New Policies and Information for 2008 Season

[rico28]

The best way to attract families coming to the park is the use of AAA cards has lots of benefits travel and attractions discounts. I know their is a discount at the gate price but I like to see is to show your AAA card and get in the front lot for $15. It's going hard to fill the front lot on most weekdays to Security Tower!

Back to parking 101
How did I come up with 770 spaces? lets review
Potential PP revenue is in 2007 is $55,230 =1,841 spaces*$30 not includes season parking passes users
During FF 2007
Left lot- 879 next to HH ----Center lot -356 ----Right Triangle lot- 101-----Bus lot- 505 car spaces
Total-1,841 preferred parking at $30(2007)= $55,230 Potential revenue
now 2008 prices at $25 (5 dollar discount)= $46,025 A loss of $9,205
So need to make up the difference(9,205) divide by $25= 368 cars spaces
add on to 1,841 =2,209 cars spots Now, subtract from total car spaces in front lot-2,981 = 772
----Season parking pass ,Buses, RVs or Handicap users are not included in this example----
So 772 more spaces available this year 2008 for Season Parking pass users ($65)? and Regular parking users at $25 This is a $5 dollar discount form last year! Having all of the front lot for this.
Now the back lot is Value lot for $15 just need walk a little further!
Trams is a good idea. It just to be done right to make it work.
These prices are setup like going to a baseball game for 3 hrs not like 10 hrs at Six flags including food prices high,too.
Just my opinion-
Midweek deal are needed like Tuesdays- all parking $15 Wednesdays -
Seniors citizens same are child's price
Thursday- Rise and Scream for SPH like one week S:UF,TDK,RC/ then next week Whizzer,Viper,RB
That would be a cool ideas!

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

so wait, do flip flops have to go into the lockers too? I wasn't sure about that because i wasn't sure if sfgam would want people walking through the queue barefoot.

Besides that, I the only thing i have a problem with is the GMH shows, but I've discussed this in several other topics so i'm not going to start here.

I don't get the big deal of the parking. If you hate it that much, and you know you'll be going a lot, then get a parking pass. I don't think it's that far of a walk from the back lot to the front of the park either. We could all use a little exercise sometimes.

Tips to girls who can't find cargo shorts, ask a dude to hold it for you. Mr. Danhockey always holds my stuff for me unless I wear my shorts with the buttons in the back. I don't get why people have to bring big bags to the park. If you can re-enter the park during the day, then can't you just leave the stuff in the car? Yes, it takes all but 15 minutes out of your day. Personally, I don't think it's a big deal, but that's my thoughts.

Just adding my two cents here.

[DejaVu2001]

For shoes, Raging Bull, Batman, and Superman will be getting new cubbies that are just big enough for shoes.

[cycamps]

^That's a good idea. I'm suprised that they didn't do that before.

[CoasterDude12-2]

^^Hmmm, I wonder how much they'll cost in a few years.

[demon boy]

Alright, for anyone still wondering about the shirts...... here it is.....


The Front of the shirt


The back of the shirt


The pants and belt are still the same

[rctfan1556]

Oooo, it's like neon yellowish green. Will the employees glow at night?

[FParker185]

MY RETNAS!!

[cycamps]

While it is a little bright, I don't really think that it is that bad.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Nope, not bad at all. It'll be easier for people with questions or concerns or lost children to find the employees. Plus, all work uniforms are dorky looking, it's not that big of a deal.

I also like the idea for shoes, let's hope they allow food and water in the lines (obviously not on rides, but in the line while waiting) and i'll be okay with the locker policty as well!

Also, parking at the concert i went to last night was 40 dollars to get blocked in, and parking outside ESPN Zone downtown in Chicago is around 50 for 2 hours so although the parking is ridiculously high at our park, it's really not bad considering the norm. So I take back my ranting about it!

[ThemeParkFan07]

I can't believe the way that some of this news is being taken. We now have to pay $25.00 to park in the main lot, and some people are completely fine with that. I think it is completely ridiculous and out of line. I mean, do they not get that there is only so much they can get out of their customers? With tickets and food as high as they are, they think that it's ok to implement this change? I don't think that people who have been coming to the park for years are going to take the news very well when they're told that in order to park in the lot closer to the park, they have to cough up an additional Ten Dollars. It may be cheaper than parking for a concert, but Amusement Park Parking has never been that high and shouldn't be nearing that price height now.

