What do you guys think of the recent promotions from the park? Day tickets for December are suddenly only $30, and BAFs can be bought for $15. That's something like a $25 discount over the usual price plus the added BAF perk. That just strikes me as desperate from a park that's always been able to command a high gate price with well over 2 million visitors a year.
How bad has this season been really? I've been twice this season, both during discount events and found it packed twice, so it seems odd to me. I know it's been a down year for them again though.
I think begging for guests is a pretty good assumption. You can't always get a good accurate feel of attendance with just a couple trips to the park a year, but we went several times this year and it just had a feel of a very low attendance year. The way citizens were talking this year and the interview with Pete Herschend about cutting workforce at SDC pretty well backs this up.
I have been several times this year and felt like their was good attendence every time.....
I imagine the PTB are just trying to end the year on a stron, positive note....
You know getting the people count up to help justify the NEW WOODIE for 2013!! LOL..
Quote from: Pintrader on December 01, 2011, 06:11:48 PM
the interview with Pete Herschend about cutting workforce at SDC pretty well backs this up.
Was there a thread about this or do you have a link to the interview? I'd like to watch it, I seemed to have missed this.
I think SDC has been encouraging people to visit since 1960. However, the poor economy means "incentives" must be offered. Black Friday was a good day for retailers because of DEEP discounts on merchandise. Earlier in the week sales flyers were offering 40 to 50 percent off prices, mid week sales flyers in the newspapers had amped up the discounts to 50 percent, today's paper had flyers offering 55-60 percent off! SDC offers a different product than Kohls, Sears, JC Penny, Belk, and others, but it's the same principal...gotta get those folks through the gate so they can spend in shops and restaurants. Remember, a theme park is pretty much a shopping mall with some rides and shows thrown in to attract a bigger crowd.
""" Remember, a theme park is pretty much a shopping mall with some rides and shows thrown in to attract a bigger crowd."""""
Well then it is my FAVORITE mall!!
The problem this year I have seen/heard when selling the 2-day tickets (which comes out to $30.00/per day) compared to one day ticket at $60.00. A lot of guests want to go but would not pay that price for one day (and can't do 2 days). Most of them don't really care about the rides this time of year. It is the end of the year so why not discount? Branson is down along with all that goes with it so try to end the year with a bang if you can I say! Last year we sold a ton of tickets, this year it was just over 1/2 of what was sold last year. I'm hoping next year that the theaters, SDC and other attractions keep the pricing reasonable, it will just hurt Branson more if they raise prices again. We could have raised the prices at the hotel but I refused and because of that, we are up (not by much but still up). Most families/older couples can't afford to do SDC & shows as in the past, it's sad.
Quote from: thelarsonsix on December 01, 2011, 07:35:02 PM
Quote from: Pintrader on December 01, 2011, 06:11:48 PM
the interview with Pete Herschend about cutting workforce at SDC pretty well backs this up.
Was there a thread about this or do you have a link to the interview? I'd like to watch it, I seemed to have missed this.
Here's the link to the thread with the Pete Herschend radio interview:
http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=1881.0
We went to the park 20 some times and only a couple of times were the crowds thin.
Quote from: biscuitcreek on December 01, 2011, 09:16:12 PM
Quote from: thelarsonsix on December 01, 2011, 07:35:02 PM
Quote from: Pintrader on December 01, 2011, 06:11:48 PM
the interview with Pete Herschend about cutting workforce at SDC pretty well backs this up.
Was there a thread about this or do you have a link to the interview? I'd like to watch it, I seemed to have missed this.
Here's the link to the thread with the Pete Herschend radio interview:
http://sdcfans.com/forums/index.php?topic=1881.0
This is good listening. I highly recommend anyone that hasn't heard it to have a listen.
Discounting tickets admissions is a classic Roller Coaster Tycoon move! They are almost at their goal for the game! ;D
SDC is a 30 dollar park. They shouldn't charge more than that anyway. They could also lower their season pass prices.
