Cedar Fair Maxx Passes

[larrygator]

I want to keep this separate from the PCW thread since there is so much confusion with these passes. Well not so much confusion, but inconsistency. Here is what I noticed from checking a couple of park's websites.

 

CP and GL - currently selling Maxx Passes that are good for admission to all CF theme parks for the remainder of 2006 and all 2007, not clear if it is good for special events.

 

PKD, Carowinds, PKI - offering the Maxx Pass good for their own parks including special events for 2006, and good at all CF theme parks for 2007.

 

PGA - offers what they call a "California Maxx Pass" good for PGA for the rest of this season and good at all CF theme parks in 2007.

 

Dorney, MiA, WoF, VF - offering the 2007 Maxx Pass already, but it is not clear if it can be used at the selling park or any other parks in 2006.

 

KBF - no mention of Maxx Pass on their website.

 

Some CF parks will offer free parking at their park to season pass holders but others don't.

 

Does that sound accurate to everybody?

 

I know those in Ohio will complain that their Maxx Passes will cost more than other parks in the chain and those at other parks will complain because they have never had to pay extra for other CF parks before.

 

Personally, I think this is a great business move for the company. Even if it doesn't appear good to us as enthusiasts, keep in mind if Cedar Fair doesn't continue with profits there will not be capital improvement upgrades in the future. They are not going to go down the same road as the old SF regime of building rides and hoping people come. They need people to come and then the rides will follow.

 

The only problem I have is with the current CF parks outside of Ohio. It is not clear if purchasing the Maxx Pass today yields any benefit for the remainder of 2006.

 

I would not be shocked to see Six Flags develop a similar pricing strategy in the future.

[knottslover77]

Well I know knotts and PGA don't have it because of their location.

 

--Jay

[larrygator]

^highly unlikely, I'm sure both parks will sell Maxx Passes.

 

I just checked the PGA site and they do have an offer so I will update my post.

 

KBF probably isn't concerned yet since they are a year round park, but they should be because I'm visiting soon.

[PKI Jizzman]

I will deff. be getting the pass! Man I will get so many trip to CP and GL now that I only need to worry about gas and hotel prices!

[Gnome]

Knotts doesn't have a max pass. Their pass has always gotten you into all the CF park. I don't think that will change.

[CP_RULES]

and those at other parks will complain because they have never had to pay extra for other CF parks before.

 

What do you mean by this? I was planning on buying one of these from WOF and using it at CP also, are you saying Im going to have to pay extra to get into CP with my WOF pass? Doesnt that defeat the purpose?

[ParkTrips]

Well, you'll pay more than the WOF pass.

[Carnage]

Knotts doesn't have a max pass. Their pass has always gotten you into all the CF park. I don't think that will change.

 

Everything is changing though next year.

 

The standard season passes look like they will only be good for the park bought for.

 

The more expensive Maxx pass(if the park offers it) is good for all parks in the chain.

[ginzo]

I'm going with the Maxx Pass bought from my home park, PKI. I don't think that $125 for admission to 12 parks is unreasonable, especially considering that this pass will let me ride two of the new coasters coming out next year.

 

Are you sure that I if I buy a Maxx Pass at PKI now that I get admission to the other CF parks for the rest of 2006?

 

http://www3.paramountparks.com/kingsisland/shop/shopping_season_pass.cfm

 

Ages 3-61; 48 inches tall and taller

 

Unlimited admission to Paramount's Kings Island during public operating days for both the 2006 and 2007 seasons. This pass is also valid at all Cedar Fair ride amusement parks (listed above) during public operating days for the 2007 season.

 

VALID AT ALL CEDAR FAIR RIDE AMUSEMENT PARKS

 

This doesn't say anything about the other CF parks for 2006. The wording sounds like you won't be allowed in the other ones for the rest of 2006. I also still have my 2006 PKI pass.

 

I think I'll call the park today, and see what they say. I'm going to CP next month. It would be nice if I could get that covered under a season pass. I suppose I could just buy 2007's Maxx Pass at CP.

[ginzo]

I just called PKI Guest Relations, and found out some interesting facts.

 

1) If you buy a 2007 Maxx Pass at PKI, you do not get 2006 access to the other CF parks.

 

2) My 2006 PKI Gold Season Pass does not get me into Cedar Point for 2006.

 

Now, I suppose that I could buy a 2007 CP Maxx Pass when I go there next month. The downside to that is that I won't get the free PKI parking pass that they're offering right now if you buy a 2007 PKI Maxx Pass.

 

So, the question now is can I buy and attach a PKI parking pass to my 2007 CP Maxx Pass. I'm thinking not. Grrr....

[larrygator]

My apologies about PKI - that is the only website I don't check myself. This only adds to the inconsistency that I mentioned - I'll revise my original post.

