Paramount -PCW 2007 Season Passes - No more hopping!

[vistaway]

Hi all...longtime lurker...first post...

 

Anyway, PCW just released 2007 season pass pricing and benefit details, and guess what, for the first time (ever?), it is only valid at PCW. No more Paramount 'park hopping' benefit. They are trying to make this change very clear by mentioning it a few times during the order process. Pricing is unchanged from last year ($69).

 

www3.paramountparks.com/CanadasWonderland/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm

 

I took a quick look at other ex-Paramount parks and none seem to have 2007 details posted yet.

 

- Andy

[MJHammer1]

I'm pretty sure that Kings Island released info in the past couple days that they will have a season pass valid only at that park and a "MAXX" pass that gets you into all the Cedar Fair parks.

 

It's odd to me that Wonderland would not offer a similar MAXX pass, especially since CP and Kings Island are sorta somewhat in the neighborhood.

 

Mike

[Carnage]

Wow, so they raised prices and made it only PCW. Thanks CF.

[CoasterFanatic]

I have heard a speckle of a rumor where CF wants to unload Wonderland. Silly as it is so succesfull, but I am sure it will bring in some good dough. This policy might very well come close to confirming that rumor.

 

I think the MAXX pass is just for Ohio. If I was a guessing man, I would guess that parks like Carowinds, Great America, etc will be able to hop the whole chain on just a regular season pass.

 

We will see, I guess.

[taytig]

I saw the info online too. I called the park and asked about a hopper style pass and was informed of the following

 

Dear David,

 

Thank you for contacting Paramount Canada's Wonderland.

 

Unfortunately we do not have the option for season pass holders to access other parks. This is a new policy set by the Cedar Fair representatives. We apologize for any inconvenience that this causes you. Please be assured that your concerns have been forwarded off to the appropriate management team.

 

 

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at 905-832-8131.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kelli

Guest Service Coordinator

 

Guest and Information Services

Paramount Canada's Wonderland

9580 Jane St.

Vaughan, Ontario.

L6A 1S6

 

Just an FYI

 

David

[Carnage]

^^ That might be the best thing for the park.

 

For once PCW wouldn't have a whole bunch of underperforming parks leeching off our profits.

[bgwfreak]

Here's the details on PKI.

 

http://www3.paramountparks.com/KingsIsland/news/detail.cfm?item_id=426

 

Doesn't look like anything I'm all that interested in, especially if Carowinds doesn't get anything good next year.

[Carnage]

Wow, $125 for all the parks? That's pretty steep considering how far some of them are away.

 

At this point I see very little chance of me getting a PCW season pass next year.

 

And to figure I thought CF buying Paramount would make my CP trips cheaper.

[CoasterFanatic]

Wow, $125 for all the parks?

 

That is pretty much what CP passholders have been paying for the Geauga/CP Combo for the last couple of years. They have pretty much just extended it to PKI and the Paramount properties.

 

I am still betting that the parks outside the "Coaster Triangle" will have full access to the entire chain.

 

Paul, you might want to look into doing what I do and buy that pass at Knotts this spring if you head out that way again.

[Carnage]

^ Oh yeah!!

 

I forgot about Knotts. I'll have to check into that if I make it down this year. (which seems more likely next year then last year)

[Astat]

I know during the conference call when CF bought the Paramount parks there was a discussion about a season pass valid at all of them...I'm wondering if it might just be an exception here because it's the only non-US park.

[taytig]

I know that I would probably by an all park pass as Geauga Lake and CP are less than 6 hours from here are PKI is only 8. That would be a great summer trip - hit the 3 US and PCW in a week. Too bad they don't have the foresight to offer this. Also PKI is offering free parking pass if you renew this year - PCW should follow suit.

[Carnage]

Gotta wonder if they're doing this because they can get away with it.

 

The passes only being valid for PCW isn't going to affect the majority. In fact I'd guess that almost everyone who gets a pass won't realize they're being short changed.

