Six Flags: Membership vs. Season Pass

[bkroz]

This may be old news and may have been the case for years now, but I just stumbled across Six Flags' "Membership" program, which is separate from its season pass. I'll link to Great Adventure's page on the program, but it seems most if not all of the parks offer this?

https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/plan-your-visit/membership-faqs#97

The season pass program is divided into gold and regular. BOTH provide entry to ANY Six Flags park, and BOTH provide parking at your home park (for now... that perk goes away for the regular-level pass pretty soon, just like Cedar Fair's). Both also allow you into Holiday in the Park and Fright Fest events. The only difference I can see is that the gold level pass also provides parking at the other parks, while the regular pass only gives you admission.

The membership program is based on the season pass program and again comes in gold and regular. Memberships have exactly the same benefits. Exactly. The only difference is that "membership" is paid in installments (as Cedar Fair allows with its season pass tiers). "Membership" is an auto-renewing monthly program (just like Cedar Fair's). Every month for 12 months, you're charged the $6 - $8... for 12 months. Yes, even when the park is closed. You may cancel your membership at any time AFTER the 12 months are over. Or you can keep it going for years or more.

Membership doesn't require a security deposit, but if you choose to give one, you will pay less per month. How much less, I'm not sure. Also not sure what the security deposit is. Missing a monthly payment and not correcting the error within 30 days, having your membership or any pass on your account revoked, or failure to finish paying your due before the 12 month date will result in loss of the security deposit. Cancel before your 12 months is over and "you will be subject to the termination fee described in your agreement." If you want to cancel your membership after 12 months, you must notify Six Flags 6 weeks prior (that's one or two additional payments) to complete the cancellation.

Is it just me, or is that all a bit dramatic? Would you prefer Cedar Fair's "6 payments of $14" or Six Flags' "12 payments of $7" with all the stipulations and contractual agreements therein? Odd, I guess.

[The Interpreter]

Six Flags has offered this for quite some time. It is structured to comply with legal requirements in New Jersey...among other things.

[usulix]

I experienced the "Membership Program" at Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA :

 

! DO NOT BUY SIX FLAGS MEMBERSHIP ONLINE !

I bought 5 of them almost 3 years ago. 

You have to continue for the full 12 months paying each month, and then it renews month to month with a minimum 2 week cancellation notice. I was okay with that.

We went 2 or three times during the first year.

After the first year, I went to the "Membership Portal" to cancel. It was difficult... you needed your original receipt and you needed to register accounts for each card (5 in my case) before you could cancel. So, I thought... it is only $36 per month... maybe we will go back soon.

Fast forward to August of 2018 or almost $1000 later. I got serious about canceling. I stepped through a number of hoops and was told by the "Membership Portal" that I would get an email with the details I needed to submit my cancellation request. No email ever came. Add to this that my card on the membership EXPIRED about this time... but they just grabbed the new expiration date and KEPT ON BILLING!

I thought.. ok we have not been back in a long time, but maybe we can go around the first of October and after a last day.. we will cancel in person.

We did not get the chance to do that, so today I got serious. 

I submitted the request again... no email. 

I registered more accounts and suddenly, no cancellation option in my menu. 

I clicked chat with agent... "No agents are available at this time."  

I checked my bank statement and got the billing phone number and called it. I got a recording about park hours and if you have season pass questions, visit the website at....

So I filed charge disputes with my bank and a complaint with the BBB of Los Angeles.

I liked Six Flags before this, but now I will never visit again, and I am on a mission to help get the word out that you can get hooked. This is especially sad since people who mostly get burned by this are just looking to help their kids have a good time.

Shame on you Six Flags.

[King Ding Dong]

Funny, I had absolutely no problem cancelling mine a few years ago.  A simple search on my inbox pulled up all the relevant order numbers etc.  I also kept current with the payment portal so had no problem logging in there.   I did have a question about it but called the park during business hours and was able to get through after about 4 minutes.

Sorry to hear you had so many problems but it sounds like some were your own making.