Six Flags raises parking fees.

[Homeboy23]

But that's only for the park you buy the pass at. If you go to another six flags park, it will cost you.As where the cedarfair pass works at all of there parks.

 

See this is why I would like to know where this info came from, since this past Saturday I have used my Six Flags America pass at Six Flags Over Texas, Fiesta Texas and Great America and not one parking attendant said anything in four total visits. I paid $50 for the season parking pass at SFA and have not paid a dime since.

 

If I remember my pass last year correctly it said the same thing on the back as this year.

 

Has anyone other than at Magic Mountain been turned down? Maybe it is only them who doesn't accept other parks this year.

[ernierocker]

Cedar Fair Platinum Pass 2011= $165.99 (includes admission to all Cedar Fair parks and free parking)

 

Six Flags Over Georgia Season Pass 2011= $64.99 (Includes admission to all Six Flags parks)

parking pass= $50.00

Total= $114.99

 

So, assuming you do not get a discount to park at different Six Flags parks (which seems to be possible), you would have to go to three Six Flags parks (assuming $20 to park) that aren't your home park before the Cedar Fair platinum pass was a better deal.

 

So, you could go to your home Six Flags park as many times as you want, and then pay to park at two other Six Flags parks and pay less as a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass.

 

If you are just going to Six Flags for one day, add $20 to the cost of an online ticket. Now compare that to a one-day pass plus parking to whichever major park you are going to and which one is cheaper???

Edited July 1, 2011 by ernierocker

[YoshiFan]

^I think he was saying that they charge more than the normal rate for handicap parking.

I thought most parks charged the regular rate for handicap parking but still let them use the preferred lot. Great Adventure handicap parking is in the preferred parking lot and the first few rows of the preferred parking lot are all handicap spaces and they charge anyone parking in a handicap space the non preferred parking rate. Same with Hershey, they charge regular parking but handicap parking is in the preferred lot.

[ernierocker]

^I think he was saying that they charge more than the normal rate for handicap parking.

I thought most parks charged the regular rate for handicap parking but still let them use the preferred lot. Great Adventure handicap parking is in the preferred parking lot and the first few rows of the preferred parking lot are all handicap spaces and they charge anyone parking in a handicap space the non preferred parking rate. Same with Hershey, they charge regular parking but handicap parking is in the preferred lot.

 

Yeah, I have no clue what it costs for handicap passes, I was just trying to clarify what I thought QueerRudie was saying.

[ParkTrips]

So, you could go to your home Six Flags park as many times as you want, and then pay to park at two other Six Flags parks and pay less as a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass.

 

If you are just going to Six Flags for one day, add $20 to the cost of an online ticket. Now compare that to a one-day pass plus parking to whichever major park you are going to and which one is cheaper???

stop trying to use math!

(I did something similar several pages back, and the difference for a family of 4 becomes even more absurd - the cheap people still didn't buy it)

 

^I think he was saying that they charge more than the normal rate for handicap parking.

removing the middle part of his sentence, I find this:

 

But the one thing I find TRULY despicable is the [snip] charging for Handicapped/physically challenged spaces.

so he didn't communicate his point very clearly if that's what he meant.

[QueerRudie]

Picky, Picky, Picky...

 

If I go to an airport, I can get a valet/handicapped parking space without paying for it. If I go to a Casino, I can get a valet/Handicapped space without paying for it. If I go to dinner in San Francisco, I can... You get the point.

 

If I go to SixFlags, I drop 20.00, and get a handicapped space, usually within 900 miles of the front gate. Do you see my point now?

 

I'm not saying I should be excluded from parking fees- but for F-ks sake, it should be easier (and CLOSER in many cases) to get to the front of the park. I already HAVE a problem walking around- and if you actually see just how 'close' Handicapped parking is at most park, it's atrocious- and that's being polite.

[ParkTrips]

I think there is a difference between valet parking for a casino/airport/restaurant where you likely won't be walking much after you get out of the car, and a theme park where you will do at least 1-2 miles of walking that day. What's an extra 100 yards at that point?

 

You might like Dollywood though - pretty much an entire parking lot devoted to handicapped spots, well-run trams, and motorized scooters galore.

[805Andrew]

If parks are are going to charge $15+ for parking they should have well maintained and covered parking lots/garages. Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland both have nice parking garages and Disneyland has a well organized tram system with a tram arriving every few minutes. Six Flags Magic Mountain has a run down parking lot and a run down tram that arrives every 10-15 minutes. Its little things like this that make a difference in justifying a $15 parking charge. Still, I forget all about that $15 parking charge when I'm on X2 or Tatsu. Actually paying for lockers by the major coasters to put my backpack bothers me more than the expensive parking - whatever happened to those cubbies by the rides? At least Deja Vu still has these cubbies.

