Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL) Discussion Thread

[Sk610]

I am pretty sure that the only roller coaster you could get for 4.5 million would be used. I think even some of the basics are closed to 10 million. I would expect some type of good flat like a Frisbee or similar or some type of interactive dark ride

[Haymaker]

Season pass flash sale until 11/12... $54.99, normally 69.99.

[pryonisys]

Season pass flash sale until 11/12... $54.99, normally 69.99.

That makes me really tempted. It's not the closest park to me, but I would probably be able to make it Darien Lake at least twice if I actually tried and then it would pay for itself.

Random thought, how can they have season passes for around $60 and Waldameer can charge $100? (I guess charge as much as people will pay)

[eastcoast]

People on Darien Lake’s FB page be like, “$54.99 for a season pass? You should have a family season pass deal, you just keep pricing everyone out. My family can no longer afford to visit, and $1.50 refills with my free cup that’s just outrageous”.

 

Meanwhile I just dropped $1300 on 5 day park hoppers for Disney. And I know it’s a horse of a different color and that I’m fortunate to be able to do so for my family but the people come out in droves to chastise this park on value. At even $65.99 Darien Lake is a great value for a seasons worth of entertainment. With It’s shortcomings and all.

[ajfelice]

Random thought, how can they have season passes for around $60 and Waldameer can charge $100? (I guess charge as much as people will pay)

 

We can charge that price at Waldameer for a variety of reasons, mostly about the type of value offered. A Darien Lake Pass is usually used 3 times throughout the season, and a Waldameer Pass is used 8-9 times on average. Darien Lake, while within an arm's reach of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, has a remote location, but Waldameer is right in the thick of 150,000 people so a quick jaunt to the park for just a couple hours or the evening is very common. Guest spending at Darien Lake is also significantly higher, so the face value of a Season Pass does not indicate the true cost of visiting.

 

I could go on, but the bottom line is there is a different kind of value offered. We keep an eye on what Darien Lake is up to, but the parks are very different in how they attract visitors.

[pryonisys]

Random thought, how can they have season passes for around $60 and Waldameer can charge $100? (I guess charge as much as people will pay)

 

We can charge that price at Waldameer for a variety of reasons, mostly about the type of value offered. A Darien Lake Pass is usually used 3 times throughout the season, and a Waldameer Pass is used 8-9 times on average. Darien Lake, while within an arm's reach of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, has a remote location, but Waldameer is right in the thick of 150,000 people so a quick jaunt to the park for just a couple hours or the evening is very common. Guest spending at Darien Lake is also significantly higher, so the face value of a Season Pass does not indicate the true cost of visiting.

 

I could go on, but the bottom line is there is a different kind of value offered. We keep an eye on what Darien Lake is up to, but the parks are very different in how they attract visitors.

I think you may be getting me wrong regarding this, and I may have written it poorly also. I'm not surprised Waldameer charges what they do for season passes, I'm more surprised that Darien Lake charges as little as they do. I haven't been there in over a decade but I would have assumed they were equivalent values or that Darien Lake would have charged a little more. You are absolutely right though, it's a different value and a different area. Different parks business practices to reflect that.

Like I said initially though, charge what people are willing to pay.

[alilstronger]

Random thought, how can they have season passes for around $60 and Waldameer can charge $100? (I guess charge as much as people will pay)

 

We can charge that price at Waldameer for a variety of reasons, mostly about the type of value offered. A Darien Lake Pass is usually used 3 times throughout the season, and a Waldameer Pass is used 8-9 times on average. Darien Lake, while within an arm's reach of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, has a remote location, but Waldameer is right in the thick of 150,000 people so a quick jaunt to the park for just a couple hours or the evening is very common. Guest spending at Darien Lake is also significantly higher, so the face value of a Season Pass does not indicate the true cost of visiting.

 

I could go on, but the bottom line is there is a different kind of value offered. We keep an eye on what Darien Lake is up to, but the parks are very different in how they attract visitors.

