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No, the mix for attendance at Six Flags parks is historically overwhelmingly in favor of memberships and season passes. IIRC (and it's likely in this thread), people with some form of pass made up in excess of 65% of attendance at the parks pre-pandemic. Some would suggest that this is unsustainable - Six Flags was profitable at this time. Very profitable. In fact, their debt to income ratio was lower than Cedar Fair's, which meant that their fundamentals were even arguably better. Then the pandemic happened: some companies took out loans to retain senior folks, whereas Six Flags pushed to just burn their existing cash and layoff people. There are many people both in the industry and in this community who cannot accept that the Six Flags parks are basically just regional amusement facilities catering to a local demographic, most of whom are passholders and visit frequently. They demand everyone operates like Disney World, where passholders are a substantial minority in favor of higher per-cap spending day visitors buying one day tickets. Six Flags - ANY OF THEM - isn't Disney World. It has virtually none of the infrastructure of Disney World (or even Disneyland) to generate revenue related to park visitation like hotels, restaurants, or entertainment districts. Operating regional amusement parks from a budgetary standpoint though isn't interesting to most people, and so they gravitate towards the thing that sounds much more interesting, which is from a business model completely and utterly separate from what Six Flags is. And it is no surprise to me whatsoever that this strategy - pump up the prices, spend nothing in capex - fails miserably over and over and over again.

They appear to be Kumbak trains. Well they say if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all so uh... peace out everyone. Enjoy your afternoon.

$40 for parking at SFGAdv, wow. That absolutely blows my mind. When I first started working for the park at those very booths where you pay for parking in 1998, it was $7. That is a 471% increase. For comparison, the inflation rate for those 24 years totals 82%.

Whenever a theme park company has a bad quarter, people fall over eachother to explain that the reason for the bad quarter is whatever they don't personally like about the company to validate themselves. The reality though, is that 99% of these complaints would have applied for years even in times where they were making tons and tons of money. When you're trying to figure out why this year sucks compared to last year, the easiest place to start looking is wherever there has been an actual change between this year and last year. The main differences: 1) They raised prices dramatically, ended very popular programs, cut special events and cut hours so they're offering less for more. 2) Strong economic headwinds are impacting the entire industry to some extent. Most companies are weathering the storm, so the majority of the problem is likely #1, though #2 isn't helping.

Only 17 min left!!!! The best gift for a coaster enthusiast!!!!

I really like the overall picture of keeping unruly kids out, and offering a higher quality family product that comes at a higher price tag. Which swimming pool do I want to go to? The public pool for $2 a person? Or, the $100 a month private pool family membership, where everything is well maintained and the people respect each other? If you act like a shit, your membership is revoked. Better product. Higher price. I get it. I want it. But, typically that would come with improving the product first, then raising the prices to meet the improvements. They can't hike the prices and justify it by saying they're offering 'less' shitty food, and less people will be at the park. "We planted four new flower beds, painted the shitters, and took away a family event. Pay more and come to our park!"

As I said, I've ridden every year since the first day open to public except 2020 and don't really notice a difference. Yes I can see differences in videos, both on and off ride. But in person on the ride? Nope feels the same.

I saw that the other day. I'm planning on going to the park to get my 2023 pass tonight. I'm sure my kids would be happy to ride the train, so I may go find out where the marker is for my own personal entertainment They were indicating back in May that the next 2 years at least are water park related, so the location you pointed out makes sense

Major update: the propeller fell off of the rusted plane thing. If you're going to the park specifically for this, consider postponing as this development may take your extremely-premium experience down to an only marginally-premium experience. Oh, and sorry for the double post but I hope you're sitting down for the Fright Fest prices. ... just to compare, this is more expensive than some days at Disney World This is for the same night. Great Adventure is only going to be open for 5 hours this night. HHN will likely either run for 6.5 or 7.5 hours this day based on previous years. Also, mazes are not included in the Six Flags price. Also their mazes are terrible. Holiday in the Park is also all listed at $99, so... good luck with that.