[805Andrew]

OMG I just found out why so many members on here use the term lockers. When I type L0CKERS it equals lockers SO FUNNY GUYS!

[David H]

I think the real question is why Six Flags thinks this is a good financial and customer relations strategy.

 

I understand that they have to make money somehow. That's why they give the gate away (both in regular admission with multiple promotions and with season passes) very cheaply, to try to lure people in. And then they have to make their money back somehow, so they charge a fortune for parking, food, lockers, etc.

 

But I have to wonder if that's a losing strategy. Sure, people will look online or in ads and see a sub-$30 admission promotion and be more likely to come. If they were to lower their parking rates, they'd likely raise the admission rate, which would turn some people off.

 

But I work in the hospitality industry, in a restaurant. And one of the first things they teach us is that customers' very first and last impressions of the place are what they'll most remember. If you can't get a host/hostess's attention or they're rude to you when you walk in, or if you see a dirty bathroom as you're leaving, that's what you're likely to remember most, even if the food, service and ambiance were well above average. That's why restaurants train people (everyone, not just the host staff) to greet you right away with a big smile and to thank you sincerely and welcome you back when you leave. It may be mostly subliminal, but those things leave a lasting impression.

 

When you drive up to a Six Flags park, your first impression is being gouged with a ridiculously high parking fee. Yes, some will argue that some professional sports venues charge a fortune too, but that's mostly in major urban areas, where parking is already expensive. (And where you can eat in a restaurant or shop in a mall and get discounted validated parking, too! My restaurant is a few blocks from Fenway Park in Boston. If you eat in our restaurant -- or even have a beer and a cup of chowder at our bar -- you can park and then head to the game for FREE. If you're coming here, let me know, and I'll tell you where!) And more importantly, sports teams have MAJOR customer loyalty that Six Flags parks have never managed to acquire. Even if they charged $50 for parking, most people would still go to a game to support and see their team.

 

Six Flags parks don't create that loyalty, except with the most diehard park and coaster enthusiasts, like many of us. So, while the low admission prices might bring them in, if their first impression is a very negative one (especially if they have to wait in a long line of cars to pay that huge parking fee!), they're much less likely to return any time soon. That's not a good idea for a business on the verge of bankruptcy.

 

I'd argue that it would be better to take a small immediate hit in admissions with a higher admission price (and season pass price) than to have them come and start off with an immediate bad reaction. Those people are less likely to come back again and again. To a company like Six Flags regular repeat business is and should be more important than just getting them in in the first place.

 

This is a concept that no Six Flags team in decades has understood.

 

And for the record, I'm not complaining about the parking fees. I can certainly afford them. I just think it's a bad financial and customer relations strategy.

[WFChris]

^Wow, I think your nuts.

 

Most families, which are theme parks bread and butter, probably don't have this conversation:

 

"Hey, lets take the family to Six Flags"

"Great idea honey!"

"The tickets should cost around $200 for the whole family"

"Ok, thats not bad."

"Oh, wait. They charge $15 to park the car."

"Well, at least it was a good idea dear. Lets do something else"

 

Parking fees have, and always will exist. I know I was directly called out earlier for being blunt, but to me its a really really dumb gripe. You are visiting a BUSINESS and they are in the BUSINESS of making money. Plus, paid parking really does mentally 'lock you in' and encourage you to maximize your time in the park and spend more...guess what...money!

[jray21]

It is an industry thing. If SFMM was to lower their parking fees, their ticket prices would go up, and then everyone would be complaining about how high their ticket price is compared to the other places in town. SFMM is still an incredible deal for what you get. Here in Reno, to go skiing at a decent place is anywhere from $68-88, and that is only for about 7-7.5 hours! If I go to SFMM tomorrow, I can get 10 1/2 hours for only $55 ($35 online ticket price, $20 parking) For 4 adults, skiing would cost around $280 (low end $70 ticket), while for $20 more I could get parking for one day and Season Passes for all the adults! I could understand if no other amusement park charges for parking, but a vast majority do, especially in the Southern California area.

[rcdude]

I've never really had a problem with the parking charge. When I go to a park, I just say "it's going to cost me this much" and not "it's x to get in, y to park, z for food, etc." I figure that no matter where I spend the money, it is still going to the park. Of course, I might be in the minority with this.

 

If you look at the parking price individually, then yes, $20 is pretty expensive. It is not, however, outrageous. Split the cost between everyone in your party, and it is almost negligible if you're going with more than three people. Given the price for everything else at Six Flags, split the parking cost and opt for a free water instead of soda with lunch, and you break even.

