[coasterholic14]

I suggesting adding flowers to the park in 03, and in 04 the flowers returned. (Carowinds hadn't had flowers in the park for years!)

True, that is one of the few suggestions I made also that they followed...and CF has actually made that even better, as I noticed more flowers and small landscaping additions to the park this year.

And JamminJ, I get what your saying. There are a few small things that I suggested they did implement, things that it appears many of us implemented, but I think many of those were due anyway (I mean, there's a good chance milkshakes would have been added within a few years anyway). But in terms of rides, shows, and other attractions, I haven't really seen anything (though I love the Flyers, how did I not hear of those things in the past?). One thing about those surveys, I NEVER suggested anything that wasn't feasible, and where I could, I offered explanations about my choices and why I made those choices (maybe that's why, they didn't want to read everything I wrote or it would have taken them HOURS lol)

[coasterbruh]

Coasterholic...you are one in many people who took those surveys did you honestly think they would not pool together responses and go from there or you thought you were the only person that counted?? And you say give cedar UNfair a chance....They are not a new company! They have been doing it for many of years. It's not like the parks were in dispair and they have to patch things up. They brought the parks because they were doing pretty good. Give them a chance my ***...they had their chance and its not looking good!

By the way what was some of the things you suggested?? Im dying to know!

[arjaybee]

Cedar Fair...are you listening?! I agree with most of the previous posts and I too have only made a few trips this season as compared to 12 visits just last year. To coasterholic; yes...we can say that CF's season passes are significantly worse than what Paramount was doing. Reasons previously listed include taking 50 minutes off of ERT...10 minutes is a joke! Bring-a-friend free vouchers...gone. Now just a discounted ticket. A less convienient season passholder parking area. Not to mention that I do see a noticable reduction in the times when they run two trains on rides as well as a fall off in the moral of the ride operators (I won't blame them 'cause who knows what CF is telling them in regards to their jobs). Anyway, I hope that there is a course correction as CF looks at what does and doesn't work. Clearly, reducing passholder benefits is not the way to go. It will affect their bottom line. And if they are surfing CarowindsConnection (and I believe they do) I too would spend more in the park if passholders were given a decent discount. Just this past weekend I left the park to eat at Wendy's. I would prefer to stay in the park and eat but it just doesn't make a lot of sense. I love Carowinds...it's my home park...but if I have to drive an extra 90 minutes to get to Hard Rock Park or Busch Gardens next year I'll do it if this trend continues.

[RollerBee]

Ya'll say ya'll want big new attractions but based on Geauga Lake I would say ya'll need to be getting your tails out to the park and increase the attendance and cash flow into the park. To me, Cedar Fair is clearly demostrating that they ain't no Paramount that hands new attractions to slipping parks like Great America to try and increase or level their attendance. If I could go, lack of season pass benefits wouldn't slow me down. I visited Carowinds 8 times in 05 and 18 in 06. I always brought a milkshake and dippin dots in the park too. I am sure Cedar Fair is listening, reading, and watching some of us. I would think they would be watching me the most. I can't wait to return "home" to Carowinds, and as soon as I can I am buying me a 2012 season pass, a milkshake, a large dippin' dots, a t-shirt, and a ticket to SCarowinds. I say give Cedar Fair another year!

[Thriller]

Rollernut, I understand your view here, but how can we here at CC increase spending enough ourselves. I'm not made of money I do not believe that us giving them more money will change anything. CF is in some major debt and now our park must suffer until that changes. Let's face it, CF bit off more than they can chew and we are either going to see additions or subtractions here...and the Super Saturator rumor is not looking good for us. Hard Rock, here I come!!!

[RollerBee]

The way I figure if each park guest spends even 1 more dollar than they last year that means 2.1 million more dollars for the park. In other words, if you normally go three times a season but don't buy anything, buy a drink. Make sense? I know it isn't that simple but my theory is, if we want the park to improve we have to go, spend our money there instead of outside the park. Yes, I know some if not all us aren't made of money. If you normally spend three dollars at Wendy's, spend it in the park, and fill your tummy at home. Now, I am shutting up for a while cause I know that RollerNut bashing is acoming. NUT out!