Quote from: DaveInTulsa on December 15, 2011, 03:56:20 PM
SDC is a 30 dollar park. They shouldn't charge more than that anyway. They could also lower their season pass prices.
I disagree. There's no way they could maintain the current level of quality at those prices. Not even SF is that cheap. Big attractions are more expensive to operate than many of the people in this part of the country think. I do agree that they can keep doing more to keep the park worth that high ticket price though, because obviously it's getting harder to justify it for many.
I don't agree with that. I've had Six Flags season tickets, and SDC season tickets in the past and I can tell you Six Flags is a huge park compared to SDC...the rides are better, the attractions are better, the park is clean, and the tickets are more affordable than SDC. We were at SDC this weekend and had planned on upgrading our daily tickets to season passes, but a 53 dollar per ticket upgrade is more than the season tickets should cost so we passed. That was the only reason we decided not to.
Yeah, but Six Flags doesn't have the incredible array of entertainment shows to maintain, as well as maintaining older buildings to preserve the park's atmosphere, paying all the employees they have enough money to keep them working there, and so many other things that go into running SDC. I think the price they charge now is, yes, perhaps a bit too high, but definitely not as low as $30. And the season pass prices are an absolute steal.
SDC is the closest thing you'll get in the midwest to the intricate theming of Disney, but the price of a single one day admission to Disneyland is more than an season pass to SDC.
I mean, shoot, my friend and I are going to WDW in January, and with lodging and park tickets, we're paying some $500 a piece. And our meal plans are the Quick Service Dining Plan, which we actually got free for booking our resort when we did. Add in plane tickets, and we're at $800-something a piece for a week's stay. If we had to pay for the dining plans, that'd be at least $150-200 extra a person for the week. Sure, we're getting four different parks, but compare that to paying less than $80 for an SDC season pass, which would get you into the park an entire year; factor in, say, $50 a night for 6 nights at a Branson hotel, and you're at only about $230 a person for two people to go to SDC for an entire week.
So, yeah, I really don't think one can complain about the prices of SDC admission. I mean, when you go to SDC, you go for more than just rides. You go for the friendly employees, the cleanliness, the world-class entertainment, the amazing theming and atmosphere. If all you want is rides rides rides, then sure, go for a cheap park like Six Flags or Worlds of Fun, where the employees never seem to want to be there, and you get very few shows that are not interesting enough to take out the time to watch. Meh.
Perhaps its just a matter of taste. I live about 1 hour from 6-flags St. Louis, and 5 hours from SDC. My family (including my 2 teenagers) would rather drive the 5 hours and pay the extra money to go to SDC then to pay less money and less time to go to Six Flags. For us there is no comparison, SDC is a much better park. I think most of us on the forum feel the same way. That's why we post on a forum called "SDC FANS".
I would agree I live in st. louis and I could not tell you the last time I went to SF but easily was at SDC, twelve or more times this year. Also you have to figure SDC is open longer season wise then six flags. At least in St. louis. I do not think the season pass is that bad and I had to get three for next year since my son turned 4. Also you figure you get discounts with your pass also. So you go at least 3 times you paid that back and if you eat there when you go you will make up the price of the pass easily.
I lived for 15-ish years near (20-25min drive) Worlds of Fun, and can count on one hand the number of times I went (and thus never bought a season pass). But last year alone, living 40min drive from SDC, I visited at LEAST 10 times (and I've gotten a season pass every year I've lived here in Springfield).
Quote from: Parson B Ready on December 15, 2011, 07:55:54 PM
Perhaps its just a matter of taste. I live about 1 hour from 6-flags St. Louis, and 5 hours from SDC. My family (including my 2 teenagers) would rather drive the 5 hours and pay the extra money to go to SDC then to pay less money and less time to go to Six Flags. For us there is no comparison, SDC is a much better park. I think most of us on the forum feel the same way. That's why we post on a forum called "SDC FANS".