[CedarPoint420]

They pulled the 2007 seasonpass sales off the Canada's Wonderland website.

 

Also, Kings Island passes were supposedly going on sale too today, but this is what it says on the website

 

 

2007 Season Passes are currently unavailable for sale via web, phone or at the park. Please check this web site periodically for updates as they become available. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

 

Maybe they're rethinking the options for passes at Canadas Wonderland?

[taytig]

Maybe they realize they can get more money with more options.... It'll be interesting to see what happens...

[307]

Well this is bogus. Hopefully they re-think things. I certainly will not be purchasing a Season's Pass at Wonderland if this is the case [we had plans to hit Cedar Point and possibly Carowinds and Kings Dominion next year].

[Carnage]

^ Me too.

 

If they go through with this the only way I'll have a season pass is if I buy it at Knotts.

 

I actually sent them an email today asking about what was going on with this. Wonder what their response will be?

[shesaidboom]

Maybe CF just doesn't want Canadians at their other parks

 

Add me to the list of people who wont be getting a PCW pass next year if the no-park hopping thing sticks.

[Carnage]

^ I'd actually be curious as to how many PCW season pass holders in past years have used the pass at other Paramount parks.

 

I'm guessing very few do.

 

Possibly few enough that Cedar Fari sees fit to drop it entirely? Not that it makes THAT much sense.

[307]

Well PCW is pretty far from any of the other parks, but that can also be said for anyone at any of the other Paramount parks. With the new Cedar Fair merger, those in Ohio are close to other parks, as are those in California.

 

Wonderland is about five hours from Geauga Lake, six from CP and eight from PKI [by car]... probably about the same distance from other Cedar Fair parks as PKD and Carowinds, so location probably isn't an overwhelming factor in the decision.

 

I'll just agree with Carnage's opinion that not many PCW passholders use the pass at other parks enough to justify allowing the few who do use it free entry at them. But it still annoys the hell out of me.

[shesaidboom]

^See, I would think that if very few people use it they'd be more likely to keep it as an option because they aren't losing any profits from it and it's appealing to have that option there. People are inlove with getting more for less and having more options, even if they have no desire to use them. The point is they could if they wanted to. Anecdote! - Someone I know [*cough*notme*cough*] has a 'gym hopper' thing on their gym membership, they've never used it, but they like that they can if they want to. Maybe I'm completely off and nobody really cares, but it just seems like it would hurt sales to say "you can no longer do this, but we're going to charge you more". It just doesn't make sense to take it away.

 

I would say that they should at least offer the Max Pass option, but I'm guessing sales for that would be almost non-existant.

[Carnage]

^ Kind of like the rebate trick. Offer a rebate on a product knowing that most of the people that buy it will be too lazy to send the rebate in.

 

I don't think I'll be really missing much if I don't get a pass next year(if this comes true).

[307]

^^ They won't lose any money by not offering the park hopper abilities with the pass, however they may GAIN money from those who are still willing to go to other CF parks and pay full gate price. Granted, it would be an absolutely minimal financial gain, but maybe that's what they're going for?

[Carnage]

^ Or they could lose a minimal amount by those few peopel buying CF passes that will be valid for PCW.

 

For instance with me, I could end up getting a Knotts pass, get all parks, and PCW gets nothing from me.

 

(this is all assuming that PCW will not offer the hopper pass, which isn't exactly confirmed yet)

[RBOrrell]

They pulled the 2007 seasonpass sales off the Canada's Wonderland website.

 

Also, Kings Island passes were supposedly going on sale too today, but this is what it says on the website

 

 

2007 Season Passes are currently unavailable for sale via web, phone or at the park. Please check this web site periodically for updates as they become available. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

 

Maybe they're rethinking the options for passes at Canadas Wonderland?

 

My son works at PCW in admissions. They were told that the 2007 seasons passes were not going to be sold until futher notice. No reason given to them and when asked, management does not know the reason.

 

They had a number of complaints today as they were still advertising on local radio their availability.