB

[PKIDelirium]

I'm refreshing the PKI pass page with my card in hand waiting to buy the eVoucher as soon as the page comes up, hopfully will process it next weekend.

[coasterdave]

Incase you missed it, PKI Passes are now on sale.


<a href='http://www1.paramountparks.com/kingsisland/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www1.paramountparks.com/kingsisland...season_pass.cfm</a>


And PKD's are on sale also:

<a href='http://www1.paramountparks.com/kingsdominion/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www1.paramountparks.com/kingsdomini...season_pass.cfm</a>

Noticed the Cedar Fair Max pass is cheaper at PKD.

[dukefanswimmer89]

a lot cheaper.... 50 dollars cheaper

i think it's because of proximity to other CF parks, meaning Carowinds should have an even cheaper season pass option following that logic, not to mention the supposed lack of large 'additions' this year.

[KenB]

Valleyfair has a $74.99 pass, with a $10 option to upgrade to the Maxx pass. Michigan's Adventure is priced very similarly to PKI. PCW'ers are apparently still getting hosed (eh?) as there is no Maxx option shown for them yet.

I'd guess we're either going to be like Valleyfair or PKD, since we're not that close to any other CF parks. This sounds MUCH better than the PKI pricing and more reasonable. I'll most likely opt for the extra $25 or so for the Maxx each year, just in case I go on a trip that takes me near another CF park. That's pretty likely since I like BGW, and always do PKD when in the area.

With the PKI pricing, I'd have to think about what my plans were before getting a pass, and think hard about not spending the extra $$ unless I knew I'd be going somewhere else. If I were definitely doing an Ohio trip, the $125 was still a great deal, but not so much if I was just doing PKD.

Oh, and while this isn't official, at PKI at least they still seem to be honoring the free parking upgrade with 2006 SP renewals. On a PKI board I saw someone ask about this since it wasn't on the site anywhere, and someone replied to them that they called GR at the park and GR said parking is included, like the earlier information stated.

KenB

[CoasterDad]

If our Season Pass/Maxx Pass offer is priced similar to KD, then it would seem to be a pretty fair deal. Like KenB, I was having to think hard about where else in the CF family we might visit 10 months from now. For the extra $10, it would seem logical to take the gamble. At the very least another trip to KD could be planned. The parking, as part of the deal, really makes it better - I have NEVER seen the wisdom in charging for parking at these parks, even when I was much younger ~ just another way to make money, I know. <_<

I will miss that wonderful Platinum benefit of early rides on Top Gun and Borg on Saturday mornings from 9-10. :angry: It was a great start to the day to have 3-6 hops on Top Gun and 2-3 on Borg before the general public was allowed into the park. The special parking area was nice too, but really doesn't matter since we are the type of family that always arrives well before a park opens so as to give some time before things get too busy.

I hope they will go ahead and make our Pass offer available soon, so we all know for sure what it will cost!

[coasterdude89]

INFORMATION IS HERE!

<a href='http://www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/s...season_pass.cfm</a>

Welp, there ya go folks, you can officialy buy your pass now!

[Chris]

Wow! 55.00! I think that might tell us nothing special (new, that is) will be at Carowinds next year.

[Jonathan]

Interesting that the Carowinds season pass is $10 cheaper than the Kings Dominion pass. The Maxx Pass sounds like a pretty good deal to me.