You people need a reality check.... YES water rides bring in the families that buy season passes, but those families usually go "on the cheap" The reasoning behind this is that with a season pass endless water park trips are cheap, so long as the family doesn't buy the overpriced food + games + stuff at the park.... Smart parents use this as a budget trip and save tons of money, and don't pay much per trip.
On the other hand families who make ONE trip a year pay more to get into the park that trip, spend more, and spend a lot more freely since it is a once a year or once every few year vacation.... This is very common and brings in buckets of money.... The parents could be any age and the kids could be little all the way up into their early 20s (assuming they live at home yet + have younger siblings). This is your BIG money maker, and it means you need attractions to draw the entire family! You need water park + flat rides + coasters to please everyone in the family.
Teens and young adults are actually pretty big spenders compared to little kids/families who get the season passes. If teens aren't sure they're going to make multiple trips that year they probably won't buy season passes (paying more per trip) and they're likely to buy food + drink + something at the park. Again teens/young adults who buy season passes may bring in less money. Season passes hurt the park profits unless people buy stuff, and little kids don't buy stuff (unless its on a once a year trip and they beg their parents) and adults don't buy much either....
You need to attract the people with money, and the people who spend more per trip -- you need to DRAW people into the park, people who return to the park are just a bonus with the pocket change they spend there.... Water parks don't have any draw, and the theme park is a little lacking these days, that is why I have a problem with this
bizarroboy wrote:Okay I just want to say something, teens do spend a significant amount of money, parents always give them boatloads of money to spend. I would know this because I am a teen and my friends to the exact same thing.
Not everyone is spoiled like that. When I went to the park when I was a teen, I'd be lucky if my parents gave me money for my ticket. After that, I'm buying everything on my own.
Oh and at age 14 you had a job, car, and everything else. I've only been to six flags once this year, and I don't own a season pass or anything.
I didn't have any of that and was lucky to make it to the park once every 2 or 3 years. The few times I did go, it was because I got a free ticket through that reading program that most Chicago area schools did. I wasn't able to buy a season pass until I had a job.
rizash wrote:You people need a reality check.... YES water rides bring in the families that buy season passes, but those families usually go "on the cheap" The reasoning behind this is that with a season pass endless water park trips are cheap, so long as the family doesn't buy the overpriced food + games + stuff at the park.... Smart parents use this as a budget trip and save tons of money, and don't pay much per trip.
You are assuming people are smart with traveling to theme parks. Most SP families buy the sports bottles, rent lockers and buy in park food. The season pass "value" makes it okay to over spend in other areas because of the money saved on tickets. Also, people will gladly spend $10 to buy something to save $1 from a coupon in the SP booklet.
On the other hand families who make ONE trip a year pay more to get into the park that trip, spend more, and spend a lot more freely since it is a once a year or once every few year vacation.... This is very common and brings in buckets of money.... The parents could be any age and the kids could be little all the way up into their early 20s (assuming they live at home yet + have younger siblings). This is your BIG money maker, and it means you need attractions to draw the entire family! You need water park + flat rides + coasters to please everyone in the family.
If they are only coming every few years, you don't really need to add anything. The thrill of Raging Bull will be the same as it was the first time due to breaks in riding. Add to that the whole lack of competition. With Kiddieland gone and Indiana Beach's future in question, families who want to hit a theme/amusement park for the day have no choice but Great America within a days drive.
Teens and young adults are actually pretty big spenders compared to little kids/families who get the season passes. If teens aren't sure they're going to make multiple trips that year they probably won't buy season passes (paying more per trip) and they're likely to buy food + drink + something at the park. Again teens/young adults who buy season passes may bring in less money. Season passes hurt the park profits unless people buy stuff, and little kids don't buy stuff (unless its on a once a year trip and they beg their parents) and adults don't buy much either....
I'd be willing to bet adults and/or little kids buy as much as teens. All the teens I ever saw at the park played the same $5 game for a cape or basketball that everyone else did.
You need to attract the people with money, and the people who spend more per trip -- you need to DRAW people into the park, people who return to the park are just a bonus with the pocket change they spend there.... Water parks don't have any draw, and the theme park is a little lacking these days, that is why I have a problem with this
The fact the weather is 85 and sunny makes the water park a draw. The water park constantly hits capacity, which shows a ton of people love the place. I never went there, but I'm all for expanding what is making $$$.
