Skipping the 2010 Season, thoughts?

[SFaddiction84]

I am being unreasonable in my thoughts that Parking is over priced at Great America?

Right now Sept 10th only, you can get Season Pass's for $64.99 or Season Pass W/ Parking for $134.99 via Facebook Link!

So correct me, its $70 or so for a Season Parking Pass? But only $64 for a Season Pass? I just cannot justify that! Even without, i cannot justify $15 for parking or $25 for parking! I just cannot i am sorry!

If they want to bring VALUE to the parks for families? Hmm, i used to go once or twice a week with a season pass and parking pass, until the 2009 Season! now i go NEVER because i feel for a park of that size, and lot of that size, the price is to high!

Am i wrong on this? I really would like peoples input because i just do not justify that price for parking Seasonal or Every visit!

[monsterfan99]

I am with you on parking costing too much, but you have to look at other multi-park passes. These are the other 2 I have

Cedar Fair - $150 comes with parking but no option not to get parking
Walt Disney World - $499.50 with parking but only includes the 4 theme parks (price has since went up)

So you see their prices are not bad when compared to other parks at all. It is just the way they set-up the prices feels like a kick in the pants for the parking. The positive is, as a family, it is cheaper if you only get the parking on one pass.

My only other solution is if you can get to Six Flags St. Louis during Fright Fest. They tend to run around 50 for a pass and 45 for parking. If you have 2 or more people going, it might be worth the drive just for the savings as it is only 6 hours from Great America and an outstanding park.

[Ilovthevu']

Yes, the parking pass is a lot of money, but think of it this way. If you have a family of 4, you only have to really pay that parking pass once for that $139, and everyone else is $64.99, or before they are $59.99. You can't get that deal anywhere else for an amusement park. Sure, if you are only going to go to the park, twice a parking pass is definitely not worth it, but if you go a lot, than it is. Raising the parking pass must mean they might be raising parking next year though.

[Chitown]

No matter how you slice it, it's still a good deal if you frequent multiple times.

The parking pass is a good deal because since Shapiro got on board, you can park at any other SF park with the pass. That was not allowed before him.

What do you mean not worth it for a park of that size? It's considered a major park.

I think you are just jaded with the place. Take a year off and your interest will probably come back.

[Ilovthevu']

I remember even before, we used the parking pass for SFStL when we had come from Six Flags Great America. The only problem park was SFKK because of it not being owned by Six Flags (the parking lot). However, now you can just get the money back at customer service, but that would have to stink a lot if you bought a parking pass over there, and everytime you wanted your money back, you would have to go there. Wow, that's frustrating.

I would love to go to Six Flags St. Louis for what I consider a "free" vacation because you get season pass, and parking pass cheaper, but the problem I have with it is what happens if something happens to my pass. Then I'm doomed.

I would have to go all the way back to SFStL, and spend more money. So, that's not a chance I'm willing to take. One year, my pass was nearly faded (the numbers), and I had to get a new one, or the scanner probably wouldn't take it anymore. Something like that, or if I lose it accidently could happen, and I'm doomed.

[FParker185]

pretty sure if something happens they can send you a new pass though the mail.

[Bob O]

I would agree with Fparker that the price of parking is a ripoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sadly they have no competition in the area when it comes to theme parks so those who love to ride coasters will likely have to suck it up and pay it as I will.

Since they rip you off for parking spend as little money as possible once you enter the parks. Buy no food in the parks, get free ice water rather than buy any drinks, and if you need re-fill-able sport bottles just find one of many that are left laying around and take them home, wash them and use them next time you visit for $1 refills and dont waster 12.99 on them. They may get you on the overpriced parking but you can try to recoup that by giving the park little other money and if any park people ever ask questions regarding the park make sure to let them know your thoughts.

If you dont visit any other SF parks in the year you get no benefit from free parking at other parks in the chain which is likely to be most guests. And while SFGAM is a major park in the SF chain, when are we going to get some major addition to the park. It has been many years since we got a major addition and there is no sign that will change in the upcoming year.

