Season Pass: To renew by mail, or in person?

[IEATPASTE001]

Well that is the question, and i was wondering what others feel on this subject? I am thinking of renewing by mail for both my season passes, but i didn't enjoy the waiting in line and getting a photo, it was kinda fun!


So what do you guys do?

[raptorrvnge4928]

When I renew my Season Pass, hell, I will probably do it at CP... (unfortunately the Meijer's in MI dont sell season passes, like they do for PKI in Ohio). I find it is usually easier tha way, and thus far, I havent had to wait in line to process it. One thing is for sure, I think next year I might add on that option for Soak City... thats one helluva a waterpark.. I like it.

[Xzentrificenceo]

I will probably do mine by mail, only because it is so far for me to drive to do it in person.



One quick question if by chance I get a season pass to KBF do I get the same perks at CP as if I got it for that park? You know the early entry.

[Harpo]

I've done a mix of mail and in-person. When I do it in-person, I'll drive down the week before the park opens in order to get the pass, thereby avoiding wasting time on opening day. But, it's hard to visit the park when it isn't open -- I want to go on the rides!

In order to avoid the drive, it's easier to renew by mail, although it does require remembering to send in the certificate on time!

X, for your question, I recommend sending the query to Cedar Fair. They're generally pretty good about giving a prompt answer. Since parking passes are only good at the park where purchased, I wouldn't be too surprised if the same was the case for the Joe Cool early entrance pass. At Cedar Point, however, if you stay at any one of the Cedar Point resorts you can also get the early entrance. I believe that includes people staying at Cedar Point's Camper Village.

[Xzentrificenceo]

Well should I get the pass for next season and be able to make it out to CP, I would most likely be going via the Detroit area, and catching a ride from the PASTEy's. so I would not be staying at teh resort itself.

[Harpo]

In that case, I once again recommend contacting Cedar Fair and asking them.

When going from Detroit, keep in mind that the drive is about 2.5 to 3 hours (depending on traffic and the Road Of Perpetual Construction: I-280 in Ohio, which currently has a bridge project that will last until mid 2006), so if you intend to make a multiple-day visit to the park, you may still wish to consider getting a hotel in Sandusky.

Cedar Point Resorts on the Point are fairly expensive (being Hotel Breakers, Sandcastle Suites, Camper Village, and Lighthouse Point). Across the Cedar Point Causeway, Cedar Point has 2 resorts, the Radisson and Breakers Express. The Radisson is expensive, but Breakers Express is usually among the most reasonably-priced hotels in the Sandusky area during the Cedar Point operating season. (Note that Cedar Point has submitted plans for a possible indoor water park to be added at the Radisson. There has not yet been an official announcement of when or if this construction will occur, but if it happens to be finished before the 2004 season, it may be an incentive to stay at the Radisson.)

[iAMpaste001]

Originally posted by beck2003
for the record i vote this the most retarded and pointless post yet

You mean that post you just made? Because yeah, it was. If you meant the thread as a whole, your judgement appears to be off, my friend. I thought the forum was about sharing ideas, discussing issues and getting answers to questions...since we're in the "Amusement Park Industry Discussion" I would think asking questions about oh say the Amusement Park Industry would be a fine use of the forum. What better way to get the advice of people like Harpo and X-man who have experience in the area and know what they're talking about? And being a season pass holder myself (to both Cedar Fair and Six Flags) I've had the same question myself and it looks like (judging by the replies) that other people have thought about the topic too.

As for me, I'm inclined to renew my CP pass by mail because I want my new one before the park opens for the season but like Harpo, I don't like driving all the way and not getting to ride! Besides I like the picture so I wouldn't mind keeping it another year. I hate the picture on my SF pass so I would like to get it redone so I'd probably just do that in person on my first visit, since it didn't seem to have a long line when I was there anyway.

[Joshua H]

I think you get a discount at some parks, like Dollywood, by getting them before the season starts...therefore, mail....

[iAMpaste001]

But CP lets you buy them early online at a discount price and then go get the pass made in the spring so you could still do either and get the discount...by the way, since you know about Dollywood, I'm assuming you live in the TN area- is Opryland still open and if not, when did it close?

[Harpo]

I know I'm not the one you asked, but, unfortunately, Opryland closed in 1997. Just this morning I was reading a Yahoo posting about the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster being moved from Opryland to The Great Escape in New York.

[Joshua H]

Harpo,
Have you heard something about another Nashville Park? I'm not sure if I've heard that there is a new park being built, or a small one already in operation....Just wondering what you've heard...

[Harpo]

I haven't heard anything for Nashville, but I have heard that there will probably be a new park in Myrtle Beach, SC.

From Amusement Today:

Myrtle Beach park gets government OK (Aug. 8, 2003; 16:45)

The Horry County Planning Commission unanimously approved rezoning a tract of land in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that an Orlando developer wants to use to build a $200 million theme park. The rezoning proposal, which would transform 150 acres of Fantasy Harbour, a portion of which John Binkowski of Renaissance Entertainment in Orlando already owns, now goes before the Horry County Council. Members of the council have said they will ask for more information about noise, runoff and traffic congestion, according to news reports.

Binkowski and his partners have yet to secure financing for the project, but this week he announced that they secured naming rights from Hard Rock Cafe International to call the theme park Hard Rock Park. Binkowski owns two theaters in Fantasy Harbour, an entertainment/retail complex that has struggled in recent years. He intends to use the property of his theaters plus adjacent property he owns to use for the theme park.

This would be the second attempt to build a new theme park in Myrtle Beach in the past ten years. A plan to use the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base for a theme park and golf resort died when the developer went bankrupt.


It looks like Mall of America will also be getting an improvement. Here's something else from Amusement Today:

Camp Snoopy building new Gerstlauer spinning coaster (Aug. 11, 2003; 15:54)

Camp Snoopy in Minnesota's Mall of America announced today the purchase of a spinning roller coaster from Gerstlauer, the first of that manufacturer's spinning coasters slated for North America. The new coaster, called Timberland Twister, will be 54 feet high and 1,345 feet long. Six vehicles with four passengers each—sitting face-to-face—will run through the coaster's course at up to 31 mph spinning at the whims of gravity and the cars' weight distribution.

Construction is set to begin this month on Timberland Twister which is scheduled to open next spring, said Camp Snoopy Marketing Director Robin Thompson. The coaster, Camp Snoopy's second, will course around the Kite Eating Tree, replacing the park's Wilderness Theater which will move to the current location of the Northwood Stage.

Camp Snoopy officials announced the capital improvement as part of the park's 11-year anniversary.

[Joshua H]

HOW COOL! Thanks Harpo!

[Hyde244]

Well, hmmm, let me think. Should I mail or be in person for my season pass. Being as i already live in Sandusky, OH, where CP is, this is a tuffy, lol. Actually, th kool thing is, if u go during January and February, there are no lines to get ur pass. Also, there usually is a cheaper rate if u get ur pass earlier for the net season than getting it during the season, no mater what park.

[iAMpaste001]

I went the Monday before opening day and got my pass and there was absolutely no line...my mom got her season pass on May 16 (a weekday) and the wait was maybe 5 or 10 minutes. I didn't know you could go get them during the winter though. The info I got from CP didn't list the season pass center as being open until later in the spring.

In person, so you don't have to wait for it in the mail!