It is very sad for me to say that there is no value left at all in the park anymore. Parking, Admission, and Food prices have reached ridiculous levels. A Crappy Locker policy is implemented to suck even more money out of their customers. All while ripping out rides (though I understand their reasons why), cutting theatres and shows in favor of old crappy award shows that few people will be interested in watching, and implementing numerous cost-saving measures. I don't think that these measures are at all justified, and it baffles me that increasingly bizzare decisions are being made even though the "new" management has been running the company for 2-3 years. It makes me long for the days of 2005, because even though the park was narrowly focused on demographics that contributed less to their profit, there was a greater value. Our park was lucky enough to have solid operations, Great Shows, a waterpark included with admission, great themed music that made areas pleasant to walk through and re-inforce the theme, American Eagle going backwards, reasonable parking prices, decent theming on the additions of 2004-2005, and many other things going for it. What is there now? The water park is still included with admission. Almost everything else on that list is gone. Overall I feel like very little has actually improved. I feel like this management is wiser in determining what rides or additions are good for our park and the atmosphere is more family friendly, but how many families are actually going to go to Six Flags when they see these prices? Or even more importantly, how many who do go are going to return? Why not actually address the legitimate issues that have still not been fixed? For example, Food is still outrageous in terms of quality, price, and service. Why not work on improving that instead of fixing what isn't broken? I am very frustrated and disappointed in the decisions that Six Flags has been making recently, and I may not visit at all this upcoming season. Their decision making and policies have become ridiculous, and are making me begin to hate a park that I used to love.

[tp41190]

^ Good post!

Six Flags is turning into an "evil" company much like Wal*Mart, Bayer and CostCo.

[SfGaMownz]

hahaha how does Bayer qualify as an evil company?

[Bob O]

I wouldnt call SF evil at all, just a very badly run/mismanaged company that makes lousy business decisions on a consisent basis.

I also cant understand how some one can look at the new ugly shirts, and think they are good, and then think just because you put a new shirt on a employee and its going to result in better customer service!!!

And then think its OK for guests to be charged for a locker, when once bins were provided free of charge and then also think increasing parking fee's is just great because they got raped on parking fee's somewhere else.

And sadly some moron from SFGAM will read the comments about how it is good that prices for parking are up, and now we make them use pay lockers, that it will give SFGAM even more incentive to jack up all kind of prices in the future.

The much better idea would be for everyone to complain to SFGAM management about the increase's in prices and the fact more attractions were removed from the park than added in the past year, and then you add in that portions of the park will open later. If people just think everything is fine, then you will just see more of the same in the future unless management hears from there guests. People should never be happy when they pay more but get less in return!!

I will visit the park this year as I love riding coasters and do enjoy the park, but I will spend as little money inside the park as possible. I did pay for season pass's and will pay for a season pasrking pass, but beside that I will spend little in the park as I can eat outside the park and get free ice water when needed. And other than maybe using a old sport bottle for refills, I dont plan on spending much else in the park.

[tp41190]

There doing this price raise to get a larger profit so then can get out of debt. But what will happen when they are out of debt? You know there not going to ever lower prices on anything. So all its going to do is, like Bob O said, make more cuts and price rasies in the future...and sure it may have got them out of debt, but will this "plan" keep working in the future. And while it may be working at other Six Flags parks that really needed help, its making some of the parks in the chain become worse.

[CoasterDude12-2]

I concur with 4 of the last 5 posts in this topic (the one about bayer doesn't apply). It seems maddening to me when I go on this site, and hear how much various prices are going up, that people seem to care less. How much in love with SF to be to allow it to charge $25 bucks for parking, a buck every time you have something your holding on to, pay more money for crappy food, and not even get the entire park to open at 10? The prices for food, and especially drinks, were outrageous BEFORE new management came in, and now they are worse than ever. Shame on you if let SF dominate your wallet.



I bought a season pass, and I intend to use it. I still love Great America, but like Bob O, I will not spend a dime in the park. I won't carry anything in line, and I'll just take the train so I don't have to pay for parking. If they start charging for bathrooms, i'll just go outside the park.

[cycamps]

I do agree that it is wrong that prices are going way up, but not everyone goes to the park as much as we do, (i.e. general public) and I think that they will willingly pay that money, not knowing any different.

Also, I would like to add that it is a good point that with the money we pay to get into the park, the whole thing should be open. But in all reality, 1 hour isn't that big of a deal.

[FParker185]

I honestly cant envision any situation where SF will ever be out of debt. It's to deep, it's only a matter of time.

[tsalas08]

...

[CoasterDude12-2]

^ It sounds like you are management.





The lockers increase ride capacity, as proven in other parks already this year, and they barely, if at all, break even with the locker fee.

Lockers don't increase ride capacity, they just make lines smaller because no one wants to pay for one. They wouldn't have to break even if they just kept the storage bins. SF stated on every bin that they were NOT responsible, and I was ok with that. If something got stolen, I knew it was my fault. SF is just doing this to make money, plain and simple.

[tsalas08]

...

[BMRider]

I haven't posted in sometime. Everyone is complaining about the higher prices and "less" service. If you want something to happen you need to voice your opinion to the right people. If you really don't like it and complain about everything then don't go to the park. Don't give your hard earned money to the company. Go to another park where you feel the service is better. You do it in everyday life why not do it here. If you don't like how Burger King makes their burgers you will leave and go to Wendy's. You choose where to spend your money and by going to the park you are telling them "I don't like the new policies, but I'll still give you $100 dollars for a season pass". That isn't getting your message across.

With all the coupons out there, why would anyone pay full price for admission. Yes the prices are set at $55 dollars but they put out the coke cans, Jewel discounts, and the cheaper tickets on the web.