[David H]

I'm not arguing that parks should charge less. Sure, it would be nice, but they have to turn a profit to stay alive. I'm saying that it's bad business to piss off customers before they even get out of their car. And if you don't think that people don't see $17 or $20 parking fees and start off their day annoyed there, then you don't know their main audience -- families. In fact, most people will gripe at such a high parking fee.

 

It would make better business sense to just tack on most of that money on the admission charge. The typical car at a theme park has around 3 people in it. So knock $10 off of the parking fee and add $3-4 to the admission. Yes, you'll send away a small number of people who will see the price online and won't go. But you won't start the day with people already angry. That's simple business psychology.

 

That's exactly what Holiday World did with free drinks and sunsceen. They're not really free. They figured out what people spend on them and added them to the admission cost. (Will even admitted this in interviews.) But it's something that people, especially parents, remember about the park. I've had many guests I've waited on in my restaurant comment specifically about the free drinks when we've talked about the park. (I often ask where guests are from, which leads to a mention of my having recently visited their home park.)

 

I don't think that many people will literally say "I'm not going back to Six Flags because parking is so outrageous." But it contributes at least subliminally to a feeling that "This place is really ripping us off." And if that's the feeling that people start their day off with, then all of the other expenses will just feed that feeling. And that ABSOLUTELY will keep people away. Amusement parks aren't a necessity (well, for most people anyways!) People go to have fun and enjoy themselves. It's absolutely essentai for amusement parks to have people leaving happy and being glad that they went. If they leave with even a subliminal notion that the place was a rip-off, then that will absolutely affect return business and hurt their business in the long run.

 

Oh, and WFChris, when you argue against what a person is NOT actually saying, then you're not actually winning the arguement. I see that a lot on here, and it's really disingenuous.

[WFChris]

^ I am sorry that $20 puts you in such a bad mood. I don't believe it has the same effect on most people because, well, you know, they are still going to the park, and paying the $20, and the people I see in the tram aren't frowning or angry.

[David H]

^ Dude, you're doing it again.

 

What's putting me in a bad mood is you putting words into my mouth AGAIN. It's rude, disrespectful and disingenuous.

 

Learn and practice reading comprehension.

 

I don't care about $20. I can afford it. I'm spending thousands of dollars on two coaster trips this year, so $20 is just a drop in the bucket.

 

Hell, I'm not even going to pay ANY Six Flags parking charges this year anyways. Parking was included at the two Texas SF parks during the convention. And I'll be taking the bus or a cab to the only other Six Flags parks I'll likely visit this year at SFGAdv and La Ronde (because I'm staying in the cities of NYC and Montreal and won't need a car.) So the issue doesn't even affect me personally in any way this year.

 

I'm making a general statement about how the parking fee affects how the general public sees the parks. And maybe no one talks to you on the tram or in the park, but I hear LOTS of people complaining about the parking cost and the overall high prices both at the park and outside it. And it definitely affects how people think about the parks, and their decisions on whether or not to go back.

 

That kind of thinking is basic business. And the fact that Six Flags doesn't seem to understand such basic business concepts is one of the many reasons that they've hovered on the edge of bankruptcy for over a decade now and have only stayed out of bankruptcy by selling off several of their parks -- something they can't afford to keep doing.

 

Learn something about business and customer relations and psychology before you spout off here and call people "nuts."

[DirkFunk]

When you take the tact of "People expect to get gouged and are OK with it and you're stupid not to think so" and you're talking about an amusement park chain that has, by pretty much every standard, been a commercial failure and gone bankrupt over the last 10 years, I think you're having a forest for the trees moment.

 

As for discussions about SF season passes vs. CF season passes: each system encourages different things. Six Flags is all about trying to get per caps out of people while barely charging them to enter the parks, or, in other words, same as its always been since the Gary Story era. Cedar Fair is effectively charging you up front and offers you the very real option of not getting a Platinum pass should you so desire.

[coasternut]

I think the real question is why Six Flags thinks this is a good financial and customer relations strategy.

 

I understand that they have to make money somehow. That's why they give the gate away (both in regular admission with multiple promotions and with season passes) very cheaply, to try to lure people in. And then they have to make their money back somehow, so they charge a fortune for parking, food, fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo, etc.

 

But I have to wonder if that's a losing strategy. Sure, people will look online or in ads and see a sub-$30 admission promotion and be more likely to come. If they were to lower their parking rates, they'd likely raise the admission rate, which would turn some people off.