As more time passes, I grow more curious as to what the next announcement (slide details) will entail & wonder how the expansion will look which is makin me more & more excited. Though at first I was deep down a little sour, as I've said, I support anything the park brings because I do love it. I go to Hurricane Harbor simply for its atmosphere. I feel so....vacationlike(is that a word?) When I'm there. I really love it. Its a beautiful waterpark. So I'm intrigued on what it'll look like next year. I just hope I don't have to wait till Spring to see it, release some concept art SFGAm!
For me, the water park in general is nothing to get excited over as:
A) I never have any time to go there B) My last trips have been by myself C) I am not a big fan of being in water for too long and going there for an hour or two is pointless
I do appreciate us ALWAYS getting something. I think we have gotten SOMETHING every year for the last 10 years! Pretty sure after Bull in 1999 the park took 2000 off before going big in 2001. Ok, 2002 wasn't that great either but still. Six Flags America needs to be sold down the line, it is obvious SF does not care if people stop going (ala SFKK) due to lack of additions.
As thrilling as it is I just hope nobody gets injured and sue SF from all the injuries they might get from that new thrilling slide even with the padding. Im glad to say that at least we get something every season wether it a new show, attraction or even roller coaster its better than nothing so everyone should be happy with what we get at least we got one who knows what theyll do in our park in the future at least its still open.
You know what I really don't find fair about all of this? The fact that WE are the most profittable of all of the parks, we are getting something that will make us even MORE profitable, and SFGAdv gets Chang. Plus, were paying for all the stuff they get. Now don't go calling me a narcicist yet--is that what it is? Someone who contradicts themselves?--well don't. I'm merely stating facts in light of the general public's concern for a loss of space at the park.
RagingFanatic wrote:You know what I really don't find fair about all of this? The fact that WE are the most profittable of all of the parks, we are getting something that will make us even MORE profitable, and SFGAdv gets Chang. Plus, were paying for all the stuff they get. Now don't go calling me a narcicist yet--is that what it is? Someone who contradicts themselves?--well don't. I'm merely stating facts in light of the general public's concern for a loss of space at the park.
Isn't that when you love yourself? narcissism? What ever, I understand what you mean though... I am happy on what were receiving, even though a part of me is upset but you bet, I'm gonna be at HH testin it all out, & KNOWING that SFGAm will make it nice looking.
But I DO agree on the loss of space for what you're concerned with. BUT as I've stated, look at parks like CP or SFOG which proves rides can be well layered atop eachother or very close to... I mean Mantis goes right over IronDragon. Goliath topples over Georgia Scorcher, midways, bathrooms, & the road exiting the park...awesome. So I habve faith we could do this. Even check out SFGADv with Kingda Ka, it used parkinglot. We've done that too.
Now as someone mentioned about the Time Machine at FSMP, a coaster LIKE that(narrow/long) could run along HH using up "some" spaces. We never know. A lot more than we think is possible.
Ooh I can't believe I left those "examples" out. Indiana Beach def. I was actually surprised that Indiana Beach wasn't AS trashy as I thought. Pics make it look a lot worse than it is, not sayin its fully acceptable but they pull off the clutter really well in my opinion. I thought it was gonna be a hotmess of an all year state fair look but it was clean(when I went), really fun, & scenic. Am I crazy?! I enjoyed myself. Haha. Don't anyone dare throw this at me with a "trashy SFGAdv" comment!
I think saying that teens spend no money at the park is completely wrong, and yes I do think families also spend money at the park also. You might say, that all the teens go to Burger King across the street, but if that were the case, than Burger King would have lines out the door to Golden Corral for goodness sakes. Believe it or not, yes teens might not have a job yet and not have that type of money, but they get money from their parents to buy food at least. And some teens come with their family too, but they might separate from their family, and meet up for food later on with their family.
I would say rather than teens and family, enthusiasts are the cheapies. They go to the park so many times that they know how to avoid paying high priced food (maybe sandwiches from home), playing games, paying lockers, and whatnot. They have a season pass that allows them to go to every Six Flags park with parking, and go to some of them for "free". I say cheap, but it's really your money, and you can either waste it away, of save upon it. You aren't forced to buy anything at Six Flags or Cedar Fair at all just because you are there. It's ultimately their fault for not getting more money from people from the gate admission and season pass price if they are losing money on you.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Being a teen I can spend little money at the park and eat at Burger King to save money too. I usually bring 20 bucks to the park and I can still have a good day!