Yes, I don't like the parking situation, but I'm not that upset about that I won't go back to the park because I can buy a parking pass because I go to the park a lot and it will pay for itself. The park is in the Chicago market where parking in the downtown/shopping area is no less than $10 for the first hour and if you are down there for the whole day you are paying at least $20. If you don't want to pay that for parking in the city your second choice is to take the train but it is an inconvenience and you have to plan your day around their time, or third not go at all.

A lot of companies today are cutting back operating expenses. Stores have less employees and the amount of hours they stay open are shorter. Sale prices aren't as profound as they use to be. Why are you upset that Six Flags has to do the same thing. To save money they open County Fair one hour later. It could be where we are back to 2001-03 when most rides opened at 11 and some rides were weekends only.

I'm surprised at the number of people who never say one good thing about the park and still pay their money to go to the park. If you don't like it speak up or stay out. Those are the only 2 productive things to do because if you b**** and still go they will ignore everything you say.

[tp41190]

Regarding the past few posts...

This has to do with what Bob O was saying earlier. Letting them raise prices and not open County Fair till 11:00 will only give them the response of "oh, no one seemed to mind...its not a big deal". Well then, they will do a little bit of this every time they can and eventually it will become outrageous. You need to voice your opinion if you don't like it. Otherwise they will keep doing this thinking no one minds.

Also, about this post

Obviously, despite your claim, you still feel the price is worth it because you still will be visiting the park – otherwise why waste the money. If you think SF is overpriced then don’t go; that’s how you tell management that you disapprove, because when they notice the drop in numbers they lower the prices, plain and simple. At bare minimum visit the park and see how you feel before you begin another rant.
I don't mean to be a jerk or anything to that effet, I just strongly feel differently about the situation and have a clear understanding of what the management is trying to do.
-Tracy

If you are a coaster enthusiast, you cant just go to another park and not go. Like he said, he goes because he likes riding coasters. Its one thing where you can deal with the price. And if someone goes 15-20 times a year, they are getting there moneys worth. And you are saving money by not buying anything in the park. So buying a season and parking pass, and going 15-20 is not "giving" them money. But by not buy anything else will.

[tsalas08]

...

[Bob O]

There is no evidence that management is doing a great job, they have sold off property but are still deeper in debt and the stock price is hovering at all time lows. The first quarter results mean little as it is only 5% of the yearly total and with easter being in the first quarter this year unlike last year it isnt a apples to apples comparison.
As for enthusiasts web sites, they tend to be suck up the park sites and are due little to impact the bottom line of the company. SF doesnt make big bucks on teenagers using the season pass multiple times when they spend little and make lines long, which is why the company is trying to lure families which spend more.

You may find the shirts nice looking, I sure dont and why they may make it somewhat easier to find a employee, that means nothing if the employee isnt properly trained and helps the guest out in a courteous manner.

The lockers will do nothing to increase ride capacity, though that is the company propaganda. Having every ride run at full capacity from parking opening, and not opening sections of the park later will have a greater effect on ride capacity. With people getting rid of flip flops before they ride some rides some rideslike BTR/SUE will make the locker addition a moot point. And the locker wont stop large people from trying to get on rides and small people from getting on rides as SF doesnt measure people before they get in line.

Everyone has there own favorite ride and should have the ability to go to it at park opening and ride it with as short a wait as possible. And not have lines be long right away due to the park opening some sections later than others. Name another price that has a $25 parking fee?????(other than SF)
The park still has a massive debt level which hasnt been reduced and it hasnt been shown that by jacking up prices you will increase your profit level. You can make alot of money on selling more items at a reduced price than less at a higher price. While we are getting a new coasterm the park is reducing the overall amount of attractions this year which is net loss for the customer. And while im looking forward to the new coaster, its not like we are getting a major attraction like a RB or a ride that has a high capacity. So I wont complain about the addition, but dont oversell it as something more than it is.

With a season pass I do find it worth the money because I LOVE riding coasters. Sadly in this area there is little competition so we have to put up with whatever SF gives us, but I will spend as little money as possible in the park itself, and will instead spend that money when I go to other parks where I find a much greater value for my money. And I also see where management is coming from nad why I agree with the emphasis on adding family attractions, I think there polices of screwing the guests out of every possible penny will be counter-productive and at the end of the season we will get the same refrain of weather etc caused the company to miss its goals.

As for saying good things about the park, it does have some GREAT RIDES like RB/BTR/Whizzer/Viper, and I do think the ride-ops do a GREAT job under rough circumstances at times. I do believe that parts of the park are much cleaner than in the past. As stated earlier we dont have many options when it comes to coaster riding in this area, so I do enjoy the rides at SF between vacation trips to other parks which I cant go to as often as I would like but find more enjoyable.

And you should complain about things you dont like, and let management know or that cant respond if they chose to do so. Again Im not aware of any other park that charges $25 to park, and even $15 to park, And many parks that charge $10 or $11 which is more common offer tram service for there gusets.