It definitely is a matter of perceived value. Certainly not everyone to sees the park the way we do, so they don't know about or value as much the good shows, the intricate crafts, or even how much more effort the park puts into their rides than a normal park. SDC used to truly be an Ozark Disneyland in nearly every way and everyone treated it like one. Again I have to say that the more they put in rides and attractions that are found at other typical amusement parks, the more they'll be taken for just another amusement park themselves. I guess it's just too risky from a business standpoint to go back to the old model when people's expectations for a park experience are being modeled by six flags and worlds of fun.
Anyhoo, anyone know how the crowds have been since the promotion started? I heard last weekend was very busy.
Quote from: shavethewhales on December 15, 2011, 11:57:33 PM
Again I have to say that the more they put in rides and attractions that are found at other typical amusement parks, the more they'll be taken for just another amusement park themselves.
Six Flags SL has become a very good amusement park while SDC has remained a very good theme park through the years. That is why if I were planning a new ride, I'd lean towards a MM clone or something along that line, although you almost can't go wrong with a well designed woodie. Theme parks are so much harder than amusement parks. The margin for error seems a lot less, but the reward should be greater for both the visitor and the ownership.
I've been hearing from people that the park has been absolutely packed out the last couple of weekends. Sounds like their promotions are definitely working. I just hope it doesn't cause too much of a shift in the way they do business...
It would be interesting to me to know the breakdown of attendence."
season pass holders,
full paid admission,
free BAF (pass holders)
Discounts tickets from website..
Did they get more people in 2010, when they were giving the free season pass to people born or married in 1960? I was one of the lucky ones who got that deal,my husband and friend bought their passes,she only missed it by one year. That would have got 2 more people into the park. My friend really loved the park,had never been there before. She is hoping we go after Christmas , so she can come back and see all the lights.
Quote from: NebFan on December 18, 2011, 10:45:22 AM
Did they get more people in 2010, when they were giving the free season pass to people born or married in 1960? I was one of the lucky ones who got that deal,my husband and friend bought their passes,she only missed it by one year. That would have got 2 more people into the park. My friend really loved the park,had never been there before. She is hoping we go after Christmas , so she can come back and see all the lights.
My mom got that, but my dad missed it by a year. My mom reufused to wear the pin, so I wore it instead. One of the citizens asked me what '50th' I was celebrating. I told him there was a possibility that it was my 50th visit to the park since last October, and this happened in May :D
He kinda laughed, but I wasn't kidding!
Over 23,000 in the park Saturday, 12/17. One of the citizens said attendance the previous weekend was 42,400 or something like that.
My In-Law's got Free Season Passes last year, because it was their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They didn't want to wear the pins either. ::)
It's great to hear that the park has been really busy the past few weekends! When I was there in October, attendance was so-so. There weren't lines for anything but there were still a lot of people in the park.
Hopefully SDC can continue to offer such great promotions and still make a large profit.
I adore the 2/30$ with a season pass. If they keep that deal (maybe throwing it in for a couple weeks during the spring/fall) along with OTC I would be able to afford to take my daddy and his wife. With them both on disability they cant afford to go but would love to and I can afford the 2/30$. So fingers crossed they keep this promotion and offer it here and there!!
What are the stats on the average number of visits per season passes? The mean number? Visits broken down not just by trips through the gate on consecutive days, but on distinct occasions at different times of the year?
For a family on a budget planning one big trip a year, season passes for all can be a make-or-break proposition. I carefully calculated every permutation (and there are a lot of combinations!) before deciding how to structure our ticket purchase.
We know that HFE carefully tracks all this, and knows exactly how many people upgrade on the way out, and don't return the same season - that upgrade is free profit for HFE. Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge them a big profit. I hope they do very well, and the park lives on forever! But, the ticket prices certainly undercut that strategy for me and my family, so we'll limit any future visits to "After 3, next day free!".
If the park offered a 3-5 day pass, or two full days for a much smaller premium than the season pass upgrade, you can bet we'd be all over that. You can bet the same is true for other families who will only make one trip to Branson a year, and can't justify the season pass price for 2-3 full days at the city.