[Chitown]

Bizarro in 2011

[monsterfan99]

Bizarro in 2011

You are not the only one thinking that...

[Bob O]

That would be a excellent addition, if true!!!!!!!!!

But since we havent added a major attraction since 2003, that is a long time when you consider what SFGADV/SFMM have received.

[Jcoaster95]

We should get a Mega-Lite for 2011

[Paradise]

Whether we get anything new or not, whether the park is clean or not, even if the only thing to eat is $30 Salmon from underneath V2's little lake thing, THIS IS MY HOMEPARK AND I WILL NEVER MISS A SEASON.

And you shouldn't either if this is TRULY your home park and the place you love.

[Luxornv]

Even if something new is added, I'm not sure if I will renew my pass. The past few seasons, I've found myself with less and less free time for me to even be able to go. Last summer I worked two jobs (one internship), and went to summer school. All of that left me with one free day a week, Sunday. I just don't have as much time as I used too, and I know I'll probably be at the park at least once next season, but it's the sequential trips I'm not so sure about. I'll be lucky if I can make it to the park one more time this season.

[MForce4ever]

Since they rip you off for parking spend as little money as possible once you enter the parks. Buy no food in the parks, get free ice water rather than buy any drinks, and if you need re-fill-able sport bottles just find one of many that are left laying around and take them home, wash them and use them next time you visit for $1 refills and dont waster 12.99 on them. They may get you on the overpriced parking but you can try to recoup that by giving the park little other money and if any park people ever ask questions regarding the park make sure to let them know your thoughts.

Not to say I disagree, but this is why parks hate enthusiasts

If you dont visit any other SF parks in the year you get no benefit from free parking at other parks in the chain which is likely to be most guests. And while SFGAM is a major park in the SF chain, when are we going to get some major addition to the park. It has been many years since we got a major addition and there is no sign that will change in the upcoming year.

Recent additions:
2009 - Buccaneer Battle (major)
2008 - Dark Knight Coaster (major)
2007 - Wiggle's World (major)
2006 - Tornado
2005 - Hurricane Harbor (very major)
2004 - Mardi Gras (major)
2003 - Superman - Ultimate Flight (major)
2002 - No major additions
2001 - Vertical Velocity and Deja Vu (major)
2000 - No major additions
1999 - Raging Bull (major)

So looking back over the additions that SFGAm has invested in over the past 10 years it seems to me that nearly every year has had a major addition. Remember Six Flags is catering to families not coaster enthusiasts because they realize that coaster enthusiasts bring in very little profit as opposed to families. And obviously that strategy is working for SFGAm because it is if not the highest grossing park in the chain than one of the top grossing.

[Viper 88]

The prices are high. When i first went in the first grade parking was 10.00 and admission was 40.00 or so why do they have to charge so much and you actually end up getting so little? Try this on for size games were 1.00 nothing over 3.00 now 3.00 is the base price all the way up to 10.00. I mean come on what is that? Food is outlandish my family went 3 times and i went once with friends and each time we ate in the parking lot sure u end up wasting a little time but the savings really add up. The only time me and my family are going to eat there again is fright fest and thats only because we have a coupon, trying to fight through all those ppl is just too much. And remember the days when the park served real food and sold things for the home and kitchen and leather jackets? please reply.

[MForce4ever]

The prices are high. When i first went in the first grade parking was 10.00 and admission was 40.00 or so why do they have to charge so much and you actually end up getting so little? Try this on for size games were 1.00 nothing over 3.00 now 3.00 is the base price all the way up to 10.00. I mean come on what is that? Food is outlandish my family went 3 times and i went once with friends and each time we ate in the parking lot sure u end up wasting a little time but the savings really add up. The only time me and my family are going to eat there again is fright fest and thats only because we have a coupon, trying to fight through all those ppl is just too much. And remember the days when the park served real food and sold things for the home and kitchen and leather jackets? please reply.