This is so insanely Six Flags. As seen in the GreatAdv Conn group on FB. "We priced the trash out of the park, and then took a bunch of broken dirty old crap from the boneyard and threw it on this dead grass we have right in the middle of the park! Premium experience!"

I don't know how I missed this post but holy shit.

FYI to the Alphabet Mafia... this year's Out On the Mountain is Friday Sept 9th. A little earlier than in past years. The flyer is definitely giving some *Graphic design is my passion* vibes...

If I was an exec at Cedar Fair, I'd look at the data behind Valleyfair and take away the following points. Valleyfair has been operating at an overall profit for the last 15 years without the addition of a new roller coaster. Lost Island may be something new and flashy, but Wisconsin Dells is basically the same thing (actually better than Lost Island at the moment) at a similar distance, has been operating for a timespan of 30 (Mt Olympus) to 40 (Noah's Ark) years, and has not hurt Valleyfair's ability to draw crowds and generate profit. Valleyfair and Camp Snoopy/Nick-U have coexisted for... 30 years. Both parks are financially successful despite being 12-15 miles from each other. Valleyfair's major attractions dwarf the height of any of their competitor's major attractions by 100 ft or more (Wild Thing, Power Tower, Northern Lights), cementing itself as the big fish of the region according to public perception. Based on those points, the trend I'd be looking at is that making small, quality investments in Valleyfair is a verifiable, proven, data-driven, and reliable path to profit. Cedar Fair has the ability to not make a major investment (roller coaster) until they just one day feel the urge to do so, on a whim if so desired. It could be 2024, it could be never.

Wow. Easily spooked. Keep them off pretty much any Disney dark ride and they will be safe.

I think it's pretty clever and cool idea to pay tribute to the ride, but also do something totally unique. So many people complain about cookie cutter Six Flags coasters: and here we have something original AND it looks like fun, with airtime

They can play revenue games; If there is a larger crowd, there are more Fast Lane sales. At what point do people pay, or walk away and how many? I happened to be driving by Valleyfair Saturday morning at about 10:30am. They had at least a half mile long line- stop and go line of cars- to get into the park. I don't hardly ever go by on Saturdays, so I'm not familiar on the line size they normally get then in the mornings. But I haven't seen lines like that since the Haunt last year. Could be a draw from the monster trucks opening weekend, and/or because it's getting into the last few weeks of warm weather on a Saturday. I don't really know. But I do know several people/families that are starting to do things like go to Lost Island. Their water park is at least as good as Valleyfair's and in some ways better. Now that they are adding dry rides- a couple decent coasters and such, it's becoming even more of a park. People can get up at 7, get there and into the park by 11, easy. Spend the day, and be back home by 10pm. Yes it's a few hours in the car, but less waiting time in the park. (it's a relatively pleasant drive too) And here's the kicker- Since Valleyfair is the only major park in the metro area, many kids are there in the spring on a school trip already. Go again with the family? That's for the crowd who's more budget conscious. The ones with more money are wondering if they want to spend it for a Fast Lane at Valleyfair or go to a larger park. Valleyfair is like, "we wore out the Looping Starship and replaced it with Delirious..." I think the Monster Trucks is a great event- As long as they are getting enough people and Fast Lane sales, and a possible $40 a head for the Trucks, they don't have to make major investments like they did in the early 2000's. But at a lack of investment eventually builds up their own competition too.

So how's the Park currently? No President, wondering if that makes a difference at this point. Any more rides SBNO? Have they finally completed the Wheelchair Ramp for SE? Any markers for a Blockbuster Steel Coaster popping up???