 

But I work in the hospitality industry, in a restaurant. And one of the first things they teach us is that customers' very first and last impressions of the place are what they'll most remember. If you can't get a host/hostess's attention or they're rude to you when you walk in, or if you see a dirty bathroom as you're leaving, that's what you're likely to remember most, even if the food, service and ambiance were well above average. That's why restaurants train people (everyone, not just the host staff) to greet you right away with a big smile and to thank you sincerely and welcome you back when you leave. It may be mostly subliminal, but those things leave a lasting impression.

 

When you drive up to a Six Flags park, your first impression is being gouged with a ridiculously high parking fee. Yes, some will argue that some professional sports venues charge a fortune too, but that's mostly in major urban areas, where parking is already expensive. (And where you can eat in a restaurant or shop in a mall and get discounted validated parking, too! My restaurant is a few blocks from Fenway Park in Boston. If you eat in our restaurant -- or even have a beer and a cup of chowder at our bar -- you can park and then head to the game for FREE. If you're coming here, let me know, and I'll tell you where!) And more importantly, sports teams have MAJOR customer loyalty that Six Flags parks have never managed to acquire. Even if they charged $50 for parking, most people would still go to a game to support and see their team.

 

Six Flags parks don't create that loyalty, except with the most diehard park and coaster enthusiasts, like many of us. So, while the low admission prices might bring them in, if their first impression is a very negative one (especially if they have to wait in a long line of cars to pay that huge parking fee!), they're much less likely to return any time soon. That's not a good idea for a business on the verge of bankruptcy.

 

I'd argue that it would be better to take a small immediate hit in admissions with a higher admission price (and season pass price) than to have them come and start off with an immediate bad reaction. Those people are less likely to come back again and again. To a company like Six Flags regular repeat business is and should be more important than just getting them in in the first place..

 

I agree mostly with this comment. I certainly can afford the increased parking fee, but this is a "hidden cost" that's not anticipated. I'd see them increase the admission fee (in my opinion too low), and leave the parking fee stable across all parks. I'd even pay extra, and suggested this for a 6 Flags "parking pass" accepted at all parks like it used to be.

 

They need to make money. I know this because I'm a stock holder, but there are better ways to do this instead of the surprise when you enter the gate = your first impression.

[ParkTrips]

I certainly can afford the increased parking fee, but this is a "hidden cost" that's not anticipated.

Really? You expect to park for free? I could see if maybe the rate is unexpected, but not the fact that you have to pay to park.

[coasternut]

I certainly can afford the increased parking fee, but this is a "hidden cost" that's not anticipated.

Really? You expect to park for free? I could see if maybe the rate is unexpected, but not the fact that you have to pay to park.

It's the increase in the parking fee, not paying for parking!!!

[WFChris]

Coca Cola just jumped from $1.59 to $1.79 at my local Famima. EVERYBODY PANIC!

[thrillrider]

Ok...

 

Where on there website does it "clearly" state that they are charging $20 to park your car? If you go online to buy tickets/ season passes, the only mention of parking is the $50 parking pass. So yea, it's a big surprise to people when they show up and have several big $20 parking fee signs littering the toll booth to the park.SURPRISE!!!...Welcome to six flags.

 

Not to mention that they have "premium" parking as well....that will cost you even more unless you want to walk 5000 miles to get to the park gate.

 

I guess the biggest beef I have with the whole thing is that if you add parking to your pass, it is no longer good at all of there parks like it was last year. But yet it still cost's the same to add it to your pass and only be good at the park you bought the pass at.

[coasternut]

Ok...

 

Where on there website does it "clearly" state that they are charging $20 to park your car? If you go online to buy tickets/ season passes, the only mention of parking is the $50 parking pass. So yea, it's a big surprise to people when they show up and have several big $20 parking fee signs littering the toll booth to the park.SURPRISE!!!...Welcome to six flags.

 

Not to mention that they have "premium" parking as well....that will cost you even more unless you want to walk 5000 miles to get to the park gate.

 

I guess the biggest beef I have with the whole thing is that if you add parking to your pass, it is no longer good at all of there parks like it was last year. But yet it still cost's the same to add it to your pass and only be good at the park you bought the pass at.

 

Amen brother!!!

[Godwyn]

Ok...

 

Where on there website does it "clearly" state that they are charging $20 to park your car? If you go online to buy tickets/ season passes, the only mention of parking is the $50 parking pass.

 

Don't know about the other parks, but this is my home park's page.

 

EDIT-- Actually, I just checked several other SF Park's websites, and they all had the one day price listed.

[BlueFireCoaster]

They need to make money. I know this because I'm a stock holder

 

Really? Did you buy early and double your money?

 

If so, good for you!