So amusement parks are not supposed to adjust prices to reflect things like, capital investments and inflation? If you have such an issue with the prices they charge, there is a simple solution; don't go

[Ilovthevu']

What I find amazing is that even though the parking, and food is so high, they are only getting like maybe $43 in capita. I forgot the number, but it is shocking low with admission included in that, and parking split between people. With food lower, more people would buy it in the park.

[superflybri]

I skipped this year.... I get bored of rides very fast if I have been on them a million times so I decided to save my self some money and time by skipping this year. I won't be going next year (as of right now either!) I'm going to wait until we get something new and exciting aka 2011. Instead I might go hit some other parks that I have never been to.

PS! I remember to good ole' days of $7-10 parking... Boy do I miss that! I'm sure the older folk remembers that as well

[tp41190]

Let me get this straight...$140 is too much money for a huge theme park, huge water park, unlimited visits, free events (CAD, Pass holder night), free admission to fright fest (probably the best in the chain), free visits and parking to other SF parks, the coupon book with "bring a friend free/half off" and "buy one gets one" tickets. Not to mention, the park is open from April to November...how in hell is that a bad deal?!?!

[monsterfan99]

^ To someone that does not visit the other SF parks and only visits Great America a few times during the summer, it is very high. Unlike buying a one day ticket, you are asked to plunk down a large chunk of money at once.

For a family of 4, you are asking them to pay $329.96 plus tax if you get the parking pass. This is not including the possibility of food, souvenirs, games, gas cost, locker fees and flash pass.

To me, the pass is worth it. However, I get why someone thinks the place is expensive.

[Ilovthevu']

If $329 is too expensive for a family of 4, than what the park should do is to not have so many high expensive rides like in million, and millions of dollars. To me, $329 is not that expensive when you consider how many employees are working daily just in one section of the park per the full day, and is not expensive just looking at a price tag that BB was this year. It's a full season of admissions which is for 6.5 months. You have take in consideration all employees this park has a daily basis, and the maintenance they do like getting a new lift hill chain for Batman. I doubt when one of them breaks, that it's cheap to get another one. What about the electricity V2 uses all the time?

On top of it, you have a waterpark to visit. If you go to Cedar Point, look at how much that waterpark is next to the park. It's not that cheap. I think Magic Waters when not discounted is around $20, and that new Raging Waves place in IL is even more than $20 (Is it $25?).

A movie theater at night for 1st run shows is around $9. That's about 2 hours of entertainment. How many hours do you get at Great America? You can go on a day when it's open for 12 hours. $82 per person is not that bad, and let's say the family only goes 4 times. That's around only $20 dollars a day like Kiddieland is about $20.

I think a bunch of times, the public doesn't understand how much money is spent on these parks especially just building one roller coaster like Dark Knight. They might think it only costs $100,000, but it's much worse. I'm not saying that you don't understand the amount of money that goes into the park. You are rather just bored of the park.

It's what you think, it's what you think. If you are going to travel, it's going to cost you money too even if you sleep in a car.

[monsterfan99]

^ If you are not a huge park or theme park fan, the people don't know/care about that. A family thinks $350 is a car payment or food for the month. They do not think "well, part of this does pay for re-painting American Eagle, so it is a good value." The same holds true to any entertainment activity.

Once again, to me it is worth it. But to a family with kids, that is a ton of money upfront. I completely get why anyone thinks the park is expensive.

[Galvan]

Here's my thought...

If you dont want to go to the park, fine dont... That way the rides will have shorter lines for me.


No one cares if your not getting a season pass or a parking pass or whatever, theres no use crying to us about how thrifty you plan on being in 2010.

[Jerrykoala2112]

Honestly, you are gonna skip a year. Woop dee doo! You will not give the park 130 dollars in profit. Nice. There are probably 100's of people thinking the same thing. Yet 100's thinking about getting a pass next year. Yay?

[tp41190]

I plan to get mine in St Louis. I think its only $85 for pass and parking