Is the park begging for guests?

Parson B Ready · 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".

jmc75 · December 15, 2011, 09:08:34 PM

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.

Joy · December 15, 2011, 09:41:45 PM

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).

shavethewhales · December 15, 2011, 11:57:33 PM

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.

Injun Joe · December 16, 2011, 02:45:33 AM

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.

shavethewhales · December 18, 2011, 01:25:06 AM

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...

sanddunerider · December 18, 2011, 08:00:56 AM

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..

NebFan · 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.

tiffanylynnt · December 18, 2011, 11:00:00 PM

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

He kinda laughed, but I wasn't kidding!

palallin · December 19, 2011, 10:21:16 AM

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.

DollarCityBoy · December 19, 2011, 01:56:44 PM

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.

Coaster · December 19, 2011, 02:51:06 PM

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.

MissinTheGreenTrams · December 19, 2011, 03:23:26 PM

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!!

KBCraig · December 22, 2011, 01:52:27 AM

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.

Junior · December 22, 2011, 05:42:30 AM

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!