 First Knoebels and now Waldameer
"Jim Shaffer" wrote:
>
> >I just read on Screamscape that Waldameer is raising it's POP for the
> >ride park to $21.95, up from $19.95 for 2007. That's 110% of the cost
> >of last year's price. Pennsylvania Parks are just becoming way too
> >expensive.
>
> To me, $21.95 is bordering on expensive considering that there's only
> one big ride there, and you won't get too many rides per day on it for
> a while. Now don't get me started on Idlewild, which is way out of
> line at $26.95.
Jim- Seems we've been down this road in the past whenever Waldameer
raises prices for any entity in the park.
So, just as a reminder, lets run down the list:
a)Some parks charge $15 just to park your car.
b)Some parks charge more for a large soda than an entire "meal" at
Waldameer
c)Some parks don't offer 5 minute ride cycles on flat rides
And getting back to per-ride prices AGAIN, throw out percentage
raises. $2.50 for a ride on a brand new, unique to this planet,
throwback to the 1920s attraction is like a joke in today's day and
age. I'm not even comparing the price against a per ride rate on
higher per acre land like Coney Island or Wildwood. How about Indiana
Beach? If you choose to not purchase a POP plan there, aren't their
coasters all $5 per ride (or two "gold star tickets")? That seems
like an apples to apples comparison if there ever was one. Plus,
Waldameer does not have the nominal gate charge that IB does (not
saying one park is better or worse than the other, just painting a
picture here).
There are lots of traditional parks with a pay-as-you-go option (in
rural areas) that generally charge more than what Waldameer does (off
the top of my head let's say Sylvan Beach, Arnolds Park, Quassy, and
Indiana Beach for starters). I just don't understand the beef. The
POP plan at Waldameer has been a questionable value for years now, as
their per ride prices are so low that you need to ride an awful lot to
get a payback on your purchase. And local economy? Ok, people may
ride one or two less rides. But they will still spend the same
amount, eat the same amount, etc. Less wear and tear on the
equipment. Plus, as the years go by and the good word spreads, more
and more of Waldameer day guests are coming from the Pittsburgh,
Youngstown, and even Cleveland metro areas- no effect there as you've got a
demo used to the SFGAds, HPs, and DPs of the world. Waldameer bread
and butter has been and always will be group outings. So long as they
are not effected, things will be just groovy in Erie.
Now, think as a local, Waldameer is still ideal as a place that you
need not pay for parking or admission. A perfect place to drop by for
a few hours. Even dear old Kennywood requires a gate admission (with
no season pass/multi day ticket option) every time one visits (and I
know several locals to KW who don't visit nearly as much as they would
otherwise).
End rant.
-Bill
| 