[MarkD]

Well, here is how I think.

For the last 8 years I have bought Family Season Passes. We visited the park every other Sunday, ate every single time we went along with snacks, and went to Scarowinds twice every year it was on and then again we also ate while in the park. So, all I helped pay for were kiddie attractions and a couple used rides, not knocking on Danny P. and some cardboard cut outs and paint in the water park. So forget your theory on spending an extra dollar or two. Money also comes from the masses and not the few.

Plus, who at the park decides what they should get? Do they have families with younger kids or grandkids and do they really understand how the theme park industry changes?

Cedar Point is the flagship park so forget us ever outdoing them while under thier helm. Not that we really need a world record breaking anything, but we do need something or things to get us on that map of interest.

I will cut them some slack and give them untill the 2009 season to make a final verdict but we are in serious need of rehab and upgrade. We are way behind in "new style" attractions.

[Thriller]

Amen!

[bgwfreak]

well the way I look at it as I've stated in the other thread is that Cedar Fair has basically cut my benefits in half while doubling the price.

Now the math might be off on that bit of it but consider this:

Under Paramount:

We got in free at all the Paramount Parks. I normally drove up to KD at least once every other year.

1 hour ERT

Pass prices around $65 I think it was.

Free parking if you renewed before year-end.


Under Cedar Fair:

You have to pay an extra fee basically to get into the other parks, and I understand the situation in Ohio...but we're not in Ohio! At least give us KD for free!

10 minutes early thingy. Whoopee.

Pass prices have increased $10-$50 depending on what pass you get.

No free parking.


Again, unless we get something major next year...I won't be renewing.

Also, they cut out the family passes. That's going to piss off a good bit of families I think.

So all in all, they are going to shoot themselves in the foot I think and attendance will continue to drop.

[RollerBee]

I bet they will add it back when people start complaining or give an equal discount. Under Paramount, season passes at one time were 99.99 per person, then went to 89.99 the next season. Paramount kept lower the prices of season passes because they figured out that most visitors to the park are season pass holders. Personally, I never figured out how they pushed season passes so low, but I do remember that Paramount also got rid of alot of discount and the "Park Dollars" system in place. The park dollar system wasn't advertised very well, and involved waiting in the ticket line again because they were commonly forgotten. It was more of a hassle than getting a discount at the check out of each store. The way I see it, the 140 dollar season pass for people who travel to the other parks, which MOST passers don't. I don't get the point of having the VIP and regular passes, can someone explain that to me. Roller "Why I am the only one defending the park" Nut :blink:

[bgwfreak]

Yeah I don't get the 3 levels of passes.

It just seems like they are trying to force people into the VIP pass, but the benefits aren't that great.

CF do this:

Have 2 passes:

One that only gets you in Carowinds
One that gets you into any CF park

Then have parking as an add-on for both.

Simple and easy to understand.

[arjaybee]

Wow...I didn't even notice they got rid of the family four or more pass discount. So now if I get four passes for my family I get no passholder benefits unless I buy four VIP passes! As for Geauga Lake, it is an acquired park that is only 90 minutes from Cedar Point which surely causes a conflict of interest with Cedar Fair. Carowinds is nowhere near any other property they own. I think Cedar Fair has big plans for Carowinds, it's just that this transitional period is getting rougher by the minute. They keep taking things away...when are we gonna see a positive addition to the park (and I don't mean more trash cans)! <_<

[Thriller]

IMO, Carowinds has the most potential of all the CF parks. Charlotte has become one of the top ten fastest growing Metro areas in the country...Myrtle Beach is #13. Look at NC, the 10 most populated state in the country. Carowinds is in prime real-estate and has plenty of room for expansion. But, what do I know? I do know that we will see some positive changes, but will it be too late before it happens?