[Stayseeliz]

I'm toying with the idea of springing for the platinum passes versus the gold passes this year. We're about five hours from Kings Dominion and we'd possibly get to maybe the park in Pennslyvania but I doubt we would make it to Ohio or any of the other parks. I thought about making a few 2-3 day trips with the kids to Kings Dominion to make it worth it for us. Any thoughts on getting the most out of the platinum passes if we go for it?

[Jonathan]

By my calculations, if you think you will make 3 or more visits to other Cedar Fair parks, it becomes worth it.

[Stayseeliz]

Just thinking it through if we did an overnight with two trips to KD and two meals a day times six people that would be a pretty good deal. We'd just have to pay for gas and a hotel. I wish they had a C.F. park closer to Florida. We travel that way a lot but we don't go north much.

[ColetD]

Also remember that parking would be included to all parks with the platinum pass.
It may not be beneficial if you were only planning on going to a different park for one day, but it's something to keep in mind for multi-day trips.

[gabed]

If you plan on making a lot of trips next year then I would definitely recommend it. I got well over my money's worth with mine, but I also went to four Cedar Fair parks this year.

[Stayseeliz]

Well I checked on my season pass yesterday and our five hour trip to the pumpkin fest was our 28th trip this year so we've more than gotten our money's worth. But the ability to go to other parks is tempting. I don't work much during the summer so taking off for 2-3 day trips sounds fun!

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Ive had a platinum for a few years, never really go to any parks much unfortunately, but I just renew it each year. Its definately worth it if you go to other parks, I would add the all you can eat plan to because you can use it at other parks as well. I wish I was able to make it to KD or somewhere this year but I wasnt able to. Maybe next year. Plantinum is definately worth the extra though even if you only want to go to one other park!

[Jonathan]

Plantinum is definately worth the extra though even if you only want to go to one other park!

How?

A regular Carowinds pass is currently $97. A Platinum pass is $189, so you need to get more than $92 of additional value to make it worth your money. You can buy a Kings Dominion ticket on their website for $40 and can probably find better discounts elsewhere. Parking is $15, so you're still $37 short of breaking even. You need at minimum 2 visits to other parks to break even if you are paying for parking, and 3 if you aren't paying for parking (i.e. a family member in the same vehicle).

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

The $40 is for fall just like Carowinds is $32.99.

$40 x 3days = $120 plus parking x3. Its a better value to pay the extra $$$ to have platinum and the ability to go to all CF parks vs buying daily tickets IMO. Its not a good value if you go to one other park 1 time I guess, but you still get your moneys worth if you go to Carowinds a lot. I guess it really just depends, but with monthly payment plans I think its a much better deal.

[Edwardo]

I never buy platinum unless I plan to go to at least 2 other CF parks. Otherwise a Carowinds pass is just fine. This year, I've used my platinum pass for other parks 6 other times.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

I usually just renew mine as its easier. I havent even went to another park in a couple years, seems like a bit of a waste but itll be alright. I do wish platinum pass holders could at least get free VIP parking (or whatever its called) I think that would at least help if you cant go to other parks. I thought about going back to gold but I will likely just keep renewing since I do the payment plan, still works pretty good. I hope to go to KD next year, maybe even go back to KI and CP if I can. I really want to visit some parks I have never been to such as Dorney.