I think you may be getting me wrong regarding this, and I may have written it poorly also. I'm not surprised Waldameer charges what they do for season passes, I'm more surprised that Darien Lake charges as little as they do. I haven't been there in over a decade but I would have assumed they were equivalent values or that Darien Lake would have charged a little more. You are absolutely right though, it's a different value and a different area. Different parks business practices to reflect that.

Like I said initially though, charge what people are willing to pay.

 

Every park is different. Six Flags charges less then $70.00 for a season pass for Six Flags America if you want to only go to that park. Also keep in mind more people may go to Darien Lake on a daily basis so they can justify up selling a season pass to someone that may only come a couple times.

 

For Six Flags I paid easily about $140.00. That is a huge deal though because I have a gold pass with unlimited visits to all parks, parking at all parks, lunch/dinner/snack at all parks, drinks at all parks, 1 free photo, and 1 free skip the line. That easily would have cost well over $200.00 if I did not buy every year over Labor Day weekend when they have the biggest sale of the year.

 

Now if you look at something like Kings Dominion - they charge about $150.00 just for the season pass. This does not include season eating, drinking, etc. That will cost almost $200 more.

 

Schlitterbahn cost you $150.00 for a season pass that you can not use at all their parks. It cost about $300.00 to go to all the parks for the entire season.

 

My point is parks know what their demographic is and what people are willing to pay.

[Canobie Coaster]

^ And then further to that, there are parks that don't even offer season passes like Canobie or Knoebels.

[pryonisys]

^ All of the above makes sense.

I didn't mean to say who should charge what for season passes. I just find the differences in prices really interesting, not complaining about any of them either. I'm sure there are people who work out the market and what the park's attendees can afford to do. I just find the finances of it all kind of fascinating.

[Haymaker]

And then there's WDW, at $600... which isnt bad, ultimately because you can go year round and pays for itself after 6 visits.

[crazykid2017]

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/details-show-darien-lake-planning-beyond-vertical-coaster-20171103&template=mwdt

 

Details show Darien Lake planning ‘beyond vertical’ coaster

By JIM KRENCIK

 

DARIEN — Darien Lake’s newest roller coaster will send riders up a near-vertical lift before launching them through a twisting, diving and looping path, according to plans submitted to the Genesee County Planning Board.

 

Details about the town of Darien amusement park’s next addition have been vague, but the documents filed as part of a site plan review show a ride that will fit well with the park’s past investments. No name is listed for the ride, which General Manager Chris Thorpe previously told county officials would open in the 2018 season.

 

“The entire team at Darien Lake is committed to investing in the park and the economic development of Genesee County,” Thorpe said in a statement Thursday. “We are thrilled with the new proposed ride and anticipate being able to announce the full details in the coming weeks, once the proper approvals are received.”

 

According to a preliminary site plan included in the planning referral, the new ride will be a custom version of the Euro-Fighter, a “beyond vertical” design produced by German firm Gerstlauer Amusement Rides.

 

Gerstlauer’s marketing for the ride describes a Guiness World Record-holding initial drop that actually pulls riders well past 90-degrees. Versions of the ride are installed at the Casino Pier amusement park in New Jersey and at Dollywood in Tennessee.

 

While not confirming those details Thursday, Thorpe’s comments at an Oct. 6 Genesee County Economic Development Center showed excitement within the company for what he said would be a regional draw.

 

“It’s very hard for me to not come out of my skin in excitement, to talk about what we want to do,” Thorpe said on Oct. 6. “We believe this ride, and the investment level into its size, scope and family thrill level will entice families from all over the northeast and into southern Ontario and Canada. People will reap the rewards of visiting Darien Lake and see what Genesee County has to offer.”

 

According to the planning documents, the new ride will replace the Thunder Rapids log flume water ride that is among the park’s oldest attractions, and is set to be demolished. The full project was quoted to GCEDC as a $5 million investment.

 

County planners will review the ride’s site plan Nov. 9, along with housing subdivisions in the town of Batavia, and storage addition at a Stafford building supply business and at an Alexander tractor dealership.