Similar at SFFT, and with a new ride investment too. *however*. . after Salim visited the park ~3 weeks ago? almost EVERY food improvement and/or new menu item is now gone (and I mean it. . I'm not talking "dining plan" stuff, which has taken a hit too. . but you can't even BUY things like the Calzone, the schnitzel, the cinnamon bread, or the baked potatoes any more). FFS, they just took "Beef and Broccoli" off the menu at Chop Six. (no, really) yeah. . he's basically fucked the parks with his cost cutting - even the ones that were running fantastic independently. (and poor Jeffrey Siebert is stuck standing there watching all their hard work go down the toilet - huge investment in both time/effort, and money to refresh Sangerfest Halle, and improve the food options in the food court option. . . and now? all that is being offered is: Personal Pizza (cheese or pepperoni), Chicken strips, a prepackaged side salad, and if you wanna pay $17? a baked chicken and beans plate. it's wrong, and driving any customers who WOULD have eaten in the park, away. It did us, we went and found a better option.

OK so you originally replied to me so I'd like you to point out where I defended corporate Six Flags. You are delusional. (Sorry for the double-post, but I missed this absolute gem.)

Crack kills, bro.

Actually, SF has been refreshing the parks with landscaping as well as improving food quality. I cannot speak for each and every SF park but here at SFoG much has been done. Two legacy roller coasters here have received complete overhauls in the past couple years, including new track and fresh paint and theming. The food quality has greatly improved at most locations. These are things that have not been done in decades. That is the good part. On the flip side, employee service has remained hit-or-miss, with some really bad attitudes. There are many nice folks working here but there are far too many bad experiences too. While the food is better, getting it is still a challenge with long waits and sometimes poor service, though lower attendance has reduced the waits on some days. It does appear the current CEO's strategy of lowering attendance with higher prices has backfired though. Raising prices during a period of inflation was a double blow. And without a major new attraction, many would-be guests have stayed away and spent their discretionary dollars elsewhere. (The new landscaping is nice but no one is coming to the park just to see it, just sayin') The chain should have waited a year to raise prices and then paired that with adding a major new attraction at all (if not most) of the parks. It is difficult to justify such a steep price hike while not getting added value for it, but instead getting reduced hours and schedules. On the surface it seems like Mr. Bassoul is making some bold (albeit risky) moves in an effort to change things up. Unfortunately everything else we are hearing about the current CEO is not good. I know this chain could be exceptional if the right leadership were found. SF once set the standard for theme parks. Angus Wynne has been turning over in his grave for awhile now.

LMAO, quite the contrary, I think its hilarious. I'm coming off harsh about those who are trying to defend corporate Six Flags. This board came in years ago saying they were determined to keep Six Flags going in an upward direction. They say they wanted to do so with input from the employees and clientele from each park. As they continued to say they wanted this input, they did the complete opposite. Management that had been there decades started leaving, park presidents retiring, the masses out the door, guests complaints more and more by the years. Those of us that decided to leave warned exactly what would happen if they continued, and look at where its at. This was a long time coming, even before the pandemic, the pandemic just made whats happening now premature a few years. I said it would be 2025 of what we're seeing here in 2022. I just don't get how people are defending corporate Six Flags, a few people here are prime examples. Many Six Flags parks were once top notch parks, some even world renowned... can't say that now at all. So many people get pissy with Six Flags or other parks because the park didn't build a 600Ft, 180mph rollercoaster. I can give 2 craps less about things like that. What makes Six Flags utter crap now a days, is corporate not allowing the parks to run individually as they did for 20, 30, 40 years. They wanted to make them identical across the board... you just can't do that. Next, these parks LOOK horrible and run down. They refuse to spend money to fix things properly, instead patch, glue, and ghetto fix things over and over, which in turns end up costing just as much over time, and still not getting the job done. The lack of care of broken promises to employees affects employees negatively, in return, you get less enthusiastic employees. Employees aren't given tools and resources needed to do their jobs correctly.... you can go on and on with the issues with this corporation. It is so bad that it is literally funny.

Almost everything costs more, service is not the same, and product quality is going to shit. Aside from that, everything is great. I hope he factored inflation into those figures, because they definitely make his numbers looks better without taking that into consideration.

That should qualify as a war crime, tbh