As the reports here have indicated, the Christmas season especially has been pretty good for the park. Big crowds. When my wife and I visited last week, there was a line for season pass upgrades/purchases. It was clear business was booming. Those holiday lights are a big draw. My family has attended three other Christmas festivals at the park over the years. I think the first was in about 1996 or 1997. The last one, prior to this trip, was 2007. Each year the lights get better and the park has more shops, rides, and shows open and geared toward Christmas. My wife is somewhat reluctant to visit, as we are at the age where a full day of walking around wipes us out. She also does not like hearing my stories of "back in my time here," so when I can get her to go I have achieved something! She loved the Christmas lights! She was so happy about her trip this week, she suggested that we both get season passes. In the end, she encouraged me to get my season pass, which came with 5 "bring a friend" tickets. So now she will come up on visits with those tickets, or if she does not want to come, I can bring a grandchild on some trips. The park wins anyway...as they will get me and a family member up there for a minimum of five visits in 2012 as opposed to this year when I was able to come up 4 times, and on three of those trips bring a family member. As the economy is still reeling, I believe you will continue to see discounts and special offers at the park, because they really make some good money from those purchases you make at the shops and in the restaurants and concessions. The admission price probably gives them some profit, but likely covers operation costs. So keep looking for discounts, bargains, special offers, because in order to draw in the tight economy they will have to do this. The success of general merchandisers nationwide this Christmas also indicates the places that offered deep discounts did better than those places that did not. MERRY CHRISTMAS, and hope to see YOU at SDC in 2012!
Huge crowds today at the city from what I hear, and this is supposed to be a time when the park is dead! These perks seem to have worked so well, I'll be very surprised if they don't start changing their entire pricing structure pretty soon. We'll have to see if that actually affects how they treat the inside of the park or not... hopefully a lighter ticket price will free up more people to support the craftsmen!
The weather today was outstanding for this time of year, I'm sure that had some effect. But yes, I do think a lot of it is attributed to their pricing. They might well start offering more discounts during the "softer" times.
on world news with brian williams-they just showed a peice on how theme parks are seeing a boost above norm this time of year. They thought it was from people being sick of stayin home and savin money.
Just got home from our Christmas trip. We were at the city tuesday and Wednesday. Crowd was pretty high on Tuesday, I'd say around 8-9 thousand, but Wednesday was crazy! The guy at Heartland Home Furnishings said the count was 13,000. Lines to nearly everything were long. Didn't get to ride the train because of the line. Line for the FM started at the guard shack and the line for the opra house started at the lumberjack camp! Most of my day was spent standing in lines..... :'(.
Quote from: DeweyBald on December 29, 2011, 07:53:45 PM
Just got home from our Christmas trip. We were at the city tuesday and Wednesday. Crowd was pretty high on Tuesday, I'd say around 8-9 thousand, but Wednesday was crazy! The guy at Heartland Home Furnishings said the count was 13,000. Lines to nearly everything were long. Didn't get to ride the train because of the line. Line for the FM started at the guard shack and the line for the opra house started at the lumberjack camp! Most of my day was spent standing in lines..... :'(.
13,000!! That's like if every single person in my town brought atleast 4 out-of-town family members with them!!
We went to SDC this past Monday despite the fact that it had been raining all day. We arrived just before 4 pm about the time the rain stopped. I asked one of the tram operators how many people were on park and he said 1,700. A lot of the rides were not operating but it was easy to get in to all the shows. It sure was nice to stroll around the park and not fight crowds. I enjoyed the shows, the lights and the peacefulness as we moved around the park. A great night at SDC.
According to SDC spokeswoman Lisa Lau, OTC has been great with several days in December having more than 20,000 visitors to the park -- multiple top 10 days have occurred. More details in this article from the Branson Tri-Lakes News:
http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_3b15eca2-30df-11e1-ab53-0019bb2963f4.html
does anybody have a body count from friday, the last day?