[njf]

[coasterdave]

For those who want the link with all the info: <a href='http://www1.cedarfair.com/carowinds/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm' target='_blank'>Carowinds Season Pass page</a>

[Thriller]

So is there no parking pass this year? The 1/2 price might be a better value for folks like me. I went twice this year and had a parking pass, so I never got it paid for!

[arjaybee]

"So is there no parking pass this year? The 1/2 price might be a better value for folks like me. I went twice this year and had a parking pass, so I never got it paid for!"

Season Pass parking is only $15 for a VIP Pass (1/2 price). $30 for a regular season pass (full price).

The Cedar Fair jacket is lame...I want my Bring-a-Friend free option back. How about they keep the jacket and give us 20% on Spongebob Dollars...that's money that has to be spent in the park! Is that too much to ask for people who make multiple visits?! I would spend more on food and merchandise in the parks if they would cut passholders a break. Oh well...I guess the whole point is moot as long as they add a decent new attraction for '08.

[coasterholic14]

I'll wait until I see the prices until I decide whether or not to get one, but regardless of price, I think it's safe to say that I will not be purchasing a pass this season unless they add something to give me reason to go back more often. This season I only got in 3 visits because of work, and that was about my fill of the park anyway... I'm just getting bored of the park more and more each year, I'll still go once or twice next year to get my coaster/amusement park fix, but I see no need for a pass unless they add something worthwhile for me (like a small collection of flats or a big flat ride--or coaster of course)

[RollerBee]

Wow, all did fit over season passes? I wish I could buy a season pass let alone go to Carowinds. I would also like to have that jacket to add to my amusement park collection.

[KenB]

There's <a href='http://www2.cedarfair.com/carowinds/special/passinfo/sp_benefits_08.cfm' target='_blank'>another page </a>that gives all the benefit details for the various passes.

Everybody gets the CF windbreaker if they purchase passes by November 11th. Whee. Other than that, the "basic" pass gets no benefits whatsoever - you get into the park, that's it. A separate parking pass is available for $30, and is good at all CF parks.

The VIP and Platinum have the same benefits as far as Carowinds is concerned. Basically it's the same stuff Platinum passholders got this year. Platinum includes admission to all CF parks (with the usual exclusion of Star Trek) and free parking. VIP is good for Carowinds admission only, and the parking pass can be added for $15.

Before seeing the prices, all this seems needlessly complicated. Have a Carowinds-only pass, and a chainwide pass. Offer parking as a separate option to the Carowinds pass. Perhaps all this stuff will make more sense when we see the prices, although I suspect the basic pass is just there so they can advertise "passes starting at $59.99" or whatever. By the time you add parking, I bet the VIP will be the better value, even though the benefits are weak. $15 of the cost difference will be made up with the savings on the parking pass, and the discount on Scarowinds tickets will probably even things out.

KenB

[coasterdave]

Delete please

[bgwfreak]

Yeah this year I was dissapointed with the whole pass experience.

They took away:
1 hour ERT (who cares about the 10 minutes in early?)
Bring a friend tickets (I got 2 last year I think)

For 2008:
We don't get free parking if we renew before the end of the year like all the past few years.
The pass is not good for the remainder of 2007.

Overall. I think their system pretty much sucks. But that's me.

[Jonathan]

I pretty much agree. If the pricing is the same as the other parks that have announced (IE: $150 for the Platinum), I won't be buying a pass.

[KenB]

Kings Island has their <a href='http://www3.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/shop/shopping_corporate_partners_list.cfm' target='_blank'>2008 passes for sale</a> and they have basically the same setup we have, except they have a Gold pass instead of VIP. Prices are Regular $85, Gold $90 and Platinum for $140. Uh, what possible reason can there be to offer the Gold for FIVE FREAKING DOLLARS MORE? Who isn't going to pay the extra $5?

Now, where this gets interesting for us is we either have some hope, OR we're going to get hosed compared to KI:

They're including parking FREE for 2007 passholders that buy a pass before November 11th. They're selling a separate parking pass for $35 as well. We MAY get the free parking with renewals - where they mention this is down in the pricing section, with no mention whatsoever in the top part of the page that details the different passes. It looks very similar to the Carowinds page, which of course doesn't have this pricing info yet. Hopefully when they add that Wed. it'll have a nice surprise for us.

Just checked some of the other parks sites' as well - KD doesn't have anything on theirs yet, but Great America does - and theirs is very similar to KI's options - Regular, Gold, and Platinum at $65, $80, and $140 respectively. They are also offering free parking for season pass renewals, but only for the Gold pass, not the regular. Their page looks a bit different and does mention this in the description for the Gold pass.

At this point I'd guess the VIP pass will probably be $80-90, and there's some hope that we may yet get free parking when renewing a 2007 pass since others are getting it. It does seem that the Platinum is going to be $140 everywhere, which will suck for those in-between parks.

[bgwfreak]

At this point, unless we get a major attraction for next year (not holding my breath) I'm thinking of just passing on a season pass for 08.

I'm definetly doing Hard Rock (of course) and that will probably run me $40+ for one day. So unless they really have some major expansion or incentive for next year, I'm seriously thinking of passing.

The past few years I've gotten my moneys worth out of my pass, but I've slowly gone less and less to the park the past few years with no new coasters since Borg and nothing much for enthusiasts since then either.

It will be my first time since 2003 that I haven't bought a pass.

Oh...and the jacket is a JOKE.

[KenB]

Well, price info is up and.....

We got hosed, sorta. $65 for regular pass, $75 for VIP pass, $140 for Platinum - and no, there is NO free parking for renewals. So with the half-price deal adding parking for $15, VIP w/ parking are $90. Of course, if you buy a regular pass with parking, it's $95.

Kings Island and Great America get free parking with renewals on their Gold passes, but those are $80 and $90 to start with - so basically we're $10 more than GA, and the same price as KI. I guess for families that only need one parking pass, though, Carowinds does come out a bit cheaper.


It all seems much more complicated than necessary to have a midlevel tier that's only $5 or $10 more than the basic, include parking some places but not others, etc. Really,this is the kind of thing you'd expect if the company running things wasn't used to running amusement parks - and that's ALL they do!

I spent $95 I think on a Maxx pass this year, thinking I might go to KD, so a VIP w/ parking will be about the same. That'll take 3 visits to pay for itself, and I'll probably go that much. Maybe. I mean, how can I miss out on the new "Path with Trashcans:The Experience" that will replace Saturator next year?

KenB

[bgwfreak]

What! That is total crap!

I paid $90 last year for a Maxx pass and got free parking to Carowinds for renewing!

Now I really am doubting I'll even get a pass next year.

I think the parking fee is a ripoff anyway. All you have to pay for is the security and that's it! You don't hardly ever maintain the stupid parking lot.

This is pissing me off.

[Jonathan]

lol.

See you guys at C3.