Edited November 4, 2017 by larrygator

[Golddisk]

If this article is correct, thunder rapids is being removed for a custom euro-fighter coaster. This would be an awesome addition in my opinion.

 

Source: http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/details-show-darien-lake-planning-beyond-vertical-coaster-20171103&template=mbdn

[coasterbill]

Personally I'd rather have the flume than a Euro-fighter, but of course I would.

 

Darien Lake probably does have the worst flume ride of any flume I've ever ridden though (seriously... wtf is that in the water?), and it's hard to care too much when one of the better ones is right up the road at SeaBreeze.

 

In my mind it's still a downgrade but it will be marketable, it should save them money on staffing and it will most likely be cheaper to operate so I get the move.

[alilstronger]

Never rode the flume here. So not sure if its a loss to the park or not in my opinion. However, the idea of a new coaster is always exciting to me!

[anonymouscactus]

Well... I guess you finally get your coaster...

 

 

Sorry but I can't get excited enough for this one with Steel Vengeance down the road . Not much going on with the layout pictured in the article. But happy y'all are getting a coaster that isn't a stand-up

[DoinItForTheFame]

^ Isn't that just a clone ofIron Shark at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier??

 

Which isn't a bad thing. Iron Shark was a decent little coaster... I guess I was just expecting something different with the "custom euro-fighter coaster" phrase. It's not really custom when it is a clone...

 

Either way, great to see this park getting a new coaster!

[bluestreak]

Hopefully they run more than 1 train on it

[coasterbill]

Hopefully they run more than 1 train on it

 

It's Darien Lake. Let's not get crazy.

[CNYCoasterguy11]

I'm a little disappointed, I thought they would do something a little more exciting or original for once. I'm not saying it is a bad thing, its certainly not, but it still doesn't excite me enough to say 'I have to go there next summer', and I live less than 3 hours away. Plenty of other bigger additions to check out elsewhere nearby.

[bluestreak]

Hopefully they run more than 1 train on it

 

It's Darien Lake. Let's not get crazy.

 

Oh believe me I know

[coasterbill]

I'm not saying it is a bad thing, its certainly not

 

Debatable. Replacing a log flume with a small Euro-fighter (with a ride time from the top of the lift to the brakes of under 20 seconds... shorter than Kingda Ka from launch to brakes) that's almost guaranteed to be running one train indefinitely forever a few years into it's existence would definitely be considered a bad thing by some (raises hand).

 

Aside from Ride of Steel, Moto Coaster and the sheer brilliance that is Moose on the Loose, the flume was probably the best ride in the park.

Edited November 3, 2017 by coasterbill

[Philrad71]

I wish that they would have gotten rid of something else besides the flume for a new coaster, but if there was any concern about maintenance or spare parts, I guess it sorta makes sense. But Twister seems like it was the park's most temperamental ride so I'm actually surprised that they didn't opt to get rid of that pile of sh%t instead.

 

While I was really hoping for a screaming swing or giant frisbee, I suppose that a Euro-fighter would fit the park pretty well. Although one train operation would be sooooo Darien Lake.

[chickenbowl]

This has to be the best coaster they've gotten in 20 years - I'm very happy for this park!

 

Hoping for lap bars only

[Manic Monte]

I'm not saying it is a bad thing, its certainly not

 

Debatable. Replacing a log flume with a small Euro-fighter (with a ride time from the top of the lift to the brakes of under 20 seconds... shorter than Kingda Ka from launch to brakes) that's almost guaranteed to be running one train indefinitely forever a few years into it's existence would definitely be considered a bad thing by some (raises hand).

 

As oppose to Hangtime at Knotts?

[coasterbill]

I don't really see the comparison. My issue with this ride is that it's replacing a ride that (in my opinion) is most likely a better ride. Hang time looks great and is replacing a terrible Boomerang.

 

Again, I get this move. Financially it's probably very smart and I don't blame them for doing it, but personally I'm not a big fan. If it were going in that huge open field I'd be singing their praises but it's replacing one of the better rides in the park and that's a shame.