gisco wrote:The next person to bring up the cashless system is going to get a 24 hour ban!
Move on NOW!
So, we're only allowed to discuss the things somebody else finds important?
If the management of the park thought the change important enough to bring up at the conference, there's no reason why it shouldn't be able to discuss it here, both pro and con.
Anything about the park... especially something that affects their customers, should be fair game.
If not? Feel free to ban me and, while your at it, post a list of topics that are acceptable to be discussed.
OISU8P wrote:
These are the types of folks I am refereeing to in my post. Not the hard working guy or girl who appreciates what they are getting for their dollar. Sorry if that was confused.
And, I'm sorry I took it so personally. The thing is, though, that one needs to consider where a park like Waldameer fits into things. There's no lack of competition for amusement park dollars in that region of the country. There are a number of larger parks within a couple of hour drive of Erie that one can go to.
A park like Waldameer competes for those dollars, beyond being easily accessible to locals, by offering the best value for the dollar.
Also, I figured the gas prices to get to Erie from Pittsburgh would offset any savings they got on admission and such. Well, at least maybe this year it will
You may well be right. But, that's sort of the point, also.
Anybody local to Kennywood can get into the park most days for about $24 if they buy the tickets through Giant Eagle (which are all over the region and easily accessible). For that, you get a much larger park, and much longer lines.
Last time I went to Kennywood, I was lucky to get 4 rides in on a Night Rider pass.
I've often joked that I could drive from where I work (about 10 miles north of Pittsburgh) to Waldameer and ride the Flyer in about the same time it takes me to drive to Kennywood (no quick way to get there) and ride any one of their more popular rides.
Looking at Waldameer's website, they appear to have raised their prices again this year. Combo passes up to $26.50 at the gate. Not sure about admission just to Waldameer as there is no mention of it on the website. So, no way for customers to even know how much that costs to compare. My guess would be at least $22, though.
It doesn't take leaving a whole lot on a card before they could have spent the same or less at a bigger park.
With gas prices possibly hitting $5 this summer ($4.50 being predicted), there is going to be less and less incentive for anybody but locals to go to Waldameer unless they're either passing through or already vacationing in the area.
At what point do they price themselves out of their niche?
Other than that? the only other point I was making about the viability of refunds is that they are already doing it with a large portion of their Water World customers.
You pay a deposit to use the fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo. At the end of the day, when you return the key, you have the choice to either get your deposit back or to give up the deposit in exchange for a stuffed animal.
There's no reason why they can't do that for everything else. Or, at least offer something in exchange for whatever's left.
As I said before, I'm curious if they will still be offering refunds for the fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo. Or, if there will simply be an additional fee for service over the cost of the fluffy, fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo rental.
