[bgwfreak]

Scott told me that they sold more season passes last year than EVER before.

So the water park was a good move on their part, even though we might not like it.

I kind of doubt they'd do the water park two years in a row.

I just hope we get something good like a flat ride next year.

[NickOp]

Can someone explain to me how Carowinds makes money with 75% of their admission sales being season passes? I mean honestly, I don't see how they can. Because season passers have all the merchantance they want, and normally don't buy food in the park. Plus a season pass is(last years) 50 dollars, the same as the ticket prices, and a season pass is good all year.

[Jonathan]

Short answer: Season pass sales don't make up 75% of their admissions.

[Edwardo]

My problem with last season's waterpark addition is that I dont' think they did enough. PGA did basically the same thing when they converted to Boomerang Bay (which they spread out over 2 years, actually). I was afraid when I saw what PCar was doing they'd take the PGA route.

I think that CF will evnetually renovate the PCW and PKD waterparks, as they should. But they ALL should have gotten the same treatment that PKI got when they re-did theirs (or even SFA for that matter).

I know that some parks are bound to go without next year. But with that, the park will use what was budgeted for expansion to pay down debt and none of the parks are currently in bad shape. Once they get the 2007 transition year out of the way, All of the parks I think will end up with some great new stuff.

I know CP & VF are getting a new coaster this year and that was planned before the decision to purchase the Paramount Parks took place. Knott's is getting a Mack Spinner (Shhhhh... ), and that was also planned before the Purchase.

Dorney, well, I'm not able to say anything (else) at this point. WoF, I dont' think they're getting anything now, but could be wrong. Geauga isn't likely to get anything, and MiA just got a brand new rapids ride, so this will probably be an off year for that park.

Nothing is known about the Paramount Parks outside of a few people for sure. I do know they almost went thru with a large attraction order for the parks but apparently that was when CF took control, so I doubt it happend. But if in the end only 3 parks (which were already previously budgeted and planned for) get something new, that means that they can get a head start next year on debt. Plus, they're going to need to make capital 'improvements' to the Paramount Parks (or at least changes to theming, sinage, uniforms, etc).

I don't have a problem with them taking a year off. I may or may not go to Carowinds next year. I'm thinking of skipping so I can go to some new parks. But then i like my Top Gun, and it's just so darned close. In the end, by the time the 2008 season starts up, I'm sure we'll start seeing some new stuff from CF to make us all remember that they do care about their parks.

Isn't it weird how much time is spent talkign about Cedar Fair now? A year ago, I wouldn't have thought we'd be saying so much about Cedar Fair on a Paramount's Carowinds Forum .

[coasterholic14]

Scott told me that they sold more season passes last year than EVER before.

So the water park was a good move on their part, even though we might not like it.

Could be a couple reasons for that:
1) people who didn't know what the park heard we got a Boomerang Bay EXPANSION and got passes for that reason (I had a friend who did that, she was rather annoyed when she found out about the "expansion")

2) Remember Correlation does not necessarily mean Causation (just because there were more season pass sales doesn't mean it was because of the waterpark expansion, it could be because of how much Charlotte as a city is growing combine with the fact that there are no other parks in the area)

3) Commercials or advertising or maybe carowinds becoming a little more well known as the years go on or people stopping at carowinds while visiting charlotte or on their way by.

[mwhinva]

I live in Richmond, VA and just to let you know that Kings Dominion is getting a waterpark renovation/expansion for 2007. I received a season pass flyer to purchase a KD/Cedar Fair 2007 season pass. There was one line on the flyer that gave a hint, (no details), that " Big Things are happening in 2007 for WaterWorks our water park." So it looks like Cedar Fair will be doing something for the water park in 2007.
Now, whether or not Cedar Fair goes beyond what capital improvements KD had planned for 2007, before the Cedar Fair purchase of the Paramount Parks, remains a mystery. It is odd though that no details were released concerning the 2007 plans for the waterpark. Maybe CedarFair is re-working the plans and they were not ready to go public with any specifics.

[NickOp]

Short answer: Season pass sales don't make up 75% of their admissions.

Not what we were told by our head managers in Rides, they told us point blank that 75% of our guests we would see more than three times a season, some on a weekly basis.

[bgwfreak]

^^ From what I remember PKD sent an announcement to pass holders about Italian Job before the signs and official announcement ever came out.

They will start the hype soon enough.

****

^ (NickOp)

That statement sounds more like a general comment than actual fact.

Most parks aren't filled with season pass holders.

I'd guess that 30-40% especially on the weekends are people that are coming for their one and only trip for the year (single ticket buyer).

[coasterholic14]

Short answer: Season pass sales don't make up 75% of their admissions.

Not what we were told by our head managers in Rides, they told us point blank that 75% of our guests we would see more than three times a season, some on a weekly basis.

that just means they are repeat customers, which carowinds gets very often because it is the only park in the area, so people who need their amusement park fix without big travel come to carowinds, and that they are likely to visit multiple times because of that...not necessarily that they have a season pass. Sometimes people expect to go once, so they don't get a pass, and then go a few more times anyway.

[kewlaidkiddd]

Yay... free time to post on the boards... maybe some of the rides that would just work better as permanent rides from Degeller would be something they would be interested in. And can expand around the Thunderroad area.

I dunno... but I totally see not much going on for the year ahead. Maybe a revamp of the park at a slightly different location. Who knows.

I totally noticed throughout the year though that we did have a lot of people with maps... That was a real shocking thing to see... so something was going right the whole time.

And though the "addition" to the waterpark was popular... it didn't seem like it was the only popular new thing. Actually I think we went once... and it was eh.... I really hope we don't get an expansion again this year on it.

[bgwfreak]

I know Burroughs and Chapin have said that they will probably reuse some of the rides from Pavilion, but I would so love to see some of those flats bought by the park.

The top spin was really fun and was a whole lot more fun than the "giant" one at PKI. It didn't make you dizzy like PKD's does either. That's always good.

I really would about die if they bought the wave swinger.

[Edwardo]

The only things B&C aren't using are Hurricane, Log Flume, Hydrosurge, and the 2 dark rides. I'm sure a park could buy the components of the water rides, ditto for the dark rides, and Hurricane is up for sale. The flats will end up spread between Broadway and the NASCAR speedparks in MB, PF, possibly Char. as well.

Mad Mouse is most likely going to NASCAR in Myrtle.

I'm glad that PKD is getting a waterpark makeover. I figured they would be doing that next year, but will it be the PGA/PCar kind, or the PKI kind...Mayhaps PCW will get that next year as well.

[hombaca_05]

Whatever they do, I say they need to get rid of Vortex. It's just not thrilling anymore, and terribly uncomfortable. Rip that sucker down and build a new signature ride right there...

[bgwfreak]

^ Vortex is still a very popular ride, they probably won't take it out for a long time.

It still has long lines on Saturdays (why I don't know).

But hey, it's a B&M. Let's keep it until they can figure out a better restraint so that I can have children some day.

[montumax]

I found a treat tonight in my inbox and I don't think its a trick

As for 2007...I can post this:

"look for many happy returns."

As to what that means? I'm in the dark too. White Lightnin' coming back? The Frenzoid? The Wild Bull? The Sternwheeler?