 

Also, not certain about Geauga Lake, it is not clear on their site if the 2007 Maxx Pass is good for other CF parks in 2007.

[ginzo]

My apologies about PKI - that is the only website I don't check myself. This only adds to the inconsistency that I mentioned - I'll revise my original post.

 

No apologies necessary. I'm not about to pull a Clark Griswold, and go to Wallyworld without finding out the details first.

 

This whole thing is a big sh1t sandwich, if you ask me. Why in the world would my PKI Maxx Pass get me into PKI for the remainder of 2006, but not the other CF parks? I plan on staying at a CP hotel, and will spend a fair amount in the park next month. They're getting their money. The least they can do is not jerk me around with their so-called Maxx Pass.

 

The logical thing for me to do now is buy a 2007 CP Maxx Pass, and pay $10 to park each time I go to PKI next year. There's no way I'll go to PKI next year enough times to make up for the cost of 2 CP 2-day passes.

 

What a mess!

[niiicolaaah]

I'm excited about the Maxx Pass. I'll finally get some Ohio action. Seems worth it to me even if I only do KI, CP, and GL. In the not so distant past I would have had to deal with Paramount, CF, and SF to do a trip with all three of those parks.

[Warlord694]

Looking at renewing pass at WOF

 

84.95 for Maxxpass 74.95 by Nov 10

164.95 Maxpass with waterparks 149.95 by Nov 10

 

Addititional 80 for waterparks seems kind of steep.

It was only +30 last year.

[larrygator]

^regarding the $80 add'l for the 5 gated waterpark, that certainly seems excessive.

 

^^^regarding CP not accepting 2007 Maxx Passes purchased at PKI. I can sort of understand for the following reason. CP appears to be the only park where if you buy their 2007 Maxx Pass, they will allow the bonus of using other parks in 2006. I guess Cedar Fair can justify this since CP will be charging the most for their Maxx pass.

[Jeezus Juice]

Ah great...Bonfante Gardens doesn't have a MAXX pass on their website. I wanted to be the only kid on the block with a Cedar Fair ALL GILROY MAXX pass. Shucks.

 

-Don

[ginzo]

^^^regarding CP not accepting 2007 Maxx Passes purchased at PKI. I can sort of understand for the following reason. CP appears to be the only park where if you buy their 2007 Maxx Pass, they will allow the bonus of using other parks in 2006. I guess Cedar Fair can justify this since CP will be charging the most for their Maxx pass.

 

Nope. It's $125 for the Maxx Pass at both PKI and CP.

 

It's still not a bad deal, and they obviously can't pull this on me again next year if I buy a 2008 Maxx Pass.

[larrygator]

^then that does blow, I thought PKI would cost less

[niiicolaaah]

Jeez, I hope in future years they sort of standardize the passes. It seems like every park has a different price and set of rules.

[ginzo]

^then that does blow, I thought PKI would cost less

 

I'll forgive them once they install that B&M hyper that PKI has needed for years.

 

Though I don't expect CF to install anything big in the near future. PKI does pretty well on crowds with its existing mediocre-at-best coaster collection.

[larrygator]

So I called Knotts about 30 minutes ago to ask about their 2007 season passes and the availability of the Maxx Pass. The woman in customer service (Erin) had never heard of the Maxx Pass.

[SharkTums]

^Just to add to that...Guest Services (where they print up the Annual Passes) also had no idea there was a 'Backspace' key on the keyboard, and whenever she would make a mistake she would have to start over. We showed her the new fangled invention (the backspace key) and she was quite grateful!

[ginzo]

I just called Cedar Point about booking my hotel for my trip next month.

 

It turns out that if you buy a 2007 Maxx Pass, it does NOT work for 2006. The lady said something about it being "new". I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. Oh well. Looks like I'll be buying my 2007 passes at PKI after all.

 

 

 

Has anyone been to Cedar Point for the last weekend of the season before? Did you freeze your a$$ off? Weather.com reports average highs in the 50s for that time period. 50 F + winds on coasters = cold.

[rbpia]

Email answer from Worlds of Fun:

 

"I am sorry, but 2007 Season Passports do not include admission to HalloWeekends in 2006, but would allow your family unlimited access to HalloWeekends in 2007.

 

As you may know, 2007 Season Passports are on sale at the best price of the season if purchase by November 10, 2006."

 

My response to Cedar Fair:

Guess we'll just have to use our Six Flags season passes and go to Fright Fest, instead of buying 6 Maxx Passes for next year.

 

rbpia

"hmm, was that a good business decision? I did say 6 Maxx Passes."

[Hercules]

Cedar Fair is officially turning into a joke. I realize that it is a big process to integrate into everything, but shouldn't they be at least in the same book if they aren't on the same page? This all seems really Six Flags-ish.

 

I'm really glad that I didn't get a pass this year, and I'm planning on doing the same for 2007.